Touring - who's done it? Show us some pics!

[TheJimi]

and what is it like?

Reading a comment on another thread that the loaded bike was 20kg. Is riding something like that as awful as it sounds?

I'm giving fairly serious consideration to going on a mini expedition somewhere, so curious to read some experiences and tips

[towser44]

Have a look on Youtube for MidLife Crisis guy, he's done a couple, one to the Peaks from Derby way and one to Anglesey. Only for a night each but gives a good idea what it's like. it inspired me to get some lightweight camping stuff and luggage!

[Hard-Drive]

TheJimi said:

and what is it like?

Reading a comment on another thread that the loaded bike was 20kg. Is riding something like that as awful as it sounds?

I'm giving fairly serious consideration to going on a mini expedition somewhere, so curious to read some experiences and tips

That may have been me with the 20kg. I've got a great, light tent, sleeping bag, mat and pillow, but could have a smaller cooker, less clothes and food. 20kg is fine on the flats and even moderate hills, but you really feel it on the steep stuff.

I really enjoyed my first trip. It's great exploring new places, and having everything you need to survive on your bike. I did a very tame route with a commercial campsite as a bit of a test run, next year I want to go much further and do it on a slightly more suitable gravel bike. It's a really great way to see lots of countryside, more interesting than backpacking, and much more relaxed than mountain or road biking. Watching the sun go down from my tent with a beer and my Kindle was lovely, I went solo and enjoyed some simple self sufficient "me time".

Pics below...bear in mind I'm an unfit novice on the wrong bike, no doubt people have some impressive adventures under their belts!

[upsidedownmark]

More 'touring' than bikepacking (same thing, but less trendy). Spent two weeks trundling around France with the gf last hear - combo of panniers rear, with 'bikepacking' frame bag and handlebar bag. Probably averaged 50-70 miles / day. 25kg of luggage on each bike, sometimes a lot more when hauling the dinner shop back to a campsite. Had no intention of being minimal, comfort was key. You feel it on the hills, and don't want to get out the saddle 'cos throwing the bike around is NOT a good idea - so it helps to have some gear range. But it's not a race, so just adjust the pace to what is comfortable. It's a lot less impact than carrying those kind of loads in a rucksack..

Basically it was completely awesome, we had a great time and will be doing a load more. I've also done overnighters on just bags - much more minimal, better off road.. but horses for courses.. Biggest problem is volume for a sleeping bag!

[Brads67]

Bike packing is cycle touring surely ? I hear the phrase like it's a brand new thing to be marketed.

Still be easier with a bob yak mind.

[TheJimi]

I've asked the mods to change the title from "bikepacking" to "touring" coz I can't be arsed with the snipes over nomenclature, which I can see happening.

So, touring then...

[upsidedownmark]

I wouldn't worry - both are travelling on a bike. I only made the differentiation because 'bikepacking' is usually associated with bags and being more minimalist (which you have to be with bags). Touring generally seems to cover the more traditional approach.

As I said, horses for courses. Sometimes it's nice to take some extra stuff and be comfy.. but panniers aren't great off-road. Conversely the bikepackers can get a bit millitant about the fast and light ethos.

Marketing taxonomy aside, just get out there and do it. Is awesome.

[irc]

Loaded bike 20kg? I wish. My bike a Surly Long Haul Trucker weighs around 14 kg. Probably 15kg in 4 panniers and content.

Heaviest bike ever was when setting out on a 170 Mile stretch of Nevada desert carrying 14l of water.

But the great thing about a touring bike is you don't feel the weight apart from hills. Then you get into the 22*36 low gear and grind uphill at walking speed.

On the other hand the first day of that 170 I got a mega tailwind and did about 20 miles at 28mph.

For touring stuff try crazyguyonabike.com

My fully loaded bike. 3.5L in frame bottles. 2L in each front pannier and 2 or 3L in each rear pannier.



During the day it was a car every 5 or 10 minutes. Sometimes clear road for miles in each direction. Like .....



and from the same point looking the other way.



Empty desert heading north from Tonopah, Nevada past Area 51.

