Touring - I'm starting at square one...

I've seen the sticky's and many of the "101" type information and I can already tell those alone are going to be VERY helpful. But one thing that I'm wondering is the process from where I'm at. My wife and I have aspirations to do some very long biking trips (possibly across Minnesota by next year some time and even Coast to Coast in a few years). We are both physically fit and athletic but we are stating at square one with this endeavor...we don't have/own anything with exception of some very compact camping gear.

My question: After we purchase the bikes what are some of the important accessories we need to get? I'm guessing helmet, racks and a saddlebag? What else would we need, or what is necessary for beginner runs not to far from home (one-two nighters) and what kind of stuff can we pick up as time passes that would lead us up to those longer runs?

You can find tons of advice here, useful equipment lists on crazyguyonabike.com, and I recommend you make a list based on what you need to do, first.

For instance:
Ride = bike
Carry luggage = racks, bags
Be seen = reflective tape, lights
Ride at night = good headlight, better taillights, more tape

and so on. This way, you can start out with essentials and figure out your collection plan as your needs change.

I also would recommend you get the strongest rear rack you'll need later for longer treks, it will still work fine for light packing for day trips and won't need to be replaced when you start loading a week or more of gear.

1. A tourable bike with suitable gear ratios, tyre clearance and threaded eyelets.
2. Strong rear racks
3. Strong rear panniers. Cheap ones may work for a while but durable, high quality panniers are well worth the spend.
You can leave the front until you venture further afield.
A bar bag.
Repair kit (size depending on distance and mechanical aptitude)
Lights, lock
Helmet, shorts, gloves


In my opinion, you can delay on specialist clipless pedal/shoe combos, these are not really essential just nice to have.
Thats about all you NEED to go touring.

Have you considered a trailer instead of racks and panniers.?

They are great for touring. Lots of space for the bulky heavy stuff, like tent, stove etc.

enjoy


george

The guys on here have already given you good advice - bike + racks + panniers + light camping gear are the basics. Thereafter, the way forward is just to give it a go. It's best not to try and buy everything at once, rather buy it as you find you actually need it, for example, I've never found the need for lights or a helmet.

The guys on here have already given you good advice - bike + racks + panniers + light camping gear are the basics. Thereafter, the way forward is just to give it a go. It's best not to try and buy everything at once, rather buy it as you find you actually need it, for example, I've never found the need for lights or a helmet.

I second this. Research is important, but so is personal preference. I think that before you go investing a bunch of money on the perfect touring gear that you should purchase your bikes and really spend some time on them.

The guys on here have already given you good advice - bike + racks + panniers + light camping gear are the basics. Thereafter, the way forward is just to give it a go. It's best not to try and buy everything at once, rather buy it as you find you actually need it, for example, I've never found the need for lights or a helmet.
not sure i will ever need a lite but i would never get on my bike with out a helmet. and since you are pritty much planning this for next year buy your camping equipment in the late fall time frame a lot of stuff will be onsale then for xmas and clearance for the next years models

I'd try to get local help--- call around or email all your local bike shops and ask them if they carry touring gear/touring bikes. Fuji, Trek, Jamis, Surly, Novara all make good touring bikes, so it's basicly finding a shop to fit you with the right sizes and set you up with racks and panniers.

You'll get a lot of advice here, but it's just not as good as face to face help from bike shop professionals. As a Left Coast fellow, I'm sorry not to be able to help you more.

Good luck and keep in touch on the board. We'd love to hear about your journey into touring.