Jmetz
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Preston/Manchester
What kind of weight/maximum weight would people say can be carried by your average male man of youthful nature 21 years old ish....over a distance of 40/50 miles?
Weight to carry
- Thread starter Jmetz
- Start date
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Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
I have no idea in kilos or pounds, but I'd say full panniers front and rear, and a bedroll on the rack....
Depends how hilly, of course, and how used the youthful natured male man is to lugging weight on a bike...
40/50 miles is a comfortable day's ride when touring, so it's doable fully equipped for camping.
Depends how hilly, of course, and how used the youthful natured male man is to lugging weight on a bike...
40/50 miles is a comfortable day's ride when touring, so it's doable fully equipped for camping.
OP
OP
Jmetz
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Preston/Manchester
ahhh slight typo... i meant carried on ones back
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
Oh!
Ah, I wouldn't know, I try not to use a rucksack when cycling.... Sorry....
Ah, I wouldn't know, I try not to use a rucksack when cycling.... Sorry....
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Jmetz
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Preston/Manchester
thanks, im just trying to weigh up if its possible using a rucksack instead of shelling out for panniers and a rack.. as i have no idea where to start looking, and what price i should be looking at spending
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
More details....
Are you talking about a one off, or a regular trip? What do you need to carry? I would say if you are going to carry a lot regularly, then invest in a rack and panniers.
A rack and panniers needn't be horribly pricey, but of course it depends on your budget.
The fairly tough rack I bought for my tourer was under £30:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-...-(559)-and-700c-(622)-Wheels--Black-13883.htm
but there are much cheaper:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-...(559)-and-700c-(622)-Wheels--Silver-13884.htm
Panniers, well, how much do you want to spend? But there are some fairly cheap options - as ever, the more you need to use them, the more quality matters....
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=549
A key thing is whether you bike will take a rack easily (does it have the bosses to take the bolts?) or will you need to use some workarounds like P-clips...
Are you talking about a one off, or a regular trip? What do you need to carry? I would say if you are going to carry a lot regularly, then invest in a rack and panniers.
A rack and panniers needn't be horribly pricey, but of course it depends on your budget.
The fairly tough rack I bought for my tourer was under £30:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-...-(559)-and-700c-(622)-Wheels--Black-13883.htm
but there are much cheaper:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-...(559)-and-700c-(622)-Wheels--Silver-13884.htm
Panniers, well, how much do you want to spend? But there are some fairly cheap options - as ever, the more you need to use them, the more quality matters....
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=549
A key thing is whether you bike will take a rack easily (does it have the bosses to take the bolts?) or will you need to use some workarounds like P-clips...
OP
OP
Jmetz
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Preston/Manchester
well, its for a 6 day trip essentially, however after that it will be used for odd bits whenever i so wish and any future trips...
Im reluctant to spend large amounts through the possible lack of use, but as you mention i dont want to go too cheap and nasty for the thing to fail on me at a bad time!
the bike im using is a trek 7.3 fx
Im reluctant to spend large amounts through the possible lack of use, but as you mention i dont want to go too cheap and nasty for the thing to fail on me at a bad time!
the bike im using is a trek 7.3 fx
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
Hmm, looking at that bike, I can't see rack bosses....
You can still fit a rack with p-clips though or get a seat post mounted one, although they take less weight.
Is the trip hotel/hostels, or camping? I would doubt you could get camping kit in a rucksack and carry it for 6 days comfortably. Lightweight touring stuff (just clothes and tools), maybe. Or there's the saddlebag option.
Personally, I think a bike needs a rack to be useful, but I'm a day to day utility cyclist. My trike is rack free, but I'm getting specialist frame bags for it for my holiday in lieu of panniers. I struggle to pack really light, even for a day ride...
You can still fit a rack with p-clips though or get a seat post mounted one, although they take less weight.
Is the trip hotel/hostels, or camping? I would doubt you could get camping kit in a rucksack and carry it for 6 days comfortably. Lightweight touring stuff (just clothes and tools), maybe. Or there's the saddlebag option.
Personally, I think a bike needs a rack to be useful, but I'm a day to day utility cyclist. My trike is rack free, but I'm getting specialist frame bags for it for my holiday in lieu of panniers. I struggle to pack really light, even for a day ride...
+1. I tried to fit as much as I could into a 35 litre ruck sack one day... Must have weighed a good 10 kg (didn't weigh it, but it was hefty).
