Generic Touring Thread

If I change it will likely be to 11 speed and hydraulic discs, or if the new tiagra shifters come up cheap somewhere (now internally routed).

Yes, it just hangs there (doesn't flap though, it ties around the headtube as well)

You can't really wrap your hands around the tops but I just rest my hands on the tops instead, palms on the bars.

New Tiagra 4700 is great btw, much nicer than the 105 5700 I previously had.

Maps and books would be good. I'm not on the bike at the moment so not so able to meet you (sore back), but let me know where you're based now and when free.

And thanks for the reminder about cycleireland. I shall peruse it over the weekend...

Has anybody toured in Chile ? A french guy I met on the road last year was raving about it.

I havent cycled there but plenty people cycled the carretera austral, plenty blogs and info about it. The wind can be your biggest enemy there...

Considering lock options, hoping a d-lock is overkill for my planned tour (hoping to have the bike in the room with me wherever I saty or in a similar semi secure location). Previously I have seen a suggestion to use a cable and alarmed padlock as a halfway house 'light' solution any recomendations of an alarmed padlock? The few I have seen look pretty heavy!

Where are you planning on going?

Current plan is south from edinburgh->northumberland->yorkshire dales->leeds->peak->nottingham incorporating some overnight stays with friends/family other overnight stays in b&bs/hotels (though haven't planned as far as to which these will be)

Lock would mainly be for if nipping into a shop I can't bring the bike into/deterrent on cafe stops of if the bike has to go into a room/location overnight which isn't my room.

I would've thought a cheap cable lock would suffice. That's usually enough of a deterrent. Another trick is to change gear after you've parked the bike, then if a thief jumps on it, they'll struggle to understand what's going on, hopefully giving you time to catch them.

Other trick is undoing quick releases on wheels so it all goes wrong when thief grabs it or tries to ride off on it

This is Anna. A few weeks ago she'd never really cycled further than the shops. Then she decided she wanted to ride solo to Spain, so bought a bike, and is leaving at the start of May.

She's going to keep a blog type thing on instagram, so have a look if you're interested in following her progress. There are just a few photos from some training rides so far, but it should be quite interesting: https://www.instagram.com/adventuresof_anna_/

There's a bit of a family history: her mum rode from San Francisco to the Rocky mountains, on a spontaneous whim!

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That's awesome - wish her luck!

Cool! Spain is one of my favorite countries for touring:)

I'm about to sell a pair of Ortlieb rear panniers. Anyone here fancy them before I start a for sale thread?

Front or rear?

Rear

Yes please

What stoves would people recommend?

Leaning towards a Trangia or something else that uses meths but have heard that they are slower and that meths can be hard to find in some places. Cycling through France this summer, will that be a problem there?

Are gas canisters specific to certain stoves? I have an irrational feeling they are more likely to blow up in a pannier than a meths fuel bottle is in a bottle cage.

Trangias are the old school and tried and tested cooker, I'm sure a search here or the bikepacking thread will throw up some more options. Trangias are pretty bulky too. I just like the teapot.

I'm fairly sure meths is easily acquired in France, I believe it's called alcool à bruler, but @6ot will be able to give you the details...

I use the screw on butane cannisters with a burner that sits separately. Fed up of trying to balance pans on nearly empty cans... Seems to work well, nice and quick and you don't have to worry about excess meths.

If you want to try a trangia at home I have one I'm happy to let you try out? I you won't be able to fry a sausage, but you can warm up a ready meal fine!

Thanks guys, think I'll go with a Trangia, teapot is definitely a bonus.

Thanks, you are very kind to offer but I'm in Birmingham so probably too far to go for a trial run.

With the Trangia you can always get one of the triangles as an addition.

I use one with the kettle when just taking stuff to make tea.