bivvybag – Calum On Wheels

What I learned from riding the Way of the Roses, from London

I’ve come back from Bridlington, the finish line of the ‘Way of the Roses,’ and have written up this short blog post I hope may be instructive to your future cycle trip plans, whether using this route or another. I’m doing my best to keep it helpful and concise. For your information, this trip was in mid-June 2025.

A bikepacking love letter to my army surplus “Gore-tex” bivvy bag

One of the earliest problems any would-be bikepacker has to contend with is which sleeping system is the best. If you’re like me, you don’t have infinite money and storage space to keep stuff in (or to book glamping huts), so you end up picking a compromise solution that hopefully covers all your bases. I’ve had my army surplus bivvy bag for a few years now and it’s one of my favourite things. Supposedly in the military they’re known as the ‘green time machines’ since once you’ve clambered inside, you’ll instantly fall asleep and you’re back on duty before you know it. This is a blog post about why that is and hopefully it sways you to check out this cheap and robust item of gear.