Touring Equipment

Lighter for the the same money

http://www.simplyhike.co.uk/products/WildCountry/Zephyros2Tent.aspx

oops, just saw thats sold out

http://www.camping-intl.com/details/Wild_Country_Zephyros_2_2012/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=Product_Search&utm_campaign=google_base&gclid=CLbOtLnKorkCFcKR3godcxUAKw

Cheers, I'll add that to my maybe list.

Was slightly unsure about the super light tents as they use thinner materials etc so more susceptible to damage / wear?

20l is a lot. The BRP saddlebags use 13l drybags and they have quite a bit of structure to stop them swinging around and to make it narrow where your legs will be.

what do plan to put in it?

I suppose the answer is as much as possible!!

A buddy and myself will be pitching at camp sites, he will be carrying the tent on a front rack. We plan to cycle for 5-7 hours depending on the day and route and pitch up at a camp site and either go in to village/town or walking in the evening.

• Sleeping bag,
  
• liner,
  
• casual cloths (shirt, jumper, linen trousers, 2x pair socks, 2x pair boxers),
  
• Cycling cloths (jersey, base layer, pair socks, bibs)
  
• espadrilles,
  
• micro towel,
  
• toiletries (tootbrush, soap, deodorant roll-on, sun screne F30/50, chamois cream),
  
• first aid kit,
  
  
  

.......Possibly some other thing I have not considered yet, I will be laying everything out next weekend........

In a handlebar bag will go phone, money, tools, passport. I will lay everything out and check through others list to make sure we have everything and will post up the final list with photos in a weeks time.

P.s. I like the sound of "structure" in the saddle bag, I'm going to shape something with card/plastic to leave my legs enough space to turn.

Was slightly unsure about the super light tents as they use thinner materials etc so more susceptible to damage / wear?

The extra weight were due to the excessive material needed to make the Decathlon tent to make it easier to pitch.

The lighter tent tend to have lighter pole for example, I have a one man tent that cost nearly twice that, but it only need one ridiculously light pole to hold it up.

You can also make it lighter by swapping the pegs for a lighter one, or carry less.

I suppose the answer is as much as possible!!

A buddy and myself will be pitching at camp sites, he will be carrying the tent on a front rack. We plan to cycle for 5-7 hours depending on the day and route and pitch up at a camp site and either go in to village/town or walking in the evening.

[]Sleeping bag,
[]liner,
[]casual cloths (shirt, jumper, linen trousers, 2x pair socks, 2x pair boxers),
[]Cycling cloths (jersey, base layer, pair socks, bibs)
[]espadrilles,
[]micro towel,
[]toiletries (tootbrush, soap, deodorant roll-on, sun screne F30/50, chamois cream),
[]first aid kit,

.......Possibly some other thing I have not considered yet, I will be laying everything out next weekend........

In a handlebar bag will go phone, money, tools, passport. I will lay everything out and check through others list to make sure we have everything and will post up the final list with photos in a weeks time.

I toured in France earlier this year with a 13L dry sack from alpkit.com, which are handy because the airlock extra has loops on the side to put the compression straps through before lashing it to the seatpost. To stop the whole thing thing swing from side to side I had a further compression strap looping through my saddle (a Spesh Romin) and the top of the dry sack, so it was lashed horizontally to the seatpost and vertically to the saddle. At this point it was pretty bloody stable. I could then lash further things to the top of this: towell and clothes if still wet, bivvi bag, food, wine bottles etc. I reckon you'll work out your set up after a couple of days.

Thanks Jimmy_Fingers, have you got any close ups of the rear setup there?

What were you using as compression straps and lashing???

I've been looking at....

http://www.hookandloop-direct.co.uk/hook-loop-cable-ties-strapping/1m-velcro-one-wrap-strapping-rolls

20mm velcro strapping. I thought of bungy cords but I don't imagine them to be stable enough to stop the swinging.

I don't suppose anyone has a large Revelate Designs Tangle frame bag, or Viscacha or Pika saddle bags for sale? After checking this thread and looking at my kit list I don't think the tiny Abus ST200 and an Orlieb handlebar bag will suffice on their own. Please message me if you've got something.

Just got back from a sound trip through Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg, France, Switzerland, Andorra and Spain. I write a proper review of it later, but now I'll just sum up some stuff that has been of great importance to me. I brought very little stuff and though it was light enough for me to make +/- 1800hm a day, next time I will bring even less. I'll post a full equipment list later as well.

