Outdoor Equipment: Merida Big Nine 20 MTB

 My current mountain bike...Merida Big Nine 20

Some of the trail sections along the Christchurch 360 are best covered on a bike rather than on foot. In particular the tracks from Brooklands Lagoon along the banks of the Waimakariri River would take an enormous amount of time and effort to walk. The same distance can easily be covered on a MTB in a mater of hours.... 

End of the Brooklands section of the 360 Trail

I have only one section of the 360 Trail left to cover between Taylors Mistake and Scarborough. However it is my intention to eventually cover all of the sections of the Christchurch 360 Trail again as I took no films or photos the last time I covered this ground. 

Getting back on a bike after 20 years...

Back in the late 1980's and early 1990's (before I got married) I was an avid MTB rider. I liked downhill riding, forest and flat trail riding and used to cover between 60-120 kilometers every week on my bike. As with most people jobs, houses, family and lack of time meant I hardly got out anymore and I did very little cycling through most of the 2000's. 

I did a lot of riding on the Port Hills in the 1990's

After the Covid lockdowns back in 2020 and 2021 I decided to buy myself a new mountain bike. My previous bike although good in its time was nearly 30 years old and not fit for purpose anymore. I was very envious of all the people cycling around so decided to invest some money in getting back on two wheels.

Riding up Kennedys Bush Track in the early 2000's

 My new MTB is a Merida Big Nine 20.......

The Merida Big Nine 20:

I had a good look around and decided to buy a Merida bike as it best fit my requirements without a heinous price tag attached to it. The model I choose was the Big Nine 20. It is good for road and off trail riding, has decent downhill brakes, a front suspension unit (and hard tail) and quality components. 

Here is some technical information about this Mountain Bike;

Technical specifications of the Merida Nine 20

It is interesting how far cycle technology has advanced since the 1990's. Back then things like disc brakes, aluminum frames and suspension units were in their infancy and very, very expensive. You had to fit them as aftermarket parts and they were hard to get here in New Zealand. A bike with the same specifications as this back in the 1990s would have cost $3000-$5000 dollars. 

Disc brakes as fitted to my Merida bike

Another feature of this bike is the 29" wheels...back in the 1990's only outlandish folk used wheels of this size but now it is commonplace. They take a bit more effort to get rolling but once you do they seem quicker and easier to pedal. 

The Merida Nine 20 in action:

I have used the bike to cover a couple of track sections so far and I have plans to use it on some of the cycle trails which have now appeared around the country. I used to be a mad keen cyclist and would like to get back into the pursuit if not with the same intensity I had for MTB riding in the 1990's. 

360 Trail logo at Canterbury Park

Here are some shots of the new bike in action...ha...there are no shots yet but I'll ad some soon!!!

Tramping Equipment: Orson Indie 1P UL Tent

 Another tent for the tramping equipment cupboard

Over the weekend I brought myself a new tramping tent to add to my already extensive stable of shelters. It is the one person Orson Indie 1P UL Tent which is another lite weight shelter for use on my tramping and back country adventures. 

The Orson Indie 1P UL tent

Orson tents are made in conjunction with Intents Outdoors an Auckland based importer of outdoor equipment. Orson is their new in house brand manufactured overseas to NZ specifications. Intents Outdoors have existed from the mid 2000's and provide a range of outdoor gear including tents, shelters, camping gear, camp kitchen and car camping items. 

The Intents Outdoors website

The Indie 1P UL is a tarp shelter which means it can be erected with a treking pole or optional tent pole. I always carry a set of trekking poles so it makes sense to use a tarp tent as a lite weight shelter. The Indie 1 weighs in at just over 1 kg and is long enough, wide enough and tall enough to provide space for myself, my sleeping pad and my gear. 

Dimensions of the Indie 1P

The Indie 1 is a pyramid style tent with a outer fly with a 4000mm water rating and a 8000mm rated floor. It will have significantly more water protection than my Big Agnes tent which will allow me to camp further into the summer shoulder seasons. 

Indie 1P UL tent in green...side view

The tent is available in either bright orange or a mid green color (mine is green) and they are a combination of sil nylon, polyester and netting material. It has one vestibule and one opening and needs to be pegged to the ground to erect. The outer fly and inner tent can be erected separately, together or outer first so the inner can be kept dry if erecting in rain. 

You can also buy the Indie 1P in this bright orange color

The tent packs down to a relatively small size and has its own waterproof stuff sack for storage when not in use. There is a set of 9 Y shaped aluminium pegs and I will replace 2-4 of these with longer V stakes for the foot and head. 

The Indie 1P comes with a waterproof drybag

The inner dimensions of the Indie 1P are roughly the same as my Copper Spur UL 1 and like that tent this is a single person shelter. The Indie is a little bit taller so I will have to take some care when pitching as it will probably be more prone to wind.  This is a minor problem for me as I do not often pitch my tent on exposed hills. 

