Generic Touring Thread

If you're only planning two panniers then put them on a rear rack, the bike will be more stable and much more rideable.

Rear loads can feel like crap when you're out of the saddle. Your bikes rocking/swaying motion of the pedal strokes will be amplified by the weight of the luggade and it may feel like you're wrestling the bike. The weight doesn't manifest itself as much when carrying your bags up front. But it can depend on what fork and rack you have.

Good core and upper body workout if you've got weight wangling around on the back though...

I actually have a herniated lower disc in my back which may be something to consider.

@andyp @psee The forks are steel Marin butted cromo disc. I would most likely go for a Blackburn Outpost front rack, possibly the ti version.

I’m planning on going upto Hollyhead and over to Ireland so will be going through Snowdonia, so quite a lot of climbing. Is it better to be pushing or pulling the weight? The frame (Four Corners Elite) is incredibly stable, the wheelbase is crazy long and has thru axle’s with hydro discs so should hopefully be very solid on descents if front loaded?!

So for reference - I have had S1-L4 spinal fusion (there is a thread) and a few years ago I moved to commuting with a front rack to get away from ruck sacks/messenger bags all the time.

Personally, I find the bike better balanced with the weight over the front wheel. It does make the steering sluggish but, meh. I like it more than I like having a back heavy bike.

I prefer climbing with the weight up front but that is London commuting inclines, not Snowdonia. You can't really get out of the saddle with a laden bike but if you have to, it is better with the weight up front, to me at least.

If you're going up hills I would assume you'll be out of the saddle and, as others have said, having loads of weight on the back is quite sketchy in that case. What are you bringing with you? You could put panniers on the back and e.g. your tent on the front to even out the weight a bit. Or front panniers and a bikepacking saddlebag.

Sounds like front loading might work better in that case, although I'd be wary of putting 40L of stuff on the front, it might climb well but it'll probably steer terribly unless you're packing candy floss.

I wouldn't go as far as to say it's sketchy. People have ridden with rear panniers for ages, it works but maybe it's not always the most efficient way of doing things. Current hype is all front loading, no doubt that'll change again in a few years...

Right, probably overstated that. It was sketchy on my road bike (not a touring bike) with a lot of weight - I had speed wobble if I didn't grasp the bars firmly and the flex out of the saddle was quite worrying. I also had the front wheel lifting off the ground on gradients of ~30%. The Marin will no doubt handle it better.

You could put panniers on the back and e.g. your tent on the front to even out the weight a bit.

A 1kg tent will surely balance things out! ;)

OT: Front load, because of the (Insta)gram points. Two 20L panniers, a tent, sleeping bag and inflatable mat:

Your tent must be a lot nicer than mine if it only weighs 1kg...

Always front load except on old super noodly frames. Better handling, even tyre wear, better for your rear wheel :)

In my experience climbing with load front VS rear it doesn't really matter. At first you'll have to get used to the effect on handling, mind

Thanks for all your insights. I have decided to go for a front rack with 20l panniers, saddle bag, tt bag and handlebar bag.

I think what confirmed it for me was realising this morning that i spend a lot of time hammering around Cardiff on a Bullet cargo bike with a bloody massive metal box on the front. It’s just about the least aero and heaviest steering rig i have ever come across but i get on very well with it. The thought of that weight being behind me is terrifying.

Sorry, @hanford, only noticed a minute ago you asked a question.

I would do it again but would stay a bit more south, closer to the coast. More inland it could be rather cold once you're 5-600 m above sealevel and the weather is cloudy.

I'm thinking of doing London - Harwich - ferry to Hook of Holland - cycle along the coast to Calais and then back to London one way or another over the Bank Holiday weekend. I got the idea after someone posted about a similar route a while back but now I can't find it / find a thread for it. Has anyone done anything similar?

I've done the hook to Amsterdam in a day and Dunkirk to Knokke in a day. Both are nice enough but a little dull after a while.

Thanks, great photos! Yes just been reading how it can get a bit boring especially the closer to Calais you get. Bit of a pickle really, the potential boredom worries me as I'm planning to do it solo.

Something like the Cherbourg to Roscoff would be much more enjoyable IMO. I liked Brittany much more, some photos here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jackdixdavies/albums/72157675644524685

These are some really nice pictures. Almost make the Netherlands look nice hehe.

I'm a big fan of the Dunkirk to Amsterdam route. There are stretches where the scenery doesn't change for awhile, but it's 99% off the road.

fair warning some of them are in Belgium!

I've got a similar tour planned that I'd like to try and do this summer, but going the opposite way (Calais or Dunkirk/Bruges/Ghent/Antwerp/Hook) - AIUI the prevailing winds are such that you're less likely to be grinding into headwinds that way round.

Thanks for your help @spotter and @Thrustvector - spent a good chunk of this weekend trying to figure out how to tweak the logistics so I could do Calais to Hook - avoiding prevailing winds and heading away from rather than towards Calais. But trains back from Harwich at the back end of the bank hol are an arse! Instead, I've opted to make a trip to the Isle of Wight, do the loop and stay over, see some red squirrels, get a ferry back to Portsmouth, ride along the coast to Brighton, heading home on one of the cheapo trains. Planning on doing the Calais to Hook trip later in the year with a couple of pals.

Has anyone done anyone done any of Eurovelo 6 between Budapest and Vienna? I'll possibly be in Budapest for work for a week in the next two months so thought I could do Budapest-Bratislava-Vienna over a longer weekend then fly back to London from Vienna.