how much does your touring bike weigh?
10-03-15, 10:38 AM
#201
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Good points.
I spend quite a bit of time on diving forums and we argue so much about the minutia of equipment, yet in real life the people I dive with don't. I think it's the best and worst about the net. We can share ideas around the world but lose the nuance of personal discourse.
Staehpj1, I took some time last night to read some of your journals on cgoab. I like the causes you ride for
I spend quite a bit of time on diving forums and we argue so much about the minutia of equipment, yet in real life the people I dive with don't. I think it's the best and worst about the net. We can share ideas around the world but lose the nuance of personal discourse.
Staehpj1, I took some time last night to read some of your journals on cgoab. I like the causes you ride for
10-03-15, 03:19 PM
#202
Senior Member
Good points.
I spend quite a bit of time on diving forums and we argue so much about the minutia of equipment, yet in real life the people I dive with don't. I think it's the best and worst about the net. We can share ideas around the world but lose the nuance of personal discourse.
I spend quite a bit of time on diving forums and we argue so much about the minutia of equipment, yet in real life the people I dive with don't. I think it's the best and worst about the net. We can share ideas around the world but lose the nuance of personal discourse.
holy kajeepers you hit the nail on the head with that one. Pretty much sums it up, the lack of face to face and common courtesies etc. An old motorsport forum I used to go on in the past put it in a good way, that they wished people would conduct themselves amongst each other as if at a dinner party. Isn't realistic with the net, but a good idea anyway.
10-03-15, 05:35 PM
#203
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I used to argue (in a discussion sense) all the time with a member of a diving board about all sorts of things. We almost had polar opposite views a lot of times but I always liked her input because she spent a lot of time thinking about things and framing her responses in a civil way. One day we actually met and did a course together and IRL got along swimmingly (see what I did there).
That's why I mentioned Pete's journals. Here we are debating points but when I read about his trips I got a better perspective on his POV and how he arrived at his ideas. Really the same sort of thing I, and probably most members have done.
I was a climbing bum until I was about 28 when I met my wife and have been chronically short of cash ever since. For some reason we started a second crop of kids when the oldest was 12 so I've been at the parenting game for 27 years now and my youngest is only 13, with good behavior I may get some sort of parole in 5 years or so. It's not all doom and gloom though. I just did my first small tour with my second son this summer and he enjoyed it.
Because of my circumstances I tend to relate either to the travel bum guy (or gal) or the budget conscious. It's all I know experientially and I know it works. Yet I also know other forms of touring can also work just as well and I always learn something when I talk with someone who has a different perspective if I don't let my own biases get in the way. The tricky part is that people who do things often are strong minded so they hold strong opinions. Kind of a catch 22 when it comes to discussion boards.
That's why I mentioned Pete's journals. Here we are debating points but when I read about his trips I got a better perspective on his POV and how he arrived at his ideas. Really the same sort of thing I, and probably most members have done.
I was a climbing bum until I was about 28 when I met my wife and have been chronically short of cash ever since. For some reason we started a second crop of kids when the oldest was 12 so I've been at the parenting game for 27 years now and my youngest is only 13, with good behavior I may get some sort of parole in 5 years or so. It's not all doom and gloom though. I just did my first small tour with my second son this summer and he enjoyed it.
Because of my circumstances I tend to relate either to the travel bum guy (or gal) or the budget conscious. It's all I know experientially and I know it works. Yet I also know other forms of touring can also work just as well and I always learn something when I talk with someone who has a different perspective if I don't let my own biases get in the way. The tricky part is that people who do things often are strong minded so they hold strong opinions. Kind of a catch 22 when it comes to discussion boards.
10-03-15, 07:37 PM
#204
40 yrs bike touring
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There was little information available about bike touring when i started long ago. Through trial and error the bike, camping equipment and carrying method evolved to suit future tours. I learned what worked for me.