I have seen a number of other people using this tent here in New Zealand and it is the main shelter of one of the tramping vloggers I like to watch. I brought this tent from Hunting and Fishing at Tower Junction and it cost $350 NZ Dollars. This is the first time I have seen these tents here in Christchurch and H & F had a good selection of the Orson tent range in stock. 

There are two optional additions to this tent with either a metal or carbon fiber pole available and a ground sheet cut to the correct dimensions for the tent. I have ordered a metal pole for the tent but I'm not sure if I will order a ground sheet to go with it. The pole cost $30 from Intents Outdoors an online store here in New Zealand.

I have already ordered one of the optional Indie metal poles

I usually cut some plastic sheeting to size for a footprint and use this as it it is lighter and more durable than a nylon groundsheet. I have also used Tyvek and space blankets for ground sheets in the past so I will have to decide what I want to use with this shelter. 

Optional Indie1P footprint is about $60 NZD

 I am looking forward to getting this out and into the backcountry to see how it performs. 

The Indie 1 in use...

There is nothing to see here yet as I have not had the opportunity to pitch the tent. 

Here are a couple of photos I found showing the tent pitched. This particular instance is using the optional metal pole you can purchase for this tent and a treking pole. I have already ordered one of the poles from Intents Outdoors and I expect it to arrive in the mail sometime this week. 

Side view of a pitched Orson Indie 1P using trekking pole

Another view of a pitched Orson Indie 1P with metal pole

I will be taking this outside and pitching it as soon as we have some dry weather so I can practice raising and lowering before I need to use it on a tramp. I will add some photos to this post when I have been able to do so.

Tramping Equipment: Lixada alcohol/wood stove system...

 ...more goodies for the gear cupboard...

I received another new piece of kit just after Christmas and it is a real beauty. Karen and I were talking about alcohol stoves one evening and about a week later she presented me with a wood/alcohol stove she purchased from AliExpress. It was the Lixada wood and alcohol stove system.

My Lixada wood/alcohol system

The Lixada company is based in China and they produce commercial cooking equipment and outdoor gear both for their own brand and others. They make a range of cookers, stoves and outdoor dining equipment in a variety of materials. 

Brass alloy cooker from Lixada

Their products are readily available on AliExpress, Amazon, Trade Me and from their online store. I have never seen any of their products in stores here but that is not uncommon with these smaller niche producers. 

While Trangia are the most respected producers of this kind of stove there are a multitude of smaller cottage companies producing good outdoor cooking equipment. Quality is often comparable to Trangia without paying for the name/brand on your gear.

Lixada fit right into this category...

Cooker can be sealed with a cap

I thought we could have a look at my stove and see what the build quality and features are...

The Lixada wood/alcohol stove:

The stove comes as a complete package but the individual components can be purchased separately if required. This kit consists of a stainless steel wood stove which also doubles as a stand for the Trangia style alcohol stove. 

Lixada system: part one is the alcohol stove

Lixada system: part two is the wood stove/stand

The wood stove is of the folding type and can be folded down into a square approximately 12 cms by 10 cms. There is an outer frame and two shelves which fit inside the frame to act as grate and alcohol stove holder. There is an attached pin which fits through a hinge to hold the whole stove together. 

Lixada wood stove with shelves inserted

Detail of the Lixada wood stove

Lixada alcohol stove fits in the top shelf

The alcohol stove is the classic Trangia style with a brass alloy burner with a cap and simmer ring. The burner can be filled with de-natured alcohol, Methylated Spirits or alcohol gel to preference. Once lit the simmer ring allows you to regulated the size of flame and hence the heat. 

The shelves can be detached from the main stand

There is a separate shelf  that is designed to hold the alcohol burner unit at the right height to heat a pot, frying pan or cup. The whole kit weighs in at 340gms empty which is a decent weight compared to some cannister stoves or pressurised gas stoves. 

There is a Titanium version of this stove system which would take that weight down below 200 gm's but of course it is more expensive. 

Lixada wood stove with alcohol stove inserted

Both items fold down into small packages and both have a supplied carry bag to protect your gear from soot you might get on the outside of the cooker. You could easily carry the stove in its two bags but I am exploring an alternate carry method...probably a separate 1-2 liter canvas or nylon bag which would hold the stove, cooker and a small bottle of fuel. 

Both Lixada items have a carry bag

The stove can also act as a smaller twig/stick burner with a separate shelf to build your fire on. These type of burners are light as they require no fuel to be carried or separate burners. You just find small, dry sticks and twigs when you stop for the day and light a small fire with them.  

Lixada stove configured for wood

Obviously the disadvantage of this is you must find dry wood which would sometimes be quite tricky in our damp Beech forests. You also need to maintain the fire just like you would a wood burner in a hut...you cannot just leave this and walk away. 

I am not a great fan of wood stoves but I will be using this function in the future. 

You can leave the top shelf inserted using wood 

The alcohol stove comes in three pieces...the main cooker body, a cap and a simmer ring. All are in the same brass alloy and they screw or clip together to form one compact package. 

