a few days away

 we took a few days away recently. The early train from Manchester got us to Alnwick at breakfast time. We'd planned a route on quiet roads, tracks and bridleways that would get us home to Oldham four days later.

 We tried to travel relatively light. We carried a North Face Tadpole  tent as the poles fit snugly in the little Revelate frame bag. Using just the half frame bag allowed the use of water bottles keeping everything on the bike. Pretty chilly up on Cross Fell with light weight sleeping bags but they fitted in the handlebar harness great - kept them dry with an 8l Alpkit bag that has handy loops on to stop it sliding sideways on the bars. For cooking duties we used a couple of Jetboil Sol's - these boil water for tea or noodles unbelievably fast compared to the original model they replaced. We used our Carradice Barley and Pendle saddlebags for stashing stuff we needed to get to quick, like waterproofs and food. A single change of clothes kept us going for the four days - merino is your friend here!

Brooks, Ortleib, Tubus, Carradice, Surly and SKS guards - essential equipment.

Route was a combination of quiet roads and forest tracks. Including Sustrans routes on old railway lines, like the South Tyne Trail - an easy way to get some miles in.  Cross Fell was a challenge, coming at the end of the day with a push up into the rain and mist - plenty of snow on the ground up there too and not much shelter.  We've had more settled wild camp spots!

We used our Long Haul Truckers - at times we wished for something more like a mountain bike and other times something more like a road bike but in the end with their chunky semi slick tyres and comfy  upright riding position they are a great do it all machine, we wouldn't change them.