Generic Touring Thread

I would imagine that even if you lose that coin toss, you'll still win.

Nice to Dunkirk

30th June to 14th July // fixed 48x19/17 // Belarus part of the route will mostly be on unpaved/single track. Will find places to sleep in cities I pass, or on micro mat+sleeping bag in case I wont:).

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So I'm going to have to go to a stag do in Southern Portugal in late July / August - tempted to add in a day or two cycling after and go into Spain, but temperatures are putting me off. Is it going to be fully unbearable at that time of year?

Probably, and you’ll feel it more if you’re coming from the UK because you won’t have adjusted to a hot dry heat. Also note that climate change is going to kick the average temp for that period up a few notches

Thought that might be the case. Shame...

I’m off in the morning for a trip around Wales. Barry-Lampeter tomorrow then i’ll be meeting a pal in Llanidloes. Two days through Snowdonia then i’ll solo to Shrewsbury then back to Cardiff. Cycling, camping and good fun hopefully. Wish me luck :)

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good luck dude. nice looking setup.

Blackburn Outpost Rack? If so I may hit you up for fitting advice.

Enjoy! Hope the weather holds up.

It is indeed. It was a bit of a fucker to fit to be honest. I’ve done a couple of rides with it and it feels solid. What frame are you putting it onto?

I'm swapping out a 24 pack rack so I am very familiar with "fucker to fit" components. At least the Surly instructions are good. I need a microscope to see the Outpost pics!

The bike is a Cross Check with cantis so I'll have mid-fork and crown braze ons as well as the canti studs.

I'm thinking mid-fork for simplicity, plus no need to reset the cantis.

How did you attach yours? And is the coating as flimsy on yours as it is on mine?

Some discounts on big agnes tents at sportpursuit:
https://www.sportpursuit.com/sales/bigagnes-may18

Albania. What parts should I visit? Coming from Belgrade. National parks near Tirana look nice. Wondering if theres anywhere else people would recommend?

shkoder, ulez and ohrid lakes are all worth seeing

Thanks man I think I'll check out Shkoder for sure

They are really fiddly, coating all gone obviously.

I had problems with mine since the fittings for the mid fork mount need to be screwed on at the end of the bent stirrup, but according to the angles and position of the rack on the bike they won’t be tightened when in the correct orientation or vice versa. Hint: add a soft washer and tighten the fuckers until the alignments is correct.

Inrealized this after 1000km last summer as the vibrations were getting worse.

Could use some touring tips for route planning around the balcans as well, planning a month and more at the end of August/beginning of September. Considering two options, cycle from north of Italy and end in Albania, or cycle south through Italy, ferry across to Albania and work my way up.

Thank you! I think I have some leather washers in my box of random cycling fittings. I will use those when it is time to fit the rack.

(You should do a cycle touring cookbook BTW. Your contributions to the food thread are missed.)

Ah, thanks! Still traveling around the world at the moment, seldolmly cooking, I will pick up when I'm back in London in October

Hey bikepackers and tourers. I'm looking for some halp...

This is something i've always wanted to get into more but I'm a very nervous person and would probably overplan the shit out of it; The amount of online material is overwhelming. But you're all nice and clever and trustworthy so I'm asking here...

I have some time between jobs, not tonnes of money, but tonnes of time... The problem is that begins in a week, I've done no planning or thinking, but I do have a fairly suitable bike (I have a Tokyo Wide Open - rear panniers only, 25c tyres).

Last year in a similar predicament but less time, I rode to amsterdam via harwich-hook ferry and had the time of my life. In fact, I left amsterdam early to cycle a bit more around netherlands on a long route back, however this was scuppered by not having place to stay or thinking about it much and ending up in an expensive B&B.

I am utterly clueless when it comes to camping. I've only been a handful of times and it was as a tagalong in a group of people who knew their shit and organised it all.

halp? Super open to thoughts and suggestions.

Camping is easy. Practice putting your tent up in the garden/park then book yourself into campsites if you don't want to try wild camping which requires a tiny bit more knowledge.

Basic packing list:

• tent
  
• roll mat and sleeping bag
  
• some things to carry water, bottles are fine
  
• stove, gas, pans
  
• headtorch/torch
  
• earplugs (by far the best item I bring in terms of value-to-weight ratio)
  
• warm clothes for the evenings
  
  

Aside from that just normal stuff that you'd take anywhere if you were staying away from home (but be ruthless with excess weight).

Put your tent up in such a way that the big surfaces are not facing into the wind. Put it somewhere sheltered, flat and dry (consider where rain will pool if it's dry - don't pitch in a cleft that'll turn into a puddle).

It's really very easy

Seen, maybe I have conflated wildcamping and camping here. I reckon I'd probably be okay at sites, and maybe I should do a few sites before trying to wildcamp it up.

Off the top of heads what are some tarmacy routes in france/spain/germany/italy (basically, can I get there with a ferry and my bike) good for a beginner at this?

I know asking a lot but ideal is: ferry, well travelled route so if my newbyness puts me in a predicament there will be places to go / people to ask for help, sunnier than this island.

maybe I should do a few sites before trying to wildcamp it up.

Definitely would recommend this. Camping at campsites is a piece of cake, just need to get there. Wild camping is something I haven't done myself (yet), but is arguably quite a bit more challenging/impractical (no running (hot) water, no electricity, less safety, no toilet/shower, etc).

I'm doing a cycle touring and camping trip in September in Burgundy. I've not done any camping in years but I'll be fine.

Have a look at these if you want some inspiration for France.

https://en.francevelotourisme.com/

https://www.freewheelingfrance.com/

And if you are looking for camp sites

https://www.campingfrance.com/uk

I would agree with this but have also done a bit of wild camping and do prefer the wild feeling, when things go well. It's a lot less nervous making if you have a mate with you though.