Touring Equipment

Anyone into lightweight kit take a look here, lot's of interesting points and tips

Alright, so about rohloffs an that....

They have a CC which is for quick release and a TS for threaded spindles. I'm pretty sure I want the TS for the horizontal dropouts... Or do I make them more versatile by having the CC which takes a QR spindle which presumably still works?

Also, what's the go with internal and external gear box? I read that the EX is for disc brakes which I dont intend to have, but that they make wheel removal easier?

Again, do I just get the external box for versatility?

This is all going on a crosscheck which one day might be swapped over for a Surly Troll or Ogre or something... So maybe discs are on the horizon.... But then should i buy the disc version of the hub now? It wont know im using v-brakes, right? Understand the wheel will need to be rebuilt to do this.

Buying the disc hub will save you buying a second hub if you ever decide to go for discs in the future. And yes, the hub doesn't care what brakes you're using so you can use the disc hub with rim brakes (but not the non-disc hub with disc brakes, obviously).

Thanks Arducius...

So I guess that means I get the external box rather than the internal routing.

Does anyone have a spin on the CC (quick release) vs. the threaded spindles? Super rookie question, but the QR will work with the horizontal drops, right? I have had QR on verts on a few bikes, but always threaded with nuts on anything with horizontal dropouts... I think.

Personally I think I'd go for threaded just so no scallywag recognises an expensive hub and tries to have off with it by undoing the quick release and making a quick exit. That's not an issue if you're always carrying decent locks and always lock your bike up well though.

Don't know about dropout types making a difference though, sorry.

Easier to find options for locking Q/R than locking threaded axle.
ie Pinhead and Pitlock
However, it may be tougher to crank these down compared to a true quick release - Shimano's Q/Rs will hold much tighter than than any nut on threaded axle combo.

Ok, it needs to be QR as I've decided I want a trailer and they have their own QR spindles.

I think this may be my last question before pulling le trigger....

Are dynamo hubs smart enough to know if you;re running a rim brake? Are there any shortcomings to getting a disc one just in case I go for discs in the future, and using it with rim brakes? Im guessing no, but it could be an expensive mistake.

have you considered Rigida Grizzly rims? Don't be put off by their low cost. I love mine (laced to hope hubs).

No, but thanks for the suggestion... ill have a loko at those too.

I'm playing with the idea of doing some touring next year, maybe go follow the tour for a week or some other race.
Also I'm on the look out for a winter/training bike which can take mudguards etc, so I'm hoping I can combine the two needs with one bike.

The plan is to take only the essentials like a tent, sleeping bag, spare clothes and generally live like a joskin eating wild truffles and drinking strawberry wine.

I was thinking down the route of a Ribble Winter/Audax 7005 or Boardman CX. If you think these are unsuitable or have any thoughts on bikes to look for I'm all ears. Also I'm a little unsure if the frame needs certain eyelets/braze-ons as some panniers I've seen don't require them.
And do Rapha do touring sandals?

Boardman CX... Dug mine out of summer slumber, commuted on it today. Forgot how smooth it rides and how responsive it is... Plus with the brakes set up right it finally has the stopping power it deserves.

Go bikepacking, cheapest bag is from Poland, these save nearly a kg worth of rack and panniers allowing you to enjoy riding

Go bikepacking, cheapest bag is from Poland, these save nearly a kg worth of rack and panniers allowing you to enjoy riding.

If you're looking for a budget audax/tourer beside the other decent choice (don't forget to add Genesis CdF), the Jamis Satellite is a great value for money with clearance for 28c and mudguard, rack mount and decent geo with a long headtube for the size.

I think it's worth listing the equipment I've used for the London to Morocco trip on a hipster touring bike;

**Camping
**

• 1 man tent, MSR Hubba (poles are strapped to the top tube), fantastic value and light too.
  
• Zero degree sleeping bag, Snugpak, get cold at night but the tiny size is worth it*.
  
• Inflatable mat, Klymit, size of a coke can.
  
  

**Clothing.
**

• Rapha softshell jacket (only see used the first five morning)*.
  
• Rapha touring short (credit card + cash in tiny pocket).
  
• Rapha merino jersey (fucking amazing).
  
• Gore bibs short (threw it away after Spain, it's very old and thinning out).
  
• Merino baselayer.
  
• Boxer short*.
  
• Thick woolly sock for sleeping.
  
• Normal sock for riding*.
  
• Vans Authentic shoes, for cycling and walking; the perfect touring shoes.
  
• Small chamois towel.
  
  

Equipment

• Medical bag (pill, bandage, cream, etc.).
  
• Toothbrush cut in half.
  
• "Demo" compact toothpaste that last a month.
  
• Compact ammonia deodrant.
  
• Soap
  
• Zip ties.
  
• Convertor to power electronic device from the dynamo.
  
• 2 cameras (Fuji X100 and Sony RX100, the latter is the perfect touring camera)*.
  
• Kindle Touch.
  
• Android phone.
  
