Why is ultralight touring so unpopular?
12-29-15, 02:39 PM
#1001
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,540
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3672 Post(s)
Liked 5,427 Times
in
2,757 Posts
Thank you mods for banning the Troll!!
12-29-15, 11:21 PM
#1003
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,150
Bikes: 2013 Surly Disc Trucker, 2004 Novara Randonee , old fixie , etc
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 671 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 49 Times
in
43 Posts
Heh, sports fans like a close game but with a clear winner eh? UL vs loaded touring isn't so clear-cut of course but a polemical thread can attract some posts w/good info. BikeForums doesn't have a UL Touring section nor a UL Touring sticky so I think that's an incentive to post repetitive threads.
12-30-15, 08:28 AM
#1004
Full Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 464
Bikes: Serotta CRL, Litespeed Blue Ridge, Bacchetta Ti Aero, Cannondale delta V, 67 Schwinn Sting Ray stick shift.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
Not going to review 40 pages of posts so...UL touring is very popular, with me. Life in general requires Too much stuff. Escaping on my bike or hike allows me some space to be minimal. I don't saw my tooth brush in two but I do only take my bike shoes and a cheap pair of flip flops.
12-30-15, 08:46 AM
#1005
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,238
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18414 Post(s)
Liked 15,539 Times
in
7,329 Posts
12-30-15, 09:48 AM
#1007
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,238
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18414 Post(s)
Liked 15,539 Times
in
7,329 Posts
12-30-15, 08:14 PM
#1008
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,540
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3672 Post(s)
Liked 5,427 Times
in
2,757 Posts
Well, looks like he's only gone for 31 days. Guess we'll have to hear more of his cycling fantasies until he self destructs again. Maybe he will ride a bike during his time out.
12-30-15, 08:49 PM
#1009
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
Things certainly have quieted down . . . .
12-30-15, 09:23 PM
#1010
12-30-15, 11:47 PM
#1011
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: east bay area,CA
Posts: 335
Bikes: Salsa Fargo commuter,Litespeed Ocoee titanium mountain bike cannondale caad9 105 road bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Maybe the reason UL is so "unpopular" has something to do with its ambassadors......
12-31-15, 05:29 AM
#1012
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,540
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3672 Post(s)
Liked 5,427 Times
in
2,757 Posts
As over-the-top, fanatical, and absurdly zealous BB is (was?) he is actually a cycle-tourist.
12-31-15, 10:07 AM
#1015
Senior Member
Surely it's wrong to associate the behavior of an individual with a group. I find most people that tour with gear weights on the lighter end of the spectrum are civil and enjoy sharing their approach to touring with those that are interested.
12-31-15, 02:09 PM
#1016
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: east bay area,CA
Posts: 335
Bikes: Salsa Fargo commuter,Litespeed Ocoee titanium mountain bike cannondale caad9 105 road bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
True. There are a bunch of those here on this forum. But you know those vocal minorities can tend to give a group a bad name.
12-31-15, 05:07 PM
#1017
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,624
Bikes: iele Latina, Miele Suprema, Miele Uno LS, Miele Miele Beta, MMTB, Bianchi Model Unknown, Fiori Venezia, Fiori Napoli, VeloSport Adamas AX
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1324 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
640 Posts
There are a lot of different types of bicycling tourers just like there are a lot of different areas to tour. the duration of the tour and the planned activities for the tour duration go a long way to determining the weight of the gear a person taskes with them. The cost of the gear is another major consideration for many people. Someone who does one or two tours a year m ay noty want to spend much on dedicated touring gear let alone ultralight gear.
If i'm touring along paved roads with sources of food and or other stuff along the way and not too far apart I'll take a lot less gear and food than if I'm going into the interior for a couple to a few weeks.
I don't think that ultralight touring is unpopular. I think that a lot of people would not ecognize an ultralight tourer as compared to someone out for a day ride. My sister packs all sorts of stuff for a day ride on a rail trail. Her setup for that day ride is as bulky as my gear (excluding food) that i take for a two weeks long tour along remote logging/mining roads where I might not see anyone or any vehicle for days at a time.
People tour for different reasons and people have different agendas for the time they're actually touring. That'll dictate whether they go heavy, moderate, lightweight or ultra lightweight.
cheers
If i'm touring along paved roads with sources of food and or other stuff along the way and not too far apart I'll take a lot less gear and food than if I'm going into the interior for a couple to a few weeks.
I don't think that ultralight touring is unpopular. I think that a lot of people would not ecognize an ultralight tourer as compared to someone out for a day ride. My sister packs all sorts of stuff for a day ride on a rail trail. Her setup for that day ride is as bulky as my gear (excluding food) that i take for a two weeks long tour along remote logging/mining roads where I might not see anyone or any vehicle for days at a time.
People tour for different reasons and people have different agendas for the time they're actually touring. That'll dictate whether they go heavy, moderate, lightweight or ultra lightweight.
cheers
06-12-17, 12:18 AM
#1018
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Stephenville TX
Posts: 3,697
Bikes: 2010 Trek 7100
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 697 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
But seriously I think there are two reasons you don't see what you think you should be seeing out there. One is that, real ultralite tourists can't be separated from people with a daypack strapped to their bikes. How do you know that guy isn't just on his way home? Sure he could be some place that is extremely remote/touristy, but then how does one know he isn't just out for a day or two.
06-12-17, 07:06 AM
#1019
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Metro Detroit/AA
Posts: 8,207
Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3640 Post(s)
Liked 81 Times
in
51 Posts
You've reopened a year and a half old thread that took less than two months to span 42 pages. Lets see if the original posters can get another 42 pages out of it 
But, if I were going ultralight, I'd probably just go whole hog and do a supported tour. If only carrying some load makes the trip more enjoyable, think about how carrying no load would be!
But, if I were going ultralight, I'd probably just go whole hog and do a supported tour. If only carrying some load makes the trip more enjoyable, think about how carrying no load would be!
06-12-17, 09:08 AM
#1020
Banned.
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 2,077
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 760 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
But with supported you are locked into where and how far,etc, They want you to ride. What to eat and on and on.
Cost seems to be a major issue for a lot of folks here in regards to light weight stuff.
Cost seems to be a major issue for a lot of folks here in regards to light weight stuff.
06-12-17, 09:26 AM
#1021
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,023
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 223 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
You've reopened a year and a half old thread that took less than two months to span 42 pages. Lets see if the original posters can get another 42 pages out of it
But, if I were going ultralight, I'd probably just go whole hog and do a supported tour. If only carrying some load makes the trip more enjoyable, think about how carrying no load would be!
But, if I were going ultralight, I'd probably just go whole hog and do a supported tour. If only carrying some load makes the trip more enjoyable, think about how carrying no load would be!
06-12-17, 09:33 AM
#1022
Banned
You are not allowed time off until you are old and used up/retired and have had your pension fund looted.
06-12-17, 09:37 AM
#1023
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Metro Detroit/AA
Posts: 8,207
Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3640 Post(s)
Liked 81 Times
in
51 Posts
Yep @manapua_man, that works too. Or keep a spare pair of underwear in your jersey pocket, wear them in the room, and let the hotel do your laundry every night!
06-12-17, 09:53 AM
#1024
Yep @manapua_man, that works too. Or keep a spare pair of underwear in your jersey pocket, wear them in the room, and let the hotel do your laundry every night!
