Originally Posted by
MTBMaven
I am curious what you are carry so that two people traveling together are riding bikes that both weigh more than 100 pounds. Let's say your bike weigh a portly 40 pounds, that's 120 pounds of gear between the two of you. Is there one area of your gear that is contributing to all that weight, e.g. cooking gear, clothes, tools, water, etc.?
I don't want to pass judgment on anyone but it seems like you need to consider thinning out your gear and/or looking at lighter equipment.
+1, you can carry as much as you want to if you can make it move; however, I used to live off of the Blue Ridge Parkway and was always amazed at the rigs piled up like the Beverly Hillbillies' truck that I saw lumbering by. Before I did any cyclotouring I was an avid backpacker and one thing I took from that sport is if your gear weighs more than 1/3 of your body weight you are carrying too much. I realize that there are differences (not having to carry the gear on your back, the availability of low gear ratios) but sticking close to this rule has made the miles go by easily for me compared to some of my friends with little sacrifice in camp comfort.