Touring - Oops, I gotta turn around.

For you veterans tourers out there.

What's that one item most likely to make you turn around to retrieve? I'm guessing your all pretty good improvisers, but there must be something you can't (or just rather not) live without. Maybe it's that spork/can opener/pasta strainer combo tool. Or the compass your granddad used in WWII. iPod? Lucky gloves? Lipstick? Help the newbs out with that one secret item that makes your tours easier or happier or just luckier.

:twitchy: I've been obsessing over packing lists for my first tour and figure with your help I'll end up with the kitchen sink and lipstick :cry: :).

None of the things you mentioned would make me turn around. Lipstick??? There's not even a reason to have lipstick on the tour in the first place, it's just dead weight. Kitchen stuff? I can buy that sort of thing along the way. My granddad's compass? No way I'd bring that on a tour. iPod? Don't even own one.

Also most of my tours start some distance from where I live ... I fly there and then start cycling. So if I've forgotten something, too bad, I'm not going back for it.

There are shops all over the world where people can get stuff. You can buy things along the way. If lipstick is really important to you for some reason, and you forget it, just about every town of about 5000 people and more has a pharmacy or grocery store or something that would sell lipstick. They also have hardware stores where you can get most of your other camping and touring needs.

Read the stickied "Tips" threads here in this forum.
Have a look at my Packing list, it's pretty thorough: http://www.machka.net/packinglist.htm

And also ... when Rowan and I went to Europe in 2007, we went without a tent, fully intending to camp. That was an intentional omission ... we bought a tent when we arrived in Dunkerque and slept in it a few hours later that night. http://www.machka.net/pbp2007/2007_Pre-PBP_2.htm

You've got to go with the flow. :)

I'm not a veteran tourer, but there is one item that I can't go on any type of expedition without -- my Victorinox Swiss Army knife with wood saw. It was given to me as a gift almost 20 years ago, and I have a huge sentimental attachment to it. It is, perhaps, my most prized possession. It is a living item, a good luck charm, and a steadfast friend. I rarely leave the house without it, but I'd go back just to retrieve it if for some reason I left it behind. I'd probably realize it's absence in a matter of 2 hours though :)

Wow, now I know how stand up comics feel.
That was an attempt to put a human face on the anxiety of first time tour planning, but I guess I'll stick with dry and meaningful. Now what if that store doesn't have my shade in stock?

JC, very cool, practical and meaningful.

You'll leave that anxiety behind you after a few days on the road, and you won't need to go back for it. Bring your passport/ID/visas and money/credit card, everything else can be sorted out as needed.

Wow, now I know how stand up comics feel.
That was an attempt to put a human face on the anxiety of first time tour planning, but I guess I'll stick with dry and meaningful. Now what if that store doesn't have my shade in stock?

JC, very cool, practical and meaningful.

We all go through that kind of anxiety at first, but you've just got to remember ...

1) You've got to be adaptable, or you won't enjoy cycletouring. Relax and enjoy the experience and adventure.

2) Travel light ... chances are you can buy something comparable to what you want along the way if you happen to discover you need it. It took me a little while to figure that out. Toiletries is one area where you could probably leave home with nothing ,and just pick up bits and pieces along the way.

3) Remember the important things, like your passport and money. Don't worry about the rest.

4) Make a list, and check things off when you pack.

Helmet, gloves and sunglasses.

I have since got in the habit of hanging my helmet on my bike and placing gloves, glasses etc. in the helmet.

Before breaking camp / leaving the hotel room, I do a sweep of the area to make sure nothing was forgotten.

It is very hard to leave those sentimental at home but your better off to leave them there. Basically, if you can't afford to have it broke,lost or stolen, then have it insured or if it can't be, leave it at home.

It is very hard to leave those sentimental at home but your better off to leave them there. Basically, if you can't afford to have it broke,lost or stolen, then have it insured or if it can't be, leave it at home.

