Originally Posted by
NoControl
I'm sure that for many people, part of the joy experienced during a tour is derived from their gear. For them, carrying extra this or that is worth the effort. Then of course there are those of us who are really into seeing how light we can go and still get the job done. This thread could be a sister to the thread we had something about "how many miles do you tour in a day". Some folks like distance and fast, and some like to just doodle along.
That may be true but theoretical imaginings must also pass the test of practical application. It's easy to imagine how light one can go on paper/VDT but experience and conditions can often make one re examine or re draw the fine edge a bit. I'm reminded of another recent poster who, after disparaging many members for not being "light" finally went on a small tour and reported back that he too, too to much stuff.
Being "light" for its own sake is a pretty artificial goal that really has very little to do with the experience of touring. If I carry 10 lb's and you carry 15 and we both go the same place in the same time with the same enjoyment what's the point? It's just a weird ego thing. If going light supports the larger goal of going farther faster then it makes more practical sense. However, if someone really has that goal then losing excess body weight and/or physical training should be ahead of the list of shaving grams off gear by going UL.
People keep referring to backpacking as some sort of justification but I can say that an unfit 230lb person will never go as far or as fast more comfortably as a fit 160lb person carrying the same gear. You could even handicap the fitter person with heavier gear and they will still prevail. I'm 213 and my "fit" weight in my twenties was 165, so I am packing over 50 lb's in fat with me. Until that is resolved somewhat why obsess over grams in gear.
In these sorts of threads we should talk more about the exercise/weight loss program or how many miles one puts in on a weekly basis. I have to say, that would impress me in terms of commitment to going light/fast more than just what someone can buy off the internet by clicking a mouse. Training is hard. Buying stuff is easy.
Some people also think of touring as a physical one off thing they do somewhere down the road one day and spend all the preceding time thinking f their gear. I think of biking more as a lifestyle and am often riding/training with the next tour goal in mind. Right now in March I'm beginning to ramp up my miles again for a trip I plan in June.