hoogie

my top 5 ....

thorn nomad 26" touring bike ... awesome bike, stable under loaded touring
pauls thumbies ... simple, easy to operate with cold wet numb hands
ground effect jacket ... awesome jacket, lightweight yet keeps you dry in the filthiest weather imaginable, and windproof too
schwalbe marathon tyres ... 700Cx37mm for my trek 520, smooth riding
shimano spd sandals ... biking in hot sunny weather is a breeze with these, and you can use them off the bike too

aroundoz

Just built my Thorn so I am w/ Hoogie:

Thorn Nomad w/ BTCs
Shimano 8-Speed Bar end shifters
Handlebar Bag
Brooks Champion Flyer
Fenders

So Machka,
It would be a lot of work but it would cool to see the top 5 of the top 5 after the replies start slowing down.

grolby

You could just buy the bar end shifters and use those instead of your brifters, I suppose.

I just bought and installed a set of Shimano bar ends, and they might go into a revised top 5 for me. We'll see - I just took them for a quick spin. 8-speed indexing over a 7-speed freewheel even works passably well so far! The other thing I just did that I think WILL go on my list, even from just a quick spin, is double-wrapping my bars, first in Cinelli cork tape, then with cloth tape over that. I fell in love with the feel and durability of cloth tape right away, but hated the complete lack of padding. I love the padding of cork tape, but hate the feel and fragility (not to mention the look). Now I've got the best of both worlds, and it should be a winner!

I think that could probably list "friction option" as something important to many self-supported tourists, by the way. Obviously, things can break, and the more complicated they are, the more likely they are to do so. Friction doesn't care as much about a bent derailer hanger or the brand of your emergency replacement derailer, so at least having the ability to switch to friction mode has a lot of appeal to me, and apparently a lot of other folks, too.

FraAngelico

-- Lake Mtn Bike shoes. I can ride thousands of kilometers AND do long hikes in them!

What model Lake shoes do you have? I need some shoes that I can clip SPD with and also walk around in. Thanks

Machka 

These are like mine:

https://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1145081468578


These ones are the men's version:

https://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1145081468577

FraAngelico

Thanks Machka. Do you use the SPD cleats, and you still find them comfortable for walking? Do the cleats extend below the bottom of the sole and click when you walk? Thanks

sth

Machka, I was in the Co-op the other day looking at the bike shoes and realized all the Lakes have mesh surfaces all over them. To me this wouild be very chilly (i get cold feet) so decided against them. What are your thoughts on this?

Sigurdd50

this is encouraging to hear.
I schlepped this set up together last summer... because the bike I acquired had nice cork tape but it was ugly as sin (like a ugly PINK...I don't know what someone was thinking). The bike is silver/gray, so I covered the padded tape with Velox cloth tape, black. Cool as hell and useful

side note: I hear so many good things about Thorn Nomads, and they look cool and nice and relaxed... I only wish they were available in the States... does anyone sell them here?

Machka 

Yes, I use SPD cleats, yes, I still find them VERY comfortable for walking .... and no, they don't extend below the bottom of the sole ... at least not much. There are times when I'll hear my cleats on the pavement or rocks but not usually.

The one place where I found I had to be a bit more careful was walking on slippery rocks. Because I tend to balance more on the balls of my feet in those conditions, and because that's where the cleats are, if I forgot I had the cleats there (which happened a lot when I was walking around normally), I would slide a little. I just had to remember to balance more on my heels in those sorts of conditions.

Machka 

The ones I have are these:

https://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1145141164355

They do have a little bit of very tightly woven mesh (no visible holes) over the toe area and in a couple small spots here and there elsewhere. The rest of the shoe is leather.

I also get cold feet, but that has nothing to do with mesh ... it has to do with the climate I ride in! Cold feet can be prevented by:

-- wearing a shoe that is one size too large.
-- wearing a couple pair of socks
-- ensuring that those couple pair of socks don't make the shoe tight. Your foot should feel loose in the shoes even with a couple pair of socks (which is why the recommendation is for a pair of shoes one size too large)
-- wearing booties - nylon for warmer rains, neoprene for colder rains or snows
-- using the chemical hand warmers (not feet warmers - the hand warmers last longer) between the ball of your socked foot and the inside of the shoe, right where the cleat is.

My Lake shoes are one size too large and I can go down to about 40F in them quite comfortably with a thin pair of socks and a heavy wool pair of socks. After that, I need the nylon booties down to about 30F ... and I need the neoprene for temps lower than that. When the temps get down around 0F, I employ the chemical hand warmers. And when the temps are lower than about -30F, I switch to platform pedals and sorel boots.


Also, pretty much all cycling shoes have mesh uppers ... it's to help your foot breathe.

hoogie

harris cyclery can get them for you, otherwise deal directly with robin thorn at thorn cycles ... even the base price plus some shipping is still cheaper than buying a custom made ... oh, and don't forget to remove the VAT on the bikes too, so the actual price you pay is about 20% less than the price as advertised on their website ...

saanichbc

Let's see...