+1

It's a good idea to bring only, or mostly, those items you can replace.

Wallet/ID

I cycled with an ex from Boston to Rochester, MN. From Niagara Falls we cut across Ontario to Port Huron, Michigan. While in Canada, we ate at a fast food place and inadvertently threw away her wallet. Unfortunately, we didn't figure this out until we were ten miles further and had a flat. We fixed the flat and went back to the food place. They let us look through their bins, but unfortunately, said wallet was not to be found.

We filed a police report and got a copy. This was prior to 9/11 and hence also prior to requirements for passports. Folks at the US border looked at our police report and accepted our story to let us pass from Canada to the US. We didn't have a lot of $ and much of that was $100 traveler's checks in her name. Unfortunately, there had just been news about fake traveler's checks in Michigan so we had difficulties cashing those travelers checks. This was 1988 and ATM networks were not as widespread as today (my "plus network" card had only four ATMs in entire state of Wisconsin). We had just enough $ to get by and eventually her parents sent some extra $ via Western Union to Green Bay where we got enough to get us the last part of the trip. It was an adventure.

So if I lost a crucial document such as passport, I'd go back to find it. I would still have a scanned copy of that passport + visa sent to myself via gmail and also on a USB stick as well as other crucial documents like health insurance cards, plane ticket info, etc.

However, I wouldn't go back for lipstick or other things you mention (though it would be difficult to leave behind lipstick when it wouldn't be on my packing list to start :))

Not a veteran either. Turned around Friday at the start of my four day ride to switch pedals as one broke a mile from my house. Then in Pampa Tx this morning I blasted out of the campsite without filling my water bottles.

Not a veteran either. Turned around Friday at the start of my four day ride to switch pedals as one broke a mile from my house. Then in Pampa Tx this morning I blasted out of the campsite without filling my water bottles.


How does one break a pedal??? I can see wearing one out, maybe but breaking??

the answer to the OPs underlying question is: "shakedown tours"

load up your stuff, do an overnighter out and back in your area. a Thurs-Sun works well.

the answer to the OPs underlying question is: "shakedown tours"

load up your stuff, do an overnighter out and back in your area. a Thurs-Sun works well.

Absolutely!

It will give you an idea if you brought a bunch of extra stuff ... or if you are missing something you might want on a longer tour.

It's usually a person who makes me detour - - -

How does one break a pedal??? I can see wearing one out, maybe but breaking??
I haven't found it to be too difficult. Two were due to snapped pedal spindles - one right in the middle and one at the crank attachment point. Another failed due to a bearing disintegrating, and the fourth had the SPD clip mechanism crack. The first three would definitely have caused me to turn back or get a replacement ASAP. The last one was not so crucial since there was still a usable clip on the other side.

don't forget the toilet paper!

I was once forced to turn around, twice, during offroad tour in the 1980's on a first gen mountain bike. I lost my sleeping bag off the back rack. Rode the afternoon until a break when i discovered the sleeping bag was missing. I backtracked in the dying light, to the field where it had popped out from underneath the bungies and set up camp there, erasing my afternoon mileage.

That was also the trip the pannier hopped the rack, split open, and spilled the contents on a high speed gravel descent. I had to backtrack uphill, looking down the hillside for my gear, and never did find everything.

ah, the early tours!

My bike is the only thing I would turn around for... you scoff but in our case it's not impossible. We usually have to drive to the ferry landing where we park the car for several weeks and start our tour with a ride to Vancouver Island and it's possible that we could forget to load the bikes before leaving the house.

We could (if we got up early enough) ride to the ferry landing but on the return the ferry gets in pretty late and riding on our roads with no shoulder in pitch dark with the drivers we have and after all day of riding and several hours on ferries, it's not the safest thing nor appealing at all.

Everything else can be improvised, done without, or bought on the road if we absolutely need it.

don't forget the toilet paper!



