Fully Loaded - Touring Bikes

[Kim]

can you use those bottles on the move?

Normally I have a tube attached to one of them, clipped with a magnet to the bottom of the seat.  The banana bags got in the way of that.  Since I was only riding to/from the station, the bottles are both empty.

[JennyB]

Couldn't you get those panniers a lot power and closer when you don't have to worry about heel strike? Probably need a custom rack though.

[Kim]

Couldn't you get those panniers a lot power and closer when you don't have to worry about heel strike? Probably need a custom rack though.

Absolutely, but for a ten minute ride on a bike that shimmies alarmingly with a camping load, I opted for the simplicity of not adjusting the pannier fixings from their positions for my touring bike.

(There's also some entanglement with the arm of the rear disc brake that means a large pannier isn't entirely sensible with that rack anyway.  In the real world it usually just carries a rack bag, but front rollers are occasionally handy.  The proper solution would be an aerodynamic tail fairing, of course.)

[Cudzoziemiec]

The "proper solution" might have been to use your touring bike! Now you've gone to all that trouble, we're expecting you to, like, you know, race and win something – preferably something shiny! (a glow of satisfaction will do)

[Kim]

http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/2018-round-8-york-sport-village-sunday-24th-june_topic6740_post63038.html#63038 refers.  Hence the presence of a magic hat.  So far I've won some sunburn and an asthma attack.

[Cudzoziemiec]

You are being modest. You may not have technically won anything but you have podiumated – shake your bronze banana with pride!

[sg37409]

This came up on my flickr feed - Thanks to beqi

D72_2551 by beqi, on Flickr

D72_2308 by beqi, on Flickr

[mcshroom]

Is that concentration or terror in the second pic Kim?

[Kim]

Is that concentration or terror in the second pic Kim?

A combination of both, I think.

[Moose57]

Two chums and I on recent ride to Paris, I had Carradice the others aggreed it was the best and most practical.

[Moose57]

[cycleman]

Fully loaded trike 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qLKfGozCZx2XPqYe7

[kyuss]

Back from 2 days in Fife. Needs a slightly longer stem (already fitted), the canti brakes are garbage, and the cheap sjs panniers fell apart, but other than that it handled it well. Now I know that it fits and is comfortable enough over longer distances I feel happier about investing a few quid in it. Wheels, brakes and panniers will be first on the shopping list.

[bludger]

Bike from the tour the other week.



I wouldn't normally have this much crap on the bike for a tour but I needed to take some semi posh clobber with me to europe.

All the bags are from Planet X PODSACS aside from the red drybag which is from overboard. And the 'small' saddlebag which is botranger.

The small saddlebag just held tubes!

[fhills]

That's a big Podsac under the seat I assume?

Model name/price?

Have you used it much?

How do you rate it?

[Oscar's dad]

Nice!

[Nick H.]

Crikey! That is some extreme bikepacking! The rear pack looks like some sort of hideous giant insect. Are there any downsides to having the weight there?

Eta: and that would seem to be a Topanga Diamondback with Biopace...so it must be very old, but it's in beautiful condition. Pls tell us the wheel and tyre specs.

[Cudzoziemiec]

In terms of weight, I'd wonder about the steering effect of full large panniers (they look like standard rear panniers, but maybe they're not) on the forks. Did you get much fork flop? Was the steering very much slowed?

[ElyDave]

all this, and more



has gone into these, plus a water bladder behind my head.  Seat cushion absent as I was just test fitting the panniers.  The rear strap is actually better not on the rack (that space is now taken by a spare tyre anyway) but hanging off the back of the headrest/seat



Off on hols tomorrow

[Cudzoziemiec]

all this, and more



has gone into these, plus a water bladder behind my head. 

But surely taking your own wine rack on holiday defeats the point?!

[ElyDave]

Just means I can bring more home

[Kim]

From the department of location, location, location:

[bludger]

That's a big Podsac under the seat I assume?

Model name/price?

Have you used it much?

How do you rate it?

I've actually done a review on it - check the parts and accessories section.

Long story short yes they're terrific!

[kyuss]

Crikey! That is some extreme bikepacking! The rear pack looks like some sort of hideous giant insect. Are there any downsides to having the weight there?

Eta: and that would seem to be a Topanga Diamondback with Biopace...so it must be very old, but it's in beautiful condition. Pls tell us the wheel and tyre specs.

The rear saddlebag was a bit of an eyesore, but there's next to no weight in it, just a sleeping bag. Bike handles great with all the weight low down up front. Really surprised with it to be honest considering its humble beginnings. Got some Ortlieb Front Rollers on the shopping list and with a bit more experience/practise with packing I'll hopefully lose a bit of bulk from the saddlebag too.

Yep, an all original, barely used 1991 (I think) Diamondback Topanga for the princely sum of £17 off ebay. They're the original wheels (Exage hubs, unknown single wall rims). The cups and cones are looking a bit pitted so wheels are on the shopping list too. The tyres are 26 inch Halo Twin Rail 2.2. Not the first choice for a touring tyre, but I had to have fat gumwalls for the hipster points, and these were within budget. They're pretty fast rolling and comfortable and with a shot of Stans in the tubes they've yet to meet the fairy. Tempted with some Compass Rat Trap Pass when they wear out though.

[Nick H.]

Seventeen quid! I think you've won the thread, and ebay, and the internet.