Touring Equipment

Can someone recommend some cheap rear panniers. I have a rack already. I don't intend on carrying much, but I've just had enough of carrying a rucksack over long distances.

Basically want to ride to my parents in wales and be able to carry some casual clothes and shoes, and maybe a change of bibs and some other bits and bobs for the ride back, so I shouldn't need anything cavernous.

I don't have a fortune to spend, and I'll seal things in bags to ensure they stay dry. Main concern is them flapping about, so I want something secure.

What would you guys recommend? I know you get what you pay for in this game, but I would rather avoid buying something completely shit.

Cheers

Altura Arran single?

When the camping is a means to an end, I.e. a place to sleep rather than a base from which to explore, then surely Tarp / Bike combo as pictured isn't too bad? Infact adds security in that anyone trying to rob the bike is likely to wake camper?

I'm planning my first bike tour for this summer. Thinking about travelling along the northern coast of France through Belgium and into Holland.

I did a similar journey last year (London - Hamburg), it's all flat, you don't even need gears mate. Head wind is a shit but quite fun taking turns upfront if your riding with someone.

There's no need for a helmet either as it's all cycle paths and exceptionally aware drivers, nothing like any environment I've ever riden before.

Can someone recommend some cheap rear panniers. I have a rack already. I don't intend on carrying much, but I've just had enough of carrying a rucksack over long distances.

Basically want to ride to my parents in wales and be able to carry some casual clothes and shoes, and maybe a change of bibs and some other bits and bobs for the ride back, so I shouldn't need anything cavernous.

I don't have a fortune to spend, and I'll seal things in bags to ensure they stay dry. Main concern is them flapping about, so I want something secure.

What would you guys recommend? I know you get what you pay for in this game, but I would rather avoid buying something completely shit.

Cheers

Have a look at Arkel Dry-lites: http://www.arkelpanniers.co.uk/uk/dry-lites.html?SID=2bcd735803b20e9f2612dd802f3b8ee7&___from_store=us

http://www.ghyllside.co.uk/shop/luggage/rear-panniers/arkel-dry-lites-panniers.html

^^ Takes about the same time to build up as a bike. Is not cheap at all. Neglects the beauty and advantages of being with your bike. It's a lose-lose tent if you ask me.

@Agatee: I recommend you go to a proper LBS and get a professional bike fit, then check out the Bikepacking Thread. Gonna save you a lot of money in the long run and will give you more pleasure as well on your regular rides on that bike. Assuming with northern coast of France you mean to go from Bretagne to Holland, which isn't all too far and no rough terrain at all, so your road bike should do just fine. However, if you feel you're gonna need shitloads of stuff on the road (which you don't) you might want to look for something with racks and panniers.

I did a similar journey last year (London - Hamburg), it's all flat, you don't even need gears mate. Head wind is a shit but quite fun taking turns upfront if your riding with someone.

There's no need for a helmet either as it's all cycle paths and exceptionally aware drivers, nothing like any environment I've ever riden before.

Actually been after a cyclocross bike for a while now so might try and look for something along those lines with rack/mudguard eyelets that can be used for both. If not then I will give the road bike a go.

Will check out the bikepacking thread.

Cheers for the heads up

Actually been after a cyclocross bike for a while now

Get disc brakes.

Made a decision....gonna go for the Genesis Equilibrium 10. Managed to find somewhere that has it for under £900 ex display.

Somebody tell me I'm being an idiot...

I think you'll like it. I've only heard good stuff (but never ridden one).

Get disc brakes.

Cheers for the adivce, will they be needed?

^ There are so many more advantages to using disc brakes than to using rim brakes. Of late more and more road bikes are being equipped with them, but imo usually overpriced. CX frames however have had them for longer and there are some very good ones out there for fair prices. Mike Hall rode his around the world record victory on a Planet X CX bike. Some might disagree with carbon for touring, but I certainly don't.

I think the disagreement stem from the fact you went touring on a carbon wheelset than on a carbon frame.

Disc brakes are very good, especially the new TRP cable offerings. My BB7s work welle enough after a bit of setting up, but I hear now some shifters/levers are being designed with different cable pull to work better with them, meaning they don't have to be set up so finely.

^^ That was you ed. I wasn't refering to you, but people in general.

I'm after a lightweight sleeping mat, does anyone know of any relatively bargainous skeletal type ones?

^ After seeing your nick and avatar I'm not sure if serious. But, I doubt that the few grams a skeletal mat can save really makes it worth the (from what they look like) shitty comfort and irritation when packing. I recommend you check out Exped for a quality mat. But if you really want something ultra light, the formula goes -1gram = +£2.

Ha, yes was serious about skeletal, simply cos I'd gathered they were the in thing really. Might just buy a torso mat like that (they're pricey though!) but also just been surfing and found Big Agnes Clearview: basically what you get if you cross a condom with a li-lo.

I asked bikepacking thread about mat earlier, thinking thermarest neoair xlite?

Big Agnes Clearview

Temp range: 35°
You must be going to some kind of sub tropic jungle where it's that hot at night..

^ The choice of mat highly depends on it's purpose. Where, when how, how long, what type of touring etc?

I think Thermarest still has the best price to warmth ratio.
Don't get a skeletal one if you sleep anywhere near cool.

^^ temp range = 'merica

Bike packing, coupla nights, uk (Yorkshire) July ish... plus other occasional trips too.

p.s. bivvy/tarp not tent.

I've never needed warmth in a tent yet. I have my own nuclear reactor inside or something. For me it's really just to keep the damp off, and take the edge off lumpy ground. But yes that lilo one is way too flimsy.

Going to get something slightly warmer. But not much.

Lucky you. Well I haven't much experience with different mats, so from personal experience Exped do a very good price/quality/weight ratio. Thermarest could be better. Guess you can't go wrong with either really.