Now we're talkin'!
Dunno, guess I thought there'd be more talismans in touring. I'll stick to stock stuff stat.
For my part though I can't imagine going anywhere (touring, vacation or whatever) without a piece of historical fiction attached somehow to the place I'm visiting. Something I'll insist on for this first tour. Oh, and lipstick for the pig, obviously.

For my part though I can't imagine going anywhere (touring, vacation or whatever) without a piece of historical fiction attached somehow to the place I'm visiting.

See ... if I'm going to read about a place, I'll read about it before the tour. If I'm going to read during a tour, I'll pick up a book at a used bookstore, read it, and then drop it off at the next used bookstore I come across.

Have a look at my Packing list, it's pretty thorough: http://www.machka.net/packinglist.htm


You really fit all that into two panniers, the carradice, and a handlebar bag?

How big are the panniers?

You really fit all that into two panniers, the carradice, and a handlebar bag?

How big are the panniers?

There are a few things I don't bring anymore ... and I believe the panniers, Carradice, and handlebar bag are on the list, as are waterbottles, so those things go directly on the bicycle. But yes, most of that stuff goes into my bags and on the bicycle. My panniers are not very big.

See ... if I'm going to read about a place, I'll read about it before the tour. If I'm going to read during a tour, I'll pick up a book at a used bookstore, read it, and then drop it off at the next used bookstore I come across.

See...I'd rather read as I experience (remember, historical fiction, specifically not accidently), it seems to broaden the idea of the place, thereby yielding a superior travel memory. But that's just me.

Two summers ago I started a tour on the Northern Tier. I left my brother's house in Edmonds, Washington and rode about 15 miles. Suddenly I got this sick feeling that I had left my ACA maps at his house. I searched, didn't find them, called my sister-in-law, she couldn't find them, then I searched my panniers again. They were stuffed in the bottom of the 4th pannier I checked. Aargh!

Last year I took a training ride on the way to the start of my summer tour. I took my Topeak Road Morph pump off the bike and set it on the bumper of my truck so I could put the bike on the rack. Yes, I drove off with it on the bumper. I discovered my loss the next day and 300 miles north.

I ordered a replacement via next-day air. I wouldn't want to start a tour without the ability to fix a flat.

Most everything else I'd replace along the way and grumble a lot. I agree about the Swiss Army Knife. I now have two identical - the one I misplaced and found later, and the one I bought to replace the misplaced one when I couldn't live without it.

How does one break a pedal??? I can see wearing one out, maybe but breaking??

I've broken five pedals while touring, though none of them caused me to turn back:

First time: 12 miles from New Smyrna Florida on New Years Day, the right pedal spindle snapped. I pedaled twelve miles with one pedal and then on January 2nd was at the bike shop right when it opened to buy a replacement pedal.

Second time: While cycling the Natchez Trace Parkway, my right pedal spindle snapped. I pedaled thirteen miles to Houston, MS with one pedal. It was Saturday afternoon and the Walmart didn't have compatible size pedals. However, the 9/16th threading was the same as a spark plug. So I bought an "extra long" spark plug and used it to cycle the next 120 miles until I came upon a bike shop with replacement in outskirts of Jackson, MS.

Third time: Cycling through Paris, TN on a Sunday afternoon, the threading of my right pedal worked loose and stripped threads of the right crank, eventually completely tearing free. So, I found a motel and then on Monday rented a van from local car dealership to drive myself and bicycle to Jackson, TN where I had cranks replaced.

Fourth time: Cycling through Russia in town of Хлевное, my left pedal seized up. Replaced it with a spare I had along.

Fifth time: Cycling through Thailand, my right pedal seized up. Replaced it with a spare I had along.

So I've had occasions to have pedals fail, but typically I'm fixing them along the way rather than turning around.

