Touring - More questions from a newbie

I saw the last thread from a fellow newbie wound up in an ethical debate about stealth camping and property rights... perhaps I could offer a few more questions but in different directions.

A bit of background to hopefully help add context to my questions. I'm a newbie to touring though not at all a newbie to the outdoors- camping, hunting, canoeing. I am a recent college grad but still living under a frugal budget... and to compliment my spending habits, I'm a rather devout minimalist. I use my bike for commuting and hopefully touring in the near future. I just got a Giant FCR2... it was within my budget and gave me a road-style bike but with a bit of a stronger build (flat handle bars w/bar ends give it a unique look but fit exactly what I wanted). I'm now adding some gear piecewise until my budget is exhausted. Which brings me to my questions:

1) What components/add-ons would you consider vital to creating a bare-bones touring bike? Some are obvious to me... others are not. Rear rack, front rack, computer/GPS, fenders, bags, other stuff? What can I afford to skimp on and what should I make an investment on?

2) The rear rack is next on my "must have" list. What are your suggestions as far as specific brands and racks? Are the extra long ones worth it? Are the touring racks necessary or is a rack a rack? I hear a lot of hype about the Jandd Expedition but I wonder if it's worth the money. I'm 6'5" with a size 15 shoe... I'm a bit worried about catching some of that pannier-bag-kick-action. And actually, I have in mind of rigging my own pannier system using some plastic rectangular buckets (cheap!)- I figure I can make something that will get the buckets far enough back and, being plastic, I should still have some degree of strength and support. Again- I'm a minimalist so I don't count on packing much.

3) GPS vs. bicycle computer? I don't even know if this debate exists, but I was talking with my dad about his GPS and I realized I might be able to use a GPS to give me the basic info (trip distance, speeds, even downloadable maps) in a wireless form- not to mention that a GPS could be used during any other outdoor activities.

Any other comments, suggestions, or critiques are more than welcome! Reading these forum threads has been great... y'all are a gold mine of knowledge and experience. I've checked out www.bicyclingtouring101.com and a few other sites that have been mentioned. They have been very helpful too. I kinda already did my first tour on a cheap road bike I picked up on craigslist in Boston a few weeks ago. Boston to New Brunswick, Canada via coastal US1 through Maine. It was amazing and has left me in love with touring. Thanks!

Minimalists don'tneed front racks. Just get rear ones. Get Tubus, and they will outlive you. Buy smart, buy once.

You've got mud/rain guards on your tires, right? Those are also a must.

Minimalists don't need gps systems. Use a compass. I use the Casio watch with digital compass. I used to have a handlebar compass, but after a few years, it went all wonky and isn't accurate at all. I tossed it.

I was torn between getting GPS or not also for my upcoming tour. I decided to not to buy one and stick to a map and compass if need be for my next tour i may buy one but at the moment seeing as I have to build my tour equipment from scratch, which seems like you have to also, I felt my money was better invested in the core products of touring which you have stated.

Think you need some front and rear lights, cheap and just a safety precaution really, good in the rain also.

Like the above poster indirectly said, you need to say what type of tourer you are (minimalist, don't mind the weight, short tours, long tours or looking to do an expedition in the future?). Wan't to camp or use your credit card? Is money an issue? Personally I don't think anything to do with the bike should be skimped on :P

Minimalists don'tneed front racks. Just get rear ones. Get Tubus, and they will outlive you. Buy smart, buy once.

You've got mud/rain guards on your tires, right? Those are also a must.

I disagree on the need of a front rack. Any touring cyclist would be better served by a front low-rider rack over an overloaded rear rack. The bike handles better and the front wheel is inherently stronger than the rear wheel. I do agree on the Tubus.

As for fenders, it depends on where the tour is. Touring across the middle of the US, fenders are just added rattly weight. Touring in Scotland, they are almost a necessity.

1) What components/add-ons would you consider vital to creating a bare-bones touring bike? Some are obvious to me... others are not. Rear rack, front rack, computer/GPS, fenders, bags, other stuff? What can I afford to skimp on and what should I make an investment on?

Racks and bags aren't places to skimp on. Buy the best you can and they will last you for decades...literally. Another place not to skimp is the bike. I hate to tell you this but the FCR probably wasn't the best choice for a touring bike. The aero wheels probably won't do well with a load. The bike is kind of short for touring which will make it skittish with a load. The carbon fork won't take panniers and is a bit delicate for the punishment you will put a touring bike through. Finally, it's gear way too high for trying to ride up a long hill with a load on it. I'm sorry to tell you this but I've learned the hard way.

Your best bet might be to use this bike with a trailer. I'm not a big fan of trailers but they can make the best of a bad situation.



2) The rear rack is next on my "must have" list. What are your suggestions as far as specific brands and racks? Are the extra long ones worth it? Are the touring racks necessary or is a rack a rack? I hear a lot of hype about the Jandd Expedition but I wonder if it's worth the money. I'm 6'5" with a size 15 shoe... I'm a bit worried about catching some of that pannier-bag-kick-action. And actually, I have in mind of rigging my own pannier system using some plastic rectangular buckets (cheap!)- I figure I can make something that will get the buckets far enough back and, being plastic, I should still have some degree of strength and support. Again- I'm a minimalist so I don't count on packing much.

A rack is helpful for carrying your stuff. It's not absolutely necessary. People use backpacks - ick! - or carry all their stuff in a seat bag (do a search for minimalist touring). I have racks front and rear and like to carry what I need to make me comfortable. I never put list of what I carry up because I'm not sure it helpful. You need to find your own path on what you carry.


3) GPS vs. bicycle computer? I don't even know if this debate exists, but I was talking with my dad about his GPS and I realized I might be able to use a GPS to give me the basic info (trip distance, speeds, even downloadable maps) in a wireless form- not to mention that a GPS could be used during any other outdoor activities.

