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Thread: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

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    Default Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    As I've done a quick search and couldn't find a proper thread about.

    I'm gearing up for the spring knocking at the door, hopefully starting next week.

    Share your bike setup, packing list, journeys.
    Andrea "Gattonero" Cattolico, head mechanic @Condor Cycles London


    "Caron, non ti crucciare:
    vuolsi coś colà dove si puote
    cị che si vuole, e più non dimandare"

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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    My idea a.t.m. is to avoid long journeys, concentrating on long weekends (2-3 nights out), using a road bike, and only two bags (handlebar and saddle) with a target weight of <20kg between bike and bags+equipment.
    I'm also gathering the set of bags for off-road unsupported long rides, using an XC bike.

    Both the options will include cooking, and all that is strictly necessary for camping with a minimum of decency and comforts: not planning to do like those "uber light guys" that won't carry a small bar of soap or toothpaste!
    Andrea "Gattonero" Cattolico, head mechanic @Condor Cycles London


    "Caron, non ti crucciare:
    vuolsi coś colà dove si puote
    cị che si vuole, e più non dimandare"

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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    Calling DarrenCT and JustinB

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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    Years ago I toured for 6 weeks in England and ireland.
    Light bags, stayed at b&bs.
    Had a fantastic time.
    No set rt or time.

    Some days very short ...as in.
    I thk I'll stay here. It's beautiful.

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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    I went a week down the cape and through the islands with this set-up and could have gone much further with the occasional laundry. I'll have pics of my mtb with light bags in a week or so.
    Attached Images Attached Images

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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    Quote Originally Posted by Jonathan View Post
    I went a week down the cape and through the islands with this set-up and could have gone much further with the occasional laundry. I'll have pics of my mtb with light bags in a week or so.
    I'll have almost exactly the same setup: Carradice Camper behind the saddle, and a 9lt handlebar bag (a modified Carradice Junior).
    Being careful with the packing, one can keep all the stuff for a long weekend and more; just not much space for the food, 1-2 days at most, but on the road is easy to plan the re-fuel stops
    Andrea "Gattonero" Cattolico, head mechanic @Condor Cycles London


    "Caron, non ti crucciare:
    vuolsi coś colà dove si puote
    cị che si vuole, e più non dimandare"

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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    Why is this in OT?

    Also, check out: bikepacking.net and Home - Bikepackers Magazine
    Dustin Gaddis
    www.MiddleGaEpic.com
    Why do people feel the need to list all of their bikes in their signature?

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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    My advice is don't overthink it. Do some cursory research but don't aim for the perfect bag or bike setup to start anyway. The most important part is the ride so jump out the door however you think is best and after one or two you'll start to find what works for you. Touring is a really mixed bag; there is no right or wrong way. You will see more diversity in tour setups than road and mtb combined. Run what ya brung is my moxie.

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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    The bike I used was a borrowed race bike.. dbl crank, freewheel, hbar bag and small panniers. Worked fine other than I had to rebuild the rear wheel on the side of the road in the midlands. Lucky to find the spokes really.

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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    Quote Originally Posted by holliscx View Post
    My advice is don't overthink it. Do some cursory research but don't aim for the perfect bag or bike setup to start anyway. The most important part is the ride so jump out the door however you think is best and after one or two you'll start to find what works for you. Touring is a really mixed bag; there is no right or wrong way. You will see more diversity in tour setups than road and mtb combined. Run what ya brung is my moxie.
    True.
    You don't want to lose the spirit of the adventure. I am in fact looking for those "necessary discomforts".
    On the other hand, I have always done a packing list since I was teen, and going to the campsites for summer holidays. I can be very resourceful, but I don't want things to go bad either. Last week, I didn't follow a colleague who went riding 2 days out, and without having planned the whole thing. He was nearly starving, cold, and couldn't do the whole route.
    Andrea "Gattonero" Cattolico, head mechanic @Condor Cycles London


    "Caron, non ti crucciare:
    vuolsi coś colà dove si puote
    cị che si vuole, e più non dimandare"

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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    IMO the web and all the info you can collect from it, both beforehand and real-time, allow for much more spontaneity.

