Touring - Ready for Weekend Tour

This weekend I'm commuting to a work conference car free. The ride is 150 miles and I will camp roughly half way, not really because the distance is too far but really just to try something new. This will be my first overnight road tour.

I outfitted my full carbon Lemond with Carradice Nelson Longflap and BagMan Expedition rack. I was able to get all my gear in the Carradice except for my sleeping bag. I really don't like the sleeping bag set up so I will look for something better tomorrow. I hope it works out.

Full weight, sans water, according to my bathroom scale is 33 pounds. Not too bad. If I had a bit more room there are a few other things I would like to take. Next time...

http://i35.tinypic.com/11l1mo2.jpg

http://i37.tinypic.com/6h0qpl.jpg

Here's the gear:
http://i33.tinypic.com/2wgyvxx.jpg

and the kitchen:
http://i38.tinypic.com/jsy1j5.jpg

Gear List:
Sleeping Bag: Marmot Arroyo 35 deg (~16oz)
Sleeping Pad: Big Agnes something or other off Steep and Cheap
Tent: Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cap silnyon poncho tarp, carbon pole, 6" Easton stakes
Stove: DIY Cat food can
Pot/Bowl: DIY Heineken can with bobble warp for insulation and aluminum flashing for windscreen
Utensil: Lexan spoon
Fenix LED flashlight for camp and lights at night
old school Black Diamond LED headlamp
Solar charger to charge the Garmin
Riding clothes for day 2
Camp clothes
Food: Beef Stew, instant Oatmeal dried cherries, Tarder Joes Cashews, Almonds, Dried Cranberry packets, Hammer Perpetuem x6 scoops, Hammer Recoverite, sunscreen, EleteWater, wheat fig bars for day 2
Odds and Ends: Biofreeze, Bag Balm, pack towel

It's not the greatest solution, but maybe you could carry the sleeping bag in some sort of small backpack. I normally don't like to ride with anything on my back, but I wore a Camelbak on my recent tour, because I was going through country with hot temperatures and little water. Wearing it wasn't that bad (and it was nice to have plenty of water.) I would guess a sleeping bag weighs less than a Camelbak full of water.

For a quick overnight you can put up with a less-than-ideal setup. If you get into touring and want to try a much longer tour, you'll probably need a touring bike, front and rear panniers (and racks), etc. Prepare to spend some money (but you only have to spend it once - the gear will last many years.)

Thanks for the suggestion BigBlueToe. I am having a custom DeSalvo steel frame built right now. The frame will have brazons from front and rear racks. I am currently looking at using a small Nitto shelf rack to strap my sleeping bag to. I hoped to have it for this ride but we just couldn't make that happen. So this is a last minute rearrangement in my plans.

I took the new set up for a spin on one of my normal training loops around Pasadena this morning. I was very surprised how well it handled and my current gearing was sufficient. I am running a normal 52x36 double with a 27x12 cassette. The bailout 27 cog really helped on the double digit grades. Standing was a bit awkward but manageable. I now realize my average speed will definitely be a few MPH slower than my normal of just under 17 over a 100 miles. My hope is to keep it at about 14.

I was actually also pleasantly happy with the sleeping bag strapped to the bars. Not the best long term solution but does save me from buying a less than idea handlebar bag just for the trip. The bag is only 1 pound so the weight is not that noticable. I noticed my braking was a bit sloppy but not dangerously so. I will keep with this set up for the ride.

While riding I didn't notice any side to side movement and the bike tracked perfectly on descents. I managed 33 on one descent and was holding back out of a scenes of preservation.