Touring - Questions when touring

I've looked around the forum for a while and I've found some interesting articles but I still have some questions.

1] Being hosted -
Many people post about how they got a decent nights sleep in a warm bed after a rewarding shower, but how do people go about getting this?

2] Can you tour on a road bike? -
I have a GIANT (don't know the model name). It's brilliant to ride, but can it be used to tour with panniers?

3] Kit -
Beside the obvious such as clothing, money, food, etc which bits of kit have you/would you recommend taking with you on a bike tour?

Thanks

1) Join www.warmshowers.org and be prepared to reciprocate by hosting yourself either now or in the future.

2) Yes, you could use it but I wouldn't advise. The chances of ending up with multiple broken spokes and punctures will be very high. Ideally a touring bike but a hybrid will do. If you're planning on doing some hills while loaded low gears are important.

3) Depends on what you mean by 'a bike tour'. It can be anything from an overnighter to a round world trip. At the bare minimum, a spare tube, puncture repair kit and a multitool.

I've looked around the forum for a while and I've found some interesting articles but I still have some questions.

1] Being hosted -
Many people post about how they got a decent nights sleep in a warm bed after a rewarding shower, but how do people go about getting this?


There are various organizations that facilitate hosting of travelers:

http://www.warmshowers.org/
http://www.couchsurfing.org/

If you are an out going personality and not in a rush you'll talk to lots of people every day on tour and some of them will offer you hospitality.




2] Can you tour on a road bike? -
I have a GIANT (don't know the model name). It's brilliant to ride, but can it be used to tour with panniers?


People have toured thousands of KMs on unicycles and penny farthings so yes you can tour on a road bike. Will it be much fun or will your bike handle well? Probably not - unless it's an UL credit card tour. If you have to tour on a road bike with full camping gear I'd suggest a 2 wheel trailer that won't wreck how your bike rides.




3] Kit -
Beside the obvious such as clothing, money, food, etc which bits of kit have you/would you recommend taking with you on a bike tour?

Thanks

I ride in street clothes so I just bring a few tools/spares [tubes, patches, levers, multi tool, kevlar spokes] and camping gear/cooking gear depending on the tour.

And if you haven't found it yet, Crazyguyonabike.com has alot of information to be had.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/?o=RrzKj

I stayed in Hostels a lot, they're sparse in the states. iYHA,,
much more common in like Ireland
UK , Europe.

As someone pointed out on here recently, any bicycle that you can ride comfortably for 6 or 7 hours is a touring bike. But maybe not ideal for load carrying and climbing steep hills.

Warmshowers is a great network of cycling peers that offer hospitality. Common courtesy of being a guest is a requisite.

Before heading off on a lengthy tour, do a couple of overnighters to check out your gear and bike. Most novice tourers start out with more than they will use, and/or the wrong stuff. OTOH, you can always mail the extra home and buy what you left off. Just don't forget the pump and patch kit.

1) Join www.warmshowers.org and be prepared to reciprocate by hosting yourself either now or in the future.

2) Yes, you could use it but I wouldn't advise. The chances of ending up with multiple broken spokes and punctures will be very high. Ideally a touring bike but a hybrid will do. If you're planning on doing some hills while loaded low gears are important.

3) Depends on what you mean by 'a bike tour'. It can be anything from an overnighter to a round world trip. At the bare minimum, a spare tube, puncture repair kit and a multitool.


There are various organizations that facilitate hosting of travelers:

http://www.warmshowers.org/
http://www.couchsurfing.org/

If you are an out going personality and not in a rush you'll talk to lots of people every day on tour and some of them will offer you hospitality.




People have toured thousands of KMs on unicycles and penny farthings so yes you can tour on a road bike. Will it be much fun or will your bike handle well? Probably not - unless it's an UL credit card tour. If you have to tour on a road bike with full camping gear I'd suggest a 2 wheel trailer that won't wreck how your bike rides.



I ride in street clothes so I just bring a few tools/spares [tubes, patches, levers, multi tool, kevlar spokes] and camping gear/cooking gear depending on the tour.


And if you haven't found it yet, Crazyguyonabike.com has alot of information to be had.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/?o=RrzKj


I stayed in Hostels a lot, they're sparse in the states. iYHA,,
much more common in like Ireland
UK , Europe.


As someone pointed out on here recently, any bicycle that you can ride comfortably for 6 or 7 hours is a touring bike. But maybe not ideal for load carrying and climbing steep hills.

Warmshowers is a great network of cycling peers that offer hospitality. Common courtesy of being a guest is a requisite.

Before heading off on a lengthy tour, do a couple of overnighters to check out your gear and bike. Most novice tourers start out with more than they will use, and/or the wrong stuff. OTOH, you can always mail the extra home and buy what you left off. Just don't forget the pump and patch kit.
Thank you for all of the replies.

Based on what you have said, could I tour comfortably on a road bike if I don't have my camping gear? Just taking clothes and the bare essential the weight shouldn't be too heavy.

Thank you for all of the replies.

Based on what you have said, could I tour comfortably on a road bike if I don't have my camping gear? Just taking clothes and the bare essential the weight shouldn't be too heavy.

Sure. You don't really need much if you can be flexible.

I would look for a good organized ride to do first. (If you have never done it before) I have done tours several times, I camp some (have the bags sagged for me from point to point) and I have done the hotel/motel thing.

Both are okay, but if you have someone to sag the stuff for you it's always better so you don't have to carry so much with you. If I ever do it again though, I will definitely invest in a Bob trailer. Pull that sucker behind the Corsa.

Cheyron,
The fundamental problem with todays road bike geometry is that your heal will be in contact with your rear panniers as you pedal. You may want to check your bike to see if that is the case. I have toured the pacific coast a number of times on an old bianchi "green" road bike with the only change being switiching to a triple crank to take on the hills. Did I break lots of spokes? Yes. So, as long as you don't hit your panniers as you pedal you can ride your road bike. Bring camping gear to see if it works for you. I am an advicate of riding what you have to see if in deed like it enough to shell out the bucks for a touring bike .
Good luck and have fun.
Liam

Cheyron, Without going on about other types of bikes, I'm going to guess that your road bike has only one, if any pre drilled holes in the rear dropouts. Racks that use a longer quick release and adel clamps can secure a carrier to the rear if there's no mount points provided or a seatpost mounted carrier can be installed. Along with a handlebar bag you will be able to load a modest (10-15 lbs.) amount of gear for an overnight explatory tour or two. You may also discover that the Giant is all the bike you'll need for how you wish to tour.

Have fun.

Brad

The 10-speed I toured on in the 70's was a road bike. It wasn't ideal but it worked fine. It was steel and sturdily built. My present road bike is aluminum with a carbon fork. I might tour on it with a Bob trailer, but I'm glad I don't have to. If I had a carbon frame, I don't know if I'd tour at all. Strength of wheels is an issue when you load it up, especially the rear. If you put a strong wheel on your road bike you might be better off. You might get better answers if you found the model name.

My preferred mode of touring self-supported, so I bring camping gear and cooking gear, a multi-tool, a cassette tool, spare spokes, a spoke wrench, a spare tube, patch kit, and tire irons. I also carry a spare brake and derailleur cable. I take a Kindle, a small Thermarest pillow, and a Crazy Creek chair (really - I know it's a little unnecessary extra weight, but it's so nice to sit and read in a real chair.)

I've used road bikes for years on tours, always steel. I've never even thought about the"hosting" option, I've always camped or stayed in hotels. Here's my usual gear:

http://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2011/04/bike-packing-101.html

Marc