    Leave work early on Friday, toss the bike in the back of the car, fill a gym-bag with shorts, jerseys, Woolite (or the UK equivalent) if you're going to be gone a whole week and want to wash stuff in the sink), and drive for a few hours in a promising direction. (or make reservations at a B&B first)

    Ride there for a few days, and move on. Each night you get a warm shower and a comfy bed. Not quite as glorious as sleeping out under the stars, but there's no reason you can't do that on the same trip too. No need for fancy cross-country touring panniers, or other stuff like that, just a few extra tubes / tubulars, a mini-pump, etc, and you're good to go.

    Have fun!

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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    While doing a web search for something completely unrelated to this thread I came across this:


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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    Quote Originally Posted by Mabouya View Post
    While doing a web search for something completely unrelated to this thread I came across this:

    Cannot see how that could go wrong.

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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    Quote Originally Posted by Mabouya View Post
    While doing a web search for something completely unrelated to this thread I came across this:

    Reminds me of a customer that wrecked a lovely Panasonic track bike, due to the shopping bag caught in the front wheel. That trip to the Sainsburys was expensive, damn....
    Andrea "Gattonero" Cattolico, head mechanic @Condor Cycles London


    "Caron, non ti crucciare:
    vuolsi coś colà dove si puote
    cị che si vuole, e più non dimandare"

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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    Quote Originally Posted by Mabouya View Post
    IMO the web and all the info you can collect from it, both beforehand and real-time, allow for much more spontaneity.

    Leave work early on Friday, toss the bike in the back of the car, fill a gym-bag with shorts, jerseys, Woolite (or the UK equivalent) if you're going to be gone a whole week and want to wash stuff in the sink), and drive for a few hours in a promising direction. (or make reservations at a B&B first)

    Ride there for a few days, and move on. Each night you get a warm shower and a comfy bed. Not quite as glorious as sleeping out under the stars, but there's no reason you can't do that on the same trip too. No need for fancy cross-country touring panniers, or other stuff like that, just a few extra tubes / tubulars, a mini-pump, etc, and you're good to go.

    Have fun!
    I have a set of Carradice that I'm using a lot for commuting: rear bag for the bigger loads (i.e., when going to the gym after work); or the smaller bag either on the bars or the rear Bagman, when I would only carry lunch and a clean tshirt
    Andrea "Gattonero" Cattolico, head mechanic @Condor Cycles London


    "Caron, non ti crucciare:
    vuolsi coś colà dove si puote
    cị che si vuole, e più non dimandare"

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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    Quote Originally Posted by Mabouya View Post
    IMO the web and all the info you can collect from it, both beforehand and real-time, allow for much more spontaneity.

    Leave work early on Friday, toss the bike in the back of the car, fill a gym-bag with shorts, jerseys, Woolite (or the UK equivalent) if you're going to be gone a whole week and want to wash stuff in the sink), and drive for a few hours in a promising direction. (or make reservations at a B&B first)

    Ride there for a few days, and move on. Each night you get a warm shower and a comfy bed. Not quite as glorious as sleeping out under the stars, but there's no reason you can't do that on the same trip too. No need for fancy cross-country touring panniers, or other stuff like that, just a few extra tubes / tubulars, a mini-pump, etc, and you're good to go.

    Have fun!
    There is a laundry soap that comes in a little dissolvable tube that packs well. I also like routes that have hostels if I'm solo. You minimize what you can carry and get a clean bed at night with a blanket.

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    Default Re: Let's talk about lightweight cycle touring

    If no cooking and no camping is the choice, I could do with a 10lt saddle bag

    But I'm stubborn, and despite the wind of the Isle of Wight, I'll camp AND cook.
    Still, by using commons sense and logic, I can fit everything I need for 3-4 days out in less than 35lt. Those are the bags, front and rear, and while trying to fit everything, I weighted them 'cause I've been impressed by how light they came up: on monday mornings I go to work with a heavier bag!
    Andrea "Gattonero" Cattolico, head mechanic @Condor Cycles London


    "Caron, non ti crucciare:
    vuolsi coś colà dove si puote
    cị che si vuole, e più non dimandare"

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