Affected my bike handling so much I nearly had an accident on a roundabout wobbling about all over the place (though I haven't been riding too long).
I try not to have anything on my back, these days. I have a nice basket on my rack (panniers would do too).
I'd therefore say not too much, possibly 5-10 kg, depending on how good your bike skills are. Heavy rucksacks dig into your shoulders with every bump and make you sit harder on the saddle, also uncomfortable over bumps...
Affected my bike handling so much I nearly had an accident on a roundabout wobbling about all over the place (though I haven't been riding too long).
I try not to have anything on my back, these days. I have a nice basket on my rack (panniers would do too).
I'd therefore say not too much, possibly 5-10 kg, depending on how good your bike skills are. Heavy rucksacks dig into your shoulders with every bump and make you sit harder on the saddle, also uncomfortable over bumps...
Big John
Legendary Member
I cycled from Stafford to Bakewell,over 50 miles I think it was, and went up hill and down dale with a 65 litre rucksack with not much in it - a two man tent and a sleeping bag. The weather was hot enough to boil a monkeys bum and I'd never do it again. I cycled back the next day down the Tissington Trail, damn flat, and it didn't make any difference. I dehydrated to biblical proportions. My back ached like you wouldn't believe and my back was saturated in sweat.
Does this answer your question?
Does this answer your question?
smarttim24
New Member
- Location
- Derby
The trek 7.3 does have the bosses to put a rack on the back. I have a 7.3 and have a Top peak rack on the back, which was about 30 quid is sturdy and fairly light weight.
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
Well, I think you would be totally bonkers to carry any weight at all on your back! I see London commuters carrying large sacks so that they do not "spoil the clean lines" of their bikes. Pure vanity, IMVVHO, and blooming uncomfortable as well. I tried it once. Get a cheap rack and some panniers. Better still, get a cheap rack and save up for some Ortlieb panniers. Everybody ends up with Ortliebs , don't they, after they have wasted their money on the cheaper rubbish?
{enters bunker and covers ears}
{enters bunker and covers ears}
OP
OP
Jmetz
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Preston/Manchester
well i know which direction you leading me here, and it was the one i was expecting, i didnt really fancy carrying the lot on my back, and now that an even 'sorer' rear end will be the result, im sold
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
I had to carry a little rucksack (the 'day bag' type) at the weekend for a couple of 6 mile trips, on an unfamiliar bike which stretched me forward a bit, and found the rucksack pulling back on my shoulders made them ache - all it contained was a D lock, a coat, some paperwork odds and ends.
Over 50 miles, it would have been unpleasant, even on a bike that fitted perfectly.
Over 50 miles, it would have been unpleasant, even on a bike that fitted perfectly.
As has been said.. a cheap rear rack and a box/bag that fixes on top of the rack.
This will not effect aerodynamics much and will take the strain off your lumbar vertebrae and 'sit bones'.
You will need to train up to pull the extra weight, or slow down up the hills to reduce the power requirement.
( Everything in cycling eventually comes back to 'Power' as the lowest common denominator
).
I have a BSA 20 1970s shopping bike with a back box to carry my purchases. The bike weighs 34lb unloaded.
I ride it from home to Fred Williams in Wolverhampton, then home via Decathlon at Merry Hill. The whole trip is 45 miles with some short, sharp hills between Merry Hill and Brum.
Its a four hour trip. 07:00 start Saturday mornings to get to FWs as they open. I just have to take my time and enjoy the scenery ( Cradley heath and Rowley Regis ).
I wouldn't do that trip on a 22lb bike with a 18lb backpack.
This will not effect aerodynamics much and will take the strain off your lumbar vertebrae and 'sit bones'.
You will need to train up to pull the extra weight, or slow down up the hills to reduce the power requirement.
( Everything in cycling eventually comes back to 'Power' as the lowest common denominator
).I have a BSA 20 1970s shopping bike with a back box to carry my purchases. The bike weighs 34lb unloaded.
I ride it from home to Fred Williams in Wolverhampton, then home via Decathlon at Merry Hill. The whole trip is 45 miles with some short, sharp hills between Merry Hill and Brum.
Its a four hour trip. 07:00 start Saturday mornings to get to FWs as they open. I just have to take my time and enjoy the scenery ( Cradley heath and Rowley Regis ).
I wouldn't do that trip on a 22lb bike with a 18lb backpack.
