Disqus - Latest Comments for mangochutney

Re: Ramadan Rides: A 2025 Fasted 500 Reflection

mangochutney — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 17:07:02 -0000

That’s terribly impressive. Thank you for sharing.

Re: Editor’s Dozen: Nic’s Favorite Gear and More of 2024

mangochutney — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 13:14:05 -0000

Wireless earbuds have gotten quite good but I have yet to find a pair that matches a good set of IEMs (musician's earphones).
Not sure about the durability statement, either. I still use the first pair of Apple EarPods that came with my iPhone 7 Plus. They just keep going and I must admit that I've washed them in the washing machine twice.

Re: Editor’s Dozen: Nic’s Favorite Gear and More of 2024

mangochutney — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 13:12:03 -0000

They are incredibly resource-intense in the production process and, to the best of my knowledge, not one manufacturer builds them to that the battery can be replaced.
That's my big issue with wireless earbuds: a consumable component dictates the life of the device. Once the battery dies, the company throws them away.

The current AirPods Pro that I own will be the last. I mainly use wired earphones again.

Re: Gear for Glampacking: 14 Items to Make Bikepacking More Fun and Comfy

mangochutney — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 03:42:34 -0000

Skipping stones never gets old.

Re: Gear for Glampacking: 14 Items to Make Bikepacking More Fun and Comfy

mangochutney — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 09:44:50 -0000

I absolutely adore how timely this article is.
Two weeks ago my partner, our dog and I did an 8-day—what I would now call—bike-glamping trip through the central part of Switzerland and we took everything and the kitchen sink just to see what we'd actually need and appreciate on this kind of journey. It was ton of stuff to lug around, for sure.

Pillow(s)
Check. Each of us has a compact but very comfy pillow that's a mix of inflation and foam-cushion.

~~Ultralight~~ Camp Chair
Check. We had the opportunity to try pretty much every ultralight camp chair in the market in a local store and none fit me or her well. Something was always off, like the hem of the seat digging into our thighs. We ended up with a mid-weight option in the form of the Bach Morningbird and Kiwi . These have accompanied us on bikepacking trips for three years now. The comfiness quite literally outweighs the weight we have to carry.

Slingshot
N/A. Haven't had one since I was a kid but may have to look into it.

Down Pants
Check. I don't need one because I run hot anyway but it's been a game changer for my partner. When this item appeared on one of the round-up lists here, I urged my partner to take it with her on a subsequent trip and now she brings it every time there's even a remote chance of a cold night.

Games/cards/dice
Check. This time we brought Uno. I love bringing the paper, pen and dice version of Settler of Catan.

Music and Books
Check. We always bring good earphones with us so each person can sit back and listen to music/podcasts/audio books. This time around I also brought an e-reader and it was such a pleasure reading for 30 min to an hour before sleeping.

Lights/lantern
Check. We have a small camp light by NiteCore but this time we only took our headlamps and diffusers to light the tent or cooking area softly.

Wide sleeping pads
N/A and want. This was one of the things my partner would've loved to have the most this time around. We both have good pads by Therm-A-Rest but found ourselves drifting into the walls of the Tarptent Rainbow Li a lot. She really wants to try a 2-person pads next time.

Sleeping pad pump
N/A and want. With us changing sites every day, we could've really used one of those. I wonder if there's one that also works for bike tires or the other way around.

Camp shoes
Check. No matter where, one of my pairs of Bedrock sandals always comes with.

Frisbee
N/A and heck, this could be cool.

Fly Rod
N/A. Not my cup of tea but I get why people like it.

Upgraded Cook Kit
Check. Hard agree. We're pretty much set with a Soto Windmaster but we brought more of or titanium pots and pans this time around and that allowed for some fun cooking in the evenings. I will be looking for a pan with a durable non-stick coating to have an easier time frying tofu or fish on future trips. Also: spices galore!

