Generic Touring Thread

I'm a pretty meticulous planner too. I use GPSsies.com for planning with OSM cycle for contours. Galileo for OSM on my phone if I get stuck. Streetview's a godsend. I like the idea of finding things on the way, but I like to know I'll be on roads I want to be on.

Wow thanks everybody for all of those tips. They've been really helpful.

From what I've read there seem to be some pretty busy big roads on the Spanish section of the Camino Frances , so I'm looking to try and reduce or avoid those bits.

Climbed the Parpaillon about 15 years ago. Very nice climb indeed. And a great region if you like climbing to high altitude (Col de Vars, Col de la Bonette, Col de la Cayolle, Col des Champs, Col d' Allos,... all +2000 m).

Out of context but mountains with panniers is a piece of piss*

*this may not be true.

Not really touring as such, but I'm going to be cycling in Sierra Nevada at the end of next month and wondered if anyone had any routes or tips?

I spent (all together) about 5 weeks cycling/touring in Andalucia so, depending on where you will be staying, I probably can give some information.

One thing's for sure: great region and end of april is a good period (not too hot during day, not too cold at night) but above 2500 m there can be some snow (depending on how severe a winter they had).

Know you've done a bit of research and such, but you may want to have a word with @6pt and @tricitybendix as they did a tandem tour last summer, end bit took them along the santiago d/C, so will probably have thoughts/info to help you out.

their tumblr is here.

http://tourdetandem.tumblr.com/

apologies if you already know this/have spoken to them..

Last year we picked up the Camino from Lauzerte. It was fun, some good climbs toward Ponferrada but otherwise quite reasonable.
We also did quite a lot of the camino norte on our first tandem tour

Does anyone have experience with this rack: http://www.ebay.nl/itm/Bicycle-Bike-Alloy-Mini-Front-Pannier-Rack-Carrier-Black-Brake-Fit-Bike-Luggage-/381117508322?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item58bc5faae2

Yes - wouldn't recomend.

I found it slowly undid the the allen bolts holding my brakes on - even when I did them up super tightly.

I ignored someones advice on here last year and took a 20 quid mountain bike away for a few weeks in west europe and I ended up regretting it a bit, not this time.

Still on a serious budget though so I'm going to use this and hopefully whatever I have. I'm thinking I'll need a triple for Scotland? Double sounds like a recipe for pushing. Also my tyres can only take 28c, I was on 1.5" things last year which were grand obviously but is 28c too narrow?

Will be carrying everything, tent,bag, stove etc

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If you're carrying a lots then 28c would be a little too small.

Single rack with a pair of panniers, even 23c would be fine.

Triple is not a necessity, compact (50/34 or 46/34) is plentiful with a wide range cassette on the back (11-28 or 11-32), 8 speed is much cheaper, very strong and last for ages.

You can run an mtb derailleur and cheap friction shifter on the downtube to keep cost down with the additional benefit of being cheap and easy to look after/replace.

Are these handlebar bags any good?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Cycling-Bike-Bicycle-3P-Multifunction-Handlebar-Bag-Waist-Pack-Shoulder-Bag-/360785394017?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item54007c3961

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bike-Cycling-Bicycle-Front-Basket-Pannier-Handlebar-Pouch-Sports-Shoulder-Bag-/181596154003?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item2a47f96893

I´m looking for a handlebar bag that doesn´t require any extra hardware to mount it. Dill Pickle handlebar bag would be the best choice but it´s not available in Europe.

Anyone fancy finishing off my Croix de fer project? Had planned it as a decent fast touring bike

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/265668/#comment12201311

Cool, cheers. So something long cage like http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-deore-m610-10-speed-rear-mech/rp-prod108792 with compact rings?

Just going to go friction shifting on the downtube yeah so there shouldn't be any compatibility issues right?

The cheaper I can make it the longer I stay away for

No, the 10 speed Shimano MTB derailleur won't work with the 10 speed road shifter.

Get the 9 speed MTB one, that'll work with the 8/9/10 speed road shifter.

11-34 with 50/34 give you a very good range with a very low gear of 26GI for the worst.

Having said that, all modern Shimano long cage road derailleur work well with a 11-32t cassette (28GI).

Cheers Ed, minefield.

I'll have a proper gander

They look ok, you'll sacrificed hand position with the bag mounted on the flat section of the handlebar.

Have a look at BIGxTOP rando bag, they're a very good size, reasonably light (for a klick fix system type), and look very smart.

Hello - sorry for the epic delay in replying, I've had a few logistical issues to sort out. I'm going to be based in Granada - do you know of any routes starting from there? I'm really excited to go.

What kind of luggage set-up should I be looking for for an 8ish week tour of the west coast of the US? I'll be camping, and there's a stretch in the Rockies in Canada too.

Depends on how much you want to take and what bike you have.
I can live with little stuff, but others can't.
8 weeks.
But I'd say front and maybe rear panniers. If only for storing food sometimes in the rear. Then tent on top of rear rack. Depends how small packing your stuff is too.

I can live with little stuff, but others can't.

In layman's term, eat cold, or eat hot.

I'll definitely be taking some cooking stuff, if that's what you're trying to say. I'm very aware of the idea that if you have more bags, you seem to fill them and I want to avoid that if possible.
@skinny any reason you'd say front before rear panniers? The bike is a cross-check (I think mid-trail(?)) and so not particularly optimised for front loading (I think)

cooking stuff = extra 2-2.5kg.

Cross-check have CX geometry, the fork is design to carry a front load, but the handling is not optimised for it.

TL:DR it'll be fine, front load is preferable to keep the rear from feeling sluggish, make climbing easy and descent better with weight in front.

trangia mini with pans 330 gram
bottle of fuel - 500grams?
oil, spices, sponge etc - fuckall

Not sure where 2 kilos is coming from!