OK - So for some of us breaking a pedal is routine enough that its not a turn around event. Mev- a spark plug? Thats the pure genius of necessity! Now I've a new reason to track those old spark plugs lying on the side of the road.
In my case the outside bearings were ground to shards and the pedal started flopping. Because I was 1 mile from the house, and had a new set of pedals waiting to be installed on my new bike frame, I booked it backed home for a quick switch. BTW-new frame arrives tomorrow....yeahoo

I've broken five pedals while touring, though none of them caused me to turn back:

First time: 12 miles from New Smyrna Florida on New Years Day, the right pedal spindle snapped. I pedaled twelve miles with one pedal and then on January 2nd was at the bike shop right when it opened to buy a replacement pedal.

Second time: While cycling the Natchez Trace Parkway, my right pedal spindle snapped. I pedaled thirteen miles to Houston, MS with one pedal. It was Saturday afternoon and the Walmart didn't have compatible size pedals. However, the 9/16th threading was the same as a spark plug. So I bought an "extra long" spark plug and used it to cycle the next 120 miles until I came upon a bike shop with replacement in outskirts of Jackson, MS.

Third time: Cycling through Paris, TN on a Sunday afternoon, the threading of my right pedal worked loose and stripped threads of the right crank, eventually completely tearing free. So, I found a motel and then on Monday rented a van from local car dealership to drive myself and bicycle to Jackson, TN where I had cranks replaced.

Fourth time: Cycling through Russia in town of Хлевное, my left pedal seized up. Replaced it with a spare I had along.

Fifth time: Cycling through Thailand, my right pedal seized up. Replaced it with a spare I had along.

So I've had occasions to have pedals fail, but typically I'm fixing them along the way rather than turning around.



That's hardcore, man! You're like the biking MacGyver!

Prescription medication. Contact lenses (plus associated accessories).

While on a bike tour I haven't turn back for anything. Forgot my riding shoes once, got a new pair. I did go back to a restaurant once while vacationing to retrieve my daughters retainer. Had to dig through the garbage for that one. Once when I arrived at the airport I realized that I didn't have my wallet, went back for that and once I was driving from Omaha to Chicago and realized that I didn't have my wallet or credit cards didn't go back for that but borrowed a credit card from my wife (who was driving a separate vehicle) for the gas.

Forgot my insulin, on my last tour and on a few business trips. (I learned to eat better on these trips and fedex is great)

My important list is ID, wallet, passport, credit card and medicine.

Anything else is can be purchased or do without.

Helmet... ROTFL

I mean, it's a good thing to have one, but no way I would turn back (law providing). First they sell them everywhere, and second if you are that fearful you don't belong on the road. It's like todays new discovery of what causes cancer: a 2 percent increase in you 2 percent risk (let's say), is such a small number why worry about it. It's significant in the research sense, but a tiny fraction of your existential risk who cares. Mostly I don't wear a helmet, but if I did then not wearing it for a few days or weeks is not a significant exposure.

In theory it can't happen because I have a list of the several things that would cause me to turn around like leaving my money behind. There are only a few things on that list, most of which aren't interesting, the rest can be dealt with on the road.

While on the Pacific Coast Route, my wife left her bar bad containing camera, wallet, journals, glasses and a few other items sitting on a utility box in the town where we just had lunch. It just happened to be during some festival or town celebration with large crowds of people. It is a yellow Ortlieb, which could hardly be missed. She discovered that it was missing just after climbing a relatively steep hill. Because I really love her, I offered to zip back and hopefully retrieve it. When I got down to the spot where we thought it should be, a group of other riders that we had been playing leap frog with all morning had spotted it. They were just mounting up to chase us down and return it. Not only did we get the bag back thanks to some good hearted, honest cyclists; I made a lot of points volunteering to go back for it!

Wow, now I know how stand up comics feel.
That was an attempt to put a human face on the anxiety of first time tour planning, but I guess I'll stick with dry and meaningful. Now what if that store doesn't have my shade in stock?

JC, very cool, practical and meaningful.

Some people are just too literal...

