Machka 

Regarding jerseys ... I did bring jerseys when I first started touring, but then I discovered wicking T-shirts.

I find that wicking T-shirts are so much better than jerseys on a tour for the following reasons:

-- jerseys have pockets, wicking T-shirts don't. Therefore wicking T-shirts are lighter and can be rolled up smaller.
-- jerseys have zippers, wicking T-shirts don't. Therefore wicking T-shirts are lighter than jerseys.
-- wicking T-shirts can serve double duty. They can be worn on the bicycle, or out to a restaurant after the day's ride. Jerseys can look a little odd when you're off the bicycle.


A person could wear Wicking T-shirt #1 on the bicycle on Day1, then change into Wicking T-shirt #2 in the evening. Wicking T-shirt #1 could be washed that evening and hung to dry. Then the next morning, a person could stay in Wicking T-shirt #2 and wear it on the bicycle on Day2 while Wicking T-shirt #1 finishes drying and airing out. Then at the end of Day 2, a person could change into Wicking T-shirt #1, and wash Wicking T-shirt #2 ... and rotate that way. A person could go through a whole tour with only 2 short-sleeved tops.



And regarding where to dry the clothes in rainy weather ... all the tents I've used on cycling tours have had flies or storage areas in the top of the tent. I've dried clothes, towels, bathing suits, etc. draped over the tent, but under the fly. I've also dried stuff by draping it over my pannier which is located in the foyer of the tent.

MMACH 5

I agree with most of this assessment. I tend to bring wicking T-shirts along on my trips for wearing around camp. But, while on my bike, I prefer having the pockets on back to stash bananas and stuff.

Sachelis

Similar strategy: Two jerseys, shorts, and pairs of socks. I alternate clothes every day. Wash them every day or two with Campsuds (biodegradable and concentrated). Put them in the sun for UV disinfecting when I can. I prefer to put on dry shorts in the morning (staying wet creates prune-like skin and encourages bacterial growth). I never wear cotton while cycling (it's highly absorbent so it gets wet quickly and dries slowly).

stevepusser

Cotton works for one thing in extreme, hot, dry weather. I took along a thick, long-sleeve tee-shirt when leaving Redding in August, when temps hit 110 F, and would soak it at every opportunity to keep my body core temperature down. This is easy enough when there's lots of water available in Northern CA, impracticable in the desert.

spinnaker

What was really funny was going into the camp office and asking for a hair dryer. I am going bald and have my hair cut really short when I tour so I hardly have any hair. But the woman running the office is gorgeous and her daughter puts her to shame. So an opportunity to go to the office is a good thing.

Rowan

And don't forget the immobiliser transponder for your vehicle.

While not necessarily touring, we did a ride to the top of a mountain on a day that became wet about half way through and stayed that way to the end of the ride. My handlebar bag was water permeable, and the pocket with the car keys became its own swimming pool. It took a while to get the immobiliser to respond to my command when we got back.

I've been swimming with it once, too, and had to patiently wait for the response to come. The water also tends to short the batteries and reduce their life.

Some lessons are hard to learn.

Rowan

I have a ton of cycling jerseys, but I probably use the back pockets about 5% of my riding, and then only on randonnees and days trips.

I find it irritating to be off the bike when touring, and to sit down and have whatever is in the back pocket pressing into my back. Plus cycling injuries to both shoulders years ago mean my flexibility is not optimum, and I can have trouble reaching around the back.

Jerseys also contain additional material to come down around the butt area, which adds to the weight. All my shirts for our recent world travels were synthetic, short-sleeve wicking, with capilene my favourite. I also had a long-sleeve capilene pullover that helped the layering to stay warm and was very presentable for socialising.