jhawk
Veteran
- Location
- New Brunswick, Canada
Hi guys,
I recently did a fully loaded (all bar a few things and the fourth "food" pannier) ride on my touring bike. It's been a while since I posted any pictures of it, so here it is. I've replaced the saddle with a Selle Anatomica Titanico X, which I'll be reviewing over the course of my cross-country trip next year. After initial discomfort, I softened the leather and now she's comfy as can be!
Apart from the new saddle, and new dynamo front light (which doesn't work, despite following instructions - we're thinking faulty wiring within the system itself).
Here's the write-up from my website about it!
Tuesday afternoon, I loaded up my bike with fully-packed panniers (except for my newly-purchased sleeping bag, which is currently en-route, a sleeping pad, and my fourth pannier which will be mainly stocked with food.) and decided to head for Bouctouche again, I wanted to find out just what it was like to ride fully-loaded with all of my gear.
It was… different, that’s for sure. Here are the five major lessons (in no particular order) that I learned from the ride.
Lesson 1: Always bring more water and food – always.
I learned this the hard way. I did a rather idiotic thing and bought only my CamelBak hydration pack with me, this sits on my back in a backpack. Which, now that I reflect was an incredibly stupid move. I have three water bottle cages on my bike – why didn’t I just fill those up with water bottles?!
The last few kilometres home were hell. I was dehydrated, malnourished and running on the reserves of my reserves. I made it home, up-chucked, and then slept for twelve hours. Heat stroke sucks, so, always bring more than enough water and food – even if you’re only going out for a few hours. Oh, and when you have the means to let your bike take all that water weight for you – use it! My CamelBak, love it though I do – will now only be used when I go mountain biking, because with every pedal stroke on Tuesday, I was carrying that weight on my back and thereby expending more energy… Never again.
Lesson 2: It’s okay to slow down…
I had ridden this same stretch – the 36.6 mile, shoulder-of-the-highway ride a week prior, on my touring bike, unloaded. My average speed was 20 km/h, I made it there in an hour and a half. This time, it was a whole different animal. My average speed this time around – according to the Cyclemeter app was 13.6 km/h, and it took me just over two hours. I’ll admit I was slightly disappointed that I couldn’t maintain a quicker pace. But, perhaps that has something to do with the fact that it was all uphill, and my legs aren’t used to riding with a full load. This is no doubt something that my body will adjust to over time. But in a way, it was nice to stop and smell the roses (or the dead roadkill that I had to weave around). But this isn’t a race – it’s perfectly okay to take your time and enjoy your lack of Lance Armstrong-esque, PED-induced speed. The sooner I accepted that, the sooner I began to enjoy it.
Lesson 3: Hills are made by an evil, evil being with a total lack of moral compass and/or no soul.
Did I mention that it was mostly uphill? Yeah, it was mostly uphill. Actually, it was all uphill.
And I don’t mean those short hills that you can climb with short bursts of speed – I mean loooooooooong, towering beasts that make your heart sink when you see them in front of you. It was endless… No sooner had I dragged myself, using plenty of swearing words of encouragement, up one and crested it… I was faced with another… And another, and another… Oh, and the transport trucks that go zooming by in the opposite direction when you’re climbing one – further adding to your climb with a blast of headwind – I frown upon you with great disdain. (Only joking, thanks for the tailwinds, they were a great help!)
Lesson 4: Know where you’re going!
Because going left and zooming down a big hill, only to stop at the bottom and go — “Hang on, this isn’t where the Dollar Store is…” *Sigh*, as the realisation dawns on you that you’ve just gone the wrong way – down a hill… And so, I turned around and headed back up the hill. ‘Bloody stupid place to put a hill!’ I thought. But I arrived at my destination, thankfully, without having to climb another one!
I swear, Dollar Stores are going to be my blessing when I cross the country next year – everything you could ever need in a touring cyclists’ diet! Four packets of Ramen noodles for a dollar, and everything else you’d need to refuel, chocolate (most of which I can’t have – dairy allergies be damned!), granola bars, cookies, the odd bottle of pop, utensils, plus other nick-nacks which will come in handy at some point, I’m sure! Oh, and a GIANT Canadian flag – which I’m thinking of strapping to the bike next year!
Lesson 5: I need to lighten my load! (But I have more than enough space for everything)
That is the pannier in which almost all of my clothing fits into! There are a few things that I’m missing out on – but, still, I think that I’ll need to lighten my compliment of clothes, especially since next year, I’l mainly be riding in the Spring and Summer, and parts of early fall – but hopefully not winter!
So, with some careful thinking ahead, hopefully I can squeeze that particular pannier down to size. Plus, I will be making more space in my other panniers, as I have decided to use a Hennessy Hammock instead of my one-man tent, so, that will add more space – since the Hennessy will take up less room that my Walrus Micro-Swift One Man tent does. Just waiting to get paid so that I can order one.
You’re also probably wondering how the added weight affected the bike, (given that this bike has crossed the country once already, and admittedly, I haven’t had to do much maintenance/repair on it…) well, I didn’t notice a significant difference as I was riding – except for perhaps slightly sharper turning and handling, and obviously it was heavier - other than that, it still rides just as well as it did the day that I got it.
It was a great test ride nonetheless, and I learned a lot from it. Here’s to many more!
Thanks for reading,
Jack.
Any tips you guys have with regards to anything to do with my bike, load-lightening, hills, or in-ride replenishment is greatly appreciated and encouraged.
