Touring Equipment

I don't get irritation down there unless I have a bush scratching me every pedal stroke... That's why I shave.

On this picture I packed everything exactly as listed before (except for the spare water bottle in the bar bag which didn't fit), for a short test ride. There was some noticeable flex in the rear of the frame when out of the saddle, but that cant be more than normal. I'm quite satisfied with the balance of ride.

more pics?

sorry this is the only one of my bike with the rack on, I must have had the camera

Did you just pack a rucksack on the saddle??

Yes I did, works great.

I'm not saying I don't believe you....

Leaving tomorrow morning, wish me luck ;)
Sketch of the route in the links below.

Link 1
Link 2

You know the mark D on your second link? I would advised you to go further to Castril, awesome view, and you can see the Sierra Nevada from there.

Good luck!

Good luck - Bike looks great fully loaded. Would be interested to hear how the frame bag works out on the trip?

I wonder whether he's now cursing snapping the toothbrush in half and he struggles to brush his teeth with a little stump of plastic to save 20g, yet lugs an ELECTRIC SHAVER and a pair of pliers half way across Europe.

Thought this was quite interesting:

"Being Creative" - Cheap Outdoor Gear - YouTube

Jesus that's boring.

^ cycling much?!

Here was my set up for 9 days in France. Very much budget kit but it did the job. Saddle bag was an Alpkit Airlok Xtra, 13L size, which cost me £8.50. I lashed it to the seatpost with two horizontal comp[ression straps and vertical, from the top of the bag through the hole in my Romin saddle. I then strapped my sleeping mat to it, and also anything else I needed to, often things worn the day before that weren't dry yet.

The framebag cost me £12 and help all manner of crap, from tools and pumps to chargers, energy bars, maps and bike lock.

I went with a bivvi bag not tent, big mistake as I got eaten alive by the insects. Not something I had considered at all. I also spent 20 minutes trying to remove a squirming beetle from my aural canal. Not an experience I care to remember. The right tent would only bring the volume and weight up a little, so maybe a larger drybag at the rear.

Overall with careful packing it worked and was stable, apart from when I got up out of the saddle, so I avoided that. The saddlebag would bump the back of my legs at the rear of the stroke but it wasn't that annoying or detrimental to my riding. I reckon some creative use of duct tape and/or sticthing to taper the end of the bag and job's a good 'un.

The weight wasn't that noticable on the flat and I was clocking 80-100k comfortably a day, although wrists and arse began to suffer, so I remember what Ed has said and tilted the saddle back and raised the bars to give the bike a more audax-suited cabin, both of which helped my wrists, although my arse still hurt.

They say you do a trip, then look at what you did and didn't use and pack accordingly next time. I would certainly ditch the bivvi bag, ironically they are probably better for colder, wetter conditions. I also never had to wear my base layer or my rain jacket, however I would probably include both again. The best bit of kit was my swrve hoodie thing, the really thin one made from charcoal or something. Lightweight, packs down small, perfect for shoving on after a ride, on its own cool, and protects you from the sun. Although not mozzies, as I would catch them biting me through it.

Next time I would be tempted to use the saddle bag with a rear rack, a bigger saddle bag and a tent. Depending where I was going possibly a MTB or CX bike to give me more off-road options. That said the Guerc performed admirably with whatever I threw at it.

nice one.
can't work out if you camped the whole way? no sleeping bag?

EDIT: just re-read. shit, so you were just in a sleeping bag, on a mat, on the ground?

Three quarter length sleeping mat, bivvi bag, silk liner and sleeping bag, in various combinations. Had no problems with the temperature or exposure or precipitation, as it was July in France. The only problem were the insects

in a sleeping bag, on a mat, in a bivvy bag, on the ground. i think?

did you have cooking stuff?

No cooking stuff. There are supermarkets and restaurants to do that for me. Also no food apart from energy bars in between stops, all bought when I got there.

And the occasional use of a cafe and 'le menu'

Sound like you had a great tour Jimmy, real jealous of you.

They say you do a trip, then look at what you did and didn't use and pack accordingly next time. I would certainly ditch the bivvi bag, ironically they are probably better for colder, wetter conditions.

It's entirely possible to pack a tent as small as a bivvy if you take out the tent poles from the compressor and strap it on the top tube instead, like this tent a flood victim wouldn't sleep in, personally I think it's better than a bivvy;

High Peak Minilite Two Man Tent: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

This look better thought;

10T 2 person ridge tent GRAYNO 2 HH=3000mm: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

There are a few bivvi bag/ tarp combinations out there. Some are like mini tents, with just enough room for you in a sleeping bag. They keep the insects out and rain off and dont weigh much. Try companies like Rab or Terra Nova for some lightweight camping kit.

Next time I would be tempted to use the saddle bag with a rear rack, a bigger saddle bag and a tent.

a saddlebag designed for bikepacking would be more than apt without resorting to a rack.

^
what are the best ones?
hear good things about bikepack.eu, but there's currently an 8 week wait...

Then why didn't you order one 8 weeks ago?

i wasn't interested in getting one