Since i have mod powers i am just going to try this.
This topic is meant to be a low threshold possibility for all kinds of discussion. It is not meant to keep anybody from creating a new topic, the idea is that it may enable some discussion that would otherwise not happen at all.
Just a test balloon to see if this will get used. Do you think it is a good idea?
You must log in or register to comment.
Wow. Someone pointed me to this, and I’m glad - I was subbed to the other bicycle touring community but it’s all reposts from reddit, with no activity. This seems pretty active.
I’m not a bicycle tourer, yet. I just built a bike for doing so, though. At some point, not sure when, I’d like to ride the GAP and C&O from Pittsburgh to DC. I’ve been reading up on that. I can probably rustle up some local friends in the cycling community to join me, too.
In the mean time, I’m just here to learn about what I need. Bike, check. Next I’ll need things like a rack and bags to carry stuff. I’m pretty sure I would not do well with a tent, so I’m planning on B&B and hotels, which at least reduces the amount of stuff I need to pack.
Credit card touring reduces the stuff by a lot, it is good way to start/tour off season. I did it few weeks back and it was realy different experience than with full bags.
When I have full bags I feel like packed mule, just steady progress on the road and the mule sometimes doesnt like it (on mud and sand it is unstable). On casual rides without them it is like riding fast horse.
Key is to not overpack, take just the stuff you need. This doesnt mean that you have to shave off every gram but after loads of years on sumercamps seeing children bring loads of luggage and using fraction of it I can guarantee you that you dont need that much stuff.
Yeah, it will be an interesting experience when I do my first tour. I’m used to riding (relatively) fast on the road, but the bike I use for that has narrow tires and no provisions for racks or anything like that. I built a gravel bike for touring that weighs about 7.5 lbs more than the road bike (steel vs aluminum frames, so that’s not a surprise) and has tires that are not slick, so it’s both heavier and has a higher rolling resistance. But it’s supposed to be a comfortable, all-day tourer.
For packing, I think my biggest question is, how many days of clothes? For example, if I were doing that GAP/C&O trip in, say, 5 or 6 days, I think I’d want maybe 3 outfits - if it rains one day, I wouldn’t want to put those on the next day, unless they’ve somehow dried already. Things like socks I can reuse, usually, but again if they get really wet, I’m not going to want to wear them again until they dry - but socks are also the easiest things to pack extra of. And I’d probably want at least one set of clothes to wear in the evening after a shower. Stuff like that is my biggest question.
I realize different people are going to pack differently, of course.
My brother lives just over 100 miles away by bike, and most of the trip is on either actual bike trails or at least on designated bike routes (East Coast Greenway, US Bike Routes, etc.) - only the first few miles by my house aren’t, and those are roads I’m very comfortable with, and the last mile or so to his house. Riding there one day and back the next would be a good test ride, I think.
Lay all the things you need to take out. Take half of them and twice the money. Happy days. No - but it’s pretty easy to do laundry underway, so you will use fewer clothes than you expect. Still your ass or feet won’t thank you if you re-use sweaty cycle shorts or sock so ideally two pairs. Wear on wash one. And long trousers/shirt to wear on the evening. Feet can go in sandals (also good for dodgy showers) which will let them breathe. Oh and have fun. That’s the bit I sometimes forget.