Generic Touring Thread

buy cheap, buy twice
they're about £35 used - pop up on ebay often

This, i bought and happily recommended Revelate stuff a few years back, but exchange rates now it's hard to accept buying stuff from USA.

Tenner cheaper here too https://backcountry.scot/product/revelate-designs-2017-mountain-feedbag/

An XT-20 is small and light, but not that much.

We'd be gone for a few months on the road as well..

Not sure elastomers would like the heavy loads usually I put at the front. Will think about it though.

Yeah, not with the 18-55 lenses..

That's more what I was thinking of, and then add some daisy chains underneath to secure it to the rack top

Is it ever coming out? I thought the H1 was the T3

Again, not sure it would fit, but ob the upside, I will be in the US soon, so I could pick one up for 49$

Strong rumours it'll be announced at photokina in september
https://photorumors.com/2018/07/12/the-rumored-fuji-x-t3-mirrorless-camera-officially-registered-online/

Yeah with the 18-55 no easy bikepacking solution, i'd go with a camera hip pouch if you don't mind the weight there

My rack takes 15kg. Four mounted to my downtube. I reckon you’ll be fine though. I only had problems with my biggest lenses (16-35 & 70-200) A Fuji will be grand. Just pad it well. Maybe with that dampening foam.

Or get a front suspension fork?

anyone got cheap ortlieb panniers that they want to get rid?

Out of stock though...

Buy cheap buy twice is fine in some cases. A used Revelate would have to outlast 7 Decathlon ones to be more economical. Obviously the Revelate has nice side pockets and whatnot but you get the idea, is it really 7× better?

that's assuming they function exactly the same, and the only difference is the revelate lasts longer
the point is they don't function the same. the revelate is better in every way.
nothing's wrong with decathlon. I have a load of gear from them. if you're going to use it once a year, fine. I use mine once a week, so it's worth it.

Yeah, it's got nice side pockets and stuff - I get that it's a better product. Just pointing out that "buy cheap buy twice" is sometimes actually the most economical strategy.

Not really sure why I bothered making this point

I might stitch some bits onto my Decathlon ones and copy the Revelate

Cycling? Of course I do.. plus, in case of a crash it would definitely smash the camera there..

Where can I find some pics of this bike?

There you go.

1 Attachment

Yes, you still want some?

Day #1 posted on my Minsk-Tallinn ride https://www.lfgss.com/comments/14340062/

I have been having a tough time at work but the upside is that as of 1 September I'll have 1-2 months off with no work to do. In an effort to give me something to look forward to I want to plan a mega-tour, maybe a month long, living as a bit of a hermit. Will probably stick to Scotland to minimise expenses and easier wild camping and so on.

I have all the gear (and a vague idea) and would like to do lots of cycling, lots of backpacking (on foot) and lots of camping. I can borrow a (small) car indefinitely.

Here's a list of places I'd like to go:

• Have always wanted to ride up Applecross (with full touring gear obviously) so that's on the bucket list.
  
• Have "done" Skye by bike but would love to walk up some of the Cuillins.
  
• I have "done" Harris and Lewis, Mull, Arran, lots of the west coast and islands. I can get to most of those in a day from Edinburgh so want to take the opportunity to go further afield.
  
• I've not walked up Ben Nevis yet so want to get that in some day.
  
• I have always wanted to go to Assynt.
  
• I have always wanted to go to the Orkney Islands. And if I'm going up there, might as well pass through John O'Groats just to say I've been there.
  
• I have also always wanted to go to Shetland, but would have to get the ferry from Aberdeen I guess? Maybe save that trip for another time.
  
  

Anything else I should try to fit in? Based on the above that I think a reasonable plan would be something along these lines:

1. start in Fort William/Ben Nevis
   
2. go up to Skye, hang out for a few days, walk up some Cuillins
   
3. ride up Applecross
   
4. make my way up to Assynt, do some more walking
   
5. potter along the north coast to John O'Groats
   
6. backtrack to Thurso, ferry to Orkneys, cycle around a bit
   
   

So that's all fine. What I'm having some difficulty figuring out how I'm going to manage to take hiking gear, touring gear, a bike and myself in a Ford Fiesta, and how I'm going to transport the car from one place to another. The car limits me to doing circular routes starting and ending at the same points, which is a bit annoying, as I can't ride from eg. Fort William to Skye. I guess normally people would go in a camper van but there's no way that I can afford to rent or buy one so that's out.

Has anyone done anything like this? What was your car solution? Should I just split this into two trips, one in a car with hiking stuff and one two-week bike tour?

There is a 'Touring Scotland' thread which looks like it contains some good advice. Any reason why you couldn't park up somewhere and then return two or three days later after doing a big loop using camping gear? Sounds like your problem is too many options...

Yeah, I was going to post there but then thought this thread got more traffic :) it's the car part that I'm more stuck with. Also if people can suggest cheap destinations outside of the UK I'm up for that, so not absolutely set on Scotland. Scandinavia might be nice but solo it's a daunting prospect (also, absolutely not cheap!)

Any reason why you couldn't park up somewhere and then return two or three days later after doing a big loop using camping gear?

That's exactly what I was thinking of doing. Backpacking for a few days on Skye, touring loop around Applecross, backpacking in Assynt, touring around Orkney. Just have to hope no one breaks into the car to pinch my bike...

I spent a month touring around Ireland. It was great. And you can get a ferry to scotland...

I'm not sure how they would fit into your plans, but a local youth hostel or pub might be able to help with parking/bike storage of you stay for a day or two. Worth asking.