Outdoor Kopitiam (Coffee Shop)

These Boots are Made for Walkin'

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:47:00 +0000

How we choose our footwear and lacing for comfort.

Got a pair of shoe or boot, tried in the shoe shop it fits just perfect but when hiking uphill and downhill it was not so perfect after all.

Many failed to realize the comfort of the shoe when walking depends in how we buy the right size shoes / boots and how we lace them.

How we choose our shoe sizes

Take out the inner sole, with the right kind of socks to be used, place the feet on the inner sole and measure from sole top to feet. Have one thumb spacing, this will allow space for the feet to swell when walking too long.

How do we laced them

Recently bought a cheap lightweight Adidas Plein Air AX1. When hiking, my feet was sliding inside the shoe and felt very uncomfortable. To prevent my feet from sliding, I did Surgeon's Knots.

Surgeon's Knot

many sport shoes comes with last lace hole and these is how we used it

read below under Low-Cut Shoe Heel Lock

to prevent the laced knots from loosening, tuck it in

Optional Comfort

My feet takes all the weight of my body and gears carried. To ensure my feet do not wear me down, I have the Superfeet inner sole and it has been serving very well for many years.

Do note that most footwear needs time to break-in so before any hiking, wear them as often around town to get use to it and do necessary lacing for comfort.

Below are info from Montrail back in 2003

The standard lacing technique works well for many people but not everybody. Correct lacing is taut, but not too tight, from the toe up to the top of the boot or shoe. There should be no loose lacing and the lacing should contact the boot evenly and firmly.

Below are a few tried-and-true techniques. Use this as a starting point and experiment with your own.
Loop: If laces are slipping on a hook, lace "down" a hook instead of "up" creating a loop.
D-ring lock: By bringing the lace around through the eyelet from the top, pressure is applied on the lace.
Overhand knot: The most common means of locking off tension below the knot.
Surgeon's knot: this is a very secure means of locking off any chosen tension below the knot.
Marathon loop: Improves heel lock for low-cut shoes.

Common Techniques

Other Lacing Techniques
Low-Cut Shoe Heel Lock
Boot Heel Lock
Low Volume
High Instep
Cuff Pressure

Special Knot Techniques
Granny Knot
Square Knot

Low-Cut Shoe Heel Lock

Make a loop through the double eyelet at the top of the shoe and lace back through the loop. Pull up against the loop to snug your heel into the heel pocket.

Boot Heel Lock

To distribute pressure create a loop between two hooks and pass the lace from above and through, then continue upward.

Low Volume

To improve performance with lower-volume or narrow feet, utilize on or more of the "locking" techniques to hold the foot securely in place without causing excessive pressure or irritation.

High Instep
To reduce pressure over the instep, simply skip crossing the laces over the sensitive area sometimes associated with having a high instep. It's a good idea to use with a locking procedure before and after. As shown here.

Cuff Pressure
To eliminate lower skin irritation, finish the lacing by bringing the laces over the top of the hooks before tying the bow knot.

Granny Knot
This is a very common knot that is less secure than a square knot. If you end up with a knot where the bow loops point up and down, you have a granny knot.

Square Knot
To tie a square knot, begin with an overhand knot, take the two loops and pass "right over left, then left over right" and you have a square knot. The finished product should have bow loops that point to the sides.

Petzl PIXA 3 Headlamp

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Petzl has always been our choice head lamps, with the latest 2011 released of the PIXA series for professional, I have decided to get one due to the nature of my work, the PIXA 3 headlamp that is rated for use in explosive and hazardous environment.

The head lamp came very robust and it was much bulkier compare to my previous Tikka XP. It did weigh heavier but mainly due to it's reinforce rubberised construction and able to waterproof up to 1m under water. The battery compartment has a seal to provide water and dust from getting in. The beam selector comes with a 3 way knob instead of button for ease when using with gloves. The headlamp comes with 3 beam mode, spot, flood and spot/flood together however it does burn out the battery pretty fast if spot beam is continuously for 3 hours.

The head lamp comes with an adapter to be use with Petzl Helmets, however I did notice that it not very tightly fit and only a small rubber stopper is used to prevent the headlamp from falling. I would suggest for extreme sport, use the headband instead to prevent losing the headlamp. The adapter would only be idea for low impact work or sport.

BEAM RANGE
Flood : 15mtrs (30 lumens 12hrs)
Spot/Flood: 30mtrs (40 lumens 6hrs)
Spot: 55mtrs (50lumens 3hrs)

The flood beam has it own lamp thus making the flood beam more focus where else the Tikka XP uses a diffuser to create the flood beam and making it more distorted.
The video below shows the PIXA 3 in action, watch how the focused the beams

Pros

crush proof up to 80kg
submerge up to 1m of water
excellent fall resistance up to 2 mtrs
Both the flood and spot bean are more FOCUSED and bright
able to adapt to Petzl Vertex Helmets
lens can be protected during storage
chemical resistance
uses AA batteries
3 years warranty
Constant lighting till battery level is low and auto switch to Flood mode (10hrs)

Cons

short battery life
heavy and bulky
costly

Comparison to Tikka XP (max 40 lumens)

PIXA 3 is bulkier and heavier
PIXA 3 is brighter and more focus beam (same at 40 lumens)
PIXA 3 has only 3 mode selection and Tikka XP has 4 mode
PIXA 3 is more durable
Cost more
Max beam range PIXA 3 55mtrs and Tikka 35mtrs

Conclusion

PIXA 3 is definitely a very robust headlamp for any extreme sports such as caving, river tracing or night hiking. The flood/spot beam mode was very well thought off making night manoeuvres more focused so that it allows you to see what is in-front and what is ahead.

The flood beam at 30 lumens was more focus than Tikka XP 40 lumens. However the battery life does not last long but unlike other headlamps it does have a constant beam till battery is low level.

It does not come with flashing mode or red lighting

PS first generation of MYO XP and Tikka XP that I owned did not last long before it broke down but I am glad Petzl took care of the repair and replacement. However I have faith in the PIXA 3 and will take the abuse much better than any other headlamp

Recommendation- worth the investment

Petzl PIXA 3 link

DIY Heat Reflector cum Windshield

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:29:00 +0000

During the last overnight MTB camping trip, I tried using the DIY mini-windshield with the Alpine Stove and it was not very effective. The strong wind was blowing from all directions and the flame from the stove was not very constant. I decided to reconstruct another windshield that can improve the fuel efficiency yet it does not take up space and can be packed with the cookset. The end result, it provides maximum coverage against the wind, the windshield will also act as a heat reflector and improve the cooking time.

