Touring on a racing bike - luggage solutions?

[steveindenmark]

Touring on a road bike is not a problem. We have been doing it for years with panniers. The Alpkit is nice looking gear but it is for absolute minimalistic touring. With panniers you can get your clothes in, sleeping bag, mattress and tent on the back.

This is Jannies TREK Lexa SL which she tours on. She carries between 10-15 kg and a bar bag. We ride on roads but more often on farm and forest tracks.

We have been all over Europe with these set ups and it works very well.




Here is my Koga Roadchamp, set up for touring. Here, I have committed one of the cardinal sins. The front racks are fastened directly around the front forks, with no other anchor points. I can get the front wheel off without any issues but I need to take the rack off to change the brake blocks. It is ten minute job and I dont change brake blocks mid Tour. I have ridden about 2000 km with the front racks. They were put on with care and are very solid. They carry my waterproofs and snacks and so the weight is minimal.

 

[Mile195]

I'm still in two minds on the rear carrier, although it's good to know that other people are using them and have done many miles without problems.
For now I've dropped some hints about the Alpkit underseat pack to my other half (what with xmas on the way!) and a bar bag. I'll see how much I can get into that before I decide on whether I'll need a rear carrier or not I think.
In addition to London/Paris I've decided I'll probably do a shorter tour early next year (London to central cornwall, but via a longer more scenic route over 4 days or so, and camping rather than B&Bs), and if that goes well I'll do a much longer trip either late summer 2016, or early summer 2017 based on the experience.
I recently read Julian Sayarer's (who cycled round the world) book, and a book written by a woman who cycled all the way round the coast of England. What a shame it's got me in the mood for touring just as winters about to start!..

 

[Elybazza61]

Alpkit do this if you want to try a seat-pack on the cheap;

https://www.alpkit.com/products/airlok-xtra-tapered

They don't recommend it for long term use but If it works ok after a trial run or two you could still use it as an inner for the 'proper' bag.

TBH at that price I'm thinking of getting one to try as a commuter bag and maybe fix some kite/sail repair patches off e-bay to strengthen and help protect the top and bottom.

Oh and a guy from our club used the Apidura bags on the Trans-Continental race on his Synapse.

 

[mjr]

TBH at that price I'm thinking of getting one to try as a commuter bag and maybe fix some kite/sail repair patches off e-bay to strengthen and help protect the top and bottom.

Airlok xtras are good bags but even my smooth luggage rack rubbed holes through it and spoiled the waterproofing in about a year of commuting.

 

[Elybazza61]

Airlok xtras are good bags but even my smooth luggage rack rubbed holes through it and spoiled the waterproofing in about a year of commuting.

Presume that's why they don't recommend it for long term use,still even at £15 for a years use it's still a bargain and if I get on with it I'll get the proper one.
Me and the better half are tentatively planning a week-end riding around North Naarf*ck so I need to try some cheap baggage options for a non-touring bike.Plan is to train it to Lynn and ride to Wells to rent a caravan and do rides out from there so baggage will be kept to a minimum.


(Apologies for the hi-jack)

 

[Douggie954]

Easily done.

 

[jags]

emm i ride a Terry Dolan Le tape class bike all oversized tubes but to be honest i don't think i'de chance it,
i have carradice barley and longflap saddle bags and seatpost rack ,i suppose with very clever planning i could get everything i need for a week's tour in either bag but would my bike take it .
i have a great set of hanbuilt wheels 36 spoke and 25mm tyres so ok on that score but man i'de hate to think my bike would break with all that extra weight.

 

[steveindenmark]

Elybazza61. Thanks for posting that cheap seat pack. I have just ordered 2. I will take one to pieces and see if I can make one at work. I am a sailmaker.

 

[steveindenmark]

Here is the rear rack for my Carbon bike. The rack arrived today and fits very firmly to the seatpost with a very good quick release. It weighs 650 grammes and I got it from Amazon UK. It is rated for 10 kg but reviews on Amazon says it takes a lot more than that without issues.

It takes my Ortleib and Biltema panniers without any problems.

 

[jags]

Steve i have one very simular to that ,but yeah still very weary about loaded panniers i have no doubt the rack would take the load but would the bike.
pity im stone broke came across a class touring frame yesterday for £222 on ebay.gonna have to try my luck with a lottery ticket tonight.

 

[steveindenmark]

Jags, it depends what load you put on it.

Im 11 stone and my bike will take a lot more than that. Adding an extra 15 kg is not going to sink the boat. Jannie has used her road bike for touring for a long time and carries about 20 kg.

We travel light but still take sleeping bag, air pads and tent.

If I wanted to take 40 kg, I would take my touring bike. But light camping is fine on a roadbike. The Carbon bike I have just bought has 25c tyres and I can change them to 28c if I like. But I will wait and see.

 

[jags]

all my gear is lightweigh but my 3.5kg tent is a big problem ,not on a touring bike but on my carbon roadbike emm might be a problem.
i must load up my barley next week se what i can fit in there .
mind u i wont be doing any touring until next year .
thanks for the info steve much appreciated.

jags

 

[steveindenmark]

A 3.5kg tent is not a big problem.

Think of how much a person must weigh before they would be unable to ride your bike because of weight constraints on the bike.

An extra few kg to your weight will probably make no difference.

 

[jags]

i tried loading the carradice barley i need a bigger bag i'll try the camper longflap
down quilt .exped synmatt .small stove and pot cup for me tea.bag full .

 

[raleighnut]

i tried loading the carradice barley i need a bigger bag i'll try the camper longflap
down quilt .exped synmatt .small stove and pot cup for me tea.bag full .

Try a compression sack for the quilt, you'll be surprised at how small they'll crush down.