When you’re planning your autumn/winter adventure, the one thing you’ll be challenged by in your preparations is where you’ll be able to stash that extra kit.
Summer is usually the preferred season for most of us to fix our gaze longingly up that quiet gravel road or dirt trail and this summer has been an exceptionally hot one for exactly that. But now that summer has passed the baton on to Autumn, there’s still plenty of great weather and countryside to keep riding!
On writing this newsletter we’re nearing the end of the fourth week of our lockdown here in NZ and I think I can be pretty confident in saying that the itch is starting to show for a lot of adventurers. At this stage I’m pretty sure maps are being studied and kit prepared and ready for when we’re allowed back out into the big wide world.
By the time we're able to get back to some kind of "new normal", the temperatures will be a bit cooler which is a great relief for farmers and adventurers alike. However, this does mean that you’ll need to carry a few extra layers to ensure you stay warm and toasty on your exploits.
The word on the trails has always been ‘Go light, Go Far’. A lightweight minimal bike set-up is generally the rule of thumb if you’re planning to head out on your rig for a few nights. Rides like the Tour Aotearoa or the newly minted Kopiko Aotearoa from Taranaki to East Cape is an exceptionally good idea to squeak away from civilisation for a few days or weeks.
When you’re planning your autumn/winter adventure, the one thing you’ll be challenged by in your preparations is where you’ll be able to stash that extra kit. The odd sleeping bag liner and puffer jacket can be stashed somewhere for the single over-nighter, but if you’re planning a longer trip in colder and possibly wetter places, you’ll need some extra stash space.
On writing this newsletter we’re nearing the end of the fourth week of our lockdown here in NZ and I think I can be pretty confident in saying that the itch is starting to show for a lot of adventurers. At this stage I’m pretty sure maps are being studied and kit prepared and ready for when we’re allowed back out into the big wide world.
By the time we're able to get back to some kind of "new normal", the temperatures will be a bit cooler which is a great relief for farmers and adventurers alike. However, this does mean that you’ll need to carry a few extra layers to ensure you stay warm and toasty on your exploits.
The word on the trails has always been ‘Go light, Go Far’. A lightweight minimal bike set-up is generally the rule of thumb if you’re planning to head out on your rig for a few nights. Rides like the Tour Aotearoa or the newly minted Kopiko Aotearoa from Taranaki to East Cape is an exceptionally good idea to squeak away from civilisation for a few days or weeks.
When you’re planning your autumn/winter adventure, the one thing you’ll be challenged by in your preparations is where you’ll be able to stash that extra kit. The odd sleeping bag liner and puffer jacket can be stashed somewhere for the single over-nighter, but if you’re planning a longer trip in colder and possibly wetter places, you’ll need some extra stash space.
I tested the Outriggers last year on the Old Ghost Rd trail in traditional West Coast ‘wild and woolly weather’ fashion and found that the bike’s stability was greatly improved with the ‘Outriggers’ located on either side of the rear wheel. Especially when negotiating the steep rocky section from Ghost Lake Hut after the deluge from the day before.
Along with the Dancing Moose Saddle Slinger, I’ve devised a wee concept to ensure enough storage space wherever you’ll point your front wheel. For short overnight missions and those crazy 200k-a-day riders, a Saddle Slinger is the ideal way to stash gear and food. No rack needed, and at around 10-15 litres capacity, there's plenty of space for your ultralight kit.
When it gets a little gnarly however, you might want to consider mounting a rack which can take the Dancing Moose ‘Outriggers’. At around 8 litres each side, you get lots more carrying capacity and the option to tie a wee dry-bag on top. We’re all about flexibility here! I tested the Outriggers last year on the Old Ghost Rd trail in traditional West Coast ‘wild and woolly weather’ fashion and found that the bike’s stability was greatly improved with the ‘Outriggers’ located on either side of the rear wheel. Especially when negotiating the steep rocky section from Ghost Lake Hut after the deluge from the day before.
The third option is to add the ‘Dancing Moose Rack-Sack’. This puppy is locked on top of your rack with compression straps and allows you to carry another whopping 20 litres. Fantastic if you’re planning a family or group ride and you need to carry a larger tent. I could even customize it to fit your pack-raft!
Just because Summer’s finished, that doesn’t mean your adventures should!
Happy Adventure Planning!
Harm
When it gets a little gnarly however, you might want to consider mounting a rack which can take the Dancing Moose ‘Outriggers’. At around 8 litres each side, you get lots more carrying capacity and the option to tie a wee dry-bag on top. We’re all about flexibility here! I tested the Outriggers last year on the Old Ghost Rd trail in traditional West Coast ‘wild and woolly weather’ fashion and found that the bike’s stability was greatly improved with the ‘Outriggers’ located on either side of the rear wheel. Especially when negotiating the steep rocky section from Ghost Lake Hut after the deluge from the day before.
The third option is to add the ‘Dancing Moose Rack-Sack’. This puppy is locked on top of your rack with compression straps and allows you to carry another whopping 20 litres. Fantastic if you’re planning a family or group ride and you need to carry a larger tent. I could even customize it to fit your pack-raft!
Just because Summer’s finished, that doesn’t mean your adventures should!
Happy Adventure Planning!
Harm