Touring Equipment

For off-bike shoes I don't know why you'd need anything more than a pair of cheap generic chucks - they don't weigh anything, cost about a fiver, crumple up to nothing, and blend in to normal civilian non-tourist non-cyclist clothes. If they wear out you go to any market or shop in the Western world and buy another pair.

I tend to take plimsoles or other canvas shoes that can fold to nothing. Although when I toured last summer I didn't bother and just wore my MTB shoes the whole time.

Now I'm on speed plays I'll have to take other shoes in future.

Spenceey - I've hosted cyclists from all over the world as part of an organisation called warmshowers, it's worldwide and cyclists put up cyclists for a night or two to help them out on their journey. If you look at the map on the website there's people everywhere in Europe ( only two in Iceland though ).

That sounds incredible. I'd be more than happy to put cyclists up, although I'm technically homeless at the moment (living with inlaws to save for mortgage) am I still able to join even though I'm unable to put people up?

That's no problem - I've hosted people in the same situation, people really won't mind about that as long as you have at least the intention to reciprocate in the future. Check the site out I think it's one of them dot orgs.

Just signed up, this website is great.

Silly question but did you have any reservations on letting strangers in or is it all generally OK?

Obviously it's best if they've got previous good refs from people they've stayed with before, it's a two way thing really based on trust and common interests.
People always get in touch well beforehand, apart from once when a Californian lady got in touch on the same day in a plea to escape from one of our classic British summertime monsoons. Everythings been fine.

Great stuff, I can see this being a godsend when it comes to planning my trip this summer. I'm planning on doing it very light weight so if I can stay with people each night this would make things very easy.

Thanks again.

What about espadrilles when off-bike ?

Size 12 is 455g for a pair, twice the weight of a crocs, but pack a lots smaller, IMO, is a worthy trade-off.

It's a little heavier than my Teva Mush Frio (my current off-bike shoes), but possibly a lots more durable.

Eliminate the zipper and it would pack smaller, weigh less and probably be more durable.

Size 12 is 455g for a pair, twice the weight of a crocs, but pack a lots smaller, IMO, is a worthy trade-off.

It's a little heavier than my Teva Mush Frio (my current off-bike shoes), but possibly a lots more durable.

Take a look at the Merrell or Inov8 barefoot ranges, sub 200g and very useable off the bike

When I was in Blacks, I saw this North Face Base Camp travel canister, the size make a perfect small handlebar bag with a couple of straps;

£25 is a bit much, but make a handy day bag for a quick century ride for your camera, snack, etc. if you already have a saddlebag to carry the bare necessity (inner tube, patches, levers, tools).

Or even as a saddlebag actually, it got enough webbing to strap it anyway you like, size is similar to this Velo Orange baguette bag, but a tad shorter;

Ed, SJSC has the Zipped Roll on for the same price; why not get the right bag for the job?

Cause it's always nice to have more option, especially with webbed strap allowing greater flexibility.

I just went to the North Face shop specifically to check it out. It does look nice but you'd need to bodge a strap to attach it to your bars/saddle. Luckily it has all those loops on the front and back. The North Face is actually heavier than the zipped roll though by about 80g, should you care, which I don't

/weightweenie

the webbing, meaning you're not fixed at the one position if you have light and such mounted on your handlebar.

Still, would rather have Carradice hanging off my bike than North Face; the NF bag doesn't look as water resistant, or as handsome for that matter. Adapting the Carradice to different configurations is not difficult and besides, I don't like the NF logo.

Received my Alpkit skyhigh 600 down sleeping bag the other week, the loft in that thing is incredible take it out of the stuff sack and it starts inflating as the down returns to it's original size, not actually slept in it yet but I can imagine it'll be toasty as anything, much more so than my old Vango synthetic bag. Can easily fit it and my bivi bag into a 13L dry bag and then sling them under the bars on my MTB.

Does anyone please have, for borrowing a few days in the first week of june, or know a london supplier worth making the trip for:

A bungee net thing
Some webbing straps with buckles/hooks for compressing and attaching things
Some dry sacks

Thanks
B

Also after tips for a 28 or 32 folding tyre, any know of any bargains?

Skully - motorbike shops will sell the bungee nets as well as the webbing straps.

Ed?!

Ah nice tip, thanks spencey...

Alpkit are good for drybags, not in London though

Ta. Webshop is fine if needs be.