Originally Posted by
greaterbrown
Touring and camping sound exciting, but I don't know much more than to take coffee and whiskey and to have a credit card in your wallet for a dash to a hotel. If you're using everything you brought, then I guess you're packing right. I read about ultralight (<20lbs) tourers, but I think they're just riding with much less than normal people would ride with. Doing that seems risky too.
And nowadays, in more and more state parks, you can't even nip at a whiskey while enjoying your campfire -- no alcohol allowed. Barbarians!
Yeah, I've also read some accounts by those guys who do super-light bike tours. Whatever floats your boat, but it usually seems to me that for most of those guys, weight reduction is the primary end in itself -- the challenge of doing without. I like to enjoy myself a little more, be a little more comfortable (by my own standards), so I'm okay with carrying more crap.
I'm kind of on the fence about the bike camping trips. On the one hand, it's cool and fun to roll up with everything you need and spend a few nights in a nice outdoors spot. On the other, when I'm staying at a place like that, I would really like to do some moderately challenging hiking, or kayaking if it's available, or other activities. But if I get there on my loaded bike, I'm usually too tired/sore to do much else!
