Hi De Hi

[Marathon Man]

Morning Campers

No, I haven't gone all Gladys Pugh, I'm after some camping advice from the campers amongst you...

I'm off on my travels in May down to watch WSBK in Monza, and my mate and I have decided that we're going to camp en route there and back as well as at the circuit itself (as hotels are all booked out to be honest).

Now, I've camped before, so I'm not wholly new to the experience, but that was with the luxury of four wheels and a boot to carry all of the gear the wife thought we needed to have a half comfortable trip (five man tent, cooker, gas bottles, sleeping bags, air beds, pumps, deckchairs, saucepans, hairdryer, hair straighteners, make-up, kitchen sink.... you get the idea!).

Now, aside from my sleeping bag (which I could do with a new one of anyway) none of my previous camping gear will fit onto the Blackbird. So, have you any suggestions for some Blackbird and Monza-in-May friendly;

Tents (just for me - matey has his own and he snores!),
Sleeping bags,
Roll mats,
Cooking gear.

By the way, I've a full set of Givi luggage (panniers and two helmet top box) and pillion seat upon which to mount all of the gear...

Oh, and has anyone stayed at the campsite at Monza before and have any sage advice...?

[aj]

.


jeeessus... what's camping.. vaguely remember summat about boy scouts doing it ... or was that wi their woggles ??? :roll)

.. wish i could help but only advise from me is... keep piling it on until it falls off..

regards
aj

[REEFER]

get a tent bigger than you need..just check its packed size..you need a 3 man tent really to have space to move and store your gear..they still pack small tho
little single camping gas stoves are ok bt if you want a thermic lance go for a small unleaded stove then you never run out of fuel they are much more powerful than the gas ones and not much bigger
mat is a mat..its a compromise either way just get the thickest you can pack..there is nice self inflating mats these days also
small led powefull torch that takes 3aa batts will see you good for the whole trip on one set of batts
get a mozi candle and burn it in th tent for 30 mins before you crash out..with you outside the tent!..leave the door open and anything that got in during the day will fook off hopefully
always open out the sleeping bag..shake, check and re shake for bugs
if you want a lantern type light..get one that will hang in the tent and again led ones are very good, take some bunjees and a few clothes pegs for a washing line from the tent to wherever
most o fthe gear you can get off ebay
also rememebr a cheap set of pots is just that they are thin and almost anything you cook will burn on the bottom..beteer to get a nice set with copper bottoms for about 30-40 quid and you may well need a small kettle
thermos mugs keep your drinks hot for ages and less likely to spill or have some fooker land init unnoticed
if you go the fuel stove way then get a aliminuim petrol carrier..only small but very strong..coleman make the stoves

[Tim]

get a tent bigger than you need..just check its packed size..you need a 3 man tent really to have space to move and store your gear..they still pack small tho................

.....better to get a nice set with copper bottoms for about 30-40 quid and you may well need a small kettle, thermos mugs keep your drinks hot for ages and less likely to spill or have some fooker land init unnoticed
if you go the fuel stove way then get a aliminuim petrol carrier..only small but very strong..coleman make the stoves

" Tim quietly retreats out of the room unnoticed, an evil flicker in his eye as he scans the monitor in the next room for a Photochop Icon on the Desktop....it seemed like Platinumness had gone to his head "

[jack]

Think Reefer as covered most bases MM

You may want to try http://www.khyam.co.uk/ for tents and http://www.snugpak.com/ for sleeping bags.

[REEFER]

found a gaff at the bike show specialising in touring/camping gear just for bikes!
picked up a leafleat and will post details on here soon

[Marathon Man]

Cheers Reeefer and Jack for the suggestions.

Snugpack, Vango Ultralite and Yukon bags being investigated...

I've got a four man tent (Vango) which is brill (could even get the 'Bird in it) but it's a tad heavy (10 to 15kgs maybe) to be lugging as I want to keep weight to the minimum. So I'm looking at those Khyam tents, as well as the Terra Nova Laserlite style tents which as although they're not big enough to stand up in, are light enough (less than 1kg in one instance!).

Also getting a thermarest self inflating mattress - soft and insulating!

Reefer, could you PM me the details of that camping chap you found at Excel when you've got five minutes?