Lixada alcohol stove components

There is a simmer ring for the Lixada stove

Lixada stove...cap off and simmer ring attached

The alcohol stove can accept a number of different fuels including de-natured alcohol, Methylated Spirits and alcohol gel. Meth's is readily available but the gel and de-natured alcohol will only be available from specialist stores in the larger centers. I will primarily use Meth's in my stove. 

Methylated Spirits is the main fuel for the stove

One liter of Meth's is about $3.50 NZD

I was using my old NZ Army cups canteen when I was filming this vlog (it was the only thing I could find) but it is not the ideal pot to use with this stove. It is a bit too high and narrow so the flames tend to curl up the sides. A large diameter and low pot/pan would work best...

My US pattern cups canteen on the stove

A round pot/pan would fit the Lixada stove better

This cup is old...I got it from the NZ Army back in 1987 and I have used it since. Versions of this cup have been in use from the late 1940's right up to the present day and I think it shows the soundness of the original design that it is still useful. This particular pattern is from the Vietnam War era (mine has a manufacturing date on it of 1972).

US cups canteen...over 40 years old now!

The Lixada wood stove is of a folding design and the frame is held together by a pin that fits into an open hinge on one corner. It has a length of wire attached so it can be secured to the frame. If you ever lost the pin it would be easy enough to fashion a new one from some wire.

Preparing to disassembly the Lixada stove

Here is the Lixada wood stove disassembled into its various parts...there is the main frame, a pin and two shelves. You remove the pin and then fold down the main frame into a flat shape using the hinges on each of the corners. The components then fit in the nylon pouch provided with the kit. 

Individual components of the Lixada wood stove

...this pin holds the wood stove together...

Shelf for burning wood on the Lixada stove

Folded up Lixada stove ready for storage

All the necessary elements of the Lixada system

This is a decent looking stove and I decided I would find an opportunity to use it as soon as possible. 

Using the Lixada alcohol stove:

There was a fire ban at Kaituna Reserve where I was taking these photos so I could not trial the stove there. It has been hot here in Canterbury and all of the grass and under growth is super dry. I don't fancy the moniker of "man who burnt down 600 year old forest' attached to my name... 

There was a fire ban at Kaituna Reserve

Instead I drove over Gebbies Pass on the way home and stopped at the Allandale Reserve near Governors Bay. There was no fire ban here so I sat at one of the picnic tables and fired up the stove. 

Allandale Reserve in Lyttelton Harbor

I was only using Methylated Spirits this time but I will take the stove out soon and try it burning sticks and twigs to see how it works. 

Kit needed to use the Lixada stove system

Boiling water on the Lixada stove...alcohol stove being used

I filled my cups canteen and set about boiling some water to hydrate a Cup Noodle I had in my bag of gears. I would probably use this stove for heating water so boiling a litre and then making some noodles seemed like a good trial. 

Alcohol stove lit and heating my noodle water

...Alcohol stoves have a slow boil time...

These stoves are not the most efficient means of heating food or water. In all it took nearly 7 minutes for the stove to heat up a liter of water in my old cups canteen. If I was using a wider more shallow pan it would heat quicker but you would still be looking at 5-7 minutes to boil. 

Water starts to boil in the Lixada stove

Eventually the water reached a boil and I used the supplied simmer ring to douse the stove. There is a useful handle on the ring to make it easy to place it over a flame. You need to wait for the stove to cool before screwing the cap back on as it gets really hot. If you do it too soon you will melt or perish the rubber O ring on the cap which makes it leak proof. 

Flame doused using the simmer ring

These Fantasic Noodles need about 5-10 minutes to fully hydrate so cover them back up with the lid and leave them till they are ready. 

Water added to my noodles from the cups canteen

Once cool the alcohol stove can be removed

This photo shows how the pin holds the whole unit together...it has a large coil of wire on the end to make it harder to loose. If you ever lost the pin it would be easy enough to fashion a new one from a length of heavy grade wire. 

Note: Pin holding the stove together

After use the wood stove folds down into the nylon pouch supplied with the kit and it is a compact item to put into your pack. I will be buying a new bag for this stove so that I am able to carry the wood stove and the alcohol cooker in the same bag. 

Lixada stove folded and ready for storage

Detail of the top of Lixada alcohol stove

Fantastic Noodle time....I like these noodles but they are nowhere as good as a genuine English Pot Noodle. You can sometimes buy Pot Noodle from supermarkets here in Kiwiland but I haven't seen any for a while now...Tomato and Beef are my favorite. There are also some cheap off brand local versions available as well as good quality Japanese and Asian noodles here in New Zealand. 

Bon apetit folks...!

This is the sum of all the items you need to use this stove...the stoves, alcohol and wood. I am in the market for a small resealable bottle to carry my Meth's in and I will be looking for one that holds about 500 mls of fuel. That would be enough for 5-6 boils...

Final look at the Lixada stove system

This is a decent stove system and I will taking it out on a few excursions going forward. It is probably best suited for camping trips when I have time to spare for the slow heating times. I will be sure to showcase it the first time I take it out for an actual trip. 

YouTube: A look at the Lixada Stove System

                 Lixada alcohol stove in use