Japan Tour 2023

With the rear rack ready, I got to work on the front. As everyone knows, the main thing to do when taking a bike touring is to add as much weight as possible to it to ensure you have a good time. So first order of business was replacing the nice carbon legged fork with a gaspipe number I've had sitting in my shed for just this occasion. I took the fork to the bike shop earlier today with a bit of tape where I wanted them to cut it down. The mechanic seemed slightly worried.

"The tape isn't on quite straight, it's higher on one side than the other, which height should I cut at?"

I was touched by his concern, but assured him that I'm not operating at a level of fit and finish that requires my steerer to be cut to the mm.

Don't forget, the higher the STACK the closer to JANNAH.

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At this point I was pleased that the mudguard needed only minor adjustment to fit acceptably... I felt as though things were going well. However this was to prove a naive belief, derived from imperfect knowledge of a cursed world.

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All I had to do now was attach the Tubus Tara that I had got from eBay several months ago. The only issues were:

• I got it second hand so didn't have all the mounting kit
  
• It was getting a bit late and I had work in the morning
  
• Also stupid piece of congealed snot Tara didn't want to easily and seamlessly bolt onto the garbage genesis Croix de Fer fork without messing with the useless, pointlessly bulky SKS bluemel mudguards and the waste of space quick release.
  
  

At this point I became sad and discouraged, my only solace were these blue fried snacks that I got out of curiosity a couple of weeks ago. They brought little comfort.

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Eventually after a long time sitting down, taking the rack off, putting it back on, swapping bolts in and out, squinting at places that it seemed to be rubbing, using my phone to try and see how level the rails were, hold the rack next to the fork, typing "TUBUS TARA CROIX DE FER FORK HOW DOES IT FIT" into duckduckgo etc, the whole 7 stages of grief, I arrived at acceptance; I would have to bend my mudguard stays. In all my mudguard installations I have never resorted to this, the least honourable method of mudguard installation, but I couldn't see any other way forward. This trip to Japan had better be mind blowing as it has caused me to sin against my own personal system of spiritual judgement.

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I was well beyond my bed time by the time I was done, so I thought I may as well stay up a bit later and attach the panniers and see how they look. They look kind of small honestly, considering they weigh 1.2kg combined. Also the attachment system on this generation of Super C isn't that good, nor is the anti sway hook very adjustable. Kind of annoying.

Also my front an rear panniers are of different generations so they have different attachment systems and even worse, different logos. I am not sure if this is going to be acceptable.

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These alturas actually fit much better and weigh a lot less, so I don't know. Anyway, I was rushing to get everything ready for this weekend for my aforementioned Norfolk tour, but I just checked the weather and it looks torrential all of Saturday so I'm cancelling it. I'll have to try and do a test ride another time.

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FAQ:

The bike looks too small for you, I can tell from the height of the seatpost and also I know your inside leg measurement

The bike might actually be too small for me yes, but it's the bike I've ridden the most and done the most long days on, and at this point the cost/effort of finding another QR carbon forked CDF with enough steerer and swapping all my parts over and selling the old frame etc seems quite pointless considering I would just end up with... the same bike, but with slightly more room for a frame bag.

Why did you get silver headset spacers?

I'm very loyal to my LBS and they only had silver headset spacers.

compact geo is coming back imo, lots of seatpost, a little coat hanger, it's all very trendy

people are fed up riding farm gates with a saddle perched atop just because people with denim shorts and hair past 40 say it's the done thing.

french fit? really? we're taking advice from the french?

we're better than this, you're brave to take a stand

Imagine actually paying parts + labour + shipping fees just so that you can have a less compliant seatpost and an extra 460ml of storage in your frame bag. (I calculated this number using geometry geeks data)

That's not even including the cost of some of these stickers to replace.

Speaking of adding 460ml of storage to a bike though, I would like to try and get a bb bottle cage mount on there. I have a ziptie thing that has been sitting "in a box" for a while which I might try and strap on soon. Other than that though it's just the whole Gearing Issue that I need to sort out (I'm procrastinating on it because it's boring)

I don't think i've ever fitted mudguards without having to bend the stays to get a decent fit.

Don't worry about it.

