Generic Touring Thread

This, make sure you have lots of snacks!

dont push yourself too hard the first day, or youll be playing catch up the whole time.

Is your saddle as comfortable after 7 hours as it is after 1? And the next day? I reckon your arse comfort is more of a show-stopper than your fitness.

[moved to mini tour thread...]

Thanks for the advice all!

Getting a bit risky with the saddle. I've done 14 hour rides on Romin Evo and it was a little firm so swapped back to my favoured Toupe... which I've only ever done 3 hour on in one ride. Might bring the Romin with me just in case...

After a week of 100 mile days (give or take, 6 hours in the saddle each day) even the ISM Adamo was kinda hard on the sitbones. After two weeks it was same shit different day.

Definitely eat loads. I was stopping frequently to stretch and eating snacks every 30-60 minutes because I didn't stop for proper meals. Stop for proper meals, you'll be glad you did.

First day feels good, second day less so, third day your body reminds you how you could be watching tv right now.

What are your favourite bar tape for touring? I will have to redo the tape shortly and I am considering lizard skin, but also wanted to hear what are people using these days

Lizard Skin ftw. It might not be quite as hardwearing as other brands, but it's just so grippy and comfortable over long distance.

Lizard Skins, Once you do you won't go back.

Regular 2.5 or 3.something one?

Write up on Pannier of the trip we took through northern Norway last summer, if anyone's interested.

https://www.pannier.cc/journal/north-to-narvik

Great write up - thanks!

didn't know that magazine/website existed.

Anyone got experience of cycle touring in Northern Ireland?
I'm planning on riding from the south (Galway) up the West coast to Sligo, then was thinking a bit of Fermanagh and whatever other nice bits people recommend, with a view to eventually heading eastwards towards Belfast, as my mum lives in the area.
Any advice appreciated.

Maybe now would be a good time for me to return your maps and books? :)

Do you remember this website?: http://cycleireland.ie

I remember looking at it when I got back and thinking how the routes packed in all the best scenery. I'm not sure how it fares for the inland stuff.

I remember thinking the area around Sligo would definitely be worth exploring as the scenery was great.

Can I come? ;)

Day 22 of my solo West Coast tour.

FFO: Cycling through giant trees, rain, punctures, descents, ocean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2B1l6MeWNE

Anyone experience of using handlebar bags with externally routed shifters (I have Tiagra 10-speed). Looking at photos, the clickfix style boxier bags look like they may project too much, but I am wondering about using a carradice zipped roll or similar.

Planning on a light/credit card tour or two this year, ~week long but staying indoors, happy to go for 1 bike outfit and 1 evening outfit. Have a Carradice SQR slim (~16 litres) which I use for cummuting and can use, but am considering if I will need a little more space/accessibility and if so whether to go for handlebar bag, in particular for stuff needed in the day (+ stem/small frame bag if it's not enough, though would like to keep access to 2x750ml bottles), or to get a rear pannier rack and 2 small panniers(http://www.carradice.co.uk/ranges/carradry/carradry-front-universal-panniers-old-design) then likely ditching the SQR slim. Bike (Genesis Vapour Disc) has rear pannier mounts but ~no chance of using front pannier rack.

You'll probably struggle with a Klickfix mounted one - the few I've used all project far enough forwards that they'd be in the way of the cable coming out the shifters.

Just got one of these though (I love it!) and pretty sure you'd be ok with it: https://www.ortlieb.com/en/Accessory-Pack/

That is in line with what I thought, and my consideration of the carradice zipped roll (which I think hangs lower, but I have stuggles to find pictures on a drop handlebar bike) I may also look (for the price) at
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/100-bike-handlebar-bag-25l-id_8383692.html
or even
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/junior-front-bag-pink-id_8380516.html
Both of which look as if they could give a couple of extra litres space.

I take it your suggestion also just hangs below the bars? Do you have any issue using the tops?

Now new Tiagra is internally routed there is also the option of new shifters. First step probably to see how much I can get in the SWR tout.

I have a roswell bar bag that's very similar to this. You're welcome to it for a fiver.

We've got a copy of the Cicerone Guide to Cycle Touring in Ireland if that's of interest. Don't think I've ever looked at it but I can see it on the bookcase staring back at me from here.

I used a pair of 90deg v-brakes noodles to send the cables directly downwards out of the shifter. Gave me enough space to run either an ortlieb or bigXtop barbag.

Thanks for the offer, but not in London and close to a decathlon so I might as well try one of their options first as can easily return if not up to spec/doesn't fit the bike

Will bear that in mind as an option, though I am not sure I could live with the aesthetic when the handlebar bag wasn't present (says the man considering a pink decathlon bar bag)

Yeah, I appreciate what you mean. Bar-end/DT shifters or hidden routing is your only real option. Whatever you do, don't bother using 9spd stuff, it's no better than 10spd in terms of longevity. Better to go for 5700 and have a spare quick link.