Weight of your touring bike?
06-06-22, 06:42 PM
#51
ignominious poltroon
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You guys are total bad-asses. The most out-of-the-way I have ever gotten is cycling down the outer part of the Olympic Peninsula.
06-06-22, 08:23 PM
#52
ignominious poltroon
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Originally Posted by pdlamb
Looks like it's ready to tour! (Are you?) 
06-06-22, 09:44 PM
#53
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Today on my 31 or whatever lb touring bike, I took off the 2.1 inch gravely treaded tires and put back on the 2 inch slicks, and boy those tires make going over rough roads a cushiony experience.
that's my take on suspension seatposts etc, I'm more inclined to go wider tires.
tires.
And ya, the bike packing light and minimalist thing is one way, but boy panniers are great for ease of use and doing the hotel stairs thing day after day. Been there done that too.
that's my take on suspension seatposts etc, I'm more inclined to go wider tires.
tires.
And ya, the bike packing light and minimalist thing is one way, but boy panniers are great for ease of use and doing the hotel stairs thing day after day. Been there done that too.
06-07-22, 03:10 AM
#54
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Originally Posted by Polaris OBark
My bike (Soma Saga) with front and rear racks, pedals, bottle holders, etc., but unloaded, weighs in at just over 30 lbs.
This makes me a bit worried that I may have over-done it. Is this atypically heavy, or about normal?
This makes me a bit worried that I may have over-done it. Is this atypically heavy, or about normal?
Is it silly to even worry about weight before I start to load it up?
Like, suppose the added gravitational drag of a standard Redshift ShockStop stem over a rigid stem adds an extra 15 seconds to a climb up some mountain pass. If you think that sort of penalty is worth the benefits, then I don't think it makes sense to swap it for a rigid stem just to get the total bike weight below some arbitrary number.
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06-07-22, 05:33 AM
#55
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I was inspired to weigh my disc trucker and honestly it's not bad. 16kg or around 35lbs. But that's with the mini tower pump I forgot to take off, large bottle cages for 1200ml bottles and trailer thru axle and hitch. I think the axle+hitch combo adds half a kilogram by themselves.
It'll get a teeny bit lighter when I get a new superlight handlebar and swap the tubes for latex.
It'll get a teeny bit lighter when I get a new superlight handlebar and swap the tubes for latex.
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06-07-22, 05:44 AM
#56
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My troll is lighter than a stock troll because the wheelset is lighter, the crankset is lighter, and the fenders and two racks are lighter than some, same with the tires-- and heck, the rider is lighter than most too.
But as has been mentioned, touring covers a big range of types of riding and conditions and stuff to take.
But as has been mentioned, touring covers a big range of types of riding and conditions and stuff to take.
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06-07-22, 06:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Yan
I did a trans-Taklamakan tour where I had to carry five gallons of water. That's 20L of volume, 45lb of weight in just water. That was the entirety of two panniers. Third day in we caught a sand storm, but we had to reach our water resupply point that day. Ended up cycling from 9am to 7am the next morning to get there. 22 hours.
Originally Posted by Polaris OBark
You guys are total bad-asses. The most out-of-the-way I have ever gotten is cycling down the outer part of the Olympic Peninsula.
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06-07-22, 06:28 AM
#58
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Originally Posted by GhostRider62
You can go back to the OP all you want. 30+ pounds is way too heavy for any touring bike.
I responded to the "real" touring bikes weigh 30 pounds, I should have said hogwash.
The bike that I do most of my touring on has 17.5 inch chain stays and 43 inch wheelbase and 71mm trail. Hardly a racing bike. I would never ever again use front and rear panniers, I have several sets. They simply are unnecessary. I also would not backpack with a 30 pound base weight although many will. My base weight is under 10 pounds. If anyone wants to cut their burdensome weight, check out lighterpack where there is a lot to be learned. For the record, I have toured New England, Colorado, Cali, crossed the USA, tens of thousands of miles in Europe, England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Both North and South Islands of NZ plus 3 weeks in Oz. A little in Mexico. All on four different bikes from 100 pounds total down to 38lbs. I will take light any day of the week....the question of the thread...."weight of your touring bike"......I answered.
I responded to the "real" touring bikes weigh 30 pounds, I should have said hogwash.
The bike that I do most of my touring on has 17.5 inch chain stays and 43 inch wheelbase and 71mm trail. Hardly a racing bike. I would never ever again use front and rear panniers, I have several sets. They simply are unnecessary. I also would not backpack with a 30 pound base weight although many will. My base weight is under 10 pounds. If anyone wants to cut their burdensome weight, check out lighterpack where there is a lot to be learned. For the record, I have toured New England, Colorado, Cali, crossed the USA, tens of thousands of miles in Europe, England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Both North and South Islands of NZ plus 3 weeks in Oz. A little in Mexico. All on four different bikes from 100 pounds total down to 38lbs. I will take light any day of the week....the question of the thread...."weight of your touring bike"......I answered.
Originally Posted by GhostRider62
You have the wrong bike, wheels and tires for those conditions.
It's great that you've toured a lot, and with varying setups, but really, what does it accomplish being negative and actually telling someone that they have the wrong bike, wheels and tires?
Last edited by djb; 06-07-22 at 06:32 AM.
06-07-22, 06:36 AM
#59
Senior Member
Originally Posted by Polaris OBark
Here is what this ~30lb non-weight-weenie build looks like:
Personally I like having fenders, just less cleaning of drivetrain to do and cleaner clothes. But you might be limited in space for fenders with those tires, they look pretty close.
Most important, get out and ride, that's all that matters.
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06-07-22, 08:00 AM
#60
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Originally Posted by djb
Most important, get out and ride, that's all that matters.
My touring bike weighs about 32 pounds, including racks, fenders, pump, saddle bag with spare tube, tire irons and patch kit, and bottle cages. That's about 10 pounds heavier than my 1975 Schwinn LeTour was without any of those things. The LeTour was probably at the high end of the BikeCentennial equipment of '76, for whatever that's worth. But if you compare my cross-country ride 30+ years later to reports from BikeCentennial:
1. I didn't break any spokes.
2. I didn't break a rack, despite a nasty fall in eastern Kentucky.
3. No freewheel problems, or any other mechanical problems.
4. Wore out two tires, with most of my flats occurring within a couple days of replacing the tires.
Did I overpack? Certainly. Did the weight of the bike impinge on my enjoyment? Nope. It's still my rain bike and commuter backup bike 20,000 miles later.
Should BikeCentennial have been delayed 30-40 years so lighter bikes and equipment have been developed? Should I have delayed my tour hoping that ultralight equipment and frame bags would have saved me 6-7 pounds of load? (I don't think so to either, buy YMMV.)
More to the point, is the loaded style of touring obsolete now? I refer you to the quote at the top: get out and ride. If you've got a modern loaded touring bike, it's a great way to start. The modern versions are head and shoulders above the 70s to 80s bikes for reliability. Try to keep you pack load low and go ride. If you find you didn't need something, and it's not safety critical for poor weather, try leaving it home next trip. If you get to the point where you can contemplate packing everything into a frame pack/bikepacking style and you want to try touring like that, go for it!
Don't have the loaded tourer? See how much you can fit into a bar bag and saddle bag, or see if you can mount a rack to hold some panniers. You may feel limited to credit card touring, overnighting at motels or B&Bs, or supported tours where the operator carries your luggage. Get out and see what you're missing. If you want to do more tours of a different style, see what you need to adjust and go for it!
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06-07-22, 11:31 AM
#61
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Originally Posted by GhostRider62
You can go back to the OP all you want. 30+ pounds is way too heavy for any touring bike.
I responded to the "real" touring bikes weigh 30 pounds, I should have said hogwash.
The bike that I do most of my touring on has 17.5 inch chain stays and 43 inch wheelbase and 71mm trail. Hardly a racing bike. I would never ever again use front and rear panniers, I have several sets. They simply are unnecessary. I also would not backpack with a 30 pound base weight although many will. My base weight is under 10 pounds. If anyone wants to cut their burdensome weight, check out lighterpack where there is a lot to be learned. For the record, I have toured New England, Colorado, Cali, crossed the USA, tens of thousands of miles in Europe, England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Both North and South Islands of NZ plus 3 weeks in Oz. A little in Mexico. All on four different bikes from 100 pounds total down to 38lbs. I will take light any day of the week....the question of the thread...."weight of your touring bike"......I answered.
I responded to the "real" touring bikes weigh 30 pounds, I should have said hogwash.
The bike that I do most of my touring on has 17.5 inch chain stays and 43 inch wheelbase and 71mm trail. Hardly a racing bike. I would never ever again use front and rear panniers, I have several sets. They simply are unnecessary. I also would not backpack with a 30 pound base weight although many will. My base weight is under 10 pounds. If anyone wants to cut their burdensome weight, check out lighterpack where there is a lot to be learned. For the record, I have toured New England, Colorado, Cali, crossed the USA, tens of thousands of miles in Europe, England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Both North and South Islands of NZ plus 3 weeks in Oz. A little in Mexico. All on four different bikes from 100 pounds total down to 38lbs. I will take light any day of the week....the question of the thread...."weight of your touring bike"......I answered.
If you deem a 30+ lbs touring bike and panniers unnecessary, how would you carry a three person tunnel tent, camping chair, five sets of riding clothes, full trangia in multifuel configuration, extra shoes, rain gear etc?
