Overweight cycle touring

[Low Roller]

So this week I’m writing about excess weight.

Not the blubber that we build up over winter, but the conscious extra bits we include in our panniers and barbags.

I have never been one of those who cuts his toothbrush in half to save weight. I am more like one of those who thinks well, I better take it because it might come in handy. ( The Mrs says she is going to carve that on my gravestone)

So many times I have set off on a tour and three days later decided to critically review what I am carrying. Day three, the whole contents of my panniers put out on the groundsheet. Stainless steel flask, OUT Polythene bags with raw pasta, porridge, rice , packet soups: OUT Tube of gel shaving foam : OUT. Two paperback books : OUT Several spare pairs of underpants: OUT. Groundsheet : OUT Spare gas cylinder: OUT. Large tube of toothpaste: OUT etc etc…

Following day, 3 kg lighter… deep joy. However I did keep my 6 sink plugs of different sizes on a string to cope with the huge variety of continental sink plughole sizes.

So what’s the worst thing you have ever took touring? Mine was a 10kg piano accordion in a specially adapted side pannier when I went round Ireland. The first venue I tried to play it I immediately realised that your average 6 year old Irish box player could play better than me. …10 kg excess baggage.

My brother came to see me one time in Cleethorpes. Brilliant campsite ( £5) on the seafront next to an eat as much as you can Chinese restaurant. He is strong as an Ox, 17 stone. Turned up with his bike and new trailer, full two burner grill and full sized camping bottle with 6 kg tent. He didn’t bat an eye. The Chinese restaurant hated him. He virtually put them out of business.

I don’t suppose any of you have had similar problems, have you?

 

[Brains]

I'm of the "Every Ounce Counts" and the "If in doubt, leave it out" brigade, but that more applies to mountain walking.

I have done a lot of touring on both by foot in the mountains and on bike leading groups mostly of teenagers

On the excess baggage side we did a cycle tour in Ireland with a mandolin, lucky it came with a world class classical player, who whilst he knew nothing of Irish music when he arrived, by pub two/day two he was invited to join in, by pub five/day five we were all drinking for free as he packed out the pubs of County Claire night after night, playing their music better than the locals. he is currently serving in the Czech National Orchestra.

On the opposite side, a disastrous trip in the Alps when on day three the weather predictably turned, we were halfway up a mountain, 2 days to the nearest road, we stopped the group to all get fully waterproofed up, gaiters on, waterproof trousers on, Gortex jackets on, hats and gloves on. To then find that one member had decided to take out all those items from her rucksack as it was August, and replace them with a couple of pairs of nice shoes with heels, an extra bikini and a nice summer dress.

 

[Ticktockmy]

Being a backpacker as well, so when I am cycle touring, I just use the same items only use panniers instead of Rucksack.
.

 

[Bodhbh]

Nothing really insane here. I did a loop round Anglesey with a full Weber BBQ on the back (see my avatar). It was only 30 or 40 miles a day so weight wasn't really a big deal. To be fair, it's only about 3kg and did get good use, both for cooking and as a firepit - I'd consider taking it again. It was a PITA to get the bike on the train tho. I've lugged panniers full of beer serveral hundred miles before - I left Belgium and was meeting a mate in the south of Germany so just crammed in whatever I could fit. Not all of it made it there tho...

I generally take some non cycling civvies for the pub in the evening - a pair of jeans been the worst offender. On my first couple of tours I'd lug a pair of doc martens around too, but cba with that anymore.

 

[HelenD123]

My weakness is food. I like variety so end up with half packets of pasta, noodles, couscous etc. and too many 'emergency' rations. It wouldn't do me any harm to eat pasta 5 nights in a row so I need to get in better habits. I was going to say it's a problem on long tours but I suspect I'm bad even on tours of a few days.

 

[totallyfixed]

Total weight including the panniers themselves for our 2 week tour of the Netherlands but excluding the bar bag was 8kg, even then I thought it was too much. Worst thing I took was an extra t-shirt I didn't need, terrible eh.
I always have a quiet chuckle when I hear of the excessive stuff folk take with them on rides of all durations.

 

[Poacher]

Quite a contrast with Netherlands cyclists coming over here for a fortnight's touring - I haven't actually had the cheek to ask any, but I've seen some in Norfolk (probably as far as they got ) who must have been lugging upwards of 35kg per bike. Kitchen sink? Check!

 

[raleighnut]

Being a backpacker as well, so when I am cycle touring, I just use the same items only use panniers instead of Rucksack.
.

Same for me but one luxury item, a proper glass. (You cannot drink a single malt out of plastic or the bottle)

 

[totallyfixed]

Quite a contrast with Netherlands cyclists coming over here for a fortnight's touring - I haven't actually had the cheek to ask any, but I've seen some in Norfolk (probably as far as they got ) who must have been lugging upwards of 35kg per bike. Kitchen sink? Check!

Think if I was coming to the UK from the Netherlands, given the state of our roads I might carry at least that much just in spares. Oh, and first aid kit.

 

[Sara_H]

I'm a bit in the middle. I don't like too much weight, but I do like to be comfy.

We took folding beach chairs when we went camping/backpacking last year (though we did stay put for four nights when we arrived at destination). This year we've bought helinox chairs, very comfy to have when camping.

 

[steveindenmark]

We have light camping gear for both cycle touring and motorbike touring. The best advice I can give for cycle touring is that you do not need 3 of anything.

We are always comfortable because we have bought the correct gear.

Steve

 

[Crankarm]

I have the motto "If you brought it, you carry it."

Tends to focus the mind to what you need and don't.

 

[Alun]

I have noticed that when items are put in a pannier they mysteriously double in weight. Also put a 20lb bike in an unpadded bag with a shoulder strap, and you can hardly lift the thing, never mind carry it down a platform to the luggage car.

 

[psmiffy]

My weakness is food. I like variety so end up with half packets of pasta, noodles, couscous etc. and too many 'emergency' rations. It wouldn't do me any harm to eat pasta 5 nights in a row so I need to get in better habits. I was going to say it's a problem on long tours but I suspect I'm bad even on tours of a few days.

I would suggest that is a strength not a weakness – even if you are one of those “eta at predetermined by google maps victualing point is 15:30 and 17seconds” ones it can still always go horribly horribly.

Myself Ive always got at least enough food for two different options should I not be able to shop before camping for the night – “picnic” in the form of bread, cheese et.al or something or pasta with tomato and a tin of something in the bottom of the pannier.

For me it is very rare that I will eat exactly the same meal two days running – I don’t do it at home so I’m even more unlikely to do it when I’m on holiday.

 

[raleighnut]

^^^^+1 unless its the Stilton Garlic Mushrooms at The Bulls Head in Monyash I could eat them every night (I tour Derbyshire/South Yorkshire from a basecamp near there at Lathkill Dale)