The one thing to remember about electronic stuff is that it needs regular food, i.e. batteries or charges. If you are going to go truly minimalist, ditch the batteries and the GPS. Go with paper. It doesn't need anything else and, in a pinch, can do double duty as toilet paper, not something I'd suggest with a GPS;) Becnal suggests a compass but I've never really found a use for them either.

A bike computer is nice to log progress but not absolutely necessary.

Racks and bags aren't places to skimp on. Buy the best you can and they will last you for decades...literally. Another place not to skimp is the bike. I hate to tell you this but the FCR probably wasn't the best choice for a touring bike. The aero wheels probably won't do well with a load. The bike is kind of short for touring which will make it skittish with a load. The carbon fork won't take panniers and is a bit delicate for the punishment you will put a touring bike through. Finally, it's gear way too high for trying to ride up a long hill with a load on it. I'm sorry to tell you this but I've learned the hard way.

I got the FCR foremost to satisfy my commuting purposes... trips varying from 10 miles to 45 miles each way in mostly urban or urban sprawl areas. It's also a transition bike of sorts from my mtn off-roading days. I've found that I greatly enjoy touring not just on the vacation scene but also as an excellent petrol substitute for day trips around the state. With a touring mindset, I can now make a two or three day "tour" traveling a couple hundred miles to visit friends and family. And considering that I live in Florida- a state flatter than two week old soda- I'll gladly save five hundred bucks to sacrifice a 32-tooth cog, 3.2cm of additional chainstay and 1.5cm of added wheelbase- the biggest benefits that something like the Trek520 seems to offer. Plus, the FCR seems to have more versatility (and speed) for me- now I'm just going to make it work for my limited touring purposes. I always pack light and I'm pretty light myself at 175lbs- I have faith in my current bike, maybe not for a trip around the globe but I'm not at that point yet. I think you're right about getting some better wheels though. But there's a time for everything.

I forgot about battery life for GPSs. Forget that idea. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west- that's worked for plenty of years for me.

I just ordered the Jandd Expedition rack. I like the extra length and lower price than any of the Tubus ones. Some other sites and other threads seemed to praise the Jandd one pretty thoroughly.

The fenders probably are a must in tropical Florida. Any suggestions from anyone on a quality yet economical choice?

I got the FCR foremost to satisfy my commuting purposes... trips varying from 10 miles to 45 miles each way in mostly urban or urban sprawl areas. It's also a transition bike of sorts from my mtn off-roading days. I've found that I greatly enjoy touring not just on the vacation scene but also as an excellent petrol substitute for day trips around the state. With a touring mindset, I can now make a two or three day "tour" traveling a couple hundred miles to visit friends and family. And considering that I live in Florida- a state flatter than two week old soda- I'll gladly save five hundred bucks to sacrifice a 32-tooth cog, 3.2cm of additional chainstay and 1.5cm of added wheelbase- the biggest benefits that something like the Trek520 seems to offer. Plus, the FCR seems to have more versatility (and speed) for me- now I'm just going to make it work for my limited touring purposes. I always pack light and I'm pretty light myself at 175lbs- I have faith in my current bike, maybe not for a trip around the globe but I'm not at that point yet. I think you're right about getting some better wheels though. But there's a time for everything.

I forgot about battery life for GPSs. Forget that idea. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west- that's worked for plenty of years for me.

I just ordered the Jandd Expedition rack. I like the extra length and lower price than any of the Tubus ones. Some other sites and other threads seemed to praise the Jandd one pretty thoroughly.

The fenders probably are a must in tropical Florida. Any suggestions from anyone on a quality yet economical choice?
Planet Bike Clip ons work pretty well. They are cheap, removable and light weight. They aren't as full coverage as full fenders, but hey, $9.99 a set?:D

If I were getting into touring again, and on a limited budget again, I'd buy racks from Nashbar. They have inexpensive models that look just like the Blackburns I have. My first tours were done with an Pletscher rear rack I bought at Fred Meyer for about $5.00. I'm surprised looking back that it never broke, but it didn't. I think the Nashbar racks would be a definite step up from that.

I would get a front rack too - the kind with a loop going over the front wheel - again at Nashbar, because of the price. On my first tours I tied my sleeping bag between the drops on my handlebars and everything else went on the back. It worked, but I broke a few spokes. A front rack in addition to the rear, plus some cheap (Nashbar again) panniers will help stabilize your ride and maybe help prevent broken rear spokes.

I have a hard time believing you're on a limited budget if you're considering a GPS. (;)) However, you say you've rejected that, so that's a moot point. I'd recommend a simple, wired bike computer. They're cheap these days. I like to know how far I've gone in a day. I suppose they're good for navigation ("I'm looking for a left turn exactly 3.7 miles past the junction of Highway 46 and Old Creek Road") but I don't recall ever using mine for that. I just like to know how far I've gone (and how fast is fun too.)

For navigation, start with a road map. That might seem like a DUH statement, but I've heard people say that there's not enough detailed information on one. However, I'm often traveling on main roads, and those are on a road map, and sometimes that's all I've needed. And they're usually free at a Tourist Info place.

You can also buy guidebooks for various locales. You can buy ACA maps for their routes. There are also a lot of route descriptions and maps available on the internet, like Routeslip (http://www.routeslip.com/), or Bikely (http://www.bikely.com/). I also look at the websites of bicyling clubs in the area I want to ride. They often have good routes posted.

All of these recommendations are for someone wanting to get into bike touring with a limited budget. Lack of money was one reason I started traveling by bike way back when. I still think it's an economical way to travel, compared with others.

If you have more money to spend then there are probably better alternatives to some of the equipment I'm mentioned.