Generic Touring Thread

Wasn't sure where to put this, so "generic" seems as good a place as any. Just 11 days till me & MsPub fly off to Vancouver, before embarking on a Pacific Coast Highway tour to San Francisco. (Bus through Seattle and Portland before starting cycling from N. Oregon coast, ~750 miles over two weeks.) Think I've finally sorted the packing arrangements; Air Transat (anyone used?) charge just $30CAN for bike. We'll ride to Victoria Station at silly o'clock Saturday morning to get to Gatwick, so need a baggage solution that we can carry there.

I'm pleased to find out that the IKEA Trolley Bag is just the right size to fit two (over)filled panniers + tent + various other bits. The zip/fabric interface isn't the hardiest thing I've ever seen so I'll reinforce with some packing tape, but it looks like it'll take a couple of journeys before falling apart. The bikes will go in CTC bags at the airport. Fingers crossed.

Good luck, sounds awesome. Send us some ride reports, always great to see faraway places...

Im hoping to do that ride next spring so very interested to see how it goes!

Cheers! There will be lots of photos.

I would also love to see the deets of your route

After the joy that was riding to the Tour de France, anyone got any routes/info on Corsica, thinking of doing some touring there with a couple of people next year. So coastal roads, maybe a jaunt to the base of some of the hillier sections in the centre for a bit of non laden ascents.

Would it be a case of getting ferry to Southern France, riding across France to Corsica, or would you be able to ship yourself and bike directly there by train? Not sure how long we'd have so two week or longer tour is probably out, think 7-10 days, maybe shorter..

Provisionally following the ACA Pacific Coast route (maps 2+3), incorporating Hwy 101/Hwy 1 with sensible diversions, but I'm sure it won't be quite so straightforward. Whatever happens I'm determined to end the tour coming over the Golden Gate bridge.

Finished my "new" tourer yesterday. First tour will be a 3 days "micro tour" through East-Belgium (Vennbahn combined with the RV7)

"micro tour" through East-Belgium (Vennbahn combined with the RV7)

Vennbahn is nice, did that on a road bike some time ago.

Bike looks good!

Thanks!

There are some other nice former railwaytracks in that area. My brother lives in Stoumont and I once did a asphalted track by racing bike from Trois Ponts to Malmédy. Think you can even go further till Waimes.

I'm partial to a night on the ferry/coffee on square upon landing
(3 min ride)
The coast concentrates the majority of the traffic,
and the trade..
Go off season may/ june or september/ october, temps are better as well.
Drop your tent near the sea , a river, a good restaurant.
Explore the back roads unladden, bliss.
Small gears needed.

Got made redundant recently so now Ive found a new job, it starts on 5th September so I'm outta here. Decided on Friday that Im gonna ride towards Italy and see how far I get via Alpe D'huez and the Galibier. So, hopefully starting Tuesday or wednesday (as soon as I can get my shit together), my vague route is:

London- Newhaven, ferry to Le Harve.
Ride down to Orleans to join Veloroute 6 down the Loire valley
Leave VR6 at Digoin then head towards Grenoble.
Get to Bourg d'oisans and ride up Alpe D'Huez, Croix de Fer, Glandon and the Galiber.
Ride down to Turin

If I have more time ill probably aim on towards Venice but doubt ill get that far...

Then fly back

Taking my recently built up Bob Jackson Audax bike with rear panniers and a bar bag. Got a lightweight tent but not gonna bring a stove and food stuff as will just pack up and go and get a coffee/food somewhere near.

Will navigate with some maps I bought at Stanfords and HERE MAPS on my phone, should be enough I hope, not that bothered about taking the Garmin.

Excited! Any tips gratefully accepted.

No tips but that sounds incredible, enjoy!

So tempted to just follow you.

By about 15m. And sneak my heavy things into your paniers while you sleep.

Anyone have advice on an ultralight two man tent? (I'm fairly big, 6'3”, and in girth, partner less so). Current tent is awesome but almost 3 kilos.

Sounds great, makes my legs ache. Rode from Ghent to the Mont Ventoux some years ago and Digoin was on my way too. Definitely go see the "Pont Canal".

You'll need strong legs to climb Galibier with load on your bike, that climb is hell (but incredibly beautiful). ;)

Good luck and enjoy!

Ha! Feel free to join at anytime for a few days, though don't put anything in my bloody panniers or I'll talk to you about Brexit the whole way

How many miles a day are you aiming to start with? I'm back from this little Scotland tour tomorrow. Could maybe tag along to France for a couple of days, but don't want to slow you down if you plan to TCR it.

@Velocio did some lengthy research on this recently, probably in this thread I think https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/148457/

Cheers, some good info there (although the two man V went for is 4kg).

will move this convo to whatsapp

If you don't want to spend loads we got the 2 man lightweight tent from decathlon. £110 (I think) and 1.9kg. It's slightly larger than other 2 man tents. It's not freestanding though so things get tricky if the ground is solid.

I think Rupert has the 2 man alpkit, slightly more money but lighter.

I like the Decathlon tent. Really easy to pitch, goes back in its bag easy enough, seems well designed. Definitely long enough for a tall person, and OK for two if you don't mind keeping some bits outside. There's a little room in the side bit but not a lot.

I got a wild country zephyros 2xl for £150 in a sale. It's snug but manageable for two people but very roomy for 1 and only 1.8kg