Lightweight Touring on a Singlespeed

I am building a singlespeed bicycle [nearly finished] : http://buildingabicycle.tumblr.com/

I would like to do a cycle tour at some point and I was wondering what the lightest kit list you could take would be...

Like :

Bicycle
Tent
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Mat
Camping Stove
Pan
Cutlery

2 cycling jerseys
2 cycling short
7 socks
7 underwear
Shoes
Waterproof gear

Phone
iPod
Tablet computer

And the other essentials like wallet etc.

I am thinking of the lightest tour possible!

Well straight away you could cross off all that underwear. take 2-3 pairs of cycle shorts and just alternate them.

Pan wise, use the type that come with trangia sets, they are small and made of very thin lightweight aluminium.

Do not take a tablet computer, any smart phone will do the job. If you want something decent to type on etc, take a small good quality netbook.

Cutlery wise, take a steakknife. 1 spoon and 1 fork. A steak Knife comes in very useful for cutting food during cooking, cutting rope etc.

In terms of waterprood gear, just be ready to accept you are going to get wet. In all but the coldest weather you will sweat like a bastard when cycling with a plastic jacket on. Just take some lightweight synthetic clothes to keep the breeze off, perhaps a lightweight single layer waterproof jacket. But unless its cold, dont expect to use it.

https://www.lfgss.com/thread31811.html

https://www.lfgss.com/thread17964.html
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Tablet computer essential? Really?

And just read your blog - Good chance your tyres won't fit your rims

Yeh mate thought I was getting 700c wheels so got those tyres but sent them back because I had to order 27" wheels

phone / ipod/ tablet computer

surely a normal smartphone handles all these problems? mine weighs <150g
no wallet, just plastic
2-3pair socks max, same for anything, lowest you can get away with is 2 of... but 3 is more ideal, wear one, one spare, and one drying. Just take riding shoes and sandals/lightweight pumps etc.

Tablet computer and iPod are both covered by a good smartphone. No point in taking your whole wallet either - just a key, ID and a bit of cash are fine.

Far too much underwear, too. 3 socks will do, one pair of boxers for wearing off the bike, two pairs of cycling shorts for wearing on the bike. Two jerseys isn't strictly necessary either but it's nice not to stink. Merino wool can be re-worn a few times before it starts to smell. Canvas shoes or flip-flops don't weigh a lot either.

Cutlery can be combined into a spork. If you carry a lightweight multi-tool then this will have a knife on it.

Instead of full weather gear, just a showerproof/windproof jacket will probably do - the kind that packs down into a little ball.

It's fun to weigh stuff, then drill holes in it and weigh it again. It doesn't really reduce the weight but it's fun nonetheless.

Tools are also a consideration - work out what allen keys you need to do all the bolts on your bike and take them. Replace hex nuts with allen nuts if you can, so you don't have to take spanners as well. That, a puncture repair kit, a spoke wrench, and some cable ties should be enough. Also perhaps take a spare chain link (and chain splitter). And perhaps a spare inner brake cable (already trimmed to length so you don't need to carry a cable-cutter).

You should also take a book to read.

I have an irrational fear of loosing my keys whilst out riding*, so tend to bury them in the garden/drop in a random location each time. Also less weight, and removes risk of being skewered by them in an accident.

*done it once before, had to sit outside in the shitty winter weather for 7hours till someone showed up (was on Islay).

did you really need to blog about building what is a pretty low quality bike? seems like a waste of valuable internet space.

^ Did you really need to be such a dick to someone who is a new and enthusiastic forumenger? Seems like a good way to piss a lot of people off.

I'd suggest buying a better freewheel (the Shimano ones aren't too expensive), those cheap ones have a tendency to break easily and are a sod to remove.

I think It's cool he's writing a blog about building up his first single speed. I've always wished I'd documented building up a bike.

Also I second everyone else; 2 jerseys, 2 shorts, a pair of boxers a t for the evening. Take a phone but don't worry about the iPod or tablet, why do you need them?

Decide if you seriously want to cook every day. I've done a few tours when I've just popped in to the local supermarket for all my meals, also saves on weight.

If you really want to save on weight take a bivi bag and loose the tent. I'm cycling from Edinburgh down the coast of England in a couple of weeks and am just planning to kip in a bivi bag with bubble wrap as a sleeping mat.

^^^ sleeping mats, if you don't want to spend £40-80 on a decent inflatable (that packs down tiny and weighs 500g and makes sleeping out as comfy as being in a proper bed) then get down to a poundland and get one of their cheapy foam mats, better than nothing, and doesn't need to be inside a bag, just on top with a bungee.

Its not a 'blog' I would read, but shows he is keen enough, everyone has to start somewhere don't they? my first 'fixed' was a converted and re-painted (although my rattle can skills are the best in the world, period) 70s 10spd low end tourer. Needless to say, it was fun, but I soon shifted it on and built a nicer bike more suitable to my needs (i.e. gears!).

^^^ sleeping mats, if you don't want to spend £40-80 on a decent inflatable (that packs down tiny and weighs 500g and makes sleeping out as comfy as being in a proper bed)

having bought and used a Thermarest mat (£67 quid off ebay), I can vouch for this and say that no matter where you are you will feel like you're sleeping on a proper comfy mattress. i've slept a fair few places on it in total comfort (draughty floors of houses, lumpy floor of a winnebago, camping etc).

... get down to a poundland and get one of their cheapy foam mats...

Seriously though - those Thermarest thingys are fantastic...

I was on my way to spend £70 on a thermarest, then in the shop they had a mountain equipment which is 4cm deep (therma was 2.5cm) when inflated and knocked down to £40. bought the mountain equipment mat and its been all over the spot with me now, packs down tiny, and can be run at very low pressures = extreme comfort.
For just a day or two out, I would be fine bivvying or on a £1 'styrene mat, but any more a proper mat is called for.

A hammock is a fine thing to sleep in, and worth bringing, as they weigh very little.

*if you have something to attach them to ;)

I'm off camping with some bubble wrap and a bivi bag. I haven't got the space for luxuries like inflating mats. Although if I'm hiking in cold weather they are awesome.

My view is that if your tired enough you'll sleep anywhere regardless of whether you've got some fancy £90 mat or half a meter of bubble wrap.

Please tell me you hasn't finish adjusting the handlebar.

As regards a stove I can highly recommend using a Trangia stove. A little bulky for a bike maybe but only weighs 1kg. Kit includes 1 frying pa, 2 sauce pans, 1 kettle and meths burner. Superb piece of kit.

If you want to do light and cheap, a pepsi stove is the way to go

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage-can_stove

If you're solo touring you should be able to get away with that, one pot, and a kfs set. These can be titanium if you want to be ballin'.

You don't need a mat, and all your electronics can be combined into one smartphone. You'll need a dynohub and charging circuit to go with that if you're camping.

You do certainly need tools and spares, at an absolute minimum patches and a chain link, but I'd a tube as well. You probably don't need a spare tyre or spokes unless you're going deep into the wild.

You'll need something to carry all that in, and it won't be a backpack if you're sane. Tortec make a cheap lightweight rack, not sure on light panniers.

The tent / bag / waterproofs / shoes can all probably be made much lighter than what you've got, but you'll end up spending silly money to do it.

I've forgetting about that, nice one, bookmarked.

When I was a lad I used bracken under my groundsheet* instead of having a mat, which were made from horsehair in my day.

*True fact.