I found a MSR heat reflector that came with the MSR Multi-fuel stove which is used on cold ground. However you can use an Aluminium food tray or pie tray that can be found very cheaply in most supermarket. Here's a blog to give you an idea. The thickness of the food tray is almost the same as the MSR heat reflector making them very easy to bend and form a shape.

First I took the stove template and make the markings. Slowly using a penknife and cut the markings out.

The shape cut out is not perfect so you might have to do a few more trimmings.

Using my pot, place it in the center of the heat reflector and slowly bend all the sides up until it form a circular cup.

Next insert the heat reflector and slowly push it down towards the stove, you might have to do some trimming of the edges.

Using with Pot

Using with fry pan

Packing the Windshield cum Heat Reflector

Mt Ophir (Gunung Ledang) Trail

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 05:35:00 +0000

Located in West Malaysia, Johor. This is one of the most frequent mountaineering trek. Can be climbed in a day but most like to do 2D1N. There are 4 trails to the summit however this is the most common trail undertaken by hikers. Please note the Park time opening and closing on the map.

Approx. Time Taken

CP1 to CP2 25 minutes
CP2 to CP3 60 minutes (1hour)
CP3 to CP4 25 minutes
CP4 to CP5 60 minutes (1hour)
CP5 to CP6 30 minutes

CP6 to CP7 45 minutes
CP7 to CP8 30 minutes

(normally it will take 5 hours to the summit….)

Campsite

You have to register at the Ranger Office for all the equipment and foods that you bring. You have to pay RM10/person for campsite and RM50 for deposit.

Some rules when you enter the Gunung Ledang is:

1. You have to register at Ranger Office

2. You have to bring back all the plastics and paper that you bring in. The Ranger will check all the things to make sure the number is correct. If not you will lose your deposit and you have to pay RM10 per item that you lose.

3. You are not allowed to camp at Summit and decent through the Telekom Station Way

Campsite area:

1^st campsite: Puteri Waterfall

From Ranger office you have to walk through the staircase about 20 minutes to reach here.

2^nd campsite: Kolam Puteri (900ft)

It takes 25minutes to reach here from Puteri Waterfall.

3^rd campsite: Kolam Gajah (2050ft)

It takes 50 minutes to 1hour to reach here from Kolam Gajah. Before you reach here you will cross a place name Kolam anak gajah. From Kloam anak gajah you have to use either twin fall trail or bukit semput trail to reach Kolam Gajah.

4^th campsite: Sungai segitiga (2200ft)

From Klam Gajah to Sungai segitiga you will go through 2 hills and it will take about 1hour 30minutes to reach sungai segitiga. It’s easy to find the suitable place to build your tent here because the campsite area here is flat.

5^th campsite: Botak hill

Botak hill is the last campsite before you reach at the summit. It’s the last area where you can find water point here. There is no water at the summit!. From here you will go through a place name `KFC’. The journey from Sungai segitiga is challenging where you have to go through a cave name gua kambing then steep cliff/ropes area and a stream. You can see bonsai trees on the way to botak hill.

For more info and getting there view HERE

FLYYE Small Accessories Pouch

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:26:00 +0000

Sometimes when you are backpacking and need to access stuff like camera, quick snacks or small tools, it can be very frustrating if you have to remove your backpack just to get to these stuff. The solution, Flyye small accessories pouch.

Specification

Size: 15 x 11 x 4 cm

Weight: 95g

Material: 1000D Cordura Nylon

The Flyye pouch came with a military graded material which makes it tough to handle all kinds of terrain. What I like about the pouch is the size, sufficient enough to squeeze most of the stuff that I often needed. It comes with a button belt loop which makes it very handy to remove and put back on and you can hook anywhere on you backpack or belt. The sides of the pouch has webbing straps which later realise my pocket knife and Leathman Wave could fit in it. It comes with a 2 way zipper which can be handled with gloves on.

10cm long button belt loop

there is a loop in the main pocket, guess is for hooking up your key chain

gourmet drainage hole

pocket knife and multitool on each sides

mobile phone, wallet, camcorder and tripod and there is still space

attaching to the hip belt REI Flash 65 backpack

attaching options on Camelbak hip strap

or just anywhere on the backpack

attaching to MagForce OCTA Versipack

A recent video that I made on a MTB trail using the Panasonic SW20 camcorder, I had used the MagForce and Flyye pouch. The Flyye pouch that was attached to the side was very handy. Each time when I finished videoing, I just slip the camcorder with the tripod attached into the Flyye pouch with ease. Maybe you can catch a glimpse on the pouches in action on video.

One suggestion I would recommend, if you are backing using this pouch. It will be nice to carry a nylon belt which doesn't take up space or weight. This option is great when you have to leave your big backpack behind to go for a short trail or somewhere else. With all your important stuff in this pouch, use the Nylon belt and attached to your hip and you have all your important stuff with you. Ok....that is if your pants do not come with any belt.

Ideal Usage

Personal stuff
First Aid Kit
Survival Kit
Accessories Kit

Titanium Pots - EPI Titan Cook Set

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:16:00 +0000

I was never a fan of Titanium pots but somehow today I landed one on my desk. I find that Titanium pots were too pricey and they only weigh slightly lesser compare to Aluminium pots. Today my intention of getting another set of pots because my current MSR Duralite have served its time after 12 years and it is not ideal for 2 men hiking usage

Primus Litech Kettle

Last few days I have been contemplating between 2 cooking pot, Primus Litech Kettle and the Trangia Mini. I needed a pot with fry pan and it must be non stick.

The Pimus set comes with a capacity of 900ml. It is made of hard anodize aliminium and weighs 225g, size 12.6x12.5cm. Selling at NT800, I must say the price is rather decent.

