Generic Touring Thread

http://dolphinbike.tumblr.com/

Our very own @geeeb probably wont share this here, but he's embarking on what looks to be a fantastic journey (again), and he writes pretty well.

Having ridden some more modest journeys with him in the past, I can assure you it wont go entirely to plan, but will be all the more interesting for it!

Go gibbers go

Makes me want to learn to right proper

Are 'autoweg' in belgium banned for bikes?

I'm confused, it's not a motorway, but like a duel carridgeway. And there is no banned bikes sign. But also it's in orange not yellow on the map.

Cyclists are not allowed on autowegen (plural of autoweg).

Talking about shoes: I toured with mouldable carbon Bont Vaypors and Look pedals. Never had sore feet in a month time. Did fuck up one of the shoes because of too much walking on bad surface, but that was two years ago and still wearing them with a little crack in the carbon.

I had some fairly light off-bike shoes with me which couldnt fold, but packed down to a 1 inch thick sole. Wasnt very happy with them tbh. Now ordered a pair of very light The North Face "Base Camp Approach" high-top trainers as regular shoes, which also exist as low-top, so if I'm satisfied I might order the low-top ones for off-bike touring shoes.

Thanks.

What do people do about trousers/bottoms when it's raining a lot? I have a good waterproof jacket but the idea of full waterproof trousers is not nice

I think 'dries fast' is more important than 'stays dry' as far as trousers are concerned.. so thin cotton? Swrve have done me well (although theyre megabux now).. A spare (warmer) pair for off the bike, and HTFU while on?

I'll be in lycra while riding so that's gonna be pretty quick to dry. I was just wondering about the idea of overtrousers, but I reckon they'd only be necessary in the worst conditions. I've been reading too many American touring blogs!

Haha! Yeah 'd not worry if I were in lycra.

Lycra be fine bro. For off the bike I bring a pair of lightweight quick drying zip off nylon trousers, which has worked perfectly for me in good and bad weather conditions.

On my flight to Canada now, feeling massively underprepared but also incredibly excited! Flight is to Calgary, I've got two weeks to get across to Vancouver, then it gets significantly easier for six weeks down the west coast!

Nice one. Safe journey, and keep us updated on the route; I'm particularly interested in your plans heading South from Vancouver...

boyz and girlz,

im lokoing into doing a wee small trip beginning of aug from my hometown in the netherlands where i will be visiting my mum to london, where i will visit my gf and stay over for a while.

google gives me the options:

i dont have much spare time so would tend to it fast. 2/3 days max i reckon with the ferry overnight.

any thoughts on which route to take? i reckon over calais would take me more time, because i have to cycle more.. hows the landscape in southeast england?

i reckon fixed also could be a good option right?

weapons of choice:

waddayareckon?

Pics from Cph-Riga last week http://www.lfgss.com/events/858/

Day routes in the pyrenees - any good suggestions?

Also, places to stay?

^^so ferry tickets are kray expensive from hoek van holland because you have to take a complimentary suite. so cycling to calais it is and then get the ferry to dover.

more and more im aching towards going fixed, also because it saves me time because i have to build up the touring bike first as pictured above, which is lying in pieces in my mothers spare room..

Neither of those bikes are suitable. Ferries are well known death traps, which leaves you only two other options:

Dover - Dunkirk will save you a few hours.

The route down to Dover is pleasant (not that you'd have time to check it out), but gets a little hilly around Cantebury (right when you'd hope it didn't). I wouldn't suggest loaded fixed.

I'd stop in Dunkirk, then do the second (much easier if no headwind) leg the next day.

That an Edge 500?

thanks, very helpful answer. i reckon pootling a 80/90km a day for 3 days in belgium/france, early arrival in dunkerque. early ferry next day and blast it to london on friday. its about 120km or so from dover to central london?

i will gear sensibly. i now have 52-19, i reckon a 21 tooth on the other side will get me up the hills with some effort? i should have one in my spares box.

or i can take the other beater fixed claud, which has 44-16, and pair that to a 19 to do the hills..

you see im convincing myself to do it fixed, because i cant be faffed spending half the day building up the other biek with all them gears and stuff.

i think it was a 20 euro thing; cadence included though!;) i reckon ill get some euro internet coverage thing for the trip to be able to check my way and ziptie my trusty samsung sii to the handlebars.. would need to get into strava again and how that works.

but THINK how much time ild need to paddle over the canal! and dodging freight shipping an 'all.

ill get myself a boat

actually theres a nice cycling route from zeeland to calais which i can detour from to dunkerque. found a campsite in the city too. 6am ferry, late arrival in london town, where ive already demanded a massage by la girlfriend. really looking fwd, its been a whopping 4 years since i did a cycling trip (which was 1770 km), so i should manage this.

Your gearing 'pair' is spot on

the 52-19/21 one or the 44-16/19?

how you guys did it previously?
from the interwebz i gather hills round canterbury are around 100m high, so all should be well.