Edited by irc on Thursday 6th August 23:39

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

Used to do it every Easter with friends. All on mtb tandems running slicks and rigid forks. Most towed a bob yak, although we had paniers. It was great fun, circa 50 to 70 miles a day, with a pub lunch and pub stays... To avoid lugging tents.

I'd thoroughly recommend it. Great fun.

Then children arrived so that was it. Tandem now has 200mm world Cup spec DH forks instead... Different kind of fun!

[Evanivitch]

2011 I cycled across Australia with a pal. We weren't cyclists. We flew into Perth and bought a bike, some racks and stuck out kit on it.

It was like cycling a barge. Occasionally we'd be carrying upto 10 litres of water if wind direction was against us and we'd have to stop-short of the next road house overnight. But we did spend most nights at a road house with burger, TV and a shower. It was safer and more calorific that way.

I was skint by the end, so my trusty Trek was left with pals in Sydney whilst we flew into New Zealand.

[lastofthev8s]

Yes, have done a bit in recent years. A few solo 3 day trips in the UK and a 5 day loop of the Pyrenees last September with a mate.



I use my Trek mtb with slicks which works quite well.
Obviously carrying weight does make a difference, but you do get used to it. We camped so are carrying all the necessities for that plus clothes.
Really enjoyed it and going back next month to do a different part of the Pyrenees.

I’d recommend a few days away first off plus some rides getting used to how the bike rides loaded up. I picked up some lightweight camping gear to get the weight down as easy to overload the bike with weight. I think my kit was 14 or 15 kilos all in.

Edited by lastofthev8s on Friday 7th August 01:38

[RC1807]

irc said:

Loaded bike 20kg? I wish. My bike a Surly Long Haul Trucker weighs around 14 kg. Probably 15kg in 4 panniers and content.

Heaviest bike ever was when setting out on a 170 Mile stretch of Nevada desert carrying 14l of water.

But the great thing about a touring bike is you don't feel the weight apart from hills. Then you get into the 22*36 low gear and grind uphill at walking speed.

On the other hand the first day of that 170 I got a mega tailwind and did about 20 miles at 28mph.

For touring stuff try crazyguyonabike.com

My fully loaded bike. 3.5L in frame bottles. 2L in each front pannier and 2 or 3L in each rear pannier.



During the day it was a car every 5 or 10 minutes. Sometimes clear road for miles in each direction. Like .....



and from the same point looking the other way.



Empty desert heading north from Tonopah, Nevada past Area 51.

Edited by irc on Thursday 6th August 23:39

Wow, that's some kit!

Tonopah : what a sthole town that is!
I had the misfortune to stay there one night as I couldn't drive any longer.

[Hard-Drive]

TheJimi said:

I've asked the mods to change the title from "bikepacking" to "touring" coz I can't be arsed with the snipes over nomenclature, which I can see happening.

So, touring then...

I don't think there would have been any snipes, they are just different. IMHO bikepacking tends to be shorter trips, or even a race event, with some off road sections. Kit is more minimal, bike is more likely to be a gravel bike or endurance bike, luggage is on frame & seat packs, and the rider will tend to camp in a small tent or bivvi in the back and beyond (with not much regard for personal hygiene!), and prepare their own food, either on a small stove or just "ready to eat". Focus is on minimalism and lightness, and you may well do a one night bikepacking trip.

Touring is a longer trip, more of it on road, there's more kit which is usually carried in panniers, and a tour might take in cities or towns that the bikepacker would tend to shy away from. Tourers may well book hotels and guest houses and eat out in restaurants, or they might mix it up with some camping too. Bike is more likely to be a traditional tourer or something built to handle well with a heavy load. Focus is more on seeing stuff and comfort, and a one night trip isn't really a "tour".

One isn't better, "cooler" or nicer than the other. They are just different ways of getting out on your bike, and TBH I don't think you can change the name of the thread and keep the same meaning. My little 1 nighter I wrote up is not a "tour", but some of those amazing trips others have done most certainly are.

