Touring - Longest you've lived out of your panniers

What is the longest time you've lived out of your panniers, on a cycling tour?

My longest is three months.

I really like the idea of paring down my belongings to just what I can carry on my bicycle ... it's freeing. :) And I'm about to start packing again for a 1-month tour. This time I want to do a few things differently. I want to attempt to pack lighter, and yet have some warmer clothing. I'll have to do some experimentation to see how that will work! :D

Where are you going, M?

3 months for me too.

Where are you going, M?



Europe :) I'm not exactly sure where yet. We land in London, make our way to Paris, ride the PBP, and then go somewhere else ... possibly Switzerland.

I'm debating about packing really light, buying anything I need in France (I asked about the Decathlon store a few threads down), and then mailing a bunch of it home just before I fly back.

B!tch. I hope you have a tailwind the whole time. :)
Anna

5 months for me. And I packed light! 2/5 of my panniers were dedicated to food!

My longest was 6 months. But whether it's 2 weeks or 2 years, I don't think it makes much difference to what you take. The main problem I had was too many clothes - I ended up sending stuff home after a couple of months.

Ten days! But I'm saving for 9 weeks in UK and Europe in 2008.
Disclaimer: this is credit card touring so I'm a bit of a wuss.

Europe :) I'm not exactly sure where yet. We land in London, make our way to Paris, ride the PBP, and then go somewhere else ... possibly Switzerland.

I'm debating about packing really light, buying anything I need in France (I asked about the Decathlon store a few threads down), and then mailing a bunch of it home just before I fly back.

thats a trick I like to do too. One thing different now. To the US at least, no surface mail. Air Mail. 35 Kg. might cost you 250 dollars.? THree months. wow. We take roughing it with such difficulity. Two weeks , I enjoyed, but not sure about three months. Maybe with some breaks , meaning stay somewhere without moving for a week or so.
Should you get to Roussillon, say hello. Great cycling.

3 months, too.

Machka, consider getting some clothing made from Merino wool. It's pricey but it insulates well and doesn't stink after repeated use. It also unwrinkles quickly after being stuffed in a pannier.

3 months for me too!

4 months....1 touring British Columbia,and 3 getting across the rest of Canada

What is the longest time you've lived out of your panniers, on a cycling tour?

My longest is three months.

I really like the idea of paring down my belongings to just what I can carry on my bicycle ... it's freeing. :) And I'm about to start packing again for a 1-month tour. This time I want to do a few things differently. I want to attempt to pack lighter, and yet have some warmer clothing. I'll have to do some experimentation to see how that will work! :D


Isn't this really a question about your longest tour? I lived out of my panniers for two years on my world tour.

roughstuff

Wow- I'm jealous of you long-term tourers! I also like the idea of paring things down (although I *really* miss my own bed-- alas can't carry that on my rack). I went seven weeks last year living out of my panniers, but when I got home I continued to use them for a week or so out of habit for all my toiletries and such. It felt odd to have all my stuff in different rooms instead of different pockets.

-double post.-

I agree with Creamcrackered, enough for two weeks is enough for a lifetime. I had it easy, biking in Europe in summer/fall, so had not even front panniers, just rear and handlebar bag.
For those going someplace cold, you have to carry heavier gear, or going desolate, a lot of food and water.
Western Europe is sort of the opposite of desolate. If I did not get my Latte, espresso, or whatever they call coffee in the morning I felt I was roughing it!

Isn't this really a question about your longest tour? I lived out of my panniers for two years on my world tour.

roughstuff

Yes and no ... eventually I'm hoping to do sort of a combination of touring and working ... travel for a while, then settle in one place and work for a few months, then travel for a while again, etc. If I do that, I might call it a 5 year tour, in total, but I might live out of my panniers for only 3 or 4 months at a stretch. For example. :)

3 months, too.

Machka, consider getting some clothing made from Merino wool. It's pricey but it insulates well and doesn't stink after repeated use. It also unwrinkles quickly after being stuffed in a pannier.

Yeah, I've got a couple pieces of Merino wool. I used one of them on my 3 month tour a few years ago, and that one is definitely coming with me this time!! :)

Wow...

I nominate Velomedieval for the best avatar in this forum in a long time.

I suspect on a tour of over one week, the key for me would be not to hurry. Friend did a tour across the US. Took every sixth day off and enjoyed some park somewhere; before resuming the tour. He also rarely exceeded 70 miles. Also stayed for a week with some friends somewhere in Texas. When doing a continent on a bike, what is the hurry.

If we may include trailers please.
5 months in Patagonia for me. then I had a little rest with friends in the UK and then 3 months across Europe.
As I don't have a house I live out of my trailer bag all the time :-)

Its sat behind the sofa as I type, with cycling gear all over the place.

As soon as the doc gives me the all clear I'll be off again for another trip , about 6 months down to Istanbul.

george