I recently did a fully loaded (all bar a few things and the fourth "food" pannier) ride on my touring bike. It's been a while since I posted any pictures of it, so here it is. I've replaced the saddle with a Selle Anatomica Titanico X, which I'll be reviewing over the course of my cross-country trip next year. After initial discomfort, I softened the leather and now she's comfy as can be!
Apart from the new saddle, and new dynamo front light (which doesn't work, despite following instructions - we're thinking faulty wiring within the system itself).
Here's the write-up from my website about it!
Tuesday afternoon, I loaded up my bike with fully-packed panniers (except for my newly-purchased sleeping bag, which is currently en-route, a sleeping pad, and my fourth pannier which will be mainly stocked with food.) and decided to head for Bouctouche again, I wanted to find out just what it was like to ride fully-loaded with all of my gear.
It was… different, that’s for sure. Here are the five major lessons (in no particular order) that I learned from the ride.
Lesson 1: Always bring more water and food – always.
I learned this the hard way. I did a rather idiotic thing and bought only my CamelBak hydration pack with me, this sits on my back in a backpack. Which, now that I reflect was an incredibly stupid move. I have three water bottle cages on my bike – why didn’t I just fill those up with water bottles?!
The last few kilometres home were hell. I was dehydrated, malnourished and running on the reserves of my reserves. I made it home, up-chucked, and then slept for twelve hours. Heat stroke sucks, so, always bring more than enough water and food – even if you’re only going out for a few hours. Oh, and when you have the means to let your bike take all that water weight for you – use it! My CamelBak, love it though I do – will now only be used when I go mountain biking, because with every pedal stroke on Tuesday, I was carrying that weight on my back and thereby expending more energy… Never again.
Lesson 2: It’s okay to slow down…
I had ridden this same stretch – the 36.6 mile, shoulder-of-the-highway ride a week prior, on my touring bike, unloaded. My average speed was 20 km/h, I made it there in an hour and a half. This time, it was a whole different animal. My average speed this time around – according to the Cyclemeter app was 13.6 km/h, and it took me just over two hours. I’ll admit I was slightly disappointed that I couldn’t maintain a quicker pace. But, perhaps that has something to do with the fact that it was all uphill, and my legs aren’t used to riding with a full load. This is no doubt something that my body will adjust to over time. But in a way, it was nice to stop and smell the roses (or the dead roadkill that I had to weave around). But this isn’t a race – it’s perfectly okay to take your time and enjoy your lack of Lance Armstrong-esque, PED-induced speed. The sooner I accepted that, the sooner I began to enjoy it.
Lesson 3: Hills are made by an evil, evil being with a total lack of moral compass and/or no soul.
Did I mention that it was mostly uphill? Yeah, it was mostly uphill. Actually, it was all uphill.
And I don’t mean those short hills that you can climb with short bursts of speed – I mean loooooooooong, towering beasts that make your heart sink when you see them in front of you. It was endless… No sooner had I dragged myself, using plenty of swearing words of encouragement, up one and crested it… I was faced with another… And another, and another… Oh, and the transport trucks that go zooming by in the opposite direction when you’re climbing one – further adding to your climb with a blast of headwind – I frown upon you with great disdain. (Only joking, thanks for the tailwinds, they were a great help!)
Lesson 4: Know where you’re going!
Because going left and zooming down a big hill, only to stop at the bottom and go — “Hang on, this isn’t where the Dollar Store is…” *Sigh*, as the realisation dawns on you that you’ve just gone the wrong way – down a hill… And so, I turned around and headed back up the hill. ‘Bloody stupid place to put a hill!’ I thought. But I arrived at my destination, thankfully, without having to climb another one!
I swear, Dollar Stores are going to be my blessing when I cross the country next year – everything you could ever need in a touring cyclists’ diet! Four packets of Ramen noodles for a dollar, and everything else you’d need to refuel, chocolate (most of which I can’t have – dairy allergies be damned!), granola bars, cookies, the odd bottle of pop, utensils, plus other nick-nacks which will come in handy at some point, I’m sure! Oh, and a GIANT Canadian flag – which I’m thinking of strapping to the bike next year!
Lesson 5: I need to lighten my load! (But I have more than enough space for everything)
That is the pannier in which almost all of my clothing fits into! There are a few things that I’m missing out on – but, still, I think that I’ll need to lighten my compliment of clothes, especially since next year, I’l mainly be riding in the Spring and Summer, and parts of early fall – but hopefully not winter!
So, with some careful thinking ahead, hopefully I can squeeze that particular pannier down to size. Plus, I will be making more space in my other panniers, as I have decided to use a Hennessy Hammock instead of my one-man tent, so, that will add more space – since the Hennessy will take up less room that my Walrus Micro-Swift One Man tent does. Just waiting to get paid so that I can order one.
You’re also probably wondering how the added weight affected the bike, (given that this bike has crossed the country once already, and admittedly, I haven’t had to do much maintenance/repair on it…) well, I didn’t notice a significant difference as I was riding – except for perhaps slightly sharper turning and handling, and obviously it was heavier - other than that, it still rides just as well as it did the day that I got it.
It was a great test ride nonetheless, and I learned a lot from it. Here’s to many more!
Thanks for reading,
Jack.
Any tips you guys have with regards to anything to do with my bike, load-lightening, hills, or in-ride replenishment is greatly appreciated and encouraged.
