Generic Touring Thread

Tidy thanks. Will keep my eye out for a cheap used set and failing that buy them new.

Fueling is definitely the way forward, eat as you go and take your time. I've just been on holiday with some friends with the longest day being 145km, I hadn't done nearly enough training but by taking my time (factoring 20km/h AVG speed) and eating all the time I made it round and felt ok at the end. You can definitely do this!

Have fun @Rich_G :)

I'm enjoying DMR V6s. Bit chunky, but plenty of grip, even for mountain biking, and the nylon pins don't wreck your shoes/shins so much

Sounds ace. I found that varying the daily distance can help a bit as well, so you know what day is the longest, with a slightly shorter day either side for example. Doesn't help fitness but mentally I found that really helpful knowing id have a day or two finishing early to chill out/beers rather than a week of slogging through each day. Early starts each day help as well.

@Bernhard, @Heldring @dsalmon thanks. points taken on board.

Also, don't forget electrolytes, you'll do a fair bit of sweating so make sure you're taking on salt, i notice my calves cramp when i'm not topping up my salts, I usually stick a tab or 2 of electrolyte in my water bottle for a ride.

I've had a few pairs of Wellgo pedals lately which have been excellent, they're built like tanks and have taken years of abuse with no servicing at all, still spin like new pedals. Bare in mine I'm not talking about the cheap shit end of wellgo they mostly make (These were about £55 new), they had had a bad name in the past but I'm very happy with the ones I've had.

I have a spare set of their DMR v12 style pedals in silver it you want to try them?
They're not cool modern thin pedals, but they've proved to be great quality, I wouldn't think twice about taking them on a world tour.

(that in silver)

However they do make plenty of more modern shapes

B-164

B-185

B-181

B-144

So plenty of options, just something to consider before you go down the path of fancy hope or crankbros pedals etc. Also i'm pretty sure they make pedals for other people, such as superstar

tab ? can I just make a home made solution, table salt in water? are the market drinks ok? I always think they are just bollox marketing rubbish, out here there is one called pocari sweat!

Thanks for all the info! I don't really care what the brand are as long as they're thin and silver. My Shimano A530's are apparently 383g so would be nice to go lighter if possible too, just because. Much appreciated on the DMR V12 stylee offer, will take a look what's about and hit you up if nothing takes my fancy. After years of riding clipless it's quite liberating being able to jump off and actually walk around - who would have thought!

Haha, I remember Pocari Sweat from when I visited Japan. Not an appealing name to an English speaker.

Anyway I have heard that if you want electrolytes without the price tag you can buy fluid replacement stuff for people with diarrhea, which is essentially exactly the same thing. Perhaps not as tasty though and you have to face the embarrassment of buying a load of diarrhea stuff in the shop

or you can just add a bit of orange juice to your water

I'd be interested in those V12s if @jambon passes!

@jambon - I'd also be interested it what you discover in the flat pedal world. I currently do the same with my A530s and considering just going flat for some light touring, without fussing with turning them over constantly etc.

Flats are awesome

Had been thinking about these MKS allways but ££ compared to A530

https://www.compasscycle.com/shop/components/pedals/mks-allways-pedals/

I've been really happy with PD-T780s, they (or rather the T8000s) are quite pricey though.

For sure, quick google and it seems the main components are salt, magnesium powder and water! Just add diluting juice for flavour and you are done, careful with the quantities, no one wants to be drinking sea water, lol! You can easily make your own energy bars as well, look at GCN on youtube for some simple recipes!

Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) is aimed at preventing dehydration in people with diarrhoea and vomiting, so isn't necessarily the same as what you'll need in a sports drink (and usually tastes horrible unless you're actually dehydrated). The homebrew ORS recipe is 1/2tsp salt and 6 tsp sugar per litre of water. A medic mate of mine uses half orange juice half water with a pinch of salt in his bidons, which he claims is more or less isotonic; I find I manage fine on water and occasional stops for proper food (banana and a cheese sandwich, that kind of thing), certainly at touring pace. If it's really hot and I'm going through gallons of water I might put a pinch of salt and some sugar in my bottles, but I normally wouldn't bother.

@r_mash please don't wait for me on the pedals, you're very welcome to them! Yeah it's exactly that, not the biggest ball ache but would be nice to have pedals that aren't single sided when you never use spd's.

What do people tend to do with tent poles? Just strapped to the top tube?

I was hoping that a frame bag would carry mine but some of them are too long. I'd prefer not to have them poking out of the back beyond the rear rack.

hacksaw and some gaffer?

I'd prefer not to have them poking out of the back beyond the rear rack.

This is what I do

Pfft! Where is the niche product recommendation? The custom solution made only by some eccentric guy in Wales? Not even a link to a Kickstarter? Rubbish.

Who uses a tent these days anyway. Get a specialised tarp and be ultra minimal™.

... Then proceed to sleep in an AirBnB instead