Touring Equipment

44/17 - Do you want or need mudguard or rack mounts for versatility?

any opinion on the topeak bikamper

I can't remember if it was in the lightweight tents thread (here: http://www.lfgss.com/thread22487.html ) or in a similar one on YACF, but I have read a few shit reviews from people who have brought them. I think you might be better off with one of the recommendations from the thread above. You can then easily strap itt to your bars either directly or in a harness type jobbie (see alpkit bikepacking gear).

Even a normal tent can be packed much smaller than the Topeak after removing the tent poles from the bag, and strap that under the top tube instead.

26'' only in my size, I think the 54 would be pushing it

The Salsa have a slightly relaxed seat tube on the 54cm (700c), so theoretically the reach is similar with an in-line seatpost instead of a setback.

Your Surly top tube is around 53cm, seat angle is 74.5 degree which you end up having a setback seatpost to compensate.

Salsa's top tube is 54cm, but with a 73.5 degree seat angle, mean you can get an in-line seatpost and the reach will be similar*, the only concern is whether the 150mm headtube might be too long, but idea for slammin' it, but considering you have more spacers on your bikes than I ever have in my lifetime, I think it'll be fine.

*think -1 degree = +1cm on top tube

Depends on your riding style. I prefer a slightly racy geometry for I tend to ride the drops a lot. Do you plan using bar bag?

Might not be a bar bag but could well have some weight strapped to a front rack (sleeping bag, tent etc, and possibly lowriders)

Croix de Fer really is a beauty... Have you checked out PX's On One CX bike or if the geometry suits better the PX XLS CX bike. They are a tad bit more expensive, but carbon comes with much comfort and lightness, which you want in the long run.

Didn't mention it in the first post, but ideally steel. It will be abused daily, locked up outside in winter etc, don't want anything to flashy

44/17 - Do you want or need mudguard or rack mounts for versatility?

Both ideally. Basically, I want a Straggler, but the geometry would be a compromise.

The Salsa have a slightly relaxed seat tube on the 54cm (700c), so theoretically the reach is similar with an in-line seatpost instead of a setback.

Your Surly top tube is around 53cm, seat angle is 74.5 degree which you end up having a setback seatpost to compensate.

Salsa's top tube is 54cm, but with a 73.5 degree seat angle, mean you can get an in-line seatpost and the reach will be similar*, the only concern is whether the 150mm headtube might be too long, but idea for slammin' it, but considering you have more spacers on your bikes than I ever have in my lifetime, I think it'll be fine.

*think -1 degree = +1cm on top tube

will take a look at that then. I'll get the LHT out on the weekend and take a tape measure to it and see how it compares

Surly as in Steamroller, since I guess you're already comfortable on it.

I wouldn't want to ride the steamroller over touring distances, it's too low at the front (hence the spacer stack)

The LHT was comfortable for the whole tour, but I had to run and 80mm stem to make it fit which I felt was detrimental to the handling

Do any road frame/forks for 29'' wheels exist? Sweet frame with 29'' mtb wheels n disk brakes would make a nice tourer maybe...

The salsa vaya can clear 2.2" 29er tyres I think.
The singular peregrine is pretty fit as well. it also works well with gears or ss/fg

The salsa vaya can clear 2.2" 29er tyres I think.

You're thinking of the Fargo.

As per other thread, what's a reasonable amount of luggage litres for a 2-3 week tour, primarily camping. What's reasonable? 50 litres?

I would not be concern with litres, more about what you're going to take.

Make a list of items you want/need to take, then go through them and delete as much unnecessary clutter as possible, giving that your tour will be in France for two weeks, you don't need to bring the kitchen sink, and there'll be decathlon nearby for any fix.

I took 40 on a 3 week trip, including all my camping gear. Every day after we finished I wrote what I used, what I wanted and what I didn't. You learn what you need from experience. And from my experience I didn't need nearly as many things as I took!

Haven't measured how many litres I carried, but from the max size of the bag, I guesstimate under 16 litres.

The difference is compression, some items compressed really well whether other simply cannot (camera for example).

Question related to cables with a touring bar bag, thought this was the best place - to avoid coppiThat's £1 new thread fee.

I am about to fit RSX brifters onto my tourer to replace dt shifters (found shifting a but wobbly under loads, when using the bike to pull trailerbike especially).

I really like my barbag, esp when it's an otherwise unloaded bike for about town, commuting etc. The bike has 3x7 which I really like. I'm not going to change that any time soon.

I have a question about using shimano's (if you ask me) rather odd sideways cable route out of the shifter, as the clearance for the bar bag is only 7 or 8 cm. Jonathan at CTRL suggested I try a Vbrake noodle to turn the cable route immediately away from the bag. Will it work? Seems well clever, just checking if anyone knows if there's a catastrophic reason why I shouldn't try it.

V brake noodle will work perfectly, helped, but your only concern is the upshift which likely to come in contact with the bar bag (and the cable housing).

The biggest problem is that if the brifters' gone wonky, you've done gone fucked up, why not something like the retroshift which you can put your current downtube levers on?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O7BT_OKx_vg/TzcDiT1N8LI/AAAAAAAAICE/QLCYz2Uy0Qk/s1600/retroshift%2Bwheel%2Bfeb%2B12%2B006.JPG

Found shifting a bit wobbly under loads, when using the bike to pull trailerbike especially.

Noodly frame innit?

@Skully - how about some bar end shifters? It brings shifting closer than the down tube and doesn't interfere with your bag.

@Skully - how about some bar end shifters? It brings shifting closer than the down tube and doesn't interfere with your bag.

was thinking this too-I've gone with them for a while and was perfectly happy when it was my dedicated touring bike, but switched back to ergos when it was my 'only' bike that i wanted to use for sporty rides too.

really liked them on a tourer as they are super simple, easy to fix or bodge incase of technical problems and light.

I've started calling them "knee shifter".

bar end shifters are great, and i have never ever shifted mine with my knees.

T-rexist.

I'm looking for a smallish waterproof handlebar bag for things like phone, wallet, SLR camera etc. Any recommendation?

Ortlieb Ultimate 5 Compact. (Though not sure if still available as the 6 is out now)
Not the cheapest, but easy and firm (un)mounting, very light, waterproof, durable and perfect size for small stuff you want to have at hand. And compatible with pre-5700 shifter cables without having to use rerouting.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uKDDzRAXDpg/UmGDkQtxQ2I/AAAAAAAAAxg/GmKbE4rsf3w/w1205-h904-no/CIMG0504.JPG

For me it carried the following:
Smartphone
Photo camera
Wallet with cards and cash
Small notebook & pen
Arm & leg warmers
Warm gloves
Keys

And if I would leave it open while riding I could fit a 0.5L bottle of Coke and some food in there as well.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JS7b3C3iyFs/UsDGhi9hpTI/AAAAAAAACFA/1F-Hq_0H1TE/w678-h904-no/CIMG0490.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C4ZoKdNUsTI/UsDHBYWzNvI/AAAAAAAACFQ/pIlU1OOT8Bg/w1205-h904-no/CIMG0898.JPG

Looks like a good bet, cheers. Any other (cheaper) options to consider?

I havent experience with other barbags myself. You may want to check the Bikepacking thread for other options.