The prime directive was always to be self-sufficient enough to be warm, dry, fed, hydrated and healthy no matter the circumstances of terrain, weather, altitude and road surface. Repair self-sufficiency quickly became an obvious addition to the original prime directive.
My total equipment weight has shrunk from an initial first tour 50 pounds (40 plus years ago) to an 18 pound equipment load for the Divide Ride. Few changes are needed these days except to replace damaged or worn out equipment or clothes. All anyone can do is find out what works for them. I never was much of a herd animal in letting others make my choices for me.
The prime directive was always to be self-sufficient enough to be warm, dry, fed, hydrated and healthy no matter the circumstances of terrain, weather, altitude and road surface. Repair self-sufficiency quickly became an obvious addition to the original prime directive.
My total equipment weight has shrunk from an initial first tour 50 pounds (40 plus years ago) to an 18 pound equipment load for the Divide Ride. Few changes are needed these days except to replace damaged or worn out equipment or clothes. All anyone can do is find out what works for them. I never was much of a herd animal in letting others make my choices for me.
10-03-15, 08:04 PM
#205
commu*ist spy
Thread Starter
This post is so full of true.
I have toured with four panniers. The trouble was, I had trouble filling them in most cases. I realised I could pare that back to two panniers and a tent on top of the rack, plus a handlebar bag.
One of my plans is to acquire a Nelson Camper Carradice bag and to modify the fly of one of my tents (the inner is falling apart) with a floor; we went exploring at a "tip shop" (recycled goods outlet attached to a rubbish dump), and found people just throw away tents that have great fabric still).
I also know I can reduce my Trangia cookware to just the essentials, and I already have a lightweight down bag and sleep pad. I'd probably opt to go with my Shogun 400 fixie and try a weekend or two away with that set-up.
I totally agree about the clothing. The essentials for me are waterproof jacket (Ground Effects in this case), polypro base, T-shirt (no pockets, lightweight material), lightweight polarfleece jacket, spandex undies (not bikeshorts), synthetic shorts, long synthetic pants, woollen socks and bandana, plus long and short-fingered gloves. I had several sets of that everday wear when we toured Europe and the UK for over three months several years ago, and it served me well. I even had a down jacket thrown in there (and it was particularly useful in the French Alps and Scotland!).
Bulk ends up being as much as enemy as weight in packing. Hence substituting two or three pairs of undies for two pairs of bike shorts (no chamois), and tech Ts for jerseys because they don't have pockets and extended backs.
Where I tour, the weather can be marginal, so I like to have wind and cold protection, but even that doesn't have to be bulky to be functional. The Ground Effects StormTrooper jacket is an example.
The tent can be another bulky item. I have a bivvy tent, but that hasn't been used, because I tour with Machka and we need the bigger tent space. The fly I talked about above is from an old Mountain Designs 2p tent that we both have squeezed into, and by removing the liner, we open up a bit more usable space.
To get down to a particular light target weight for me would not cost any more than a new Carradice Nelson Camper. And all said and done, I could try to fit everything into the Nelson Longflap that I already have.
Hmmmm... this could be an interesting challenge.
I have toured with four panniers. The trouble was, I had trouble filling them in most cases. I realised I could pare that back to two panniers and a tent on top of the rack, plus a handlebar bag.
One of my plans is to acquire a Nelson Camper Carradice bag and to modify the fly of one of my tents (the inner is falling apart) with a floor; we went exploring at a "tip shop" (recycled goods outlet attached to a rubbish dump), and found people just throw away tents that have great fabric still).
I also know I can reduce my Trangia cookware to just the essentials, and I already have a lightweight down bag and sleep pad. I'd probably opt to go with my Shogun 400 fixie and try a weekend or two away with that set-up.
