Touring on a racing bike - luggage solutions?

[Mile195]

I want to do a long ride this year - I'm thinking JOGLE, but if not that, something at least 4 or 5 days long.

I don't want to spend money on buying a touring bike (my usual ride is a pretty good racing bike), but at the same time, I don't really want to spend any money on hotels either - I'd prefer to camp.

Has anyone ever adapted a racing bike to take a little bit of luggage, but in such a way that it won't damage the bike (including paintwork)? I see that carriers are available for bikes that don't specifically have bolt-holes for them, but are they actually any good? My tent is about 2kg, and sleeping bag I guess must be close to that so it won't have to hold mountains of weight.

I've also seen handlebar packs as well as the bags that hang off the crossbar - are they any good? I'm thinking if I pack ultra-light (washing everything every other day for example), that should be enough room.

Finally, I'm not a big lover of riding with a rucksack on "leisure rides" (although I do every day to work (40 mile round trip)). But if it comes to it, have any of you done 100 or so miles a day with a light rucksack on? Is it actually that bad? (in terms of neck ache, backache etc)

Thanks in advance for any tips...

 

[Gravity Aided]

https://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?page_id=category&category_id=13
Saddlebags may be your best bet, maybe the Camper Longflap from Carradice. Looks good, and I'm sure some forum members can vouch for them.

 

[clid61]

I use Apidura , love their kit. Also Alpkit are similair not used so cant comment . Check them out

 

[contadino]

I have a carradice bag and unless you specifically want their looks, I'd suggest avoiding them. The options for attaching them to the bike are shoddy, they're heavy and poorly designed (the straps inside the bag?!) I'm going to need a fair bit of fettling to get mine fit for purpose before touring with it again.

 

[raleighnut]

Topeak beam rack and bag system, no good on a carbon/aero seat post but fine on an aluminium one. Quality product but a bit pricey (worth every penny IMHO)

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...ks-mtx&usg=AFQjCNGGDDV7v33jJ-1yU1WMNu8a4ovoFw

 

[sidevalve]

If your worried about paintwork try covering bits where the bags might rub with the 'lo-tac' masking tape used by painters. You might have to change it pretty often but it might help.

 

[snorri]

It really makes no sense to try to adapt a lightweight bike for touring.The frame will flex worryingly, and it will not handle well. A "pretty good racing bike" sounds like a nightmare touring bike. Sorry to say, bit it's a case of horses for courses.
Don't ask me how I know.

 

[graham bowers]

He used Apidura.
http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netd...Solacio-carbon-afrika-world-record-bike01.jpg

 

[Mile195]

Thanks all for your comments so far - I will peruse those links with interest. Looks like there's some solutions that may work anyway. Anyone travelled regular long distances of many hours with a rucksack on? Any thoughts?

It really makes no sense to try to adapt a lightweight bike for touring.The frame will flex worryingly, and it will not handle well. A "pretty good racing bike" sounds like a nightmare touring bike. Sorry to say, bit it's a case of horses for courses.
Don't ask me how I know.

I know - it's not ideal and you make a very good point. But it's a toss-up between spending a grand on a touring bike I may only use a couple of times a year, or 500 pounds+ on hotels if I want an all round better solution. It seems somehow to defeat part of the object of the whole thing if I'm going to blow that kind of money - I may as well just ride to Brighton and back 10 times for free for the mileage, and spend the 1000 pounds on a nice holiday to the states - it'd be easier to justify to my partner then!

I'm figuring that since I weigh about 85kg, and if I pack ultra-light I should be able to limit luggage to less than 10kg, that still makes the combined weight less than my 105kg friend who did LEJOG on a road bike with a support vehicle and therefore, *shouldn't* end up breaking my bike! Or maybe this is just wishful thinking... I guess I'll find out!

 

[Crackle]

Considerations are, in no particular order..