Regarding Camping:

Keep in mind that hostels in Japan are nice, clean, and affordable.

A great way to meet local travellers too.

Bike seems ok on a little tailwind ride today. Definitely need more gears if I'm cycling loaded.

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No Rinko bag needed on Greater Anglia services. Was 9 bikes in the carriage..

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Now that I have all the luggage and all the racks and everything I have started staying up at night thinking about how heavy Carradice panniers are. Something like 2kg on the back, 1.3kg on the front (pair). Yes yes, expedition ready blah blah round the world blah blah tried and tested. I'm trying to ride roads in one of the most developed countries in the world for 3 weeks not round the world for 3 years.

I'm generally not that stressed about weight and like to just get well known things I can easily find second hand. But strapping these kinds of numbers on the bike (not including racks and swapping the fork for steel) is kind of giving me pause. I think I need to get my pack list sorted, load it up, and see where I can trim some fat. If I can keep the pack size small enough that I don't need to take two big Carradice on the back, that will be pretty great.

Another option I guess is to buy lighter pannier bags, Vaude and Altura look to have some stuff. I would rather not buy something new, so it would rely on me getting lucky on ebay. Also everyone knows that the best thing to do is reduce the amount you take, rather than buy ultralight versions of things.

If I could afford a tailfin I would just use the money to spend 6 weeks in Japan not 3, so please no one mention that cursed name.

your first mistake was looking up the weight of the panniers, your second mistake is going to be weighing the bike when loaded. It will haunt you when in reality in doesn't matter

Don't have to weigh the panniers to know they weigh a kg tbh..

As I say normally I wouldn't care, as a percentage of loaded weight etc etc etc.

But surely if we're talking saving kg that might make SOME difference?

Anyway my sleeping bag has arrived, so ostensibly I'm ready for some camping overnighters to "dial in the kit"

I will cogitate on this today.

Did a little dry run. Putting down some quick thoughts:

• Weight up front was fine, I should try and work out more of what I'll actually want to bring and see if I can switch to a lighter rack and use a saddlebag instead of rear panniers.

• I need a bigger towel

• My tent gets so damp, not sure if it's just a pitching style thing or what you have to expect from camping outside. I had both the sides open and still quite a lot of moisture inside. I guess I can expect to stop half way through the day and dry it out.

• If I'm carrying a tent like this on the rear rack I should cinch the voile straps down harder... My tent poles fell out without me noticing... Alternatively I'll buy some custom ones that break down into 5 pieces so they can fit in my frame bag.

• Should make sure I get some big repellent when I'm there.

• The carradice super c front panniers I had don't work at all with this set up so I'm going to be selling them shortly.

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Setup looks great! I don't think that's too much seat post, but then I've got loads showing too...

Don't think you can avoid moisture in tent at the mo. I normally just let the tent air a bit, try and setup during the day if you stop off anywhere.

Pro tip, on those bigxtop bags, if you get some foam handlebar spacers and then thread the steerer support cable through them,(like back of carradice etc), it supports the bar bag much better, makes it easier to access on the move etc too.

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Now I'm intrigued I want to run Shimano hydro on a Charge Filter frame with IS mounts but thought that was impossible but that looks like road brifters and MTB calipers is that right?

If so what combo?

Bike just came like this tbh, the brakes are BR Rs785 though and they work with r5800 11s shifters. I think all hydro brakes basically work together so long as their mineral oil? Do not quote me...

Just watched a video with Deore 6000 with road levers being installed so I think you are alright. Current CDF hydro braked bike frames have flatmount which made me think this was older one you had upgraded but if it's stock thats even better.

Don't know why it didn't occur to me before, off to Ebay!

Potentially interested in front panniers, please let me know what you'd want for them. Cheers

Moisture that accumulates inside foam and the insulations used in air pads can lead to unwanted mold growth on the inside. After your trip, you can lower the moisture level in your pad by inflating it, then deflating it a few times. Use a source other than your lungs. Setting a hair dryer on low and holding it directly against or over your pad’s valve is an easy way to do this type of inflation—partially inflating the pad each time is fine for this step.

Something I just learned and am applying...

i have a cooking setup you cold borrow?

also airolo for e-sim worked a treat or me.