Fancy Beverages
Check. Skipped the AeroPress for this trip, instead each of us brought a bunch of teas we liked and we set aside some room in our luggage for beers or juices.

🤩 Bonus

Foldable table
On a whim we bought a foldable table from Decathlon and brought it along. It's realtively compact and weighs about a kilo. We transported it below our dog's bed in her trailer. Every time I set it up it felt decadent but cooking was so much easier and it was just nice to not have all of the stuff sitting on the ground. We'll probably put it in the car permanently for whenever we want to stop some place.

Elastic clothesline
That thing goes on every trip with us. Makes drying clothes and equipment a breeze and you don't need clips to secure most things.

Foldable solar panel
We don't always take this one with but it's so useful in the sunnier months. Sometimes we don't even have to hunt for outlets and that in itself feels freeing. If we know the ride will be reasonably tame and sunny, we attach it to the roof of the doggy trailer to charge a power bank while cycling.

Single-walled stainless steel bottle as a hot water bottle
Did I mention my partner feels cold easily? In the evenings, when there's hot water around or left over from making tea, I fill my trusty Clean Kanteen as a hot water bottle for her.

Re: Have You Seen the Tunitas Creative Motion Strap?

mangochutney — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 04:04:31 -0000

Definitely worth it. Bought one last year and modified it with Peak Design anchors this year because I've been swapping cameras and bags. Really good stuff and much less fiddly than two-piece solutions.

The only thing that sometimes has me prefer two-piece straps is the ability to attach one end to the tripod mount and stabilize certain cameras better on the back.

Re: What’s So Alluring About Titanium Bikes?

mangochutney — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 11:29:24 -0000

In that case definitely read up on the bikes/frames that are in consideration and talk to the manufacturers about them. This will probably tell you loads more about the characteristics of each bike to help you make an informed decision.

It's a good material and I'm loving what manufacturers are doing with 3D printing now (particularly ti forks) but the intent of the frame builder influences the ride more than the material.

Re: What’s So Alluring About Titanium Bikes?

mangochutney — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 11:25:27 -0000

Lovely article, Lucas. If anyone asks me about choosing a titanium bike in the future and they don't want to listen to me ramble on about it, I'll point them here.

I've owned and sold three titanium bikes/frames and I currently—and for the foreseeable future—own two.

[*] Litespeed T5G (2nd generation) gravel bike: owned and sold
[*] Litespeed Tuscany road bike: owned and sold
[*] Veloheld Icon.X Titan gravel bike: owned and sold
[*] Nordest Britango hard tail (custom geo): going strong
[*] Van Nicholas Yukon Disc allroad bike: oh yeah, baby

I've had a soft spot for this material since I got back into cycling seven years ago. The perceived strength, the versatility, the potential for longevity, and the ease of living with this frame material (no paint, no corrosion) are the things that have kept and keep drawing me to it.

To be perfectly honest, I did go into buying the first one of these the Litespeed T5G (used) believing a lot of the sensational claims made about titanium (despite my typical skeptical self) and I loved riding it. It was comfy and resilient and a definitive step up from the Canyon Inflite AL frame it replaced. I realized only later that it was mostly different and not necessarily better.

The Tuscany was a completely different beast from the T5G. Where the T5G was forgiving and flexy, the Tuscany was a proper stiff and efficient road bike with just a hint of comfortable flex in the seat stays.

The bikes I bought after were reflections of that: The Veloheld was an attempt at buying a proper bikepacking gravelbike but the toe overlap on my frame size combined with the terrain that I would be bikepacking on, resulted in the purchase of a custom Nordest Britango frame, which Pedro from Nordest built to my geometry requests and tubing specifications. I've raced the Britango, I've done lots of bikepacking on it, and it's an excellent compromise of a frame that I dearly love and that has the marks to show it.