Spreading the load to avoid axle and spoke breakages
Heel clearance if using panniers
Handling loaded (see spreading the load)
braking maybe
Comfort, riding a longer time in the saddle and at a more relaxed pace than you normally do and using thinner high pressure tyres
Mudguards, you don't want all your gear covered in mud and crap, touring
Gearing, you might want lower gears, oh yes.

I may have forgotten some, definitely do'able, I've done it but you don't always appreciate the different requirements for touring rather than riding and your individual tolerances will narrow or expand that list.

I think these days i would look at bikepacking for a road bike.

 

[Bodhbh]

Thanks all for your comments so far - I will peruse those links with interest. Looks like there's some solutions that may work anyway. Anyone travelled regular long distances of many hours with a rucksack on? Any thoughts?

My first tour was with 2 small panniers and a 40l backpack, I used the same backpack for the south downs way a few years later (with about 8kg in). I don't recall it being a particular hardship at the time - it did give me the touring bug after all - but I wouldn't choose to carry a backpack unless I had too (sweaty back, having to take it off to access stuff, other possible ergonomic issues).

As with most gear stuff, why not just try a local overnighter as a dry run? Google 'bikepacking' if you want to check out how people carry alot of gear without the rack + panniers setup, but some of that gear can be £££ in itself and tends to be more geared up to MTB setups.

 

[MichaelW2]

2kg is heavy for a solo tent.
In summer you can use a tarp tent or look for a v small solo one. You can camp without cooking, or use a minimalist brew kit.
You have to pare down your gear.
Most midmarket race bikes can take the weight (they are rated for overweight American MAMILS), but handling can get squirelly if you overload the rear.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

There are plenty of people who tour on road bikes and have no issues at all. There are journals here of people who have done JOGLE/LEJOG on Decathlon Triban 3's (£299 road bike) without issue. Some camp, some B&B. If you really want to do it, you will be fine and so (most likely) will your bike.

I have used pannier racks that are the QR skewer type and use P clips to clamp onto the seat stays where there are no bolts to attach to. I have taken full camping kit, (I prefer a tent to a bivvy and tarp and personally have found that the combined weight of my tarp and bivvy is heavier than my tent is, but that is me, my tarp/bivvy and my tent - others vary). I like to be able to cook and I often take my large dSLR camera and extra lens with me. I have done this on such a setup without any issues on a 2 week tour. I preferred the handling of my touring bike, and the setup, but first time around I didn't know any better and was perfectly happy on that bike.

Having commuted for years with a rucksack - at the time I would have said no issues, now I would say no way in hell: panniers are a much better solution. Now I am looking at frame bags, but that is another story entirely and unlikely to happen in the near future not least of all because I now ride a trike!

If you are only going to use the bike for touring once or twice a year in this manner, then either adapt to the setup and accept it for what it is and know its limitations or consider hiring a bike for the period that will do what you want.

 

[fimm]

I have definitely seen a rack that clamped onto the back of a road bike but unhelpfully I can't remember the brand or anything useful like that.
My OH and I have done some "credit card touring" on road bikes and he gets on OK with a rucksack, but that's literally a change of clothes and wash kit, and the time I tried it I struggled. I have a small caradice now.
I once cycled for an hour or so along a Land Rover track with a 60 litre backpacking rucksack on my back on a borrowed mountain bike that was too big for me. That was painful.

 

[MarkF]

There are plenty of people who tour on road bikes and have no issues at all. There are journals here of people who have done JOGLE/LEJOG on Decathlon Triban 3's (£299 road bike) without issue. Some camp, some B&B. If you really want to do it, you will be fine and so (most likely) will your bike.

The only road bike I have experience of is theTriban 3 that I bought from this forum. Granted, it takes a rack, but I toured plenty on it, with camping gear and I never exceeded 7kg in luggage weight and that included the 2 rear Altura panniers, I don't take cooking gear and I don't take "what if" tools. It was all day comfy for me and I don't know why I sold it.... No way would I use a rucksack for more than my 5 mile commute.