You'll know what kind of rider you are but think carefully where you are in the venn diagram of weight weenie or take the kitchen sink. I discovered, the hard way, that I was more weight weenie and ditched most of my load once but that was some time ago now and I think I've moved more towards the kitchen sink. Get it wrong though and it'll marr your tour. often the best way is to do a shakedown tour.
Thoughts on a Round Europe Trip
- Thread starter MacB
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
SatNavSaysStraightOn
Changed hemispheres!
- Location
- ɐᴉlɐɹʇsn∀ 'ɐɹɹǝquɐƆ
That's what the postal service is for! though I know initially we actually carried too little! Useful things such as spare spokes, spanner, torx screwdriver, pannier spares, trangia multi fuel burner spares all embed up being purchased on route when we found out what needed then, not to mention a spare tyre or two
OP
OP
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
We have pretty much settled on 38x17 as being what we are happiest with. Weight wise we never met a single person who could lift my oh's bike and that included all the macho males in eastern Europe! Next time i have to buy parts I may drop down one more combination for me but we also off-road on our bikes so sometimes lowers gears are rather useful! But even with only 2 panniers and rack pack the uk inclines made my oh get off and push his bike up a couple of the passes in the lakes recently ...
Oh I have no macho issues around getting off and pushing, I've done it before and will again many times. I have no plans to try and lift/carry a fully laden touring bike, I've done it half laden at Reading station, up and over to get to another platform. They were heavy full rear panniers and rackpack on a heavy hub gear bike. But even then all up weight was no more than 70lbs and that was a struggle up and down the stairs.
OP
OP
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
So you reckon the deluxe barbecue grill set with half size gas canister is too much then?
SatNavSaysStraightOn
Changed hemispheres!
- Location
- ɐᴉlɐɹʇsn∀ 'ɐɹɹǝquɐƆ
Joking aside I have seen people get normal washing up bowls, wooden chopping boards, full chef set of knives, metal cheese graters, colanders and the likes out of the back of their trailers and yes I means cycle trailers!
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
Nearly all the -ve comments about Yak style trailers come from folk who either haven't used one, haven't used on for any length of time, or couldn't be arsed to put the effort in to learn how to ride with one. Never had a problem honking when towing one. Try and read some blogs (or Adventure Cyclist magazine articles) and you'll see they have a place and work fine in practice.
My fave criticism is one you've captured... the lack of freestanding ability. So just like all my bikes then?
I've seen stranger but if you truly want something like that, it does exist in small form. Whether it's worth the effort is another matter.
OP
OP
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
nah I think I can rely upon being able to buy my BBQ fix en route
OP
OP
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
Nearly all the -ve comments about Yak style trailers come from folk who either haven't used one, haven't used on for any length of time, or couldn't be arsed to put the effort in to learn how to ride with one. Never had a problem honking when towing one. Try and read some blogs (or Adventure Cyclist magazine articles) and you'll see they have a place and work fine in practice.
My fave criticism is one you've captured... the lack of freestanding ability. So just like all my bikes then?
I suspected as much, for starters lots of the Bob/CF/Burley reviews saying potential negatives begin with the immortal 'I've never used a trailer but'. I have tried two wheel rear trailers and didn't find them a problem on road but they were a pain at the shops, never tried offroad. Actually I thought the Bob could be used as a stand if you jacknifed it, that was one of the pluses in my book. When I mentioned freestanding I meant after removal from the bike.
Overall it remains a toughie In my mind and won't be settled until I've done some experimentation. This will initially focus on a pannier solution as I have so much of the kit already. One thing I want to investigate is front/rear weight split and handling. For example I've done many local shopping trips on the BF Tikit with full size panniers on the front and, as long as I packed the shopping right it's been fine. With lighter loads I've also had no trouble with a single front pannier on it. So I intend trying out all the varieties to see how I feel they ride and handle. I suspect the steering geometry of the bike in question will make a difference which is why I don't think reviews/recommendations will give me my ultimate answer. The frame and the forks were custom so unlikely to find a direct comparison.
Unless any combination creates such bad handling that I fear a sudden demise then I plan on giving each one a 50 mile workout including some Surrey Hills type inclines. I will report back on my results.
Tigerbiten
Guru
My bent trike is set up .........
53t/38t double chainrings on a Schlumpf HSD on the front.
A 21 tooth sprocket on my Rohloff built into a 20" wheel.
Try 9.5" to 172" in 24 steps.
I've found this setup works the best for me.
I did send the hub back to Rohloff after two years use to be checked over due to the silly low first gear, it came back with a report saying "no problems found with it".
One downside of my rig is weight wise the trike+trailer+camping gear probably comes in close to 60 kg.
But due to the silly low first gear, as long as I keep traction on the back wheel, I can pedal up anything ........
53t/38t double chainrings on a Schlumpf HSD on the front.
A 21 tooth sprocket on my Rohloff built into a 20" wheel.
Try 9.5" to 172" in 24 steps.
I've found this setup works the best for me.
I did send the hub back to Rohloff after two years use to be checked over due to the silly low first gear, it came back with a report saying "no problems found with it".
One downside of my rig is weight wise the trike+trailer+camping gear probably comes in close to 60 kg.
But due to the silly low first gear, as long as I keep traction on the back wheel, I can pedal up anything ........
OP
OP
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
Uh oh, now I'm reading how light can you go type stuff, like this:-
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=Sh&page_id=265760&v=77
I'd never get that light, my bike alone will probably top his all up weight, but it's interesting to note that he gets luggage to sub 20lb quite easily. Best I start in with the spreadsheets
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=Sh&page_id=265760&v=77
I'd never get that light, my bike alone will probably top his all up weight, but it's interesting to note that he gets luggage to sub 20lb quite easily. Best I start in with the spreadsheets
SatNavSaysStraightOn
Changed hemispheres!
- Location
- ɐᴉlɐɹʇsn∀ 'ɐɹɹǝquɐƆ
Just remember that the aim is to enjoy the tour, not for it to be a trial by torture... Sometimes it is better to have a full length sleeping mat and get a good night's sleep than it is to save 200g in weight. It is often easier to lose the weight off your self!
OP
OP
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
Oh how right you are, I could lose the full touring load in weight and still be on the hefty side. There will definitely be no compromises on sleeping comfort, actually quite like that bit of kit that converts your mat to a chair as well.
Tigerbiten
Guru
I loose over 15 kg in weight every summer on tour ....... 
The only trouble is I put it back on over winter ......
The only trouble is I put it back on over winter ......
