Living up to the cycle-touring luggage motto

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CopperBrompton

Bicycle: a means of transport between cake-stops
Location
London
"Take half as much luggage and twice as much cash."

packed.jpg


This is what luggage for a 12-day cycling holiday looks like, Ben-style. One side is all bike gear, the other a mix of clothing, technology and toiletries - plus map and passport. We're staying at guesthouses, so no camping gear needed. Last year I took clothing for four days and did laundry every third day, which worked well enough, so doing the same again.

The book is just for scale - no room for that, will be reading ebooks on my iPhone, which is surprisingly do-able.

Last year we cycled Hook of Holland to Esbjerg, so this year we're picking up very vaguely where we left the Netherlands last time and cycling the rest of a lap of the country, loosely following the Ronde van Nederland route. Leaving on Sunday night as I have to abseil off a building first.

Ben
 

SimonJKH

Blue collar cyclist
Location
Ipswich
I do love those Chris Foss covers on Panther paperbacks ^_^
 

HelenD123

Legendary Member
Location
York
Just curious what you mean by 'bike gear'. If all your clothes, tech and toiletries are in the other side and you're not camping I can't think what else you'd have. I'm doubting it's a spare tyre just for a 12 day tour!
 
OP
OP
CopperBrompton

CopperBrompton

Bicycle: a means of transport between cake-stops
Location
London
Helen, mostly on-the-bike contingency clothing: waterproofs, thin jumper, thick jumper, thin gloves, thick gloves, waterproof cap, wooly cap. Plus tools, spare tube and FOAD D-lock (Abus Granit Plus 54).

And yes, I have before been grateful for the contingency clothing: there was one day last year when I wore thin jumper + thick jumper + waterproofs + thick gloves + wooly cap and was still a bit cold!

Oh, and I didn't need a spare tyre but my mate did.
 

Profpointy

Legendary Member
I do love those Chris Foss covers on Panther paperbacks ^_^

That Chris Foss is an evil con-man. His truly wonderful spaceship drawings succered me into parting with my meagre pocket money and wasting hours reading utter dross like the EE-Smith portrayed.

There's a wonderful Chris Foss picture book, not too expensive, which saves you reading all the truly dire books his images originally adorned.

And to the OP - bin the book, and get some Ballard or Aldiss instead.
 
OP
OP
CopperBrompton

CopperBrompton

Bicycle: a means of transport between cake-stops
Location
London
His truly wonderful spaceship drawings succered me into parting with my meagre pocket money and wasting hours reading utter dross like the EE-Smith portrayed.
You, sir, have no taste!

And to the OP - bin the book, and get some Ballard or Aldiss instead.

books.jpg


The entire front row, and about a quarter of the back row (all shelves are two books deep) is SF. Both Ballard and Aldiss are fully represented.
 

SimonJKH

Blue collar cyclist
Location
Ipswich
I tried to click on that picture for a closer look :blush:
Looks like your collection rivals mine! And I agree - the fact that Foss's artwork had nothing to do with anything in the book is no bad thing :thumbsup:
 
OP
OP
CopperBrompton

CopperBrompton

Bicycle: a means of transport between cake-stops
Location
London
If I were fabulously wealthy, I'd have a library in my home. As it is, this (plus a similar number of ebooks) has to suffice. :-)
 

Teuchter

Über Member
(Staying off topic) looking at your bookshelf with its accompanying rack, I'd say you have your priorities right for when you're not on tour at least... nice wine and a good SF book takes some beating. You just need to add some suitable music.

I've not read any Lensman books since my teens but funnily given the previous comment, I'm half way through Greybeard by Brian Aldiss right now... on my Kindle.
 
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