Generic Touring Thread

Haha... we have a thing about taking photos next to oversized things and sending them to a workmate because he's short (well short next to a really tall former colleague) with the tag line "write the theme tune, sing the theme tune" from the Little Britain sketch...

Do not let @hippy sing the theme tune

Has anyone tried merino socks for multi day trips? I’m looking for alternative for having my shoes and socks absolutely stinking after after a couple days of rain

Yeah, they should help even though it's often the shoes that will still end up stinking anyway.

.

Yep, deffo worthwhile. Quick drying and prevents the smell buildup far better than anything manmade.

For the shoes nothing has ever worked better for me than enzyme cleaner for soaking, and tea tree oil/isopropyl spray for post-ride.

Anyone taken the Portsmouth to Saint Malo ferry recently? I've not ridden to a ferry for a while, anything worth being aware of?

I did two years ago. Nothing major to worry about other than usual customs etc can take a while. Portsmouth terminal is very easy to navigate, and pretty bike friendly. We had our own waiting lane etc. lovely view of the aircraft carriers on your way out too.

Amble bike parking on the ferry in a little side room in the car deck. I'd say a cabin is worth it if it's the overnight one, the chair areas etc are so noisy. (That'd go for any overnight ferry though imo).

St Malo is actually pretty nice for a port city, nice medieval walls, waterfront etc and you get kicked off pretty close to the nice bits. Also got a lovely retractable bridge which is fun.

Thanks for the info, got over 200k to do the following day so we definitely opted for a cabin.

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.

Mirrors.
has anyone got a recommendation for a rear view mirror that will work with bar end shifters?
I have the Cat-eye one on my e-bike and commuter but these have STI shifters, I find them extremely useful on roads and would like to find a mirror for my touring bike that has bar end shifters and front and rear racks etc.

TIA

The magic show is not to be missed

If you have old style brake levers the Mirrycle would fit https://mirrycle.com/products/original-mirrycle-mirror?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=3292f32d1&pr_rec_pid=7971606757673&pr_ref_pid=7971606626601&pr_seq=uniform

As I'm only taking one pair of shoes soon (flat pedals), I feel like the Trail cross shoes are too bulky for walking / exploring. Thinking I might wear my vans for riding too. As they're not stiff though, any recommendations for an insert that'll help?

Anyone used Superfeet Greens? They seem to pop up a lot.

How about the Merrell Vapor Glove 6, 260g per pair?

Wowsers. I wanna hold a pair.

I bought a pair of Xero sandals and then sent them back as they were massive (even though they said they sized the same as shoes) and they were quite big and heavy.

massive

Could be worse. I've seen Crocs strapped to a rack

those nikes look great, shame they don't do them any more. a quick google throws up a pair on ebay for £200. not digging those merrells tho

I saw someone wearing platform crocs the other day.

#nohopeforhumanitythread

not digging those merrells

Did you look at the other colours?

There might be alternatives to Merrell but I got tired of looking. For some reason it's very onerous to find out the weight of a shoe. And most currently available ultralight running shoes have 3 + inch thick soles. Flats are a thing of the past.

I've seen people with this one on audax, but somehow doubt that it's fun having something on your brake levers, and it probably won't fit yours.

1 Attachment

There's some from ergotec that look like they might mount somewhere on the bottom part of the drops and have a short arm.
Or go nerd and put one on your helmet?

rear view mirror

Most are crap because they have a plastic mirror. The image is shit. The Mirrycle is glass and is as good as a BMW motorcycle mirror. Mirrycle have crap UK distribution but used to be the bestseller when brake levers had a cable sticking out.

Arkam mirrors have versatile attachments. I've not tried one.

Mirrors are more widely reviewed in countries where town bikes are more of a thing. So here are some German reviews https://www.faz.net/kaufkompass/test/der-beste-fahrradspiegel/
https://fahrradblog.de/ausruestung-zubehoer/fahrradspiegel/ Perhaps there are some useful Dutch ones?

I took a set of scales into Sports Direct and got the cheapest, lightest ones I could find. Less than 500g for the pair, which wasn't terrible for around £35.

took a set of scales into Sports Direct

Ultimate WW move - chapeau!

Track and field spikes can be very light, and there are always cheap ones on ebay. These weigh 336 g without spikes. (I asked the seller.) Size 9. New. £26.45. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/296470391011?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=3w8vubbrtk6&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=0PDdBtKRSKe&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY