ted grant

thanks to various folks on the web who have helped give me ideas to get the weight of my touring bike down from my tour last year. ( 12 days from portland to san francisco CA around labor day). Last year i used a nice old lugged steel cyclocross bike. worked fine at 66 pounds loaded, felt it on the hills . I am used to a 16 LB road bike.
Switched up the game a bit and Im back leaving tomorrow from SF>LA in 7 days with the new ride. My old specialized sirrus commuter updated with a carbon fork (w/ rack mount!), all of the shimano XT drivetrain and brakes off my old specialized S works mtn Bike, ( running a 22/34 low gear), armadillo 700x25c tires, and lighter gear. I have everything on this bike as seen, no extra bags or junk. MSR hubba tent (single biggest weight loss), down bag, alcohol stove, several changes of clothes. I have omitted some options such as an extra pair of shoes, but I have everything else I need. To those who bring the kitchen sink,
thats cool ( I met multiple folks last year on long haul tuckers who picked up my bike and said "DAMN", wonder what they will say this year) , but there is a lighter way to travel.... will check in later, wish me no rain...

nun

Good job, how about a packing list

valygrl

Nice, I'm inspired.

twodeadpoets

Very cool! Do tell us what you packed.

Dan The Man

Since we are bragging: I pulled sub 50 lbs on a 20 lb bike including about 5 lbs of food and 3 lbs of water on departure day. Total weight of me and everything was just under 210 lbs.

Big weight losses: popcan stove, small Walmart pot with tin foil lid, hammock tent, very light fleece, one single shell jacket for rain/wind, thin pair of pants with tights for cold, flip flips instead of camp shoes, no front rack or front panniers. Only one spare tire, two spare tubes.

If you want to pack light, dress with layers instead of having a single item to wear for each weather condition and temperature.

nun

I can't approach your total weight as just me is 190lbs, but my goal is always to have the weight of my
bike, gear, bags, food, water etc as I roll out of the door under 50lbs. I've recently taken to using a netbook on tour and I replaced my soda can stove with a Trangia as it is sturdier and more controllable, so my weight has increased by a couple of pounds, but I still make the magic 50lbs

Neil G.

ha...my bike (Cannondale T800) + bags (Arkel GT series) weigh 50 lbs too...but that's before I put anything in the bags!

The low total weights make me envious, but on the other hand, me and my bike have always handled our weight fine and been able to cover plenty of distance, so I don't really have any complaints.

Bike (w/ racks, fenders, lights) = 34 lbs.
Bags (4 on the sides + handlebar bag + rain covers) = 16 lbs.

Neil

staehpj1

Really? That is hard for me to get my head around. My panniers weigh well under half of that. I guess yours must be quite large and quite bullet proof.

Different strokes and all that, but I'd be miserable with that much empty weight even if I packed light. My experience has been that every extra pound reduces the comfort level noticeably.

The T-800 isn't very heavy so am guessing you went for heavy tires, heavy racks, and other stuff.

staehpj1

I'd be interested in that too.

LeeG

S.F. to L.A.,,,guess he's on his way to Monterrey today.


https://www.weather.com/outlook/trave...=enhsearch_loc

valygrl

Arkel GT bags are insanely heavy. I have some too, and quit using them after a couple of trips. They are very functional, but the weight is idiotic.

John Nelson

I always wrestle with the weight of toiletries--how many days supply to carry vs. how often to stop and purchase more. Things like sunscreen, chamois cream, toothpaste, shampoo and other soaps can really be heavy if you carry several weeks worth. But then doesn't stopping frequently to buy more get to be a hastle too? And you can't find chamois cream just anywhere. On an extended tour (in first world countries), how many days supply of toiletries do you carry at one time?

Tools and spare parts can also get heavy, but you get to trade that off against your risk tolerance. I suppose everybody gets to pick what middle ground to take. I take enough to deal with flats and spokes, and tire boots, but I don't carry a spare tire or cone wrenches or an adjustable wrench or anything for the bottom bracket.

Clothes are also a category that you have a lot of control over. The minimalist will decide that they'll just live with being wet and cold occasionally.

The weight of my four Ortlieb Classic Rollers, plus Ortlieb Classic Medium handlebar bag (including mounting bracket), plus map case, plus Tubus front and rear racks is 11.627 pounds empty (5.274 kg). The racks total 2.553 pounds and the five bags add up to 9.074 pounds.

positron

damn, 16 pounds for panniers! thats half my bike weight right there, and I have an SS coupled 26inch roberts with a dynohub and 50 mm big apple tires. Ouch. I think my carradice panniers are about 8 total...

positron

toiletries???? what are these toiletries you speak of?

(seriously, on tour I use dr bronners peppermint soap for everything i need. I brush my teeth with it, shave with it, shower, shampoo, wash dishes, wash clothes... everything. A 4 oz bottle will lasts for months and is biodegradeable)

LeeG

as long as there's air in the tires the rest is personal preference.

staehpj1

Your hygiene on tour must be a lot better than mine I don't carry much in the way of toiletries and just don't bother with most of the items on your list.

1. Sunscreen, I am pretty skimpy with so it goes a long way. I apply once a day at most and depending on weather and climate I don't always bother.
2. Chamois cream? I don't feel the need.
3. Shampoo? I buzz my hair before I go, so I can just wash my head with bar soap for a few months before my hair gets too long again.
4. Brush? Comb? No need.
5. Toothpaste? Used sparingly a small tube lasts for months.
6. I typically use either liquid soap or a bar of soap for everything.
7. Shaving supplies? I don't typically bother on tour.

