BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="iveljay" data-source="post: 1153672" data-attributes="member: 37260">Some time since I used a bike but I used to try to get as much as possible in the rucksack, padded with sweaters, foam, etc. The constant vibration off tarmac always worried me and put me off bike mounted packs. Also when you come off the backpack will probably land on something soft. I tended to vary what I took with me quite a bit as I have preferred wide aperture prime lenses to zooms (nice that they still work with digital!) which meant that carefully tailored bags and packs got left behind for car based sorties (think of about 11 lenses, two bodies, battery packs, power winders and drives etc. - you get the picture). Its still amazing what you can fit into a standard rucksack (at least 30 litres), but admit I only used a lightweight scope.It does mean that I was limited what I carried to both lightweight and compact which could be limiting or frustrating.Perhaps gear is stronger now and bike suspension is softer but I remember how the bike used to shake bits apart or crack the supposedly unbreakable. Perhaps it depends on where you bike, an ancient flint surfaced track way once put 14 stitches in one of my knees so perhaps I am biased. A move to Bedfordshire made life a bit easier than that, I must admit, but many of the best places I went too were either too far away (taking a car and a bike rack seemed a bit self defeating) or were in walkable range, to make it worthwhile, also some of the better sites had riverside paths that were collapsing into the water and having achieved one graceless dive into the Ouse (on foot! and it tastes foul) while watched by loads of people  I played safe. The beauty of an evening ride with a single pair of bins listening to the birdsong was magical - I did find that a camera got in the way then but then I have tend to watch birds and wildlife to learn a bit about them; and to photograph them for totally different reasons.I sold my last bike when I moved to the beautiful (but steep) Wiltshire downs as I wish to live a bit longer, but still have great memories of the freedom a bike gave me. Good (and pain free) cycling/birding to you.J</blockquote>

Verification