• French USB plug (france, spain and morocco use the same plug).
  
• Hope Vision 1 front light (attach to bike).
  
• Bright rear like (ditto).
  
• Passport.
  
• Lips balm.
  
• Sun cream.
  
• Rapha feed bags
  
• Alarmed wired combo lock.
  
  

**Tools (in red water bottle mounted underneath the downtube).
**

• 15mm spanner.
  
• allen keys set.
  
• lots of patches.
  
• glue.
  
• Leatherman.
  
• 1x inner tube.
  
  

All the item except the one with the time sign* on them;

Sleeping bag - I would rather have a down sleeping bag, it's light and significantly warmer abet expensive.
Rapha Softshell - see very little use and take up too much room whether a simple rain jacket would be fine.
Boxer short - would rather have the merino kind.
Sock - merino cycling sock.
Camera - never use the Fuji, just the Sony.

I had a blast, the equipment was just about idea, food were simply kept simple, I buy a bit for lunch, carry them in the feed bag till it's lunchtime, and ditto to the evening, my companion have a cooker as he like to have hot food whether I don't mind eating cold as well as the occasional eating out.

Fixed wheel is fantastic for touring, climbing mountain is a blissing as long it doesn't exceed more than 9% before the 65GI become difficult, the only diffcuilites is descending the mountain which is killing if you insisted on riding fixed all the time.

My only regret is a 20t freewheel instead of the 22t fixed that I've never even fucking used.

Didn't realise you had a dynamo Ed. Care to explain more?

It's a cheap Shimano hubs dynamo connected to an B&M convertor that power the necessary equipment when going wild camping, a godsent really.

Cheers for all the info Ed, and there I was thinking I'd have to ditch my weenie ways for touring. Will most defiantly look into different bikepacking packs. Starting to think this is quite doable and seeing as you've survived fixed touring, then gears should be a little easier even with the weight.

Frankly, it's doable on your Cannondale once you put bigger tyres and flip the stem upside down, I was using very thin 32c tyres the entire way, I know I would if I were to attempt such tour again.

You don't really feel the weight, the bike still behave normal if you stick to bikepacking, it's noticeable when you're getting out of the saddle but the difference is that the bike feel soft and relaxed rather than sharp and responsive, but a lots better than the panniers option which shimmy badly when sprinting out of the saddle.

Thats some light packing there, Ed....

I need a re-think.

Would a transverse bag (a la Carradice) really push that much more air than an inline one? Seems the turbulence would be well established by the time it gets back there.
24 litres for the largest saddlebag.
Less tail wagging the dog too.

The Camper Longflap that I referred to above could probably hold everything that Ed transported on his ride, depending...
Ed, what are the capacities of those two bags?

Thanks for the info Ed :)

this thread is gold

I need a re-think.

Not necessary, different touring required different equipment, I went on a one month tour of Europe with 6 days in Africa, European road are smooth with plentiful rest and water stop, whether Asia is an entirely different field.

It's possible to travel light with a combination of bikepacking and panniers to shave off the weight, also another thing I must stress is volume is just as important as weight, no point in carrying something that's 3 time lighter but take up 3 time the space that would've been used for your sleeping bag.

Start with the big, tent, the MSR Hubba 1 was a perfect size and really comfortable to sleep in with lots of headroom (very important), removed the pole, and you get a very compact tent;

Would a transverse bag (a la Carradice) really push that much more air than an inline one? Seems the turbulence would be well established by the time it gets back there.
24 litres for the largest saddlebag.
Less tail wagging the dog too.

The seatbag capacity is between 6 (smallest) to 14 (extended) litres.

It work exactly like a compressor, you put everything in the bag that you won't use till the evening, and compressed them as much as possible to the seatpost and saddle, if you pack it correctly, you will not feel the bag "wagging" at all, even if you grab the hood, get off the saddle and sprint, it doesn't sway.

In fact, the Carradice sway a lots more than the bikepack version despite appearance, especially if you use the biggest one it will start to feel like two small panniers when cornering/sprinting, it's very light and stable compare to the SQR Tour of similar size.

Touring on a fixed wheel is not easy, even with the large Carradice let alone a couple of panniers, but with bikepacking, it work perfectly.

I took my girlfriend out on a light tour of the Lake District, staying in B&B, eating out, etc. and I carried enough clothes for two, but even thought it's credit card touring, the panniers and rack really bog down the bicycle as it's not a dedicated touring kind;

**Ortlieb Front Roller Classic (pairs)
**Weight: 1,500g
Litre: 25

Tubus Airy (lightest rear rack)
Weight: 353g.

Total: 1,853g.

Carradice Nelson
Weight: 800g
Litre: 15

Bagman 2 Support (necessary to keep it stable).
Weight: 300g (+ approx 44g with the seatstay mount)

Total: 1,100g.

Carradice SQR Tour
Weight: 1,000g
Litre: 16

Total: 1,000g.

Revelate Designs Viscacha
Weight: 400g
Litre: 14

Total: 400g.