I have the same anxiety as you as I pack up. I make a list, cross things off, etc., but in the end, I reassure myself that all you _really_ need is your passport, cell phone, credit card and a little cash. Most everything else you can buy along the way -- though I had a devil of a time finding a memory card for my camera once, having left it in my home computer.

Which reminds me: don't forget your camera. Those can be expensive.

PS: I look best in lavender. :-)

Helmet... ROTFL

I mean, it's a good thing to have one, but no way I would turn back (law providing). First they sell them everywhere, and second if you are that fearful you don't belong on the road. It's like todays new discovery of what causes cancer: a 2 percent increase in you 2 percent risk (let's say), is such a small number why worry about it. It's significant in the research sense, but a tiny fraction of your existential risk who cares. Mostly I don't wear a helmet, but if I did then not wearing it for a few days or weeks is not a significant exposure.

In theory it can't happen because I have a list of the several things that would cause me to turn around like leaving my money behind. There are only a few things on that list, most of which aren't interesting, the rest can be dealt with on the road.


When I toured the north coast of California I had to rent a car in SF to drive to the start of the trip. I left my helmet at the car rental place. Of course I didn't realize it until I got to Eureka. OF course I didn't turn back for it! However, I did buy a new one in Crescent City, definitely don't like the idea of touring without a helmet.

While on that tour I learned that at the end of the day I became forgetful and absent-minded. At the campground in Humboldt redwoods I left my wallet at the self check-in! Luckily it was the ranger that found it and he found me in my tent to give it back. The next morning I woke up to find that my helmet was nowhere to be found. I rode by a maintenance worker and she asked me if I left something in the bathroom. Huh?? Yeah, I left my helmet in the bathroom.
Lesson: Next tour take more electrolytes towards the end of the day, and constantly check the basic such as wallet and helmet!

Passport, money, mobile phone etc. are the main items, as mentioned by others.

I've had quite a few pedals break but since I'm currently in China, and replacements are only about $1.50 each it's no big deal. Quality is terrible, but I just get a new one at the next repair shop.

I did have my camera fly out the front basket and hit the road whilst travelling downhill at 30+km/hr (probably a lesson to be learnt there) but to my surprise, a few scratches aside, it was fine.

As members have advised, almost anything can be replaced as you travel. Similar to Machka's tent story, I flew to Hong Kong for my first trip and bought my bicycle the day before; intending to fine-tune it in the hotel room before my start the next morning.

The only two truly irreplaceable things are your health, and a good/flexible attitude.

Dew,
I think that one item for me would be my notebook. I carry a small lined notebook that more or less serves as my memory. Phone numbers, directions, cool ideas, things to do, anything at all, goes in the notebook. Seems like the only thing that's irreplaceable.

A buddy of mine carried a bone tied to his top tube through 400 miles of desert so he could mail it to his brother back home. It may have been lucky, not sure.

[...]

A buddy of mine carried a bone tied to his top tube through 400 miles of desert so he could mail it to his brother back home. It may have been lucky, not sure.

I think any otherwise superfluous item that survives 400 miles of desert tied to the bike is automatically lucky by default!

Fortunately, I have only felt the need to turn once. I left my Camelback on a fence post after disembarking from a ferry in WA. It was only a flat miles, but I was pissed. I hate to go backwards. Can't think of anything I would go back a long way for except for important travelling papers or my wallet.

To this day I have an irrational fear of losing my wallet. It stems from an incident in Andalucia. I was pedaling a deserted 57K stretch of severaly rolling road. My wallet and my passport were in a fanny pack that was easily accessible in a rear pannier. Also in that fanny pack was an extra roll of slide film. The idea was that I could easily take my essential valuables and spare film with me whenever I got off the bike. Well....I stopped in the middle of nowhere to shoot some slides, but I was out of film. I pulled out the fanny pack, changed the roll, took some shots and got back on the bike. As I started a bumpy descent I thought I heard a car behind me so I looked back. Out fo the corner of my eye I saw the fanny pack sitting on top of my left pannier. My heart nearly lept out of my chest. Now, unless I know I am going to need it, I store my travelling apaper somewhere safe. But I still check obsessively for my wallet if I have come anywhere close to touching it.

