Touring Equipment

Bar bags are super handy for touring. I prefer the older style front rack bag as being mounted further down, it frees bar space, lower centre of gravity so handling is better, you can see your front wheel and it looks cooler!

Re weight distribution, l definitely felt frame flex and shimmy but that was more due to my frame tubing and design, but l didn't do wheeies on any hills. My bike fully loaded:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4458189377_6127556f0d.jpg

You can reduced/stop the shimming by using a needlebearing headset.

the downside is that you may feel it a bit harder to 'correct' your line in a hard turn, but frankly, the lack of shimming is defintely worth it.

How does headset affect shimmy? I thought shimmy was caused by the resonance of frame design/weight. Perhaps a physicist can better explain it?

Probably a good weight distribution should make it less sluggish, you ride with four panniers, two on the back and two on fork?

I just meant sluggish in terms of when I could feel the difference of adding weight had on my effort/speed. 4 panniers offered good flexibility as it meant you never have a lack of space and the bike felt really balanced. I just found they were often only half full. I don't know how you get the same balance front to rear without 4 panniers though.

Bar bags are super handy for touring.
My bike fully loaded:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4458189377_6127556f0d.jpg

This is the set-up I had in mind.

To be honest, I don't quite understood the physic behind it either, something about the ocillation between the frame and the wheel, and a good headset, like a Chris king even, won't 'dampening' that effect, all I know is that it work.

I also notice it happen when there's some weight on the front end on my bike despite not having a lightweight tubing.

They're probably heavier, but I don't think weight is that important in touring is it?

handlebar bag is amazingly useful being able to grab something while riding, save you the time and effort of stopping and reaching for the pannier/saddlebag to grab says, a sandwich, putting your iPod in the little back pocket, sunglasses, phone, etc.

It's one of those thing that you don't realise how useful they are until you tried it, like mudguard I suppose.

Yes, yes it is. Remember that you have to lug all that weight around with you.

This is the set-up I had in mind.

Funny thing is that's my summer set up for fully self-supported camping.
Problem isn't so much weight but the volume as well. For winter l need the extra space so am looking for 4 pannier set up!

...sale started today on these, some good reductions on already keen pricing for these things.
http://www.alpkit.com/sleeping-mats/offer_b/
Just ordered myself a fatty for car camping and a Base 180 for a much lighter and smaller pack size in case I ever go camping somewhere on my bike which has somehow remained a distant dream for me since I was about 18 years old (20 years ago!)

The Dirtbag look pretty good, but the Base 180 look like a better option.

...sale started today on these, some good reductions on already keen pricing for these things.
http://www.alpkit.com/sleeping-mats/offer_b/
Just ordered myself a fatty for car camping and a Base 180 for a much lighter and smaller pack size in case I ever go camping somewhere on my bike which has somehow remained a distant dream for me since I was about 18 years old (20 years ago!)

Alpkit is very good quality stuff for a fraction of the what the big boys charge......Ive got a mat, down bag, and a dry sack......all of it really good kit.

+1 on the alpkit stuff - have gourdon bags, down sleeping bags, dry bags, filo mattresses and down jacket - all great stuff at amazingly cheap prices, generally pretty well made and thought out too.

Some interesting bits here..

http://www.thecyclistsite.com/adventure/2010/8/22/the-dirtbag-approach-to-bikepacking.html
http://www.thecyclistsite.com/adventure/2010/10/16/dirtbag-bikepacking-goin-walmart.html
http://www.thecyclistsite.com/adventure/2010/10/3/dirtbagging-your-bags-making-your-own-seatbag.html

http://www.thecyclistsite.com/adventure/2009/8/18/bikepacking-the-series-begins.html
http://www.thecyclistsite.com/adventure/2009/8/18/bikepacking-part-2-we-dont-need-no-stinkin-racks.html
http://www.thecyclistsite.com/adventure/2009/8/28/bikepacking-part-3-the-first-overnighter.html

I read recently a guy explaining how the best place to keep razor blades when he goes touring is taped to the seatpost. Assuming they're not for shaving what would you need those for?

Shaving.
You obviously assume too much.

Just seemed odd he wouldn't keep them in a bag. Like he needed quick access for some reason.

Does anyone know if its possible to fit a reat rack on the front to make a front carrier? .I dont want to attach panniers to it, just use it for a platform to put some light but bulky items on like sleeping bag and roll mat. I've found front specific carriers but was wondering if you could not just use a rear.

Cheers

Might be worth checking your fork trail to see if it can handle fine with heavy load on the front though.

in theory it does sound possible but I don't know whether it's idea to do so or not.

Cool, thanks for your help. I was only planning on having maybe 4kg max on the carrier, I'll prob just strap the stuff to the top of my rear rack, just thought it looked cool. There the standard forks on a dawes galaxy, Im just going to give it a shot to see if the rack I have at home fits. If not then I can just pick I a specific rack.

Cheers

would the handling of that bike ^^^ be much worse than if the panniers were on the back? I'm starting to plan how to pack for Lejog in the summer and quite fancy something like that.

Fuck having panniers on the front, constantly seeing all your baggage makes you feel like you're slow, plus I find the handling awful with a loaded front.

just thought it looked cool

plus I find the handling awful with a loaded front.

Doesn't that varies on the frame though?

some handle better with a loaded front end.

To a certain extent I suppose but on a frame with traditional touring geometry I'm sure I would always find it uncomfortable.

Here's my new LHT ready for some Spring rides. Have to thank Charco for help near the end of the build. Cheers man.

This was mine last summer - heavy, but much more stable than it looks, even on fast downhills....

Oh, and the clickstand was brilliant!