My setup was a carbon Planet X bike with a very small Ortlieb barbag, Revelate Designs Tangle frame bag, 20litre rucksack strapped to saddle/post (This worked perfect and gave me the possibility of using a rucksack when not on the bike, though next time I will go for the RD saddlebag as its less of a hassle to (de)assemble)

Merino base layer - next time I will bring merino t-shirt for off the bike as well. I almost made a song about Merino wool during one of my rides, I guess that says enough.
Nylon zip-off trousers - I thought of linen because its light and compressible but this thing was way better. It fits in a small camping pot, is ultra light and dries before you notice it's wet.
Micro fiber towel - Weighs nothing, packs the size of a well filled wallet, dries extremely fast and you can even bring it if it is still moist because it will not stink.
Proper bibs and cream - I use Assos but that is a personal preference, though the Assos Chamois creme works wonders. Then for after the ride I put some Sudocrem down there.
TN Laser Comp 1 tent - Kept me dry and well at all times. Survived a sick thunderstorm in the Alpes. A family on the campsite had holes in their tent the size of ping pong balls because of the hail so you can imagine the kind of weather it went through.
Squirt Lube - No more need to clean your drive-train. Just squirt it a bit from time to time to keep it smooth.
Swiss knife - I used it every hour of every day for whichever purpose.
Exped AirMat Basic - Packs small, is light and extremely comfortable. There is also an Ultralight version for the weight weenies.
Gore Bike Wear windstopper jacket - Perfect for early mornings, cold and misty ascents, decents, walking around on chilly evenings.
Salt - You need it

Waterproof overshoes - Which I didn't bring and still regret

Thanks Jimmy_Fingers, have you got any close ups of the rear setup there?

What were you using as compression straps and lashing???

I've been looking at....

http://www.hookandloop-direct.co.uk/hook-loop-cable-ties-strapping/1m-velcro-one-wrap-strapping-rolls

20mm velcro strapping. I thought of bungy cords but I don't imagine them to be stable enough to stop the swinging.

Nothing fancy, just nylon straps with plastic buckles picked up offa ebay for next to nothing. It was a very cheap set up but effective. The only slight issue it getting a bump from the bag on the back of your thighs on the downstroke. You could avoid it by finding a way to taper the bottom of the drysack, perhaps stitching it (which would compromise it's waterproofing of course) or even duct tape. As yet I've had no chance to experiment further, but those were my thoughts while riding it.

Revelate Designs Tangle frame bag won't work with downtube shifters, right?

......Nylon zip-off trousers - I thought of linen because its light and compressible but this thing was way better. It fits in a small camping pot, is ultra light and dries before you notice it's wet.
..........Sudocrem............
......................Squirt Lube - No more need to clean your drive-train. Just squirt it a bit from time to time to keep it smooth..........
.........Exped AirMat Basic - Packs small, is light and extremely comfortable..........
.............Salt - You need it

....Waterproof overshoes...................

Things to add to list. Thanks Machine.

The only slight issue it getting a bump from the bag on the back of your thighs on the downstroke. You could avoid it by finding a way to taper the bottom of the drysack, perhaps stitching it (which would compromise it's waterproofing of course) or even *[U]duct tape*[/U]..................

I was thinking of fastening some sort of shaped inard out of card, alla my Ortlieb large saddle bag. Duct tape is what I'm going to try first though as it's adjustable. Thanks.

Revelate Designs Tangle frame bag won't work with downtube shifters, right?
Depending on your frame size, you could get the small size frame bag and not strap it to your head and down tube. That might leave some space open for your shifters. Though I think the bag would still be quite stable like that I would recommend going with other shifters so you can get the bigger size bag and strap it properly.

A side note to why I said you need waterproof overshoes:

People argue a lot about keeping dry of keeping warm. In the case of a normal ride on a chilly and wet day here in Holland (equal to UK) I'd say try to keep em as warm as possible once their wet, they will get wet anyway at some point.
But on a tour, and I assume it is a tour in the summer months, you can expect some rain as well. In this case you want to keep dry at all costs because you cant just go home and change or bring 5 pair of dry socks. You dont get cold feet until they get wet. And you want want your shoes to get wet either because you dont know what the next day will be like. You dont know if your shit is gonna dry before you head out the next ride. Try to keep everything dry!

My only caveat to that is I'm yet to find overshoes that are really waterproof when it's very wet, so you may be better off with clingfilm

I've used overshoes, sealskin socks and clingfilmed the tops and still got wet feet even with mudguards and a flap.

Pehaps a spare pair of socks is the way forward?

Can't get around putting on still soaked shoes when touring, no matter how many spare socks you have.

Overshoes are good at least keeping your feet warm (when not winter), wish i'd taken them.

Can't get around putting on still soaked shoes when touring, no matter how many spare socks you have.

Overshoes are good at least keeping your feet warm (when not winter), wish i'd taken them.

+1 on the lot...

Descending from Andorra in a downpour with nothing to keep my feet dry or warm was an experience...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181156434018?var=480244177740&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Looking at these ^^^^

I'm hoping London to Hamburg wont be to wet but I know it's going to be a cool temp during the day. So would I put these on every morning or bust them out in a drizzle just in case???

• two spare pairs of socks
  

I think they should do fine. If you think it'll be chilly (London - Hamburg seems like it could definitely be a bit cold and rainy) you may want to consider thick merino wool socks. Because of the fabric they wont feel like an oven even in warmer temperatures but will keep your feet comfortable if it gets colder.
I would just put the overshoes on when it's needed, but that really is a matter of personal preference.

^^^ They're good as they pack down small. Not sure if they'd be good for mtb shoes though.

Can't get around putting on still soaked shoes when touring, no matter how many spare socks you have.

If you wear sealskins over your regular socks this isn't an issue.