Fully Loaded - Touring Bikes

[Sergeant Pluck]

Thank, been on a different forum before, just not this one (joined this due to Audax in general).

Yes, I've been following your builds / projects etc elsewhere.

[clarion]

Hi ed!  Didn't realise you were here as well.  Looks like a nice tour (and waaay more lightweight than I'd have managed).

[Tail End Charlie]

Wow, we need a kit list to see how you fit all that in !! Lightweight isn't the word.

[Cudzoziemiec]

You've packed more lightly and certainly way more neatly for a month than I would for a weekend!

Just wondering, why the aversion to racks?

[edscoble]

Rack is like 400-500g extra that I can do without.

Panniers, using the Ortlieb front roller classic as a benchmark to match the size of the kit I've took are 1590g altogether.

So, that mean over 2,000g worth of equipment before you start packing them and already affect how the bicycle handle (especially with thin-walled frame), I've tried that previously with the girlfriend when we went on a two days tour in the Lake District, I carry for two (just the necessary) and it was hell, frame flex, too much weight on the rear, have to pump the tyres over 100psi to compensate, etc. the fact it got a fixed wheel drivetrain didn't help.

The saddlebag (Revelate Designs) weight under 400g, the framebag is under 260g.

Panniers and rack = 2,000+g.
frame and saddle bag = 560g.

When fully packed with the saddlebag and rack, the biggest difference is that the bike feel softer, slightly more numb but still feel like a normal bike, one week into the tour, I've got used to the bicycle completely and it start to feel like an audax bicycle on a 200k.

The framebag is mounted in what we call a dead weight, in the centre of the triangle meaning it barely affect the bicycle handling, only how the steel tubing absorb the vibration (hence slightly numb).

Saddlebag act like a compressor, it's strap very tightly that when getting out of the saddle, it doesn't swing, if done properly, it shouldn't move in the slightest no matter how hard you shook the bicycle.

[edscoble]

Wow, we need a kit list to see how you fit all that in !! Lightweight isn't the word.

Saddlebag.

1 man tent (excluding the poles).
sleeping bag (0 degree).
inflatable mattress (size of a coke can).
boxer short.
thick woolly sock for sleeping
Rapha softshell jacket (useless, used for five days but that's it).
merino baselayer.
medical bag (pill, bandage, cream, etc.)
European USB plug (France, Spain and Morocco use the same plug)
1x inner tube.

Framebag.

E-Werk convertor to power phone, camera, etc. from the dynamo.
2 camera (big and small, can do with just the small)
Kindle.
Android smartphone.
passport.
lips balm.
sun cream (threw away after France, I'm pink already).
maps (brought them while in the country, then throw away when left the country).

Red water bottle (under the downtube of the bike).

15mm spanner.
allen keys set (the Topeak Hexus II).
10+ patches.
2+ glue.
Leatherman Wave.
lots of zip tie.

Bike wear.

Rapha touring short (credit card + cash in tiny pocket).
Rapha merino jersey (fricking amazing).
Gore bibs short (threw it away after Spain).
normal sock for riding.
Vans Authentic shoes.


Probably missed some stuff, Ryan of Oak Cycles build the fork (to get the geometry more road-like with 73 degree HT and ST, with decent amount of trail), and add brazed on for the bottle cage and mount.

What I could do without;
Get rid of the Softshell jacket for a thin ultralight rain jacket and a Uniqlo ultralight down jacket, the latter is great for the morning when it's almost cold in the sleeping bag, both will pack smaller than the Softshell jacket too.

Only one camera, Sony RX100 with a larger sensor mean I don't have to take my bigger camera, also charge off the camera without a battery charger.

Clipless pedals, only because descending on a fixed wheel doing over 120rpm on the Pyrenees is hard work keeping your feet in the clip, I'll stay with clip and strap if I have a freewheel.

[Pip]

Scotland in March. Intermediate load.

Salsa Vaya 2 from 2011 with Avid BB5 discs. Very comfortable, but would need Sram's 40/27 chainset for proper hilly loaded touring. The 48/34 set up was fine for gradients up to 10% with this load

Black Isle:




Dornoch:

[LEE]

Normandy.  June 2013.

Thorn Raven Tour.  Rohloff Speedhub. (Basically same set up as last year but with the addition of a fuel bottle to support my change from gas stoves to Trangia)
Schwalbe Marathons 26x1.5"
Altura Barbag (may get an Ortlieb, just to be fully waterproof)
New Shimano A530 "touring pedals" (SPD on one side, flats on the other).  These are really nice and allow you to pop to the shops in any old shoe or flip-flop.



Ortliebs were once again flawless.  Simple things like separate strap adjusters on the lids (to hold clothing..etc) make life so much easier.

