Originally Posted by
Dave Nault
So...You carry a spare tire with you when you go for a week?
No, but I don't for a multi-month tour either. Whether I did or not would have more to do with
where I was touring than how long.
Originally Posted by
Dave Nault
I think for longer longer tours it's very likely that most would carry more spares than for a week.
Again I think it has more to do with
where than how long.
Originally Posted by
Dave Nault
You may be "wonder tourer" but I'm speaking in general terms.
Is that supposed to be a dig? I never implied that I was more skilled at touring than anyone else. FWIW, I am a relatively new bike tourist. I have done a coast to coast tour, but have far less experience than many of others here. I know that I am not the only one who has commented that they would carry pretty much the same stuff on a 1 week tour as on a multi month. Those comments have come from folks who pack heavy and folks who pack light.
Originally Posted by
Dave Nault
My point is that generaly speaking on longer tours people tend to carry more stuff. Extra changes of clothing so you can ride longer between laundromats, prehaps a book or two, extra batteries, extra fuel for your stove so you don't have to buy a gallon and then throw out the rest, the possibilities are endless.
I doubt that is generally true. I have to say that the folks I ran into who were doing short tours in places like the GAP and C&O were generally carrying much more than those I met on the Trans America.
On a longer tour I am liable to dial in what I am actually using and adjust as needed as the tour goes on. That is more likely to mean eliminating stuff by sending it home, but sometimes might mean buying stuff or having it sent from home. On a one or two week trip there seems to be more likelihood that a rider might plan on taking all the batteries, fuel, books, and clothes that they need for the whole trip. On a multi-month trip I can't imagine doing that. I seriously doubt I am the only one who thinks that way.
Originally Posted by
Dave Nault
If you only tour in the US that's great but what about places like Cambodia or South America or China where you could go days without seeing much of an infrastructure to make your tour work. Not everyone goes from park to park. The OP didn't mention just staying in the US.
Again, it seems like again the factor is location more than trip length unless we are talking
very short tours. Additionally I suspect that most tours in the locations you mention (Cambodia or South America or China) have villages more frequently than some routes in the American West and plains. There isn't a Walmart or bike shop every day (or every week in some cases) on routes like the Trans America. I don't think there is a bike shop on the TA for 700-800 miles from Pueblo CO through Kansas unless you go off route to find one.