New to Touring

[osr3]

Hi all

i've just joined the site, to get some advice on how to get into cycle touring

i have a winter road bike with a rear rack and 2x16ltr bags, and i regularly to 50miles on my bike unloaded and on flat roads.

i have a range of camping equipments used you family hoildays.

but need to transfer this to cycling as my young son love biking and with the summer comming we can spend a few days camping in the local area.

so what are the basics for cycle touring.

for example max weight to carry per bag, types of bags to use, etc.

any advice will be welcome.

thank in advance

steve

 

[Arch]

I had a camping weekend away last year, on my Giant FCR - it's a flatbarred roadbike, with rack fitted. I carried two panniers (don't know the litre volume, but they aren't big ones), and got tent, sleeping bag and other kit in the panniers, and my bedroll on the top of the rack. Here it is.



As you can see, it's all on the rear, and it handled ok, if a little heavy uphill... I worried a little about the weight on the bike, as it's relatively light, but it handled it no trouble.

I wold suggest you look at the camping kit you have, and see if you think you can get it in the bags you have. My tent is pretty small of course, technically 2 man I think, but that would be very cosy indeed.

If it's all too big, then you can think about bigger bags, smaller equipment, or both. Of course, I was alone, so only had stuff for one person and a weekend to carry. Can the lad carry anything? Not suggesting you load him too much, but even if he could take bags with the sleepng bags in, it would free up room on your bike.

Also, if you're used to camping by car, you might find there's a lot you'd normally consider essential that you don't want to lug on the bike.... Will you want to cook, for example, or find sites where you can eat nearby?

Other people will have lots of specific kit suggestions...

 

[rich p]

Let's see a picture of your bike, your panniers and your equipments.

 

[willem]

Great idea. I rode from Aachen to Luxemburg with my ten year old son last year, and we both loved it. You have already been given some good advice: you take the bulk of the luggage, use as much of the gear that you have, and take as little as possible. Your problem is, of course, that you have a bike that probably cannot take too much weight, and gear that is probably quite heavy. As an indication, I think you should not take more than 25 kg (20+5) between you, and preferably less (15+5). If this implies buying some new lightweight and compact gear, concentrate your money on stuff that you can also use with the family. If you needed a new sleeping bag, now is the moment for an ultralight down bag. New mattresses? Get an Exped Synmat Basic (cheap, light, compact, thick and warm) for yourself and a roll of closed cell foam for your son. A set of Ortlieb City Line panniers will come in handy in normal life as well. This is all I can say without knowing more about your bike and your gear.
Willem