Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - first solo LD bike-camping trip

i don't know if it's called a randonneur or just a silly idea, but i've been getting a hankering recently to take a couple days off work and just ride north for a while, sleeping where i can and enjoying that freedom we all crave with the rubber side down and the wind in our faces.

a bit about me...
i'm an experienced cyclist who's been riding just about every day since i was 7 or 8. (i'm 35.) as i went through my pre-teen and teen years, i was into bmx and street riding. as i got older, i got into road cycling. i experimented for many years on a hybrid road/bmx bike that i built specifically for riding in the city. (i live in san francisco.) then about 7 years ago, i went back to one speed, this time on a fixed-gear. (yes, i run a brake.) i still enjoy long road rides, whether fixed or geared, and i've done many centuries. this past summer i completed the AIDS/lifecycle -- 545 miles, sf to la, 7 days. i build and maintain all my own bikes, and have a couple restorations and lowriders that i've either built or am building currently.

so the physical and mental exertion is not going to be foreign to me, nor is on-the-road maintenance. however, carrying gear will be. i'd really REALLY like to keep my gear down to a minimum, so starting small, i was wondering what you all might recommend for, say, a 3-day trip? day and a half out, day a half back.

i have not mapped this trip yet, so i can't give you terrain details or anything like that, but that's all for later. what would you reco strictly for gear? obviously, a well-rated mummy bag, some dr. bronner's, waterwaterwater, and a toothbrush/paste. ha!

it's likely that i would take this little journey fixed, too, so anyone who's done that before should give me anything you can think of that i should know.

thanks in advance!

Randonneuring is an organized type of ultra-distance cycling sanctioned by the ACP and RM.

http://www.audax-club-parisien.com/
http://www.lesrandonneursmondiaux.org/

What you would like to do is better known as ultra-light touring. :) You might also check out the Touring Forum ... a few in there are masters of ultra-light touring.

i have not mapped this trip yet, so i can't give you terrain details or anything like that, but that's all for later. what would you reco strictly for gear? obviously, a well-rated mummy bag, some dr. bronner's, waterwaterwater, and a toothbrush/paste.

i'd add a one-person tent at the very least. then, if you're willing to carry a little more, a sleeping pad and a footprint. Even with all that, you'd still be traveling pretty light. Do you have a rack on your bike, or are you planning to carry everything in a backpack?

also, make sure you have a pump that genuinely works well, a chain tool, etc. If you go north from SF, a good one-day destination is Bodega Dunes campground. It's about 75 miles from SF. Hiker/biker sites are only $3, and there's nice showers and bathrooms there, and stores to get food/water about a mile or two away.

There are no major climbs to get there, but there are some fairly steep rollers in the Valley Ford area. Could be tough on a fixed gear when you're weighted down with all your gear.

i'd add a one-person tent at the very least. then, if you're willing to carry a little more, a sleeping pad and a footprint. Even with all that, you'd still be traveling pretty light. Do you have a rack on your bike, or are you planning to carry everything in a backpack?

also, make sure you have a pump that genuinely works well, a chain tool, etc. If you go north from SF, a good one-day destination is Bodega Dunes campground. It's about 75 miles from SF. Hiker/biker sites are only $3, and there's nice showers and bathrooms there, and stores to get food/water about a mile or two away.

There are no major climbs to get there, but there are some fairly steep rollers in the Valley Ford area. Could be tough on a fixed gear when you're weighted down with all your gear.

the bodega dunes campground sounds AWESOME. $3 and a shower? SOLD. hahaha!!!

thanks for the input on the gear, too, constantrider, and in answer to your question, i'm going to try and carry everything distributed as evenly as possible on the bike. i'm not crazy about the idea of pulling 75 fixed miles with a backpack on. i do have one of those large hiking fannyPacks that i wear daily, though, and would expand to that if i couldn't find a way to distribute everything i need between a trunk and handlebar bag.

thanks again!

This is pretty much exactly the kind of trip I've been running through my head for the past few weeks. Have you done it yet?

unfortunately, no. i gathered up a few of the things i needed, started plotting a course, and then had an accident coming home from work one day that totalled my front wheel, fork, and bars, as well as leaving me with a separated left shoulder and a bunch of stitches on my face. then the rainy season started! haha!!! so i'm gonna take the winter to gather stuff a little more slowly and do it in the spring.

i suppose i'll start a thread when i do it and try and give back to the bike forums community any knowledge that i may learn along the way. and of course, to show pictures!

Oh dude that's a bummer. Good luck getting everything fixed and setup to go.

I actually have a craving to do something like this also. Fixed too. I've been thinking of what to pack and so far this is some of what I'm thinking. The bike is an IRO Mark V and I have a Carradice Nelson Longflap mounted with SQR. Also, would like to get a Nitto R14 and maybe the Nitto Mark's Rack from Rivendell.

Below is what I'd pack if I did it this time of year, before winter really sets in. And since it would be a short trip, I'd pick a few days when the forecast looks good.
As for gear:
30 degree bag and a Bibler Bivy sack
Jetboil stove w/ 1 canister
In addition to 2 Water bottles on the frame, a 50oz camelbak bladder on the rear rack.
Food: granola, trail mix, ramen & tuna
Bike stuff, spare tubes, tire, multitool & pump.
Headlamp, body wipes, toothbrush/paste, and some small items for off the bike
Clothes on bike: 2xbibs, leg warmers, s/s jersey, l/s jersey, light weight windproof vest, gloves & hat.
Off bike/sleep: Fleece pants & shirt & a down jacket.

That's what I have off the top of my head. Figure I'd put clothes, food/stove & other small items in the Carradice and sleeping bag/bivy & extra water on the rear rack.

If you guys have an suggestions or input I'd love to hear it.

There's nothing like spending an entire 3 day weekend riding a bike.

Some of the best rides are also the hilliest. Be honest with yourself and ask if you might avoid hills at the end of a long day because you're on a fixie.

To save weight and space, go to Thrifty or Walgreens and get travel size toiletries. I found 1/2 ounce toothpaste, folding toothbrush, 1 ounce sunscreen, mini soap and shampoo. This lets you carry smaller or fewer bags on the bike.

I've done without a camp stove on short trips. If you start the ride in the Bay area, then you won't be traveling to locations that are so remote that you can't find a few hot meals each day. You'll proably be eating quick foods while on the bike anyway. After all, it's about the ride, right?

Some of the best rides are also the hilliest. Be honest with yourself and ask if you might avoid hills at the end of a long day because you're on a fixie.



sometimes its not the up that is the problem... it is the down that wear out this fg rider...