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  • Any advice on not over packing for a multi day bike trip?

    It's Scotland in May so anything can and will happen weather wise.

    Do you just wear the same thing every day? Leaving the blazer and deck shoes at home? :)

    I like to have a change to sleep in, clean and dry lightweight smelly Hansen but otherwise do you just grind it out in the minimum of kit?

    What do you pack for a 3-4 day trip?

  • Glad you posted this as I too am off to Scotland for a week cycling at end of May, and was sat here this morning thinking 3-4 pairs of trousers/jeans for the evenings and same amount of jumpers is probs OK so I dont end up smelling like a long term park sleeper, but seems I'm way overpacking! Time for a rethink....

  • Keep the 'off bike' stuff clean and dry (drybag). We pack wet wipes for "showers" when no showers are available (sinks are handy too). Unless you're hoping to score, no one should be close enough to you to smell you.

  • seems I'm way overpacking!

    I'm too late to help you on your current trip, but here are my thoughts. They're for the weight weenie on a warm weather trip, wanting versatile street clothes for mingling with the locals in city bars.

    As mentioned by hippy, you only need one set of riding gear + a 2nd pair of shorts. After the day's ride rinse clothes in water to get the sweat out. If wild camping, find an outdoor tap. Maybe at a sports ground or a business or petrol station or churchyard. Lay clothes flat on a towel. Roll up the towel. Stand on one end and twist the other for max wringing. Everything will dry overnight except the pad in the shorts. Everything will usually be clean enuf just from a plain water rinse, but if not you can rub soap/shampoo into the dirty bits.

    Shoe stink: racing shoes with thin uppers can't absorb much sweat. Insoles can be removed and rinsed daily. If they don't dry overnight, pack a 2nd pair for lightweight luxury. The same goes for socks.

    Street shoes: typical trainers are heavy and bulky. E.g. Adidas Samba, lighter than most, are 670g per pair. Some people take sandals: OK for camping but a fashion fail. My suggestion is ultralight running or hiking shoes. How about the Merrell Vapor Glove 6, 260g per pair? Big choice of colours https://www.merrell.com/UK/en_GB/vapor-glove-6/56470M.html
    I already have a lifetime supply of the (disposable) 2003 Nike Mayfly, 280g.

    Trousers: jeans are around 500g. There are a few trekking/hiking/travel trousers under 200g. The lightest I've found are the Arcteryx Squamish, 112g. https://arcteryx.com/gb/en/shop/mens/squamish-pant

    Jacket: there are several low key Rapha shells and jackets which can double up as streetwear

    Shirt: I haven't found a decent ultralight shirt. So with bars in mind I take a nice cotton one, in a fabric which doesn't crease much. To pack it I roll it up around rolled up trousers, so it never gets creased.

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