Generic Touring Thread

Where from? Why not go through the central massif, some hills there. That said Brittany is beautiful.
Will be a fun trip.

I'm looking to purchase a touring frame set to build over the next year.

I want something that I can use to disappear for a week, enjoy riding on twisty roads and lightweight if possible

I will have a minimal approach to
Touring, taking as little gear as possible to lessen the weight.

Oh and it needs to be pretty.

Any frame suggestions?

steel is pretty

Why not spend the money you have on bikepacking luggage and use the bike you have already?

Either that or get one of these gravel/adventure/crossbutnotCX/allroad-type bikes and go from there!

Yeah, if you're going to take as little gear as possible then use your road bike.

I have a carbon bike for nice days and a super tight track for commuting so neither is really suitable.

Plus although I am taking minimal
Stuff for a week on the bike that's still a fair amount..

Forgot to mention it must be steel.
Liking the idea of a Velo Orange 650b frame

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/frames/polyvalent-mkiii.html

Although I would like an older lugged frame

.

Does anyone knows a good handlebar bag? I'm looking for a lighter option than the +700gr Orlieb one. Something to use with a dropbar to put my camera and some stuff in.

I'm going away for 3 weeks with just a saddlebag.

Instead of buying a steel touring bike, buy a decent down sleeping bag and a small light tent. That way both pack up into a small space and thus you can take less.
Use a backpack that stuff into a tiny sack for supermarket dashes.

Honestly. Take the nice bike, with a saddle bag and maybe attached tent to front handlebars. Will be more fun. Plus stops you from taking the kitchen sink!
You bought a nice bike for a reason!

Unless you want a steel frame for an excuse for a new bike.

I used the btwin decathlon one. Was good enough.

Were the thick tyres necessary you think? apart from the bit you mentioned at least

Will be heading up the west coast in about 6-7 weeks, can't wait but I still need 1 1/2 bikes and a ton of gear

Hmm, can't decide what to do about bikes. I'm thinking it could be really gutting to be on 28s if there are a load of rougher, off road trails we could be on instead.

Anyone else got much Scottish touring experience that could weigh in?

If you already drew the route, or have ideas about it, have you look through Google Streetview? (easier on the older version that allow you to drop the little yellow man on the road) it take a lots of stress away from worrying about whether the road you've selected are passable or not.

I have a carbon bike for nice days and a super tight track for commuting so neither is really suitable.

This is LFGSS my friends, both are designed for touring.

Do you have a route sorted already (too lazy to check back all the threads)?

@BrickMan and @M_V might be able to offer some advice @marcusjb did that massive Scottish audax too...

Mr Cake and I have any Belgium station Eurostar tickets this weekend (train out on Friday and back on Monday) and are planning on doing a spot of folding bike touring, bringing along camping gear. The plan is to visit the Ardenne region, stopping in at Orval, Chimay, and Rochefort Abbeys. Any suggestions for campsites (possibly B&Bs if the weather is awful), routes, other things to do besides drink beer, or if we're nuts and should go to a different bit of Belgium altogether?

I'm working through the French leg of my route to Santiago de Compostela.

My original thought was Saintes > Blaye > Bordeaux and then 'follow' the A63/E5 inland down to Dax.

Now I'm looking at one of the freewheeling France tours and thinking the coast might be nicer. A la:

So heading to Royan and down, or at least cutting south West to the coast from Bordeaux to Arcachon and then down the coast.

Anyone got any thoughts?

I guess it's going to be my only stretch of coast so I was thinking it might be nice.

(EDIT: that map isn't a great reflection of the route as it would only be the bottom bit)

I did that streach. It's epic. Do it.
The whole area is beautiful.

The forest south of la tremblade is great. So many pillboxs.

this ^
really nice pine scented forest, loads of cycle paths criss crossing that whole green area between bordeaux lacanau and archachon , a bit sandy in places but well worth the effort
arcachon is nice but pricey

Archachon is great, cycle routes everywhere.

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I want to cycle down this road next though...

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Cheers guys. I think I'm going to switch it up and head down SW from Blaye to Arcachon and continue down the coast. Then drop back in land around somewhere to take me to Dax.

@dicki - when you say sandy, I'll be fine on the roads on a road bike I take it?

Struggling a bit to find accommodation that's cheap and near Bordeaux, but without having to head in to the outskirts of Bordeaux... although ibis are cheap.

Yeah roads are great.
But all the beaches are sand and stuff. It's beautiful.

Mother fucking head wind.

Do an alternative route if this the case.

I did the whole of that west coast, in the opposite direction, found the pine forests and the sound of Cicadas a bit relentless if I'm honest, nice for a couple of days perhaps, but the sea views are minimal despite being on the coast so it can be a bit disorientating, to the point where I wasn't sure if I was climbing or descending sometimes!

The Eurovelo 1 is very nicely paved for the most part though, a road bike should be fine, go to the beach in Archachon then head inland.