Yeah, that is quite a contrast. My bike is a 21".


BTW, I noticed you have quite a load on the rear rack. Is there a reason you haven't used a front rack/panniers? Or, like me, you could put everything you needed on back and in a handlebar bag?

I'd like to get a front rack and panniers for my next trip to even up the weight distribution.

My rig midway thru a tour of the Pacific Coast. I had already sent a box home of stuff I didn't need.

Grocery run with four panniers and a milk crate. It's a little top-heavy, but it works.

Yeah, basically I'm just a cheap bastard and didn't want to shell out the money for the front setup. It was a bit unevenly loaded, but actually still rode pretty well. It's a pretty burley handlebar bag, so I really did have quite a bit of weight there as well.

Here's my BikeE fully loaded for as long as needed.

https://www.simplecom.net/poleary/packing%20list.htm

I had a 19" 520 and now have a 21" and the 19" has a sloping top tube where the 21 doesn't. Both great bikes

Make this thread a stickie, please?

I look like a Bedouin - also carry a lot of stuff - this trip included a jacket and slacks for a wedding - not my usual cargo. I do always carry a mid-sized backpack to head off into the wilderness - there is great backcountry camping in Yellowstone and Glacier far from the maddening crowds.
Best - J

What size do the thumbnails have to be?

The forum software makes the thumbnails. You just attach your file and let the program do the rest. Then the forum reader just clicks on the thumbnail to get the full-sized image.

There is probably a limit (100k?) to the overall size of the file you attach. And try to make it a pixel count that'll easily fit on the screen. Say 800x600 or less.

Thanks for the pictures. Very helpful and informative.
Question though.....Does the unbottle by Camelbak that you have attached to your top tube work out allright?...Can you pedal like that ok? I am trying to devise ways to carry water on my bike long distances and this looks like a great idea. Pleave describe any pros or cons that you or ANYONE may have had this type.

Thanks

Quick weekend tour last fall of Joshua Tree Nat'l Park, CA.

some of my touring bikes loaded ...
Thorn Nomad: ready to go!
Trek 520: tour of Fluerieu Peninsula and Barossa Valley, South Australia
Giant Yukon: tour of Grampians and Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia
cheers,hoogie
timaru/oamaru, new zealand

These are the Buckets of Doom. Made from Arkel's Hook system and 5 gallon square water proof bucket bought from U.S. Plastics. 2,688 cubic inch capacity!

I hope no one came driving up that road while you were sleeping

This is a photo of the trike when loaded for touring, A set of TT-84's and a set of Gt-30's, the ground cloth and sleep pad up on top of the rack. I had to build a custom rack to get the bags up, so they would not drag on the ground. As well as a custom under seat rack for the Gt-30's. We used the trike on two short tours and one long tour before selling the trike. The trike just did not work out well for gypsy camping, too hard to get thought the brush without leaving a trail. In the 1000 miles or so of using the trike for touring we only had one flat....guess which wheel!

I wasn't camping there. That is a grave yard across the street from my apartment complex for the local mental hospital. I rode over there just to set up the tent because I never pitched a tent before.

Here's my rig. Yes, I use a large handlebar bag--but the effect is negligible since the thing drives like a Buick anyway (about 75 lbs of bike and cargo when all 5 pounds of water is aboard). Hey, I need the exercise. At least it all fits into the tent.

Lew

Here's the Bike with No Name parked in front of the Avis Motel in Kankakee, Illinois last week. The front bags are really too large, but I took them along for their water-proof quality. I am unapologetic about the big handlebar bag. It contained my wallet, cell-phone, camera, Chap-Stick...in short, my life. The stack on the rear rack is my sleeping bag, pad and tent. On the very top is a little black teddy bear who travels along with me. One day I'd like to get a true, dedicated touring rig.

Regular Guy - I think your teddy bear can beat up Bingo, my little pound puppy (he's out front on my handlebar bag in the pic just above). Funny how soon you find yourself using the pronoun we in your ongoing trip notes.

Eh, Buddy (the bear) isn't so tough. He is good company, though one of the guys I was touring with last week said it looked like the first time I'd ever left home. Buddy has traveled thousands of miles with meand never complained. I tuck him inside a pannier if it rains. I'd like to get him a little yellow rain slicker. I've been toying with titling my next ride account "Travels with Buddy."

It looks pretty dedicated to me

Speaking of pictures of loaded bike, I could not resist sending in this one, needless to say its not mine, but what a load

Uhh, is that a joke, Joe?

Na I did attach a picture with that but it did not attach it self, I will try and attach it to this reply. yep that should do it...just saw the note saying ' file too large', think I have just sussed it