beginner advice (bike trailer?)

[the_bing]

hey guys

at the early stages of planning a tour of maybe about 4 - 5 days. i dont have a touring bike, just a road bike without the provision for bike rack mounts. maybe this isn't ideal, but it's not a long ride (about 170 - 180 miles) so i was thinking of the possibility of using a bike trailer to carry stuff and maybe one of those seatpost racks (i'd like to avoid a backpack if poss)

not planning to camp (b&b's or similar) so hopefully no tent/sleeping bags etc. just gonna be bike gear and t shirts so trailer won't weigh too much (i hope)

any advice on using trailers from anyone?
any advice for a first time tour planner?

 

[rollinstok]

TBH i dont think you need a trailer for the tour you have in mind, a seatpost rack with a couple of small panniers should hold everything ( dont take this advice if your seatpost is carbon )

 

[JackE]

Have a look at this Carradice thread: http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=61101

 

[Crackle]

Google P-clips, you can attach a rack to any bike with them, provided you don't have weird shaped seat stays.

 

[the_bing]

no, i don't have weird shaped seat stays. i don't have a carbon seat post either! i'll look into P clips...

i didn't think it was a 'long' tour, certainly judging by some of the huge expeditions some people have been on. its my first proper bike trip tho, so i don't want to go too mad so i still enjoy it. i suggested a trailer only because i don't like the idea of heavy panniers resulting in rubbish bike handling.

i do have an MTB and some slicks to fit to it. toying with the idea that this might be a bit better.

 

[rollinstok]

With the bike kit and a few clothes in pannier bags or a decent saddlebag as JackE suggested, you'll hardly notice the load
I think Crackle's suggestion for p-clips is a lot better than a clamp-on rack too

 

[Aushiker]

Personally I would go with the suggestions of a seat-post rack and some sort of top-bag with small panniers. This is the Lezyne Trunk Caddy which illustrates the sort of thing I am referring to. This one is probably overkill but you can get others which are smaller.

If you do want a trailer, I use a Extrawheel Voyager which I am very happy with. Overkill but for what you have planned.

Andrew

 

[rich p]

I started off touring on an mtb with slicks. It'll probably be better than overloading a road bike with a compact frame.

 

[Bodhbh]

I should probably stay out of threads about road bikes, as I don't own one, but. If you google it, you can get seat post clamps with rack mounts, that would be another option. Also some racks can get adaptors to mount via the quick release mechanism (i.e. Tubus Logo). Some people hate the aesthetics of sticking a rack on a nice bike, but Tubus racks really look great imo. Wouldn't be the cheapest solution tho (especially if you get a Ti one!). It does sound like a trailer would be overkill from what you decribe.

 

[the_bing]

cheers for the advice guys

i must admit, i'm glad you're suggesting against a trailer cos they're a bit pricy, i just thought it would make me look like a proper bike tourer! all the gear, no idea!!

from a touring newbie, would you guys recommend using a MTB or road bike?

my mtb is a 1999 specialized rockhopper with rockshox tora forks (lockable) and continental slicks. TBH, it weighs a fair bit but it's got 27 gears.

my road is a cannondale of unknown vintage, alu frame and carbon fork, campagnolo double (52/39), 14 gears, not particularly hill friendly but i have strong legs, overall a much lighter bike than the mtb.

there are pros and cons to each bike, i suppose. any advice?

 

[Muddyfox]

my mtb is a 1999 specialized rockhopper with rockshox tora forks (lockable) and continental slicks. TBH, it weighs a fair bit but it's got 27 gears.

Im not sure why your so concerned about weight ? from what you've said your going to be doing 35 to 40 miles per day which is very easily achievable on a slicked up mountain bike

And give you all afternoon to find a nice B&B

Foxy

 

[rollinstok]

considering the little weight you will be carrying, I would go with the Cannondale
if it was a camping trip it would have to be the mtb ( I would try to get some rigid forks though )
I think the Cannondale would be easier for most hills too

 

[willem]

+1 On a tour like this you only need some clothing, and that will easily fit inside e.g. a Carradice saddle bag. I would avoid seat post racks, as these are pretty unstable. Fit the widest possible fast touring tyres (25 mm Panaracer Pasela's?). So take your road bike unless you want to sample gravel roads. If you want to camp (a great idea, and in the long run much cheaper since you save a lot of money on hostels and eating out), a decent mtb is fine. Fit a sturdy rack like an Old Man Mountain Red Rock, a set of rear panniers, and faster tyres like the 50 Schwalbe Big Apples, and you are all set. You can lock the front suspension when you are on tarmac, and you do not need a front rack and front panniers, saving even more money that you could spend on a light weight camping gear.
Willem