Hi all,
I know it’s the inevitable question to ask, and no doubt gets asked a lot when anyone sees a loaded bike but ………… I’m genuinely interested. Being fairly new to the whole bikepacking/touring (I have a bit of a hybrid set up) I’m interested in what your ’rig’ weighs. Loads of variables I know, but, I’m away for a couple of nights completely self sufficient camping tomorrow and being a bit nerdy, I’ve just weighed my bike. ‘Naked’ bike is just over 10kg and fully loaded with food & water etc is 23kg which I thought was pretty reasonable?
I know it weighs what it weighs etc etc but I’ve shown you mine, how about you show me yours😀
Great question but before I go on a question for you.
What does it matter to you how much weight I carry?
Here's the thing with a question like yours - it depends.....
It depends on where you're going, how long for, how far you're going, camping or hotels, your tolerance for discomfort, your budget and lots of other factors even down to security and if you're travelling on your own with a partner or a group.
But most of all.it depends on what you want to get out of your tour. And what you want may bear no relation to what I want.
To answer your question my bike, naked, weighs about the same as your setup for a couple of nights.
I'm carrying +/- 40kgs on that bike and then there's me ;-)
Before you go WTF and write me off as a loon I should say that I've been on the road for more than 2.5 years and had a fair bit of weather to take into account. Also, I pack for me and what I enjoy. I have a chair (I'm sitting in it now, a full Trangia setup (it made my dinner) and a tent that weighs in at over 5kg because I needed something strong - as it turns out I needed something cat and ant repellent.
I don't wear "cycling clothing" but love getting into my off bike gear.
I carry food and try to carry lots of water so that if I need to or want to I can set up camp where I like or need to.
If I met you on the side of the road while I brewed some coffee I'd have enough for you and an extra cup for you to drink. My latest addition is a wineskin that carries a litre of vino tinto. Totally ridiculous..... But wonderful.
Comfort, not speed, is my motto.
I did short trips like yours and usually carried the same load. I called it practice for the big one.
It's objectively true that less weight means more distance at greater speed.
It's also objectively true that a motorbike or a car would be faster.
A number that represents weight is just that - a number. As is speed. As is distance.
I don't much care for numbers. I'm interested in the subjective - what did I experience and how did I feel?
If you want a better idea of what people tour on then have a look at CGOAB. This is a page with all different types of bikes and loads
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=3dU&doc_id=8000&v=4pM
The mighty Roccado