I totally agree about the clothing. The essentials for me are waterproof jacket (Ground Effects in this case), polypro base, T-shirt (no pockets, lightweight material), lightweight polarfleece jacket, spandex undies (not bikeshorts), synthetic shorts, long synthetic pants, woollen socks and bandana, plus long and short-fingered gloves. I had several sets of that everday wear when we toured Europe and the UK for over three months several years ago, and it served me well. I even had a down jacket thrown in there (and it was particularly useful in the French Alps and Scotland!).
Bulk ends up being as much as enemy as weight in packing. Hence substituting two or three pairs of undies for two pairs of bike shorts (no chamois), and tech Ts for jerseys because they don't have pockets and extended backs.
Where I tour, the weather can be marginal, so I like to have wind and cold protection, but even that doesn't have to be bulky to be functional. The Ground Effects StormTrooper jacket is an example.
The tent can be another bulky item. I have a bivvy tent, but that hasn't been used, because I tour with Machka and we need the bigger tent space. The fly I talked about above is from an old Mountain Designs 2p tent that we both have squeezed into, and by removing the liner, we open up a bit more usable space.
To get down to a particular light target weight for me would not cost any more than a new Carradice Nelson Camper. And all said and done, I could try to fit everything into the Nelson Longflap that I already have.
Hmmmm... this could be an interesting challenge.
I've got this vintage saddle from a guy back in iowa. Dunno what it is, but it says made in italy, and it's always been my most comfortable saddle, even though it's quite soft. I think I can totally tour on it without bib shorts
10-03-15, 08:12 PM
#206
Senior Member
does the lack of bib shorts negate the requirement for chamois cream?
I've got this vintage saddle from a guy back in iowa. Dunno what it is, but it says made in italy, and it's always been my most comfortable saddle, even though it's quite soft. I think I can totally tour on it without bib shorts
I've got this vintage saddle from a guy back in iowa. Dunno what it is, but it says made in italy, and it's always been my most comfortable saddle, even though it's quite soft. I think I can totally tour on it without bib shorts
If you have a comfortable saddle -- I use Brooks, but brand is not the issue -- and you can ride a long daily distance without padded shorts, then go for it; you will save on bulk, a little bit of weight, and ease of laundry/drying.
Fit and how your bike feels under you (which can be related to tyres, pressures, flexibility of the frame) are pretty important factors, too, and your CF frame may deliver part of that equation for you.
10-03-15, 08:13 PM
#207
Senior Member
10-05-15, 10:00 AM
#209
Senior Member
Just weighed my brand new Surly LHT with disc fork and it weighs 32lbs or 14.9kg.
Size 62 and complete tubus racks may have something to do with the weight. And the wheels aren't light either. But it's actually not too bad now that I think of it.
It's going to get some more weight when I add new tires though. Schwalbe marathon in the front (I'd use vittoria voyager Hyper, but I'm probably too heavy for those in full load touring) and Schwalbe Marathon Plus in the rear.
End result is probably going to be in the region of 34lbs
Size 62 and complete tubus racks may have something to do with the weight. And the wheels aren't light either. But it's actually not too bad now that I think of it.
It's going to get some more weight when I add new tires though. Schwalbe marathon in the front (I'd use vittoria voyager Hyper, but I'm probably too heavy for those in full load touring) and Schwalbe Marathon Plus in the rear.
End result is probably going to be in the region of 34lbs
10-05-15, 11:37 AM
#210
Senior Member
when you weighed your bike, did it have fenders and pedals on?
The LHT will be more solid with a heavy load than a light tourer like mine, but being a lighter guy, a lighter bike that is perhaps 3-4 lbs less than another bike will be more sprightly in non-touring or lightly loaded rides, but can still work fine for touring for a light rider like myself.
But again, the old "horses for courses" term comes up, for a trip over rougher roads and/or having to sometimes carrying more weight (extra food, water) a much sturdier (heavier) bike makes sense, as it will handle long term heavy loading and roughness much better over time.
10-05-15, 01:40 PM
#211
Senior Member
Fenders and pedals were on as well as the rear light and steerer mounted bell
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