Top Touring Tips

[Eurostar]

It's a lot, but think how many high-tech chemicals you're getting! They have a shelf life of 3 years or something. And they have a spoon.

 

[Drago]

Run your spare brake cables alongside the originals. It saves having to pack them elsewhere and makes it quicker to swap them into the bike when you need them.

 

[geoffnelder]

Carry a small cheap compass. When you've taken a wrong turn and are hopelessly lost somewhere in the lanes and the sky is completely overcast, it's a real help to at least getting you to make the right decision at the next fork in the road.

And don't start me on GPS. Where's the adventure in that?

Careful with a standard magnetic compass if you have steel bike frame!

 

[tomshooter]

Hi all,
A couple of years ago I wrote this book as a beginner's guide to cycle touring.
http://amzn.to/1IGXmUg
It highlights a lot of the pitfalls I made when I first started touring and has plenty of hints and tips on equipment, training, nutrition, cooking, wild camping and loads more.
If you could read and kindly write a review that would be excellent! Many thanks in advance.
Tom

 

[Twowheelxtc]

shower caps from hotels make great user/over covers for helmets in wet weather

 

[JohnClimber]

Quilts like the Cumulus 250 which I used for the first time are so much better than the restrictive normal sleeping bags.

You can't buy it from the UK, because of an agreement with a UK supplier who won't stock quilts but I got mine from here.
http://www.trekking-lite-store.com/Schlafsaecke/Cumulus-Quilt-250::500.html

Smaller, lighter, more room for movement for your arms, elastic to hold it to your sleeping mat so it stays put, no hood getting in the way (wear a beanie hat).

 

[JohnClimber]

Is your mobile phone on EE?

If so you can get a rechargeable portable 2600mAh power battery pack good enough to re charge my mobile 3000mAh mobile up from 15% to 90% for the cost of a 35p text
So text the word POWER to 365
Walk into any EE shop and collect your battery pack.

Info here
http://ee.co.uk/our-company/newsroom/2015/04/02/ee-gives-power-to-the-people-a-free-power-bar-for-all-customers

This is a similar battery for £12.99
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/bitmore-e-fuel-portable-power-bank-metallic-blue-2600mah-a66rx

I picked mine up today and it even has a mini torch built in. Perfect for a single night bivi/camping wild ride

 

[robing]

A spare water bottle makes a great container for a pump, spares, keys etc. Particularly useful if you are leaving your luggage at hotel, campsite whatever and just want something to hold these items securely.

 

[Puddles]

If you have small people with you do not give them a treat of hot choclate too near bed time. They will piddle in your sleeping bag and you will wake up damp!

 

[Hill Wimp]

Currently going through Europe ( The Netherlands,Belgium and France )

We are now using google maps (cycle mode) whilst using roaming ( via vodafone £3 a day ) and GPS.


I mention this purely as we had difficulty using either maps.me or google on pure GPS.

Google maps has been brilliant through Holland. Belgium next week so lets hope it continues.

 

[JohnClimber]

Picked up my new micro stove yesterday

More pictures here
http://johnclimber.com/2015/08/21/new-bikeback-packing-stove/

 

[robing]

shower caps from hotels make great user/over covers for helmets in wet weather

And you can use them to cover your saddle to keep it dry when storing the bike outside.

 

[uphillstruggler]

Picked up my new micro stove yesterday

More pictures here
http://johnclimber.com/2015/08/21/new-bikeback-packing-stove/

this 7 quid stove ended up costing me 35 quid - although I got a free emergency foil sleeping bag (to keep in the car)and one of those steel strike fire things (multi uses) for nowt

 

[jonyjony]

If you are planning to cycle the Canal du Midi in France , and if you stop at "chez Phillipes Bar " at the side of the canal ( some 10 klms from Beziers ) then DO NOT have one of his cheese and ham baguettes. I was stupid enough to do this and within 10 mtrs of leaving the bar i fell of my bike into a bed of nettles .....laughed about it ...did not feel the pain until the morning when i realized i had left my panniers in the nettles ,as i could not manage to lift the bike up with all that weight on it ...had a terrible headache the next morning whilst cycling back to pick up my panniers . It may have been the mustard he uses ,i am not sure , but avoid at all costs .. The only good thing was after every 4 beers or so "Phillipe" would get a round in , great beer.......shite sarnys
Ohh..... another tip.....i take a couple of clothes pegs and use these to clip any washed , but not yet dry , tee shirt etc to my shoulders so it "flaps " dry as i ride .

 

[chaingangclub]

Might be of interest, I've just cycled solo from bordeaux to calais in January and am running a blog which will have lots of tips and tricks to keeping comfortable on your tour plus some kit reviews and guest blogs. I hope it's helpful. Www.wheretheresawheel.com/cyclechat