Trangia Mini

Hm....The Trangia set. I used to own this set. This is a fantastic cooking set and I had use it to cook for 4 person. Actually I needed to cook twice. It come with a non-stick fry pan, a 0.8lts aluminium pot, pot lifter, pot stand cum wind shield and an alcohol stove. I love the alcohol stove, the best in the market. The possibility of storing unused alcohol is a plus point for this stove. The whole set weights 352g considering you have the stove with it. Selling around US34

Nonstick Frypan/Lid: 2.60 oz (74 g)

0.8L Cookpot: 3.30 oz (94 g)

Handle: 0.70 oz (20 g)

Windscreen/Pot Stand: 1.8 oz (51 g)

Alcohol Burner: 2.35 oz (67 g)

Burner Lid: 0.70 oz (20 g)

Flame Control (Simmer) Cap: 0.8 oz (23 g)

The shop that I went did not have the Trangia Mini but they do have the Primus Litech. After observing the Litech, I realised the fry pan was too small, maybe enough for an egg. Previously the Trangia, I could fry an egg with 1 slice of beacon. The Primus kettle was too deep and too high for storage. I need a pot that do not take up space and it should be able to use as a bowl.

Montbell

Further looking around the shop, I came across the Snow Peak, EPI and Montbell Titanium cook set. They all looked identical, it is like they have copied from each other but the prices was a huge difference.

The Snow Peak was selling around NT2200. The Montbell was selling at NT1700 and the EPI was selling at NT1400.

Snow Peak

After much consideration, I thought it was great to have an additional bowl for 2 men hike. If I have gotten either the Primus or Trangia, I would carry additional bowl. But the other thing I was concern because I had bad experience using non-stick fry pan. Then again I would not have to worry the surface of the pan being scratch. So naturally looking at this 3 pot set, I went for the cheaper set. Here is a review on the EPI cookset.

pot weight

pot weight with sack

handle are hot welded

the fry pan handle

fully locks under the rim of the pan

cook set weight capacity 650ml

pan weight capacity 350ml

bowl weight capacity 500ml

my complete cookset, salt n pepper shaker, dry towel, titanium spork and sponge

fry egg on my DIY alcohol stove, there is still space for a beacon

boiling water

Overall I am pleased with the cook set after trying to fry an egg. With little oil, the egg did not stick to the pan but I did have burn marks inside the pan. Maybe it was due to the high flame from the alcohol stove that burnt the oil. During washing and removing the stain using a scotch pad, I notice one thing that always happen on aluminium pots, there will always be a black residue from rubbing the aluminium surface. However on the Titanium pan, that did not happen. That makes one plus point against untreated aluminium pots.

The pot capacity is said to be 650ml however during boiling water I felt that 400ml was already sufficient, maybe 500ml but definitely anything above that will cause an over spill when the water boils.

So is this cook set sufficient for 2 hikers? Well that depends how you use it. At least there is a pot and a bowl can be shared maybe you just need to cook Ramen twice. Even if you are alone hiker, a 3 piece cook set is still better than 2. Probably next week when the weather turns better I will take it to the mountains.

PS Hm....maybe I should have got the Trangia Mini after all.

DIY Soda Can Wind Screen for Stove

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:14:00 +0000

Soda can wind screen is relatively easy to make. It takes less than 10mins to have one ready for use. Before we start, you need to measure the hight of the stove with the pot on. Don't have to measure all the way to the pot lid but just half way will do. There are various sizes of soda can available in the market from 250ml, 330ml, 500ml and so on. Choose the right soda can size after you measure the height of the stove with the pot.

Cut out the soda can according to the height you measured

To joint 2 pre-cut wind screen together, use a ruler to guide the fold, one wind screen folds inwards and the other wind screen fold outwards.

Next hook them together and make another one inward fold and follow by outward fold. Depending on you pot size you might need 3 soda can for this wind screen.

Once the wind screen are all joined together, next you need make the loose ends of the wind screen join together. We do not want to make a dead join but a join that we can open it up and roll the wind screen for packing. To do that, one end side of the wind screen, make a fold as shown in the picture. The other end will be folded the opposite direction.

To join the wind screen together, simply slide them from top to bottom. Both ends of the wind screen will be interlocked but not a permanent lock. For storage just slide the both ends out and you can roll the wind screen into a cylinder.

If your pot has a handle, fold the wind screen in half and cut out the slot with a scissor. If you wish to make ventilation for the stove, cut maybe 2nos of V-shape at the lower part of the wind screen. To finish it off, you might want to take a sand paper and sand off all the sharp edges. If you are a fashion geek, maybe you can spray some paint on the outside or even better, sand it off till you get the "Blink" just like the alcohol stove.

Here is the completed wind screen

For storage, slide out the 2 loose end of the wind screen as explain earlier and the wind screen will self roll into a cylinder. Just give few turns to make the cylinder smaller and round it off with a band. The weight of this wind screen is only 13g.

If you feels that this is hard to make or takes up to much space, check out the Aluminium Foil Wind Screen video below. The advantages of this soda can wind screen is it doesn't cost a cent and it is stronger than aluminium foil wind screen. Minibulldesign said his wind screen is cheap. Watch the video, try it out and see whose wind screen is cheaper. Have fun. Click here if you are interested in CiT Alcohol Stove.

DIY Doggie Backpack

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:13:00 +0000

Now that we have a new camping member in our family. I decided to make Siboy a backpack so that he can carry his own stuff.

I remembered we have a spare bicycle pack from HanSin gift somewhere. I could not use the pack on my bike because of the bike tube design. This DIY is rather simple, my partner just lengthen the forward Velcro so that it can go around Siboy's neck. To secure the pack to his body, she relocates and replaced the bottom Velcro to the middle section of the pack. That's it!! I notice the pack has a mobile phone holder, maybe I will add a phone just in case he got lost we can reach him :)

Thermarest Trail Lite Mattress

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:12:00 +0000

Some of you are keen to know what happen to my last Thermarest Military FoamLite mattress. Well.... here it is! Taiwan's Thermarest dealer, Camperland have replaced an all new mattress, Trail Lite. It did take them awhile to get it done. After numerous phone calls and email it was replaced within 7days. So, there we have it, Thermarest full filled their warranty status "Life Time Warranty".

Now do consider clearly which brand of self inflating mattress you wish to get. It might be expensive but when you need a replacement, you get it as promised.

First Impression

I did not like the color, lime green...no no no, I preferred the Olive Drab on the Military FoamLite... Then again beggar can't be chooser.

The Trail Lite is a self inflating mattress. It is designed for light weight, all rounder 4 season mattress. It is made of 150D polyester which suppose to have high durability. There are 2 sizes of different length and weight, currently the Trail Lite is Regular size (51 x 183cm) which is sufficient for me. The thickness is 1.5" which is half and inch more compare to the Military FoamLite. Frankly I do not mind if it is 1" thick, it was comfortable for me but my partner prefers 1.5"

Click here for product info

size 51 x 183 cm, thickness 1.5", weight 910g

The listed price for Taiwan market is NT2980.

