Taking enough stuff for a Long Distance Tour.

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05-07-15 | 11:30 AM

#26

fietsbob

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Joined: Jun 2010

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From: NW,Oregon Coast

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Not Very applicable to someone In the US pacific Northwest ..

05-07-15 | 12:37 PM

#27

staehpj1

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Joined: Aug 2006

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From: Tallahassee, FL

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Quote:

Originally Posted by spinnaker

You are planning on strapping the pack to the rack I hope? Backpacks are a pain in the back when you where them on the bike.

I used to think that. Then I started using a very light one on my Southern Tier trip with a few pounds of stuff in it for that day here or there where I needed to carry extra food and water for long sections without services. I found that I didn't mind it at all and started using one all the time on that trip to carry the stuff I didn't want to leave on the bike. It was nice that my wallet, phone, and other theft worthy stuff just stayed with me automatically when I got off the bike. It was also nice to have the things I might need during the day there too. I didn't find it uncomfortable at all. It was comfortable enough that I kept using it even after I didn't need to.

I liked the setup well enough that I used it on the tour after that as one of three primary gear locations. I carried the gear split as follows:

2 lb 7 oz in bag bag
3 lb 5 oz in backpack
5 lb 7 oz in a dry bag strapped to the top of a little the rear rack

That was for an ultralight camping and cooking trip for my primary gear, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work for the OP to carry some extra stuff for a few days especially since he says they will be low mileage.

On another note mailing things home, having things sent from home general delivery, and buying stuff on the trip when the mode of the trip changed have all worked well for me. For example when I found myself at the end of a long tour and staying with family for a week long visit and only bike clothes in my possession I just bought some new clothes.

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Last edited by staehpj1; 05-07-15 at 12:42 PM.

05-07-15 | 06:24 PM

#28

Doug64

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Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 6,638

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From: Oregon

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyclezealot

I am always one to take more stuff than I need. I'll probably stay one night in Bellingham. One night in BC. Another night in Bellingham before I hit the train back.. A day and a half on the train. On the surface that sounds like one would need a lot of stuff on what amounts to four days plus to get back home. Maybe that last night in Bellingham, I can hit eht laundromat. So, I'll need put four days stuff in one pannier and one backpack. If I were just doing a straight 14-day tour and nothing before and after, it would be simple. But, that is not my plan. I'll be away almost another whole with just me and my bike.

You should not have a problem if you use the Arkel panniers you posted. My wife rode 74 days across the country with a pair of Ortlieb front panniers with close to the same capacity. She carried some nice off-bike clothes for social occasions and her camping gear on top of the rear rack.

This might even be a better example. One of our daughters with full camping gear, and lightly loaded panniers on her road bike. She was carrying half of the tent/rainfly; our other daughter had the other half. She even packed a dress for around town wear.