1) Surly LHT frameset
2) Raceface Deus crank set (22\32\44 x 175)
3) Tubus Racks
4) Brooks B.67 saddle
5) clean underwear

biodiesel

My bullet shaped lexan/ carbon windscreen and aerobar fairnig with the 10 watt LED headlight and integrated hydration sytem, mini storage box and GPS option.

Just wish someone invented it. Illegal as hell in races, but fast for a commute.

Till now i'll have to be happy with the little battery fan i duct-taped to my seatpost blowing air through the saddle cutout. Wheeeeeeeee!!!!

aroundoz

So I found a pair of the Lake shoes on ebay for $50. Looking forward to trying them out. Have a feeling I will end up w/ the MX255 which have high tops and are intended for hiking but then again, I might be suprised by the MX60s.

I forgot one for my list and that is a Blackburn 1.5 litre water bottle holder. They don't make them anymore but I found a store that had them and bought 3. They hold a standard 1.5 litre bottle that you can buy anywhere. I had two on my was able to carry 3 litres. Once the bottle gets funky, buy another. Curious if anyone else used these. Minoura used to, and maybe still does, make one also.

kamoke

Of course, number one would be a bicycle - A Trek 520.
New panniers, as well as adding a handlebar bag.
A new spacious tent with two vestibules - North Face Rock 22.
Leg warmers from MEC have kept me comfortable on cool days.
Descente liner gloves are my pride and joy. I just loved them..

atman

1) Xtracycle I'm a hauler now

2) Brooks B-17

3) Bar ends (Nashbar) oh, the beauty of an ergonomically correct position

4) Hokeyspokes I credit side-view LED lights in eye-catching patterns with making many a stop-sign running ******* notice me.

5) Cyclocomputer this has helped me understand the right use of gearing, and generally makes me take myself more seriously as a vehicular cyclist.

Bikepacker67

Given your pseud, I imagine it's best to stay upwind of ya....

David in PA

In 2003, I toured only 850 miles on the TransAm. From that tour and a few shorter ones, I learned--sometimes the hard way--that I needed some additional or different gear. I bought the stuff, and used it on my 2005 2,200 mile tour, which I enjoyed much more as a result. Here's some of my favorite "recent" purchases:

* Fenders. Duh. In 2003, it cold-rained in VA and eastern KY for so many days I lost count.

* SealSkin waterproof socks (see rain, above).

* Burley shoe covers (see rain, above).

* Old Mountain Man front rack. Strong and secure.

* Ortieb Classics front panniers (strong, convenient, waterproof).

David in FL

mobilemail

1. Vision recumbent. On a regular bike I get tired and sore. On a recumbent I just get tired. The difference is revolutionary!
2. Camelbak-like water bladder. Hangs unobtrusively on the back of my vision's seat. I have plenty to drink, and it's as easy as sucking on a hose. I used to never drink nearly enough on a ride. Now I drink almost enough!
3. Etrex Legend CX w/ PC software. I could get lost in a cardboard box. With a GPS I can premap my trips, mark highlight spots to return to, and even see alternative routes. And who needs a ride log? Download the track and save all that writing!
4. Shimano clipless pedals. Recumbent minus clipless pedals equals pain in the butt. Figuratively speaking.
5. (For commuting on a regular bike) Camelbak-clone bladder bag/daypack. When I get off my bike, everything is in it. I no longer fiddle with removing pump, spare tube & tools, etc so they won't get stolen. Much more efficient!

Blackberry

*Hand-built 40-spoke wheels with Phil Wood Hubs. May be overkill, but I feel confident bouncing around on just about any kind of road, paved or unpaved.

High-vis jerseys (international orange) from Performance. Cheap and effective.

A helmet that actually fits.

Polar bottle.

Shimano cycling sandals

Rolly Poly front tire and Ruffy Tuffy back tire from www.rivbike.com
These work great.

Ooops that's six.

sdd

1. Terry Falcon y saddle
2. Arkel GT panniers ( gt-54 and gt-18)
3. Garmin Vista C gps (w/ 1:50 000 topo map )
4. Shimano tourring shoes (dont remember the model )
5. Leg warmers


...
6. Topeak road morph pump
7. Topeak Survival gear box

chephy

I really don't buy much. Really don't. So let's see if I even manage to find five...

1) MEC cycling shorts - I don't know how they compare to other brands, but these are the only cycling shorts I've ever had and they beat jeans for comfort.

2) MEC biking jerseys - Similar comment.

3) Fenders. Definitely.

4) Bike rack and panniers.

5) Um, I dunno... I don't buy stuff, really I don't...

ken cummings

1. A Bruce Gordon BLT

2. A Bruce Gordon rear rack for the BLT.

3. A set of size 13 New Balance street shoes that hurt less than any stock bike shoes I have owned

4. Fenders. It keeps the roadies from bothering me .

5. new rain gear.

jens5

1. Phil Woods Hubs
2. Arkel Handlebar Bag
3. My old reliable Avocet touring shoes
4. Shwalbe Marathon XD tires
5. Brooks B-17 Champion special Saddle

Richard

bmclaughlin807

....

When temps are lower than about -10F, I stay home.

You're a goddess. I'm not worthy to be in your presence.

Seriously... I've only ridden my bike twice at -12 ... once for a mile, and the other time about 5.