The material composition

ProLite and Trail Lite

According to the specification it suppose to weigh 910g, however on the scale it showed 890g. The weight difference between ProLite and Trail Lite is around 230g.

All new Thermarest self inflate mattress will need time to set in. When first rolled out to self inflate, it will take time. Give a few blow to fully inflate the mattress and have it set for few days. This will help to inflate faster the next time you use it.

Why Thermarest self inflatable mattress? It is because of the warranty and the ability to pack small. This will allow me to throw inside my backpack and not worrying it will get dirty or damage during hiking trips and it goes in well on my bike panniers too. All I need is just a snap-on strap which you can get use your old bag's strap to make one.

Old Man Mountain Bike Rack

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:11:00 +0000

Front Cold Spring

This is one of the best bicycle rack we have owned. I ordered a set of unique custom hand made rack which is meant for MTB. They are fantastic rack and you can mount on almost any bike with disc or non-disc bikes.

Currently on the bike there are 2 different models of rack. The front rack is a Cold Spring and the rear is a Sherpa. According to OMM, Cold Spring can handle much heavier load and is built stronger. What I needed was a narrow rack for the rear and a wider front rack so I can place some gears and secure them properly.

Using OMM bike rack will require to use their custom made mountings. The mounting method is using rubber insulated clamps for the frame or mount on the brake mounting if any with a central locking using the supplied skewers on the wheels. Before purchasing these racks, OMM will ask the type of bike you owned and they will supply you with the appropriate fittngs.

Rear Sherpa

In 2009 Penghu round island camping ride, I decided to reconfigure the racks. On my partner's bike I switched the Cold Spring front rack to the rear and the Sherpa on the rear of my bike. As we packed light, we only needed a 2 pannier system for our bikes. Cycling light will make your travel more fun.

OMM bike racks with Ortlieb Panniers

OMM Sherpa rack on Giant Trance

OMM Cold Spring Front rack used as Rear Rack

Web Link: Old Man Mountain

Topeak MTX Beam Rack E-Type

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:10:00 +0000

Like most MTB full suspension bike, there is very little option to mount a bike rack. Topeak came out with a clip-on rack which I thought was a genius. Basically it just clip on the seat post and secure your gears on to it. I purchase another Topeak trunk bag which just slide onto the the rack and clip-on by itself.

However after few days of camp touring around the Indonesian island, I found the Topeak Beam Rack was not stable, even I had maintained the max load of 9kg, I found that the bike tail was swinging time to time. I soon realised the CG of the whole bike was higher. It also made the front end very light due to the rear high load. Next I had problem with the clip-on rack, it cannot secured properly even I have added extra rubber gasket and tighten to the screw to the max.

When we returned from the trip, I sold away the whole pannier system. This is one rack I will say throw it away. It is probably good around the city but definitely not for touring use. However we saw many cyclist touring around Taiwan using such system, I am not sure if they have the same problem but I can probably guess they had the same idea, quick easy setup.

My partner's bike is a hardtail. These bike normally comes with mounting point for a bike rack. I had installed a Topeak tubular rack which have 4 mounting points. They are more secure, rigid and can hold heavy load. The CG is lower and makes cycling safer. I decided to find another alternative for my full suspension bike and I found the answer with Old Man Mountain bike racks.

Old Man Mountain Setup (Read More)

First Aid Kit

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:09:00 +0000

This is one kit many campers or outdoor hikers choose to ignore. Being a first aider trained by the Red Cross, I can tell you honestly you will tend to forget what you have trained unless you put into practise or keep yourself in track. My whole life I have gone through CPR training atleast 6 times and at times I still forget. However there is one item in my camping list I will not forget.... First Aid kit.

Do not just think the First Aid Kit is for outdoor use, it is good to have one around the house or for traveling.

Before I discuss about First Aid kit, think about what can really happen during camping to yourself or your kids and people around you. I have summarized my own list of scenarios, now you see if it fits your lists. Once you narrow your lists. You will know what you need for your First Aid Kit. Forget about buying pre-packed First Aid kit because you will never bother to read the content until the last hour.

My Scenarios

1. Cut - from knife, fall...

2. Burn - fire, scaling

3. Fever and Cold

4. Diarrhoea

5. Constipation

6. Broken bone

7. Giddy

8. Headache

9. Abdominal cramp

8. Muscular cramp

9. Insect sting

10. Food poisoning

11. Sore Throat

Now that you have make your lists, it is time to address each problem.

1. Cut

Depending on the injury, if you have a superficial cut, a normal band aid will do the job. But before using that, clean it with alcohol then apply iodine. However if you have a deep cut, a plaster will not do the job. You need to bandage it.

adhesive band aid of various size
alcohol swap (antiseptic wipe)
sterile gauze of various size
cotton bud
adhesive tape
elastic bandage
triangle bandage
iodine

2. Burns

Burn injury is rather tricky. There are 3 types of burn but I will cover only 1st degree and 2nd degree burns. If I do cover the 3rd degree burn, you better call for an ambulance because you are not train to handle it. Never never use cold water or ice for burns. For 1st degree burnt you will only get redness on your skin, first thing you need to do is place the affected area under running water for atleast 10 to 20 mins to cool down otherwise just wrap a wet towel and cool the pain. This is to prevent the inner tissue from swelling further.

If you have blister that is 2nd degree burn, do the same as 1st degree burn. If the blister is broken, apply antiseptic cream and cover the wound with wax gauze if possible. For small affected area you can handle it outdoor but still advisable to seek medical help. Anything more than 50mm burn area, you will need medical attention.

Antiseptic Cream

3. Fever and Cold

Stay indoor, stay cool, drip yourself with a wet towel. Take prescribe pills, for me I use Panadol. If it persist, seek medical attention.

Thermometer
Fever medication (Aspirin)

4. Diarrhoea

That is the worst thing to happen during camping. Drink alot of fluid and take charcoal pill.

Water
Charcoal Pill
Plenty of toilet paper

5. Constipation

It occurs only you realised you have not shit for 3 days. That is probably due to the heat and food intake. Discharging is a form of getting rid of toxins from your body and if you do not discharge after many days, there is a high chance you will be poison. You will need laxative pill to do the job but do use with care.

