Wet gear while cycling

[Simon_m]

Hi again, not sure if this should be in the equipment list, but thought it was more suited here. When doing long tours and camping over-night, when you have a shower or wash in the morning, what do you do with your wet towel?! Not sure how you can dry it on the go, and when you reach your destination and its raining, how do you dry it out for the next morning or evening shower? Are these camping micro towels any good? they don't feel like they can take much water away from your skin and dry you quickly. Ideas?

 

[snorri]

I haven't taken a "proper" towel on tour, so have not had to deal with a wet one. The micro towels work, but it is better to dry yourself as much as possible with a facecloth then use the towel for the final stage. These towels are easily washed and if you hold them out like a flag, can almost dry off in the time it takes to walk from the washrooms back to your tent. Weather permitting!

 

[theloafer]

+1..

I haven't taken a "proper" towel on tour, so have not had to deal with a wet one. The micro towels work, but it is better to dry yourself as much as possible with a facecloth then use the towel for the final stage. These towels are easily washed and if you hold them out like a flag, can almost dry off in the time it takes to walk from the washrooms back to your tent. Weather permitting!

also can use a bungie strap across your rack and tuck it under it will dry as you go along... (works for other items to)

 

[Aushiker]

I just use a small micro towel and hang it out to dry using the flag on the trailer or over the panniers tor just put up with it. I don't tour often where I have a shower every night so not an issue for me.

Andrew

 

[steveindenmark]

+1 for the travel towel. Dry very fast, can soak up a huge amount of water and pack very small. They come in different sizes.

Steve

 

[rollinstok]

Hi, +1 for the travel towel..they do the job, though not as nicely as a proper towel. Travel towels tend to "wipe" the water off you rather than soak it up, so they stay drier than a normal towel and dry much faster anyway. The advantages with a travel towel outweigh the "luxury" and extra weight that come with a normal towel ( IMHO ). When I did a lot of touring I bought one of those eyelet inserting machines and put eyelets on lots of bits and pieces ( I was obsessed lol ) and took a few tiewraps with me..the tiewraps are always handy on a tour but you can also insert them through an eyelet and strap an item to your frame/rack etc..very handy for drying bits off on the go.

 

[Simon_m]

Thanks guys. Luckily I'm doing a van supported tour, so weight isn't too much of an issue, and I also wont be able to dry it on my panniers while cycling. Looks like the travel towel is my only option. Are they the same as the micro-towel, or is that something different? I am going to try and stay in proper accommodation where and when I can though, Warmshowers, Couchsurfing or hotels/motels where cheap enough. Camping for me is a last resort

 

[rollinstok]

Thanks guys. Luckily I'm doing a van supported tour, so weight isn't too much of an issue, and I also wont be able to dry it on my panniers while cycling. Looks like the travel towel is my only option. Are they the same as the micro-towel, or is that something different? I am going to try and stay in proper accommodation where and when I can though, Warmshowers, Couchsurfing or hotels/motels where cheap enough. Camping for me is a last resort

You wimp lol !! In your situation you may not need a towel at all. BTW..yes micro and travel towels are the same thing. I carry a really tiny one that would fit in a matchbox for summer dayrides to wipe the sweat off my face on breaks.

 

[ufkacbln]

I am the same....

My knees no longer relish the climb from a sleeping bag to tanding height, and my shoulers and back require something more supportive and comfortable than a Thrermarest... however such are the pleasures of getting older.*




*Note the use of the word older... not old. any sarcastic comments will be replied to!

 

[BigonaBianchi]

wearing of micro towels on bikes is to be considered only as a last resort.

 

[Simon_m]

LOL totally, well I am nearly 40! Doing 60miles every day will drain you and a good nights sleep will really help, and a nice shower in the morning. Have to make sure we are clean "down-there"

good idea about using the small ones during the day, usually just use my arm.

not sure the micro towel worn while cycling would go down well anywhere in the world lol

 

[Aushiker]

Are they the same as the micro-towel, or is that something different?

Yes as per rollinstok but maybe not to be confused with micro-fibre towels (reference to the material) such as the Sea to Summit Tek Towel. I would probably go with a micro-fibre towel today, Mind you that is not based on using the material as a towel so interested in anyone's experience with micro-fibre towels.

Andrew

 

[PaulSB]

I don't camp but use hostels and bunk houses. I have a travel towel but don't find it very satisfactory. I carry a flannel to dry off most of the water - it's light, absorbent, easy to wring out and dry. After using the flannel I then wipe over with the travel towel.

 

[yello]

I use a micro-towel too, dries in no time if the weather's right. More of an issue, in poor weather, is wet gear, particularly tent! I've stayed put for a day in the campsite before now, hoping the weather would change. It didn't, pretty much everything I had was sodden. That was in Scotland... in August!

re aging bones, I last 'camped out' last June when I did a 3 day regional tourist style brevet. I must admit, I wimped out and used 2 thermorest mattresses! I'm planning to go to the semaine federale this year (and ride there) so I might have to spend a few nights re-aquainting myself with sleeping bags and mats beforehand!

 

[rollinstok]

I use a micro-towel too, dries in no time if the weather's right. More of an issue, in poor weather, is wet gear, particularly tent! I've stayed put for a day in the campsite before now, hoping the weather would change. It didn't, pretty much everything I had was sodden. That was in Scotland... in August!

re aging bones, I last 'camped out' last June when I did a 3 day regional tourist style brevet. I must admit, I wimped out and used 2 thermorest mattresses! I'm planning to go to the semaine federale this year (and ride there) so I might have to spend a few nights re-aquainting myself with sleeping bags and mats beforehand!

I always found it extremely hard work to keep the tent dry, no matter what the weather. If rain doesnt get it, dew or condensation will. Its nice to have an hour before pitching ( if possible ) to air the tent. I always pack the tent in one pannier ( along with the sleeping bag in a dry sac ) rather than the tentbag, I think the tent has more room to breathe this way.. its also much quicker to remove/pack.