The Van Nicholas Yukon Disc is the perfect example of a titanium bike that could be done more easily and lighter from steel, aluminium or carbon: This bike weighs 9.2 kg. It's designed to be an audax bike with thicker tubing, stronger welds, and a beefy BB shell. It's rated for riders up to 130 kg and it can be quite unforgiving (I've increased comfort with the tires, a flexy seat tube, and carbon handlebars). Then again, I can also load it up properly and know that it's not a noodle carrying me and my gear and dragging a doggy trailer. This is the first titanium bike I would consider labelling a "forever bike" because it's super sturdy, very stiff (as I'd expect from a road bike), has tyre clearance for 37 mm rubber, and is equipped for electronic and mechanical group sets with sensible internal routing through the head tube, making it easy to live with.

All of these bikes have shown me that material quality, tube shaping, tube thickness, and general geometry are more important than the choice of titanium, steel, or aluminium and made me understand that titanium is no miracle material. It's still my material of choice.

Re: Collective Reward #189: Austere Lock Belts

mangochutney — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 07:24:37 -0000

Oh nice. Been eyeing one of those for a while.

Re: Quinda Verheul’s Highland Trail 550 Bike Check (Video)

mangochutney — Tue, 28 May 2024 15:00:40 -0000

Wait, is that a 120 mm suspension fully?

Re: How Do You Carry Your Camera on the Bike?

mangochutney — Sat, 18 May 2024 07:22:48 -0000

Yay! So glad this was useful to someone.

Re: How Do You Carry Your Camera on the Bike?

mangochutney — Mon, 13 May 2024 10:09:16 -0000

https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

Late entry to the fun but here goes:

I always carry my camera (typically a Leica Q2, sometimes a X-H2) on-body and in one of three ways depending on what I ride and the weather conditions.

1. Dry, not too dusty: Tunitas Creative Motion Camera Strap modified to use Peak Design Anchors. I love that strap to bits. Very comfy and very stable. The Fidlock clasp makes going from strap to stabilised strap so damn easy. The 25 mm wide strap works well for smaller cameras up to larger combos like the Fujifilm X-H2 with the XF90 lens.

2. Unsteady weather or very dusty conditions: F-Stop Gear Lens Barrel Medium on the aforementioned camera strap across my body. This pouch easily fits the Leica Q2, a X-H2 with the XF27, or even a Fujifilm X-Pro2 with the old XF23 (tight fit, though). Access is easy and quick, protection from the elements very good (it‘s not completely waterproof but good enough for rides in the rain).

3. Shitty weather, most often on the mountain bike, or when carrying more than one lens: Rockgeist Big Dumpling hip pack with a Billingham Hadley padded insert . Carried one or another camera on longer trips like this, in the foulest of weather or very muddy conditions, not worried about the gear at all.

Photo of the three options attached.

Re: The New Zpacks Free Zip 2P Freestanding Tent Weighs Under Two Pounds

mangochutney — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 11:50:03 -0000

Please, please, please make a 3-person version of this. I have an really like the Tarptent Double Rainbow Li I have but it is kinda tight for two people + a dog.

Re: Tout Terrain’s Mule and Singletrailer Trailers

mangochutney — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 04:59:55 -0000

I can wholeheartedly recommend the Mule.
Works so well as a cargo trailer and as a doggy trailer, too. I found a dog box that fits it just right and I'm planning on building a proper top for the thing so our little furry lady will have even more space on bikepacking trips.
The rear suspension on it makes such a huge difference for our dog and unlike axle-mounted trailers (we also have the medium-sized Croozer Dog) it doesn't feel like you're dragging an anchor behind you. Another bonus is that it leans with you, resulting in less sideways forces exerted on the dog/cargo when cornering.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

Re: ‘Dune: Part Two’ Was Shot Using Vintage Soviet Photo Lenses

mangochutney — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 03:30:30 -0000

Same. Always enjoyed using my 44M2 with a SpeedBooster on my Fujis.

Re: ‘Dune: Part Two’ Was Shot Using Vintage Soviet Photo Lenses

mangochutney — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 03:28:04 -0000

The ups and downs for these lenses are always fun to watch.