Laxative Pills

6. Broken bone

There are 2 type of injuries to this, compound (Open) and simple (Close) fracture. Both injuries address by basic dressing. The ideal is to immobilise the injure area. I myself experience a close fracture at my collar bone and I first aided myself using a Triangle bandage and taking pain killer pill.

Triangle bandages
Pain Killer

7. Giddy (Nausea)

Rest under shade and put your legs high. There are medication for this problem but I do not use any except a small bottle of medicated oil. Another method I find it effective is to take a deep breath, pinch your nose and blow it hard, slowly exhale the air from your lungs. Nausea is normally cause by in balance of the ear drums or light headed otherwise they are due to your own medical problems.

Medicated Oil

8. Headache

A way to treat Headache is to take Panadol or Aspirin. Rest under shade and drink plenty of water.

Panadol or Aspirin

9. Abdominal cramp

There are many cases to Abdominal cramp, normally I would take nothing but rest, if it persist I would either take a Aspirin or worst pain killer.

8. Muscular cramp

This normally happens when you exert too much and too little warm up exercise or lack of salt. Rest under shade or take a muscular relieved pills

9. Insect sting

Other than mosquito sting, any other sting should seek medical attention.

Insect Repellent
Calamine Lotion or Vinegar

10. Food poisoning

Rest well and take plenty of water. If the problem persist, medical attention is needed. I do not have any medication for this problem but I do feel Nausea or Diarrhoea, I take the prescribe medication.

11. Sore Throat

Too much BBQ the night before? Lozenges is your answer.

Lozenges

This are basic guide for my lists, most medication I used have been prescribed by doctors before, I used the same medication because I know I will never go wrong. I would prepare a day or two medication. If the problem persist after that, I would seek medical attention. If you have any medical problems you should seek your doctor's advise before preparing such kit. The First Aid Kit is use as a front line assistance, if the problem is serious you must vacate and seek medical help. Below is my version of First Aid Kit. I have since made my FA Kit compact and light.

Medication in small ziploc bag and Triangle bandage

I made a list to keep track of the medication such as medicine names, expiry date and prescription guide.

Thermometer, cream, lid balm, medicated oil and field dressing. I used mini ziploc bags to prevent items from getting wet and also to organise the packing.

This ear bud iodine is really useful and handy. Just break the tip and the iodine will flow to the cotton bud.

Swiss Card Tools. Pen knife, scissors, pen, needle, small tweezers, tooth pick, file and a fine needle.

assortment of band aids and alcohol swab

I recommend to use OFF Insect repellent, they are much effective than any other brand. I transferred into a smaller bottle for easy packing. The spray bottle you can buy from Diaso for NT39

There are many ways to store a First Aid Kit, here I have a bigger First Aid bag which I no longer use otherwise you can use a sandwich ziploc bag as a FA Kit.

Lotus Pannier SH-409

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:08:00 +0000

Weight 1320

Capacity: 36.8Lts

Size: 43 x 36 x 20cm

Material: 600D Polyester 420D Nylon and 1000D Condura

Website

Made in Taiwan, this is a nice set of bike panniers and should not cost more than NT1800 per set. Nothing compare to Ortlieb bike panniers but we liked the design. These panniers are rather spacious, it has front mesh pocket, side, rear and the main storage compartments. On the scale each pannier weighs around 720g and both panniers holds around 36.8lts of gears. The material on the panniers are water resistance so you might need to waterproof your packing.

The main compartment has a draw cord and the flap is stretchable for maximum storage. It is secured with 2 adjustable buckles angled side ways.

The front mesh pocket has a draw cord and is ideal for quick storage such as towel or spare drinking bottle

The side compartment is spacious enough for maps or guide books

The rear compartment has a reflective 3M, nice for storing slippers or fuel bottles

on top of the pannier there are straps to tie down long items like tent pole

The pannier has a nylon strap handle. It has only a upper single quick locking system. The 2 side hooks are of stainless steel with rubber insulation. Both the hooks and quick locking system are adjustable to fit your bike rack. The lower locking is also adjustable and rotatable to fit the lower bike rack

If you are on a budget and you need a set of panniers, this something you might want to consider. It is not the best panniers but decent enough to use for short biking trips. These pannier and not design to hold heavy loads or rugged usage but it has sufficient space to hold camping gears. One tip, we always carry a spare foldable duff bag for our food and we tied it on top of the bike rack. This will allow more storage space for the panniers.

Large enough to fit in our dog

Lotus and Ortlieb panniers

This bike rack is from Topeak. This design has a rear extended frame which is ideal for touring use because using the Lotus panniers we noticed the weight of the pannier tends to bend inwards towards the rear wheel. I would recommend bike rack of similar design if using the Lotus panniers.

Crank Brothers Speed Lever

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:03:00 +0000

Weighing 31g, size 155mm x 10mm x 12mm made of polycarbonate, Crank Brothers offer this master piece a LIFETIME Warranty. At first sight before using it, you will feel that this lever will break easily as it is made of polycarbonate. However upon using it, it held pretty well and relatively simple to use. The whole tire change took less than a minute. Watch the below video that I made.

Using the lever is easy, the lower end has a U channel and it sits on the wheel axle. The upper ends has 2 hooks. One end is used for removing the tire and the other to install. It will fit most rim size as the telescopic lever is adjustable. The beauty of this lever, it will not pinch the inner tube.

Topeak Explorer Tubular Rack Disc Mount

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:02:00 +0000

Weight: 620g

Size: 34.5 x 23.5 x 41cm

Material: Hallow Aluminium

This is a simple bike rack from Topeak. Ideal for around the city where you can attached Topeak MTX top bags that slide and clip locking system or attached side panniers.

Before purchasing this rack, ensure that your bike must have the lower mounting holes for bike racks, otherwise this will not fit your bike. Also note they have a non-disc version bike rack.

The bike rack is secures with 4 bolts and 2 sliding bar so that you can fit on any hardtail bikes.

Most bikes have 2 upper mounting holes to secure the bike rack. If you do not have any, you can secure it on your seat clamp.

Lower end of the rack bolted to the bike mounting hole

Most Topeak bike rack are designed to fit their bags with a slide and clip system. This is a unique system and it locks the top bags securely without using any tie-downs.