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06-07-22, 01:11 PM
#62
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Three person tent, camping chair, five sets of riding clothes, and extra shoes seems a bit excessive. I take a two person tent and three sets of riding clothes. If it is a long tour with a lot of hostel showering, I take a pair of foam bathroom slippers. There is nothing more nasty than walking barefoot in a hostel bathroom. I use Shimano cycling sneakers. They are good off the bike and make no clicking sounds.
06-07-22, 01:41 PM
#63
Senior Member
Having five sets means having to search a laundromat (or in a worst case, sink) only every week or so.
extra walking shoes means the ability to do long day hikes on off days. Shimano sandals are versatile but not that great as walking shoes when you start piling on the kilometers.
extra walking shoes means the ability to do long day hikes on off days. Shimano sandals are versatile but not that great as walking shoes when you start piling on the kilometers.
06-07-22, 04:50 PM
#65
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Originally Posted by Yan
I hand wash my clothes while on tour. I wash them anywhere I can find a sink. Then I drape them over my bike to dry.
I just bring two sets of bike shorts, and a couple of jerseys, so always wash the set I was wearing that day.
06-07-22, 05:30 PM
#66
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Originally Posted by Yan
I hand wash my clothes while on tour. I wash them anywhere I can find a sink. Then I drape them over my bike to dry.
I find that a flat silicone drain stopper is very useful in campground sinks, as those sinks rarely have stoppers.
06-07-22, 10:29 PM
#67
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I suppose my point was that calling something in general pointless without knowing the packing needs or wants of other people is well, pointless.
I know I can get by with less clothes, but hand washing laundry isn't something I particularly enjoy so I like to avoid that while on vacation. I could get by with a smaller tent but for two people the huge tent we have is quite nice. Trangia is a godsend as you can cook all sorts of things with it. I don't like the ascetic almost spiritual side of self punishing touring some people seem to enjoy. I'm on vacation. I deserve some luxury. Like extra shoes......
Ultralighting usually means buying a whole new set of ultralight gear to replace the heavier stuff. And with great expense. Not very sustainable that.
I know I can get by with less clothes, but hand washing laundry isn't something I particularly enjoy so I like to avoid that while on vacation. I could get by with a smaller tent but for two people the huge tent we have is quite nice. Trangia is a godsend as you can cook all sorts of things with it. I don't like the ascetic almost spiritual side of self punishing touring some people seem to enjoy. I'm on vacation. I deserve some luxury. Like extra shoes......
Ultralighting usually means buying a whole new set of ultralight gear to replace the heavier stuff. And with great expense. Not very sustainable that.
06-08-22, 07:58 AM
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Unladen, my aluminum framed tourer weighs about 23lbs. Not sure exact weight because I was too lazy to remove everything before I weighed it.
Loads I strap to it likely weigh between 15-25 lbs including racks and bags, but not including water.
Loads I strap to it likely weigh between 15-25 lbs including racks and bags, but not including water.
06-08-22, 04:06 PM
#70
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My ‘87 Schwinn Voyageur weighs 30lbs. Stock setup including Vetta saddle. Plastic fenders, F&R racks, three bottle cages, Passela tires, No where near a good looking as polymorphself bike above. Mine’s a mule and looks it.
06-08-22, 04:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Prowler
My ‘87 Schwinn Voyageur weighs 30lbs. Stock setup including Vetta saddle. Plastic fenders, F&R racks, three bottle cages, Passela tires, No where near a good looking as polymorphself bike above. Mine’s a mule and looks it.
06-08-22, 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by polymorphself
1986 Schwinn Voyageur, ~26 lbs as you see it here. About 24lbs without fenders, bottle cages, bell and bag.
06-09-22, 04:05 AM
#73
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Originally Posted by polymorphself
The weight difference between our bikes is surprising. How did you weigh? I guess the two racks and extra bottle cage could add a few pounds.
My Voyageur is a 56cm c-c, stock touring pedals, 40 spoke R wheel. Maybe it was the 15 coats of boiled linseed oil outside and frame saver inside that burdened the scale so. I dunno.
What I do know is it was one heavy mudda fully loaded when I rode the GAP round trip from Cumberland. And it just gobbled up the miles. “Bring it on! I can take it.”
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06-09-22, 10:49 AM
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Originally Posted by robow
I'm really surprised by this as my 88 Schwinn Letour weighed in about 26 lbs without any fenders or other accessories and I'm sure my saddle was much lighter than a Brooks. In fact the bike that won the Tour De France that year, Delgado's Pinarello weighed in at almost 22 lbs. So old Schwinn really out did themselves in producing a bike designated for touring and yet within 2 lbs of a world beating racer.
06-09-22, 02:11 PM
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Originally Posted by djb
It's great that you've toured a lot, and with varying setups, but really, what does it accomplish being negative and actually telling someone that they have the wrong bike, wheels and tires?
