zimzum42 said:
Has anyone done this?
I've heard it spoken of. Seems you set off in your lycras with no panniers and other bags, and just charge everything to the card and wash your lycras each night in the hotel...
Sounds good, because the one thing that puts me off doing a long multi-day ride is the thought of carting all my gear around....
This is what I do, though hesitate to call it a tour as there are people far more serious about touring than myself. I have a rack, which is easily removable, and an expandable bag which sits on it. One of the great things about the bag is the side pockets can be unfolded to make mini-panniers.
I have two views on the whole thing; my interest is to ride, not sightsee etc, for as long and as far as possible. A nice B&B and evening meal helps! Secondly if I went for an 80-90 mile ride from home I wouldn't carry anything other than the first six items so why do I need the kitchen sink? I can as easily get into trouble on a 50 miler from home as on the ride to Berwick I hope to do next week!
I take the following:
2 x tubes
P*nct*re repair kit
Pump
CO2 canister
Phone
Cash and cards
Energy gels / bars
compass
orienteering whistle - round neck when have broken leg in ditch!!
Relevant pages from motoring atlas
space blanket - in pocket - see whistle!
2 x bib shorts
2 x shirts
base layer
micro fleece
arm / leg warmers
2 x socks
waterproofs
trousers with zip off legs
t-shirt /polo shirt
flip flops / sandals
iPod loaded with talking books
pain killers
toothpaste / brush
insect repellent
This will sound wasteful but if I need anything else - clean shirt perhaps - £2 in Tesco gets a new one! On a nice evening I go to a pub perhaps buy a paper. If it's wet, cold or I feel anti-social I listen to a talking book.