The rear end of the rack has a mounting for tail light or reflectors

This is an interesting New add-on by Topeak. The TrolleyTote can be folded when not in used. When needed just open it up and slide onto the bike rack and it will lock in place. Extend the trolley handle and off you go to market.

Helmet Mount Lighting

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:01:00 +0000

I been looking at dyno-hub, off the shell bike light and DIY solution (bicyclelighting.com).

Recently on thelazyrando blog where he had discussed dynohub vs battery bike lamp, I decided to write down my own solution for a bike lamp.

Here are my thoughts.

Dyno-hub - it adds extra weight to the bike and also create drag but it is energy efficency.

Off the shell bike lamp is easy to install, can use rechargeable battery but still add some weight to the bike.

DIY Solution is definitely heavier

All the solution above have one set back, when the lamp is mounted on the bike, there is a very high chance it will get stolen if unattended even if you have lock your bike.

Finally, the solution that I had it all this time, my headlamp. I have bought many headlamps but only 2 headlamp is always with me when I travel. The Petzl Tikka XP LED Headlamp and Petzl E+Lite. You can have other headlamp with similar mounting not necessary to be the same as mine. Here I provide a solution using my existing gears.

Petzl had been making gears for rock climbing for many years. Only did I realise that I can actually use the headlamp just like the rock climbers or cave explorer do. They have their headlamp strap to the helmet. So I tried to have both my headlamp strap to my bike helmet and it worked.

Here is a picture of the Petzl Tikka XP LED Headlamp. I only use this headlamp when I am riding in dark places. The last time I mounted it when we had to ride 95Km in the night back home after a trip to Penghu Island. The headlamp was sufficient enough to see at least 30m ahead.

Why not HID lamp some may ask? To me HID lamp is best use in offroad condition where you need to scout for the best route to take but when you are on the road, there is only one paved road. I had used this headlamp on my night accent in Malaysia mountain and it was good enough. I have yet to try offroad riding with it but I do think it can do the job. Here is my Tikka XP review

Petzl E+Lite is mounted on my helmet. It weighs to nothing and is sufficient to use in the city where you do not have to light up the road. All you need is to let people know you are there. But then again, it is bright enough up to 10m (Maker says 19m). The E+Lite have 5 different lighting option including red light option but mostly I use the white light strode function in the city. One thing I did not like is that there is no rechargeable battery option for CR2032 batteries. Here is a review if you want to know more.

For rear light I use Cateye SL-LD100. It too uses 1 x CR2032 battries and is waterproof to 50m. It has 3 lighting option and operates on magnetic switch. Otherwise you can use it as a backup rear lamp.

Having a rear lamp is important. I am not worry I cycle and fell into a man-hole. I am more worried some idiot can't see me and knock me off from behind.

So my solution is a helmet mount headlamp with added strode function . Why I think is better??

1. It will never get stolen unless you leave your helmet unattended

2. Besides mounting on the helmet, you can use it anywhere as a headlamp

3. It is lighter

4. If you need to check your cyco-meter at night or read a map, just steer you head in that direction.

5. You could view side way in the dark will riding

6. It always on your helmet and you will never forget to bring your lamp

If you need lamp that shines 50m away then your option would be HID lamp and not this. You might be interested in these products by Nite Rider. The make great HID headlamp but the price do not come cheap.

Topeak Mini Morph Pump

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0000

If you are looking for a bike pump, look no further, here is one highly recommended bike pump. The Topeak Mini Morph has been in the market for around 4years. Among all the hand held bike pumps, the Mini Morph is the easiest and uses less effort to pump a deflated tire. The design is a single stroke mini floor pump which means you can place the pump on the floor and pump with lesser effort.

It weighs around 170g, size 26 x 5 x 2.8cm and pumps till 160psi. The pump body is made of butted aluminium and the handle is plastic.

There are 3 moving parts in the Mini Morph. A fold out foot pad, a flexible 360deg hose that can be extended another 20mm and a fold out pump handle.

The bracket has two bolt holes to bolt down to your existing water cage holder. The pump is clip-on to the holder and Velcro down to prevent accidental loss.

To use the Mini Morph place the nozzle to the tire tube valve and lock the upper lever, fold out the foot pad, pull out and extend the hose, lift up the folded handle and start pumping.

fold out foot pad

The fold out handle is design that you grip the handle in between your index and middle finger. Thus giving alot of leverage when pumping

The pump can be use on both Presta or Schrader valves just by switch the internal component

Soft Bag Bike Carrier

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:58:00 +0000

The soft bike carrier bag is the easiest way to transport your bike on buses, high speed rail or train. It should take around 10 to 15mins to dismantle a complete bike and store in the bike carrier. The soft bike carrier bag is light and do not take up much space when packed. I have friends who had use these bags to transport their bikes on airlines and surprisingly the bike was not damage in such transportation.

Weighing around 1500g, packed size 12" x 7" x 6" made of 600D Polyester material. The 26" soft bike carrier bag is made in Taiwan was bought from Giant Bike Shop. There are similar bike carrier bags from other makers and the price ranges from NT1600~NT1800.

The bag consist

1 x main bike carrier bag

2 x Compression belt

1 x carrier sling

2 x fork guard

1 x small compression belt

The interior has 3 compartments. 1 small compartment, sufficient enough to store skewers, pedals and a few small tools. There are 2 wheel compartments which is able to fit the 26" wheel without deflating the 2.1" tires. As for 2.3" tires it will need to be deflated before it can be store inside. Inside the wheel compartment there are reinforced PVC pad to prevent the wheel from damaging the bag.

The fork sock is padded at the end and is able to slip onto the 32mm Fox Talas fork.

The bag is big enough to fit the Giant Trance X zero frame with Old Man Mountain bike rack. In order to have a proper fit, the handle bar will have to be removed from the stem. Both wheel are stored in the provided storage compartment on each side on the bag.

The overall size of the bag is around 45" long on the topside, 37" on the lower, height 33" and thickness 10.5". The nicer part of the bag is that there are compression straps on the outside to prevent the bike from rattling.

The carrier sling is around 2 inch thick and can be adjusted to the desired length however when you carry the complete bag with bike in it, you will feel a slight discomfortable on your shoulder because of the complete weight of the bike but this can be over come by adding a shoulder strap pad.

It would be better if the bag is a little lighter around 1kg and the packed size smaller but all this will compromise the durability of the bag.

