kawanbike: December 2012

Bikepacking "Tour de Jungle" (Part 3)

"Hangover" has never been so good! But of course, it’s not about the after-effect of drinking too much the night before...

It’s about dreaming under a canopy of trees, and waking up to the jungle dawn chorus

with a breathtaking view.

Hang above rocks, roots, and unleveled ground...

Hang away from snakes, spiders, and lizards...

These are just the tip of the iceberg why tarp and hammock is our preferred choice of shelter. The benefits of sleeping in the hammock are endless... and we know that there’s always a good place to sleep at the end of a ride...

...and dream to explore again tomorrow.

"There's nothing like starting early, riding all day, watching the sun set from the trail, riding through dark wildland, dreaming under the trees, waking up to the jungle dawn chorus... and then doing it all over again.

It's just heavenly!" Kawanbike

Ride...Explore...Dream...Repeat... Bikepacking Nuts

Bikepacking "Tour de Jungle" (Part 2)

The key principles of ultralight bikepacking are minimizing and finding multiple uses for gears. Hence, do it yourself (DIY) and modifying gears played a big part in order to achieve the goal.

Here's a good example of a stainless steel bottle that doubled as a pot. A simple loop of galvanized metal banding around the bottle neck and a carabiner will act as a bail. Combined with some simple bushcraft and improvisation using natural materials, the jungle can be a very rewarding place to explore on a bike.

Kawan+Bike always live up to its name...

Apart from the bike, good companions are vital to the tour.

We firmly believe that "No trail is long with good company"

and... when the going gets tough, there's always someone who is willing to cheer things up.

"Gangnam Style" was the remedy entertainment that our friend (CS) has chosen.

... And someone like Ah Chen doing what he always does, keeping the kawanbike fire burning and making sure no one goes hungry at any time. Good food and tasty beverage never fails to please... Cheers!

Obviously, we enjoy food as much as we enjoy riding...

Often, appertizing and lightweight don't mix when it comes to food. Coming up with bikepacking food isn't simple at all. Tried and true (before this tour). Couscous with our choice of canned foods are hard to beat in terms of convenience and satisfying. A meal like this can be done in a snap with this little ultralight DIY stove .

Bikepacking "Tour de Jungle" (Part 1)

Self-supported, lung bursting climb/push on a fully loaded mountain bike. Dark, wet, and cold night in a blood sucking leech infested jungle 550m above sea level. Sheltered only with tarps and hammocks hanged above slippery, muddy slope. Creepy night sounds, and constantly keeping our fingers crossed for no “surprise hello” from a red headed krait (nocturnal venomous snake) when out for a midnight pee...

Despite all of the mentioned challenges, three of us unanimously agreed this was one hell of a ride. We’re lovin it!

Bikepacking differs from traditional bicycle touring. Lightweight and rackless bag systems are the key ingredients, thus making trail like this manageable.

Pondering... as i ride without racks, panniers and the kitchen sink...

If the ultralight and rackless bag systems work in a wildland tour. So why not use it for traditional bicycle touring? (If i ever do one day) Travelling light is often better, covering bigger distances, and freedom to roam... almost anywhere!