As far as stopping to restock, why would that be a hassle? I will be at a store buying food pretty much daily any way and just about all of this stuff will last me for at least a couple months if not more before restocking.

I do carry the following and I think all items lasted for the whole TransAmerica, except I needed a new bar of soap in Missouri:

• Tooth brush
• Toothpaste
• A bar of soap (a fairly hard type soap lasts much longer than something like Ivory) or liquid soap
• Dental floss
• Q-tips (a few dozen in a ziplock)
• Alcohol (I need it to dry my ears after swimming)
• Washcloth
• Deodorant (stick)
• Small camp towel

LeeG

when I was a kid touring I would take a toothbrush, toothpaste optional, bandana, comb, maybe chapstick and enough toilet paper for two dumps.

Neil G.

Yep, they don't call themselves Arkel OverDesigns for nuthin', I guess! Total volume is listed as 82 liters...I really have no idea how "large" that is, though I know the handlebar bag is huge (which I need to hold my computer and SLR camera). I'd be curious how the 9 lb. Ortlieb volume compares. I can say that all my stuff goes inside the bags; I usually have nothing sitting on my rear rack.

Hmm...you know that you're supposed to sit on top of the bike, not under it, right?

I really only just discovered the Arkel weight recently. In preparation for my upcoming tour I've been weighing every little bit of everything, so I finally became aware of the weight of the bags. Still didn't think much of it, since I've never had any other bags, so I just assumed they all weighed that much. But then I saw a recent "panniers vs. BOB" thread where a frequent point against the BOB was its 16 lb. weight. "huh? But that's how much my bags weigh too!"

I love the bags though, and am not really sure what I'd gain if they weighed less. In fact, I just bought another front pannier from them because I wanted the new version that converts into a backpack for my upcoming biking/hiking trip. And of course that weighs even more than the original!

I don't think it's anything crazy, though it's certainly nothing lightweight. It all just adds up. Brooks B17, ESGE kickstand, Schmidt Dynohub. Racks (Tubus Duo + Topeak SuperTourist) feel light enough, though again, what do I know? But when I weighed my rear wheel (Mavic T520, 36-spoke, XT hub, 700x37C Continental Top Touring 2000) and found that it alone came to nearly 5 lbs., it really made me wonder how a 16lb. bike is even physically possible!

The good part about heavy bags is it makes the toiletry discussion completely irrelevant!

nun

These are my toiletries. I use travel sizes and 2oz bottles for shampoo etc. The bottles will last me for 2 to 3 weeks and I restock when I stay in a motel. The shampoo doubles as soap, shaving foam and washing detergent, dental floss can be used as string, toilet paper is good in "emergencies" and for clean up after working on the bike, Gold Bond soothes and is good to use on inner tubes too

# Razor
# Sunscreen (SPF 45)
# Shampoo
# Toothpaste and Brush
# Dental Floss
# Toilet Paper
# Comb
# Chapstick
# Gold Bond Powder
# Chamois Butter

My bags are a Nelson Longflap saddlebag, Acorn handlebar bag and 2x silnylon stuff sacks with a total weight of 3.25lbs. My racks are small Nitto racks front and rear with a combined weight of 1.25lbs

staehpj1

Thanks for the tip

Seriously, I guess that there is a wide range of what we all find acceptable. If you have low enough gears and are riding alone you can always just go at the pace that works for the load and terrain.

When riding with others I find the weight becomes more obvious when you have to (want to?) ride their pace. On the TA, I was the fastest of our group some days, but on other days one or the other of my companions was strongest. A difference of a couple pounds when I sent stuff home was very noticeable. This was especially true when my powerhouse daughter is having a good day. We didn't do epic mileage most days and often took long breaks for second breakfast or lunch, but when on the bike liked to go at a good clip. Traveling light is a great help if you want to ride at a good clip especially on the climbs. This is way less true in flatter areas. Crossing Kansas an extra couple pounds would not have been a huge deal.

gregw

Nice job, nice clean setup!!

My only comments would be fenders and handlebar bag, I find these essential.

Fenders ; Everything stays cleaner (keeps the worms off your water bottle spout) Dryer in the rain, but more importantly dryer right after the rain stops. I will sit-out a rain storm when ever possible, but when it stops, I want to go. With fenders I can go and stay dry.

Handlebar bag ; Easy access to your essentials and a place for a map holder. All your valuables stay in the bag and the bag goes with you.

kuan

The weight weenies have infiltrated the touring forum! Good job getting the weight down!

gregw

Welcome Weight Weenies, this forum could use a diet, and so could my touring rig!

nun

Even though I try to keep my gear light, I wouldn't describe myself as a weight weenie. There's no carbon on my bike and I carry a 2lb netbook. But I just don't see the need to carry, say a 6lb tent, when there's a 1.5lb tent available. One set of off bike clothes and two sets of on bike wear is plenty. By saving some weight I enjoy my riding more and aim for 90% of the comfort level of tourists carrying loads heavier than the 20 to 25lbs I carry. There are folks who carry a lot less than I do, but I'm not prepared to use bubble wrap as a sleeping pad. My philosophy is to travel as lightly as possible without sacrificing too much comfort.

rodar y rodar

Yes, I imagine this couold get to be an issue when touring with a pair of 18-year olds