Re: Tailfin 16L Mini Pannier Review: From Bikepacking to Commuting

mangochutney — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 17:32:34 -0000

Camp chairs for lyfe!

Re: Tailfin 16L Mini Pannier Review: From Bikepacking to Commuting

mangochutney — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 14:15:30 -0000

aaaaaaaaaaand Tailfin have done it again. Will be ordering a set of these momentarily and selling one pair of Ortliebs.

Re: Is the New Fujifilm X100VI as Bikepacking-Friendly as its Predecessor?

mangochutney — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 11:35:40 -0000

It‘s an interesting beast. I‘m not yet fully convinced that many of the lenses I own make full use of the resolution (Fujifilm‘s list doesn‘t help, honestly) but with the ones that do (like the 90/2) the results are great.

To me the X-H2 is the camera I pick when I know I will want to engage in a lot of photography, when that is a clear intention.

The Q2 (and by extension X100-series cameras and GR series cams) with their more minimal controls and smaller form factor are point-and-shoots that I always have with me to make sure I have a camera at hand that offers me the level of image quality I want and potential for post-processing.

Re: Is the New Fujifilm X100VI as Bikepacking-Friendly as its Predecessor?

mangochutney — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 09:28:21 -0000

My main travel camera right now is the Q2 but the new X100VI is seriously tempting. I have a X-H2 with a bunch of lenses for when I need more reach or the variability of a zoom and I can attest that the 40 MP on that camera make it so versatile.

Re: Mosaic Cycles GT-1 iAR Integrated All Road

mangochutney — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:55:44 -0000

It is so pretty. If I wasn't so satisfied with my current all-road bike …

Re: Tubolight Diamana Tire Inserts

mangochutney — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:25:48 -0000

Definitely an interesting concept. The Vittoria Air Liners I have in my tires have been doing a great job but once the time comes to replace them, the lightest version of these may be worth a try given that I mainly do light XC and bikepacking with my MTB.

Re: No Car, No Gnar, No Far: Pedaling 20,000+ Miles on a Cargo Bike

mangochutney — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 04:37:54 -0000

Love it. Impressive stuff and great photos.

Re: Leica Q3 Review From a Canon Photographer: Hit and Miss

mangochutney — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 09:22:33 -0000

@Emmanuel Nataf Your review read so strange to me in places because my experience with the Q2 I got at the beginning of the year is so very different. I quite honestly had to take a step back and reread to make sure I wasn't dismissing your experience and assertions out of misplaced hurt feelings about my choice of camera gear.

I realized that I cannot argue with your specific needs when it comes to wide aperture lenses but I am confused about the remarks about the quality of the lens. I've tried so many lenses over the years on so many systems and the 28/1.7 is excellent optically. It also apparently resolves the 60MP in the Q3.

My preferred focal length is 35 mm and adapting to the 28 in the Q2 is still a challenge, even after nine months but I've realized that the benefits this sensor+lens combo offers, combined with the fact that this may be the fanciest point-and-shoot in existence (and I mean that as a positive), far outweigh the negatives for me. Cycling with it, in particular, is a lot of fun because it doesn't weigh me down even when I'm suffering one of the many uphills we have on offer in the Black forest. Side note: I've recently started using the Tunitas Motion Camera Strap and it's just excellent.

Re: Room For One Less: An e*thirteen Helix Race 9-52 12-Speed Cassette Review

mangochutney — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 10:22:58 -0000

Well-written review, Travis, thank you. I particularly appreciated you putting the 9-tooth cog into perspective as the opposite of a bail-out gear and where it is useful. I may have to look into this cassette for my retro-mod tourer.

I still have a 11-speed 9-36 tooth e*thirteen cassette here that I bought for an early iteration of my gravel bike and I really liked the combination of sensibly spaced gears, a decent low gear of 32/36 and a high gear of 32/9.