Generic Touring Thread

Haha not a fucking chance. Maybe 20 years ago when I was between countries/jobs.

I am helpful, risk averse, I'm good to ride behind but I'm also a bully so if you're pissweak or not willing to put a bit of effort in or stupid... sag wagon.

Has anyone ever followed NCN2 between Plymouth and Bournemouth section?

Planning a tour to visit parents in Cornwall, and seems a logically route to follow.

I have. I enjoyed it. The first bit on Purbeck is the most adventurous with trendy gravel surfaces. My trip was Bournemouth to Penzance. Camped at the YHA in Beer on the first night. Then picked a route up to Dartmoor and camped at Foggintor Quarry but not sure if that’s still allowed… Did some wild camping on the South Cornwall coast for the next night. Was happy on a Croix de Fer with 35mm tyres, mudguards and panniers.

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Ah nice. You got the route saved anywhere for a look?

Yeah sure! I mostly followed this but there's a few bits on the Cornwall end which weren't great so you might wanna reimagine the bits after Helford (depending where you're heading). Penultimate picture above is the Cornwall camp spot at ~210miles in. Was fucking great for a bivvy but shit to get to along the footpath with a loaded bike. I stayed coastal in Cornwall for fun but in hindsight it was too many 15%+ climbs/desents.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29982901

Has anyone ridden much in southwest Portugal? Any recommendations for picturesque towns to visit, or top spots for camping & riding?

Trip planned from Porto - Faro at end of March

Having ditched the triple and moved to a friction bar end 1x setup (which I love), thoughts are turning to the spring and summer tours gearing.

Currently 38 upfront, 11-42 at the back which is fine for day trips etc. But with the extra 15kgs or so of front panniers, wondering what gearing 1x tourers are going with?

Few options as I see it :

1 stick with what I have and hope it's ok
2 drop to a 36 up front and lose some top speed
3 pop a 11-46 on the back
4 ditch the 1x and get a compact 2x

Bar end sub compact 2x I say.

Ive always ran 3x9 flat bar when touring and its delightful.

3 pop a 11-46 on the back

I'm 2x, but this helped me when I did it for the extra touring weight (largest cog up by 4 teeth).

I’ve messed with ratios a lot over the years, and I think have finally settled on 42/26 x 11-40 (wheels 26x2.1”). Very happy with these ratios.

What's the smallest you can go on the front 38-36T won't do much, but dropping to 30T will. You typically need MTB or sub-compact cranks for that, but presumably you could go to 34T with the cranks you have?

How often are you using 38-11 on your trips? If ever, you're touring wrong :)

I like my 46/30x11-42 on the gravel bike (I still think 2x makes more sense). Tempted to try a Wolftooth with 11-46T on it (I do a lot of climbing) or even go bezerk and try 12s MTB stuff (unlikely since I have an MTB now)

Good stuff there.

I think I'm going to try the 46 at back as it's the easiest change, see how it feels.

Probably will get a sub compact in the future though with the bar end shifter

How often are you using 38-11 on your trips?

Probably once with a strong tail wind along the coast!
It's my only built up bike at the mo so do use it on the local downs etc.

Yeah, I mostly changed cassettes over the years (as I got fatter and my routes got hillier). As you say, that's easiest. I needed a new powermeter so got the gravel one with the 46/30 which I appreciate.

FYI: Shimano cassettes are lighter but the two alu lowest cogs wear out quicker than the steel so I've started buying the SRAM all steel cassettes. Now I've found Shimano do lower spec all-steel cassettes too. Oh well.

The 11-46 arrived yesterday. Accidently ordered a 10 speed one, but with friction shifter no bother, bit more tolerant. Got a new chain too (11spd), 120 links for the bigger cassette, accidently took 4 links out... Same as the old chain now haha.

Feels nice on the ride this morning though, quite a jump from the 37 cog to the 46 though! Will try it out loaded on my mini tour soon before contemplating a super compact double for the continental trips.

Bizarrely, the clutched rear mech now works with the clutch on really nicely, where as it was a bit temperamental with the friction shifter on 11 speed.

is there a forum recommended cantilever brake option? I have recently bought a Dawes Galaxy and the brakes are less than optimal. It may be the post mount pads but open to all suggestions.

Not really any kind of budget as long as they work

Have you properly adjusted what's on there and maybe sanded/filed the pads to take off any sheen? Replacing pads would be next step.

I had a chat about improving canti braking on my Polish CX bike on here a while ago but I can't find it. I ended up buying a headset cable guide because something about shortening the distance between cable stop and brakes reduces likelihood of brake judder.

To remove judder, have cable stop as low as possible, ie. forks rather than under stem:
Tektro Front Brake Cable Hanger with Adjuster - Silver Product code: 21510 SJS

Thanks Hippy, there is no judder just not a lot of stopping. I will give everything a good clean, any recommendation on best way to set these up- youtube etc.?

Nothing specific. I can't remember what I read/watched when I was adjusting the ones I have in Poland. Probs Sheldon: https://sheldonbrown.com/cantilever-geometry.html

But the new-fangled way is Youtube videos :)
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cantilever+setup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOly58dMRjs

#thumbsup
many thanks, lets give this a go!

FWIW this is my fave canti' setup guide: https://blackmtncycles.com/get-the-most-out-of-your-canti-brake/

yes very interesting read too- I have cleaned and re-set the cantis on my Dawes and will slow down marginally quicker unless its just wishful thinking after my tinkering.

Now ordered some thinner pads to see how that helps.

Any suggestions of a touring route to Munich from London?

Follow the Rhine down then cut across? Haven't done it, but read about it a while back - Euro Velo 15. Might be boring?

Well, if it is easy miles I am OK with boring. Flat, ugly and fiddly to navigate/tons of obstacles would be shit.

EDIT just looking at the EVs, maybe 5 then 6 is the most direct, beginning in Calais
EDITEDIT Alna Young rides this route on crazyguy

The Inn valley is nice, although since you'd be going uphill you'd probably want to get on a train before you left Austria and look at the scenery through a train window. Then get off in Switzerland and go down the Rhine.