Do note when transporting the bike in such bag, it is best that you remove the rear D together with the hanger, use cable ties to strap down all movable parts. Use bubble wrap of cloth to wrap around the cassette and other protruding ends to prevent any damages.

Topeak Alien DX Tools

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:57:00 +0000

The Topeak Alien DX multi tools has been in the market since 2007. It has 27 tools and comes with a nylon carrying case. The body is made of harden plastic and most of the tools are of harden steel or stainless steel.

The carrying case comes with a detachable clip. The clip is able to use with either Topeak's stem fixer or band clamp fixer which you need to purchase separately.

The multi tool weighs 270g and comes in 2 pieces that are secure together with a clip

Allen Wrenches 2/2.5/3/4/5/6/8mm

Torx Wrench T25

Box Wrenches 8/10mm (2 each)/ 9mm

Spoke Wrenches 15g/14g

Chain Tool Cast Cromoly Steel

Chain Hook Steel Wire

Tire Levers Two Integrated In Body

Screw Drivers Phillips and Flat Head

Knife Stainless Steel

Bottle Opener Stainless Steel

Pliers with Wire Cutter Stainless Steel

Pedal Wrench Mini (For Field Repairs)

One part of the multi tool containing the chain tool, bottle opener, knife etc have a locking mechanism. By pressing the locking mechanism will release the tool and store it back into place.

chain hook is really useful when you need to reconnect the chain

chain tool

If you plan to remove the pedal, the pedal wrench do not work very well as the leverage is very short. In the end, I will need a hammer to do the job. However it is useful only when your pedal comes loose.

The tool comes with 15g and 14g spoke wrench. Ideal for a quick fix but definitely not for tuning the wheelset.

Overall this is a Bike Survival Muti-Tool. If you already owned a multi-tool like Leatherman, I would suggest not to get the Topeak Alien DX. There are few cons I found out when using it, the integrated tire lever is not easy to use, the spoke wrench will damage the nipple if you are not careful, the pedal wrench is not ideal for removing pedal, the knife is too small, the pliers is too small to have a strong grip. A bottle opener on a bike tool??? I would rather be back using the Topeak Hexus and a Leatherman Juice XE6.

Tips when buying a bike tool.

Identified as many as possible the sizes of bolts and nuts on your bike
Identified the tools you will need to repair the bike
Chain tool is a must
Tire-lever is a must but if already have an independent tool then forget it
After making the tool lists, shop for the ideal bike multi-tool against your list. In this manner you will end up buying the correct tool.

If you are planning for long distance tour camping, it would be better if you get independent tools. It will make your repairs much easier.

Topeak Modula Bottle Cage

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:57:00 +0000

The Modula bottle cage weighs around 75g is unique because of the ability to adjust the size of the cage to fit smaller bottles. Anything bigger than a one litre water bottle will not be able to fit in, even 1lts Nalgene bottle.

This bottle cage is not ideal for off-road action, there are many times the water bottle just felt off the bike. Ideal for road touring when you buy your drink from a road vendor or 7-eleven.

Adjusting screw

Topeak Modula Bottle Cage XL

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:56:00 +0000

Made of Aluminium and plastic, the Modula Bottle Cage XL is ideal for touring camping use. The bottle cage can only fit 1 to 1.5lts bottle. The bottle will stay in place even on off-road condition. However not many bikes can fit such bottle cage onto the bike frame as it is rather long in length. The mounting point is at one third from the bottle cage so to fit it in the mid frame of the bike can be very tricky. Our bike had an external water cage mounting point so it is rather useful to have such bottle cage mounted.

One of the disappointment, the rubber holder was not lasting. I have since made a modification repair

The height adjusting screw has limited adjustment, so before you buy the bottle make sure it can fit on the bottle cage

We used it on our Penghu bike camping trip

Bike Survival Tools

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:55:00 +0000

Murphy's Law "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong". There are no bullet proof design in our lives, so is your tour camping trip. Many of us would just go with a spare tube, tire lever, a handheld pump and a multi-tool. In my experience from off-road motorbikes and biking, I soon realised what is really necessary to have a complete minimalist Bike Survival tools.

Cable Ties - they are really useful in many ways. I have used it once when my daughter crashed her bike and broke the brake lever mounting. I used 2 cable ties and secure them in place and we were able to complete our next 3 days bike camping trip.

Chain Lubricant - After a muddy or wet weather riding, it is good to have some oil on the chain for smoother riding.

One Cotton Glove - Dun call me sissy to use a glove. Wait till you have to handle a loose chain and grease all over your fingers and you have no place to wash it off.

Duct Tapes - These is another great asset to help in temporary repairs such torn panniers, broken lever, punctured tube.....

Speed Lever - If you do not want your friends waiting for you. This is the lever that can give you a quick tire fixed. To know more here is a link

Spare Tube - It is always good to carry one.

Handheld Pump - Definitely must have. This is one great pump from Topeak Mini Morph

Multi-Tool - Another must have tool for all the fixes around the bike. I have here is a Topeak Alien DX

This is another repair kit that many do not carry

Chain Link - Do not ever think your chain will never break because it will. This will give you a quick fix and you can have it on until your chain wears off.

Schrader Valve Tool - This little tool is useful on Schrader valve only. For bike tubes using Schrader valve, you need to unscrew the valve to let the air out of the tube. Most third world countries uses Schrader valve tubes so if you need to replace a tube, this will come in handy.

Schrader Valve Adaptor - This adaptor is useful on bikes with Presta Valves. I only use it when I am at a petrol kiosk to pump up air in my tires or worst if my handheld pump fails.

Pre-Glued Tire Patch - Great for small puncture. No more messy glue.

Rear Derailleur Hanger - I had experience twice bent Rear-D hanger. Once that is bent, you will have problem changing gear and your whole trip will be ruined. Even you try to bend it back it will never be in the correct position. You will need a special tool such as Park Tools Derailleur Adjustment Gauge and nobody carries such tool on a trip. I would rather buy a spare Rear-D hanger than an expensive tools.

All the tools fit in the Topeak Aero Wedge Pack Medium except the handheld pump. This pack is not waterproof so after a wet weather ride, it is best to remove all item and let it dry. The whole tool bags weighs around 700g. Alone the Aero Wedge Pack weighs 140g and most of the weight is on the multi-tool, I might replace the Alien DX for Hexus and have all the tools stored in a small bag to reduce the weight.

