Touring Equipment

@ Temper - That looks bombproof and amazing

Anyone recommend a sturdy but small and light chain breaker for my impending epic tour?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tools-chain-brute-chain-tool/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=products

sturdy, small and light.
ticks all boxes.
a shade pricey but bombproof.

That looks perfect, cheers skive.
A bit cheaper at JE James
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/park-ct5c-mini-item14154.html

no trouble.
good spot finding it cheaper.

Your impending epic tour sound really good.

The alternative to a small chainbreaker is an allen key set with a build in chainbreaker and tyre lever like this;

At my Evans, they cost £15.

Yeah I did think of that. Already have a nice multi tool but might make sense. They look really fiddly though. How do you get the alan key in the breaker if it's attached to the tool?

Very excited about the impending tour. Just need to decide where in Europe to go for 2 months.

i have a multi tool with a chain tool, it works but i'd rather take a separate tool for the job.

definitely head up the coast through the netherlands.
pan flat, some lovely towns and villages.
and plenty of recreational activities.
vlissigen at the bottom is a very nice town.
utrecht and rotterdam are pretty good too.

Yeah I did think of that. Already have a nice multi tool but might make sense. They look really fiddly though. How do you get the alan key in the breaker if it's attached to the tool?

Look at the left tyre lever - there's an allen bolt on it design for the chainbreaker.

Ah, that's smart. Still looks awkward though so will do as skive suggests. Cheers though!
Thanks for the location tips also skive. I'll be asking for people's opinions nearer the time, but up the coast sounds like what we have in mind.
Still have 6 months to go though.

I still think the cool tool is the best multitool that you used to be able to get. A bit overkill for most riding and quite big but its perfect for touring/mtb. I use the chaintool on it most of the time instead of a workshop one

I think I've pretty much decided to go clipless on the tour, despite being advised otherwise because we're doing 50-70km's a day for 2 months. I have touring pedals on the way so I'll have the choice, but does anyone have any SPD shoe recommendations for summer in Europe?

https://www.lfgss.com/thread22233.html

I was afraid that might be the answer...

http://www.cyclexpress.co.uk/categories/Cycling_Shoes/Touring__Casual_Shoes.aspx

Any shoes will do though.

Yer. I haz some comfy touring mavics, but I'm thinking they'll be too warm.
Spandals then I guess...

Though about doing a warm up run before doing the tour? it'd be a good idea to get some of the nook and crannie sorted.

Oh yes. There will be as many as possible. Need to sort my fitness as well as the nooks n crannies.

Glad to hear that, do give me a pm if you fancy riding with some company during the nook and crannies.

Ha, that sounds a bit odd?! But Thanks Ed, not a bad idea opening it up to forum buddies. Probably do some weekender camping runs.

Now, where does one try on a variety of Spandals?

Can anyone recommend (or otherwise) these Iceni frames for touring? I have the chance to get one cheap.

Anyone recommend me a chain for my Kona Dew Drop for my tour?
Not toooo expensive like.

Tar.

On my last tour I just used a fairly normal chain from Condor. Worked perfect. Had a spare as well but didn't need to use it.
Tour before that I had a cheap halfords one and it worked fine too. But the spare dried out in its packaging and was useless.

anyone used a drybag in place of a proper ortlieb style pannier? im thinking about doing away with panniers altogether, but the beards from the CTC seem to think that friction from the rack will ruin the proofing.

also, how do you pack a wet tent with an inner and outer? keep them separate so the inner stays dry, or sod and stick them in togather?

1. I've used a dry bag ontop of the rack, just used a little square of karrimatt to protect it fro rubbing. Doubles up as a little sitting pad say 14" x 10".

2. I carry a jay cloth in my test so that I can dry as much as possible the floor when re-pitching. after packing a wet tent. Don't have a better solution than that sorry. That might be down to the way my test packs up though.