[TheJimi]

Hard-Drive said:

TheJimi said:

I've asked the mods to change the title from "bikepacking" to "touring" coz I can't be arsed with the snipes over nomenclature, which I can see happening.

So, touring then...

I don't think there would have been any snipes

It was mentioned twice in 4 posts, so I wanted to nip it in the bud.

It was your post on the other thread that inspired me to post this. Neat setup!

Some of you guys have done some fantastic trips, although I definitely don't envy the chap on the Surly Long Haul Trucker! I looked up the spec and the 2020 bike weighs 21kg without any racks bolted on

Edited by TheJimi on Friday 7th August 09:39

[NorthDave]

I've done it a few times - multi day tours carrying all the gear over 9 days or so. I don't camp though. I stay in hotels and just decide around lunchtime (or right up to the evening itself) where to stay. I love the flexibility and freedom.

A couple of weeks ago we did the Hull to Rotterdam ferry and then rode through Holland, Belgium and France before ending up near Geneva. We were a group of 4 that time and everyone loved it.

I used to think I'd love to retire in a camper van driving round the US but now I think I'd rather retire on a bike around Europe.

PS biggest tip I can give is a good phone power bank and a credit card. Very little you can't sort with an internet connection and money!

[irc]

RC1807 said:

Wow, that's some kit!

Tonopah : what a sthole town that is!
I had the misfortune to stay there one night as I couldn't drive any longer.

Tonopah is real Nowhereville. 150 mile+ any direction to another town. In its favour they have a craft brewery.

With its mining days behind it I think Tonapah now exists to plug what would otherwise be a 300*300 mile area with no services.

[Evanivitch]

irc said:

Tonopah is real Nowhereville. 150 mile+ any direction to another town. In its favour they have a craft brewery.

With its mining days behind it I think Tonapah now exists to plug what would otherwise be a 300*300 mile area with no services.

You'd enjoy the Eyre highway and the Nullarbor then. 1200 km gap of just road houses every 100km ish.

[louiebaby]

irc said:

RC1807 said:

Wow, that's some kit!

Tonopah : what a sthole town that is!

I had the misfortune to stay there one night as I couldn't drive any longer.

Tonopah is real Nowhereville. 150 mile+ any direction to another town. In its favour they have a craft brewery.

With its mining days behind it I think Tonapah now exists to plug what would otherwise be a 300*300 mile area with no services.

We had a night there years ago. It's interesting to see the "real" Nevada, away from Las Vegas.

We were driving, and my mate got pulled over for speeding by a cop with a hand-cannon strapped to his waist. He let him off when he heard our British accents, and we had a decent chat with him.

[irc]

TheJimi said:

It was mentioned twice in 4 posts, so I wanted to nip it in the bud.

It was your post on the other thread that inspired me to post this. Neat setup!

Some of you guys have done some fantastic trips, although I definitely don't envy the chap on the Surly Long Haul Trucker! I looked up the spec and the 2020 bike weighs 21kg without any racks bolted on

Edited by TheJimi on Friday 7th August 09:39

21 pounds surely? Mine is around 14kg all up with racks and lights for a 60cm model with real heavy duty wheels fitted.

This review quotes 12.75kg for a 2012 version.

https://road.cc/content/review/66658-surly-disc-tr...

[TheJimi]

irc said:

TheJimi said:

It was mentioned twice in 4 posts, so I wanted to nip it in the bud.

It was your post on the other thread that inspired me to post this. Neat setup!

Some of you guys have done some fantastic trips, although I definitely don't envy the chap on the Surly Long Haul Trucker! I looked up the spec and the 2020 bike weighs 21kg without any racks bolted on

Edited by TheJimi on Friday 7th August 09:39

21 pounds surely? Mine is around 14kg all up with racks and lights for a 60cm model with real heavy duty wheels fitted.

This review quotes 12.75kg for a 2012 version.

https://road.cc/content/review/66658-surly-disc-tr...

From here - https://www.bikester.co.uk/surly-long-haul-trucker...

Expand the spec section. To be fair, I did wonder if it was a mistake. 21kg unladed is a heavy bike!