Topeak TourGuide Handlebar Bag

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:54:00 +0000

The Topeak TourGuide Handlebar Bag comes in two sizes. The other is the Topeak TourGuide Handlebar Bag DX which I have sold away and replaced with this current handlebar bag. I like this current model because it has many pockets especially the side pockets for organised storage or a quick draw. It is smaller and weighs lesser,the bag has only a capacity of 5 litres, weighs around 670g and the material is of padded Denier Nylon.

On the top part of the bag, you can place a provided clear map case which is Velcro to the bag. The map case can be folded in half. Do note the map case is not waterproof. It has a padded carry-on handle.

The upper pocket has more mini pockets for note book, credit cards, pen map etc.

Both side pockets have external elastic mesh pockets. Ideal for storing pocket cameras, wet handkerchief and other small items which requires a quick draw.

The front pocket has a 3M reflective strip and a nylon strap to mount lightings. It is big enough to store sunglasses and other miscellaneous.

The most interesting part of the bag is the main compartment. The map case can be Velcro to the upper part of the bag for storage. Inside the compartment there are 4 organised pockets and a detachable Velcro organiser to adjust the spacing. I think you can fit a SLR camera.

It comes with a Nylon shoulder strap

Rain cover is provided but it can't fully cover the bag.

The mounting bracket is made of plastic and it comes with a safety wire which I do not understand the use here. But do be careful when mounting the bracket because I had damaged the thread and ended up ordering another set.

The mounting bracket comes with an adaptor to mount cyco-meter or GPS. Personally I do not use it because the adaptor does not have a proper fitting, with one hard pull, it will come off .

MagForce OCTA Versipack

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:53:00 +0000

In Asia, MagForce aka (also know as) Maxpedition is from Taiwan that makes military grade pack. They are very durable and can withstand wear and tear in extreme environment. Unlike top brands such as MountainSmith or Arc'teryx, their product material on the packs are lightweight so they do not provide the durability like Magforce do.

Currently in this review is a OCTA Versipack. It has become my EDC (Every Day Cary), cycling or for short hikes pack. They comes in many camo colors, here I have is a ACU (Army Combat Uniform) desert digital. On the Versipack I have DIY and attached few items which I used it everyday, a waterbottle holder, GPS holder and a camera pouch.

Front slip pocket dims: 5.5" x 4" is ideal for smaller item such as wallet, credit card

On the front there are Velcro to stick your name tag or other insignia.

Front compartment dims: 6" x 5" x 1.5"

Cloth divider and elastic loops, dual zipper opening, drainage grommet.

Main compartment dims: 9" wide on top, 7" wide on bottom, 5" high x 3" deep

Mesh and cloth dividers, dual zipper flap opening, drainage grommet. Compartment is big enough for a water-filter

Top slot with elastic cord

Back slip pocket dims: 8" x 4"

Drainage grommet hole at bottom

Waist strap: 2" removable, max. waist size 48", elastic slack retainers, 2" side release buckles

Additional survival items for short offroad action

Buck folding knife, GPS and camera

10mtrs Paracord

Survival Kit

Handheld Pocket Water Filter

Outdoor action items carry in and on the OCTA Versipack - knife, camera, GPS, toilet paper, notebook, tool logic, car keys, wallet, headphone, insect repellent, hand sanitiser, camera mini-tripod, headlamp, fire started, whistle, military can-opener, mobile phone, 10mtrs paracord, wet towel, driving documents, survival kit, water filter, Leatherman Juice XE6, Nalgena bottle, spork, sandwich ziploc bags.

If needed to carry more stuff, the OCTA Versipack can be attached to the Maxpedition Falcon II Backpack.

OCTA Versipack Material

1000-Denier water and abrasion resistant light-weight ballistic nylon fabric

DUPONT Teflon® fabric protector for grime resistance and easy maintenance

YKK high strength zippers and zipper tracks

UTX-Duraflex nylon buckles for low sound closures

Triple polyurethane coated for water resistance

High tensile strength nylon webbing

High tensile strength composite nylon thread (stronger than ordinary industry standard nylon thread)

#AS-100 high grade closed-cell foam padding material for superior shock protection

Internal seams taped and finished

Paracord zipper pulls

Stress points double stitched, Bartacked or "Box-and-X" stitched for added strength

MagForce Link

Maxpedition Link

Ortlieb Roller Classic Panniers

noreply@blogger.com (scx) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:51:00 +0000

Ortlieb makes one of the best bike panniers in the world. All Ortlieb panniers sell in pairs. In their product listings there are many models but most cycle tourists would recommend the Classic series. The reason is because the Classic is made of PVC coated Polyester fabric and there are no external opening except the main compartment. This design will keep the whole bag waterproof and washing it off after a muddy ride is easy. Dirt will not get trapped in the fabric. You can literally throw the whole bag into the river and wash it with all the items in it and it will stay dry.

In the Roller Classic, there are many colors to choose and comes in two sizes, the Front-Roller Classic which is smaller and the Back-Roller Classic both with identical design. The capacity for both sizes are 25lts per pair and 30lts per pair. The Front-Roller Classic weights 1590g per pair and the Back-Roller Classic weighs 1900g.

In the Roller Classic there is only one main storage compartment. Inside the there are 2 storage pockets, one is open and the other zipper. Ideal for storing smaller items or flip-flop. Inside there is a plastic board the keeps the bag in shape.

To water tight the bag, roll the bag backwards and buckle the central clip. There are 2 options to buckle the side clip. One way as you can see here is to buckle them together and it becomes a carrying handle.

The back part of the bag is reinforce at the lower section where it comes in contact with bike rack.

The lower attachment can be removed for adjustment to secure to the bike rack

The Ortlieb QL-system is unique, to hook the pannier to the bike rack, you will need to pull the handle strap and this will open up both side of the clip. The QL system also provide 2 sizes of clips to fit your bike rack tubing. However I realised that there is a flaw because anyone can just pull the strap and take the panniers away. To prevent this from happening, tuck the strap away or keep it under the central buckle.

All the Ortlieb Roller Classic comes with a shoulder strap

This is another method of securing the pannier with the strap on

There is no left or right panniers, it can be mounted on either side. All panniers come with front and back 3M reflector.

On my bike I am using the large Back-Roller Classic and other the other is a Front-Roller Classic.

Ortlieb sells a Carry System that you can attached you pannier and it becomes a waterproof back back