Regarding the person who thought he forgot his maps, I actually lost a map during the first day of tour out of Seattle. I noticed it was gone after I finished shopping. Checked in the store, but no luck. Went back outside and noticed that a strong wind was blowing trash up against the chain link fence surrounding an adjoining property. Walked over to the fence and found my map among that trash. What dumb luck. The map had been in a back jersey pocket, and I think it fell out in the grocery store parking lot when I put on my windbreaker.

Item?

I can't think of any single thing - -
Unless it were the bicycle itself.

I have left wallets, knives, favorite bandannas,
Jackets, cameras, exes, (Oops! Did I say that?)
And never looked back.
Certainly not if I was more than a mile or two distant.

Turn back?? What words of wimpiness!!

Two of my non-turn backs -

I once had to dig footholds in an ice-packed avalanche -
Above a the raging Crystal River to get thru to Marble.
Otherwise it would have meant a 100-mile backtrack.
I was alone and rather foolish.

Another time in the Yukon I came upon a grizzly sow and her cubs.
I could have waited out the day - there was no possible detour.
But since they were busy munching the berries -
I waited a bit and made sure Mama caught my scent.
Then I pedalled as fast as I could past them.
For some reason I didn't get a photo.

Turn back?? What words of wimpiness!!

I once had to did footholds in an ice-packed avalanche -
Above a the raging Crystal River

Another time in the Yukon I came upon a grizzly sow and her cubs.


Man, I need me some o' that HTFU, touring style :eek:.

Last year, I had driven out to an area for a weekend retreat, followed by a short bike tour immediately afterward. I left my car at the centre, packed my bike and got 25 kilometres down the road and was almost at the highest elevation on the trip when I realized I had left my wallet in the glove box of the car. I turned around, went back and retrieved the wallet. Then I got to do that climb all over again.

Man, I need me some o' that HTFU, touring style :eek:.

Digging those footholds (not diddling) was probably the most foolish thing I have ever done on a bike tour. I was up over Schofield Pass on a road that was blocked by snow - so no one else was anywhere near - the slope was 45 degrees, easy - and the river had ice bridges and breaks - not good because if you slid into the river, you would be swept under one of the ice bridges and, probably, trapped.

Oh, and did I say that I used a pointed rock to do the digging? I did, however, do a little test run in a stretch that would have me slide into the rocks rather than the river. It seemed to work O.K. Kept the bike below - the pedal, chain ring, handlebars, and panniers helped grip the snow. Then I started digging. Not looking down, not looking up, not looking back - - just forward.

With each foothold I would slide the bike forward, then start digging the next one. I have no idea how many I dug. Maybe fifty? It just got to be automatic until I had made it across. Only 50 yards of barrier - - but 50 very treacherous ones.

Digging those footholds (not diddling) was probably the most foolish thing I have ever done on a bike tour. I was up over Schofield Pass on a road that was blocked by snow - so no one else was anywhere near - the slope was 45 degrees, easy - and the river had ice bridges and breaks - not good because if you slid into the river, you would be swept under one of the ice bridges and, probably, trapped.

Oh, and did I say that I used a pointed rock to do the digging? I did, however, do a little test run in a stretch that would have me slide into the rocks rather than the river. It seemed to work O.K. Kept the bike below - the pedal, chain ring, handlebars, and panniers helped grip the snow. Then I started digging. Not looking down, not looking up, not looking back - - just forward.

With each foothold I would slide the bike forward, then start digging the next one. I have no idea how many I dug. Maybe fifty? It just got to be automatic until I had made it across. Only 50 yards of barrier - - but 50 very treacherous ones.

That my friend, is some crazy s**t. Although younger, braver and stupider, I could see the allure of the challenge. Great tale, and congratulations being around to tell it.