Touring Equipment

https://www.lfgss.com/post2467710-916.html

I was wearing most of that stuff though cos it was October.

I toured with a road bike without racks, no backpack just these from Topeak:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-qr-beam-rack-rx-with-side-frame/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-rx-trunk-bag-exp-with-side-panniers/

I´d substitude: 2 jerseys against one made from merino, 2 t-shirts agains one made from merino. Socks->merino. You can wear that stuff for weeks without getting smelly. Have you thougth about a handelbar bag? Also i would make sure the windbraker ist goretex paclight or simillar. And i would consider bringing rain legs and at least a rear fender like the sks xtradry or even better, full fenders.

Hi, looking at riding from Dubrovnik in Croatia to Trieste in Italy over 7 days this April and starting to put together some kit.

Main concerns are:

Backpack/saddlebag or saddlebag/hip-pack combo?

Riding a road bike with no option for panniers etc so it comes down to backpack or saddlebag/hip-pack combo.

These backpacks seem to have good airflow over the back and should hold enough kit, possibly when combined with a large saddle pack

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/deuter-cross-air-20-exp-204-litre-rucksack/

What kit to actually bring?

Obviously I don't want to bring too much as I'll be riding 100KM per day so going the the minimal look!

2 x cycling jerseys (just wash them in a sink and dry overnight so I don't hum too badly)
1 windbreaker
1 x bib shorts 3/4 length
2 x tshirts/shirts for non cycling moments
1 x jeans/shorts for non cycling
canvas shoes (undecided as small but still adds weight
pump/levers/puncture repair patches & multi tool/spanner all inside saddle bag
3 x spare tubes

Water bottle in cage and camel back inside bag

Underwear shiz
Toothbrush
travel towel (fast drying)

What am I missing?

Any ideas/thoughts welcome!

I'm planning doing some/portions of this trip in the summer. I am very curious as to the road conditions, if there is a lot of climbing and what the trip is like. Please post afterwards.

If you get a back pack be sure to get one with a cross strap or two so you can wear it on the front too if you want to ventilate the back.

jeans >>>>> (my first forum speak attempt)
bottles >>>>>> (link)

Would sooner take a bikepacking saddlepack than a backpack.

Dont take jeans, they are silly heavy and take up loads of space. Take lightweight trousers.

Get a topeak bottle cage, they make a couple designs which are adjustable for large non standard bottles. You can either put huge drinks bottles/flasks in there or containers to hold toolkits, phone accessories etc..

I'd also take a small first aid kit. I'm not sure of the weather there at that time of year but you'll need either some warmer clothes or suncream as well.

1 merino jersey (that doesn't look like a jersey, unless you absolutely need pockets)
1 merino T
shoes you can wear on and off bike
fast drying nylon pants (zip offs, if you swing that way)

Sounds like you're committed to the backpack option but you could alway get one of these
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/axiom-streamliner-road-dlx-rear-rack-prod28144/

Dont need braze ons for it, I've got one and they're surprisingly sturdy.

1 merino jersey (that doesn't look like a jersey, unless you absolutely need pockets)
1 merino T

I´d substitude: 2 jerseys against one made from merino, 2 t-shirts agains one made from merino. Socks->merino. You can wear that stuff for weeks without getting smelly.

This.

I had one merino cycling jersey that last me a month.

Also have one underwear since I was wearing my bibs shorts, so only worn it to sleep in.

If you're riding every day, I wouldn't worry too much about off-bike wear.

shoes you can wear on and off bike
fast drying nylon pants (zip offs, if you swing that way)

Dont take jeans, they are silly heavy and take up loads of space. Take lightweight trousers.

Also this, zip-off nylon pants is light, comfortable and pack smaller than a jean, I can't even believed you'd think about bringing them.

The other suggestion is either flip flop or ride with clip and strap, as long you got a good platform, plastic clip and decent strap, it'd be enough to be comfortable in.

Would sooner take a bikepacking saddlepack than a backpack.

And this.

Even the lightest, smallest backpack will be noticable, I would go what the Tricity of Bendix by taking a hip pouch.

If you have an Android phone with a GPS, try and download some offline maps in Google Maps that you can use to navigated without needing to have an internet connection, made touring a piece of piss*.

*apart from Spain which doesn't allowed me to download offline maps.

Ed, did you manage to get a gps lock on the maps. for some reason in france mine didnt,

I did, occasionally there are certain areas that didn't lock on but that only something like a 5 miles rradius where you can easily figure out the remaining route in Google Maps.

Perhaps difference in phone? I use the HTC One X.

this was a htc sensation, probably me being stupid and as i had a garmin i didnt try too hard to sort it out.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread99511.html

Tips:
Work out what your max load is going to be including you, that way you can figure out properly the tyre sizes you want with regard to comfort over speed and the perfect pressures :o) check out http://janheine.wordpress.com/2010/10/18/science-and-bicycles-1-tires-and-pressure/
You don't need a frame with braze ons because a fair few racks these days will fit to none eyeletted frames and be perfectly steady, front panniers especially easy to get that attach to the fork legs. rear panniers can be attached via p-clips which I've done with very heavy loads for years.

I've used my commuter bike for touring (spesh globe pro) ally frame with CF wishbone/forks/seatpost/bars, which whilst not that easy to get hold of in that spec you can find bigger frames to suit easier (or make them suit even if a tad small) than steel touring frames. Also larger tyres are a cinch, I can get 42mm on mine with guards.
So unless steel is a specific requirement have a think about some of the better specced racing hybrids (Sirrus/Trek etc)
I happen to have a globe expert in a large for sale ;)

Gearing; I managed to do 3 cols in the Alps over 44 miles and 4.5 hrs cycling with a 26-25 low which was a bit daft tbh as I'm not a small fella and some medical issues (bordering on insane if you ask me now)
So make sure you have enough low down gears to get you up the steepest thing you think with your load, then add a couple more just in case.
A touring triple chainset maybe like a Sugino XD-2 @£35 from Spa cycles http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b17s109p2000&i=2284 (toyko fixed are £104 for effectively the same thing!!)
I've built up a 531ST frame last year to tour around with, it's running 50/36/26 but a 48 would be more than enough plus whatever you think you'll need sprocket wise.
A 105 long cage will handle a 26f/27r no problem though obviously straying into big big will cause issues. 28.6mm triple front derailleurs are still available for steel frames.

Stuff you'll know about but a gentle reminder...Make sure you have decent tools that don't weigh a ton, a pump you know will get the tyres you intend to use up to a reasonable pressure. Nothing worse than limping the rest of the day on 40 or 50 psi rear with a heavy load! Spare parts, so two tubes/repair kit, couple of cables, removable chain link plus other bits and bobs you can think of.
Depending on where you're going you might want to think where the nearest place could be to get fixed up should the worst occur so try to have a get out plan if things go tits up mechanically.
Have a look on the CTC forums, any specific questions regarding touring they'll know.
We're not all beardy sandal types...lol

after some advice.
i have large skinny hands, so hand discomfort is common. has anyone put ergo grips on the tops of drop bars? (photo)
double/tripple wrapping is an option, but the surface area of ergo rip would be ideal.

If you have hand discomfort, have you adjusted the saddle position first?

no. would that help if the discomfort was from putting too much weight on them?
the problem i have is that bars are too narrow/ my fingers and palms are too long.

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On a serious note, I triple wrapped the tops of the drops on my touring bike. Super padded and because I wrapped them so tightly and the levers divide up the bars, you can't really see the difference in the thickness.
My hands would start going numb after long bumpy days and the triple wrapped bars helped a lot.