weight to carry on a road bike...

[johnnyh]

Just out of interest, and with a view to a trip away, I loaded up my road bike (Trek 1.7) with pannier/trunk bag and bar bag. Total extra weight of bags plus contents when filled was 7kg (15lbs).

Does this seem a bit much or about what is to be expected for carrying clobber for a few days away on a bike? Am guessing since I am only 65kg myself that the weight wont cause any hassles for the bike itself.

 

[corshamjim]

15lbs doesn't sound like a huge weight to me. Then again some people would think anything more than a credit card, a spare inner tube and an iPhone would be too much.

If there's anything you find you didn't need at the end of the trip then obviously make a mental note not to take it next time.

Bear in mind that with all the weight on the back, you might find yourself doing wheelies pulling away smartly in a low gear, especially when going up steep hills. If you can carry any of the weight up front for example on a bar bag that would help reduce that problem.

I'm glad you reminded me - I'm off on a trip myself later this month so will need to think about that myself. Unfortunately a bar bag won't fit with the gear cables from the brake/shifters getting in the way. I might just put a bottle cage on the handlebars to help just a little bit (obviously once I've drunk the drink it won't be so much use though!).

 

[zacklaws]

Just out of interest, and with a view to a trip away, I loaded up my road bike (Trek 1.7) with pannier/trunk bag and bar bag. Total extra weight of bags plus contents when filled was 7kg (15lbs).

Does this seem a bit much or about what is to be expected for carrying clobber for a few days away on a bike? Am guessing since I am only 65kg myself that the weight wont cause any hassles for the bike itself.

I cannot see any problem with that, I'm not a tourist but I have a Trek 1.2 and a 4.5, my body weight is 95 kilo's and I have no problems with the bikes carrying that weight, so the combined weight of yourself and your load, still comes nowhere near that

 

[johnnyh]

cool, I didnt think it was too bad, and 3kg of it is in a bar bag at the front so that should help some. As you say, there are plenty of riders heavier than me and this small amount of luggage, so all should be fine

Cheers

 

[andym]

It doesn't sound bad (and certainly a lot less than I'm hauling around at the moment) but it's difficult to judge without knowing how long you are going for. If you are staying in B&Bs/hostels (I assume you are) and literally going away for just a few days, then you only need one set of lightweight clothes for evenings, plus maybe a fleece and rainjacket, washkit and odds and sods like tools, spare inner tube, camera, phone, iPod, book and a map or two.

 

[utdrd]

I'm a similar weight to Johnny, just a couple of lbs heavier and will be doing a short tour soon. I'll be using a Trek sl 1000 road bike and have yet to buy a rack or paniers. To be honest I'm taking so little with me; jeans x 1, trainers, t-shirts x 2, undies and a toothbrush that I am considering a small rucksack/backpack. Many have warned me off this idea but for 2 days (approx 10-12 hours of cycling) would things get as uncomfortable as some of my friends have suggested?

 

[tbtb]

utdrd, I regularly do a 5 hour cycle to visit relatives overnight, using a road bike with a wee rucksack containing overnight gear. In cold weather the rucksack is actually quite welcome. In warm it's just fine too. Main thing is to pace yourself so you don't get so hot and bothered that the layer on your back becomes an issue. For such a light load, a small rucksack is a very low weight method of carrying it. It's pretty much ideal.

 

[andym]

To be honest I'm taking so little with me; jeans x 1, trainers, t-shirts x 2, undies and a toothbrush that I am considering a small rucksack/backpack.

Jeans are heavy: it's worth considering getting a pair of lightweight trousers (eg Craghoppers). You probably don't need two t-shirts. Trainers are also heavy - flip-flops are a lot lighter and less bulky, alternatively I've just bought a pair of quite light camvas shoes from Barratt.

People talk a lot of cobblers about backpacks - providing you are only carrying a reasonable amount, and you don't have any pre-existing back problems, you won't come to any harm.

 

[Danny]

cool, I didnt think it was too bad, and 3kg of it is in a bar bag at the front so that should help some.

3kg in a bar bag - what have you got in there?

 

[jay clock]

agreed re jeans and trainers. That is probably close to 2kg alone.....

 

[asterix]

The main problem about carrying weight on a road bike is gears. But not with only 15lbs!

(You have a 20kg start on me anyway, so I've no sympathy)