Yes the chain is slack but it's absolutely spent. I have a new sprocket, chain and chainring being delivered this week.  It's been such a long time since they were replaced I can almost pull the chain off the chainring and sprocket.







Here are the three bikes on tour that week (Keeks's Specialised Tri-cross, Urban_Biker's Dawes Ultra Galaxy and my Thorn Raven Tour)






Got to say that Keeks's red Ortliebs really show up well.

[edscoble]

That look great, while I'm a great believer that you don't need a high end touring bike to go on a tour, it does make it a lots more enjoyable to ride for sure.

I would like to know just what you take? I assumed the biggest difference are the -5 sleeping bag (bulky!) and cooking equipment?

Just how was the bike with the heavyweight tyres? I'm always wary about those because of the difference in ride comfort.

Forget to says I already made a tiny blog about the London to Morocco trip;

http://londontocasablanca.tumblr.com/

[Woofage]

That look great, while I'm a great believer that you don't need a high end touring bike to go on a tour, it does make it a lots more enjoyable to ride for sure.

Thorn bikes are priced well into what I would call "high end" bike territory . I doubt you'd get any change out of £2k.

[edscoble]

When I says high end, I was comparing it to a £300 hybrid that'll do just as well, like the all-steel Jamis Coda with a 7 speed transmission that's cheap and readily avaliable;

[marcusjb]

That look great, while I'm a great believer that you don't need a high end touring bike to go on a tour, it does make it a lots more enjoyable to ride for sure.

Thorn bikes are priced well into what I would call "high end" bike territory . I doubt you'd get any change out of £2k.

If you read that statement, I think the poster is suggesting that the Thorn IS a high-end machine (and they are, especially with a Speedhub etc.).

[edscoble]

I wasn't suggesting it wasn't a high end bike, just that while you don't need a high end bike, it does make the ride more enjoyable.

[Woofage]

I wasn't suggesting it wasn't a high end bike, just that while you don't need a high end bike, it does make the ride more enjoyable.

Sorry if I misunderstood. I agree with your statement: for example, a classic steel MTB frame makes a good foundation for a tourer and these are inexpensive and plentiful. My current runaround (although not actually used as a tourer there's nothing to stop it being one) is an On-One Inbred ex-MTB with rigid forks, road tyres and slightly faster gearing.

[LEE]

That look great, while I'm a great believer that you don't need a high end touring bike to go on a tour, it does make it a lots more enjoyable to ride for sure.

Thorn bikes are priced well into what I would call "high end" bike territory . I doubt you'd get any change out of £2k.

You won't get any change at all out of £2K for a Thorn Rohloff any more.  In 2007 you would have got £951 change.  A huge chunk of that is the Rohloff hub.  Looking back to 2007, when I bought mine, it was a very cheap way of buying the hub.

Thorn make the Sherpa though.  Basically a derailleur version of the Raven Tour, for £1300 complete. 
Nowadays £1300 isn't remotely high-end. Check out the Roberts "Rough Stuff" frame prices (Roberts charge £1000 for the Rohloff hub).

However, as mentioned above, Old School ridgid MTBs are worth seeking out as a perfect "global tourer" project.  Their long wheel-bases, compared to modern MTBs, make them suited to carrying a full load.

Here is slope's 1992 Raleigh Peak


Here's my 1996 Saracen Force Trax.  Compared to a modern budget MTB it's simply awful off road but very very lovely on it.

[Ivo]

Bob Jackson Worldtourer in Russia:

[Ivo]

[LEE]

I can't see that last image Ivo.  Is it just me?


I just had a quick flick through this thread again.

Aren't loaded touring bikes just lovely?  There's something extremely purposeful about them.

Whenever I ride mine I love the mid-set it forces me into.  They dictate your pace, there's no need to push harder as extra effort rarely increases your speed very much, so you're best bet is just sitting up, plodding along and taking in the views.

Keep posting photos.

[Cudzoziemiec]

I can't see that last image Ivo.  Is it just me?

I can't see it either, though I can see the other two (which are lovely).

[tom_e]

<links poked>:

Mmmm, very adventure looking trip.  Jealous.

[Marco Stefano]

Hewitt Cheviot SE in North Norfolk.



Different makes of panniers, but at least similar colour schemes. I need a barbag for map & camera.

[MAC]

My Santos Travelmaster 2.6 alu in Northumberland. Great trip.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Purposeful and clearly used to good purpose.

[LEE]

My Santos Travelmaster 2.6 alu in Northumberland. Great trip.

Great reference photo for this thread.

1 - Nice scenery?  Check

2 - Clear photo of bike and touring kit?  Check

3 - Makes people want to load up a bike with camping gear and head off into the distance?  Check.

[clarion]

Ah, but it's pointing the wrong way, and the cranks are at the wrong angle.

Apparently