Dan The Man

Since I had my stove and food taken( https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/431352-my-first-tour-after-action-report.html ) on my last trip, I have been debating on whether or not to get another cooking kit, or to just eat bagels and restaurant food for my next trip.

How have you guys found bringing a stove vs not bringing a stove? Btw, this is a solo trip.

cyclezealot

I have been on four long distance tours. One we sort of cooked. Using camp site grills. Its so easy to stop at a deli and eat sandwiches. Even a McDonald's salad once in awhile. It does not cost that much more. My real concern. The bike weighed enough without carrying stoves and food. I can't imagine filling my panniers with more stuff. / Guess, actually I'd prefer a credit card tour. Taking food, that is going in the wrong direction. / Still be sure and carry some supplies. If, You have long distances in wilderness areas, you better have some kind of 'astrounaut style' food on hand , in case you need it. Running on empty is no way to do a bike tour.

Bacciagalupe

First, I wouldn't stop cooking just because a couple of guys took off with your food.

Second, it's all up to you. Having a kitchen gives you more flexibility and lets you go places more than half a day away from a convenience store or restaurant. Downside is added weight and one more thing to worry about in bear territory.

Third, you may want to pick up an Ursack, a real bear canister or something similar. Putting your food etc into a regular stuff sack may keep the bear out of your tent, but they can get to it, get fed, potentially get habituated and so forth.

By the way, my recollection is that you also want to keep certain fragrant hygenic products (like toothpase) in your bear-resistant / bear-proof container, it can also attract bears.

Dan The Man

I find that a bear hang still works in places where bears haven't gotten smart about cutting them down (heavily trafficked parks). The only place I have lost food in a bear hang was in the Adirondacks, where the bears are clever to the ways of humans, and in Vanderhoof, where the dirt bikers will grab a bag that is hanging off of a tree.

Machka 

Do whatever you prefer.

You can still get quite inexpensively not cooking. One of my favorites are large buns with cold meat, cheese, lettuce and cucumber.

You can go with fruit, veggies, crackers, those yummy baby bel cheeses, granola, cookies, cakes, pastries, breads of various sorts ......... and if you end up in a hostel for the night, cook something then.

If I were touring on my own, I would not bring a stove, and I wouldn't eat in restaurants either ... unless a particular cafe caught my eye, or unless I wanted a cup of coffee in the middle of the morning.

spinnaker

First off what kind if animals (human) take someone's food? When you say dirt bikers, I assume motor dirt bikes? There really should be a very serious punishment for this type of behavior.


Depending on your tour area, I think you are really missing out if you don't eat at restaurants once in a while. Eating the local cuisine is a very big part of my vacations touring or otherwise.

PurpleK

I used to carry cooking gear, but I've completely abandoned the practice. I've found a good, filling meal is almost always within easy cycling reach of wherever I may be and best of all, I don't have to clean up afterward. I carry a few snacks - fig newtons, peanuts, etc - just in case it may take longer than I thought to get to a diner or I get the urge for a midnight snack. If I anticipate spending the night somewhere that may not have a nearby diner, I make it a point to stop at the last restaurant I know to be on my route and have a good meal large enough to hold me. So far, this has worked like a charm. So, yes, I'd say you can easily get by without carrying cooking gear and supplies.

Of course, all this depends on where you're touring.

mev

It is definitely a matter of personal preference...

I used to bring a stove, fuel, pots and food on my longer tours. I then took a trip along the Dempster Highway (~750km gravel road from Dawson City past the Arctic Circle to Inuvik in NWT of Canada). On that trip, I found I was tired enough and had a few spots where mosquitoes were bad enough that I mostly ended up snacking on my no-cook foods rather than cook something at end of the day... After that I figured if I could get by w/o stove on the Dempster Highway, then I could find my way elsewhere, so did various no-cook foods I bought along the way.

uciflylow

I am new to the touring game and have been tossing this question around myself. After a few shake down runs I have decided NOT to cary cooking gear. The places I am likley to tour in the near future are not away from food and water supplies. I have found I can eat very well with out a stove and the things that go with it, but I have had to change my thinking on the types of things to bring with me. Granola and powdered milk are one of my favorite breakfast. You can also opt for many types of canned foods that don't have to be warmed. Next time you are in the grocery, start looking the isles thinking "can I eat that on a bike tour?", you may be surprised what you find!

Neil_B

I brought a stove and pot on my 9 day tour two weeks ago. My now ex-touring partner used them; I didn't. I think I'm going to skip it on future tours. There's a lot of food you can eat on tour without cooking.

Erick L

I don't carry one on 4-5 day trips in the summer but do on longer autumn trips where cooking and eating a hot meal is often the most relaxing part of the day. I like to stay in parks for 3-5 days without resupplying and cold or dry food gets old really fast.

raybo

Here are two threads from this forum on cookless foods: Cookless foods thread 1 and cookless food thread 2.

I carried a stove and titanium pots on my recent trip to France. I used the pots, as eating and mixing bowls, more than the stove. However, I cooked, at least, every other day. Usually, it was oatmeal for breakfast, pasta, soup, or steamed vegetables for dinner.

Ray