Touring Equipment

I normally commute in lycra bib shorts and light weight shorts over the top, just be careful though that any shorts you wear over the top shouldn't have a seam where you sit.

I did a 5 day tour a few months ago and used triathlon shorts under baggies. The tri shorts do not have as much padding but they are very fast drying so I could wash them in the shower in the evening and they would be almost dry by the morning, worked very well.

For bags I used an small Arkel Handlebar bag, not cheap but very very good, and an Archies Grobag saddlebag. I was carrying the gear for 2 people as my mate never got round to getting bags. The grobag was amazing and got the nickname the whale as it just keeps swallowing stuff up and looks like a grinning whale from behind. Its become almost as useful as my courier bag as its been used for MTB bivy trips and adding capacity to my bike to get to Kings Cross going up north for Xmas loaded up with presents!

Footwear I always use MTB spds and either carry flip flops or just use the cycling shoes the whole time (watch out for night club toilets, almost came a cropper in one in Belgium in my Sidis). This is only for short tours, longer ones those spandals look great, or just use clip straps/flats and normal shoes?

Yeah, about those baggy shorts.
Recommended? Which? I'm not feeling lycra-ish..

Doesn't Endura specialise in baggy clothing? I've got their waterproof baggies.

No, that's just your clothing size.

Right.
I think mine are Endura Spray, but there are also Humvee ones.
With padded lining shorts - not perfect, but do the thing as they're lightweight, breathable and showerproof.

I have some Cannodale baggies. Which come with a inner short with pad. The outer short has big streatchy sections for comfort on the bike, and straps to adjust the fit of the front, to stop them bunching up.

They're great when you expect to do a series of shortish stints in the saddle (I use them for short intense off-road rides). But for longer rides the waist band annoys me. You could use the outers with bibs of course.

I threw my cheapo panniers in the bin on Thursday. A second zip went, and frankly they were shite in every way.

Ordered some OverBoard replacements, as I cant quite budget for Ortlieb. I report back on wether they're a realistic alternative.

A nice size at 16 Ltr.

Finished!

I just need to add a rack to the back and buy myself a rack top bag (recommendations??)

Very tight for a tourer. Are you going to fit any panniers?

Yes, I've had 56L panniers on there fully loaded for a week and it was fine.

I'm asking, because the wheelbase seems to be shorter than of many road bikes.
Your heel never caught the pannier?

Anyway, looks good with the new gears.

Nope, I've got size 11 feet and never had any trouble with heels hitting the panniers.

Cheers, 105 shifts really well, I didn't think it would make that much of a different but it really does.

It's an audax bicycle, a bit more clearance than a typical road bike but still tighter than a tourer.

Still perfectly fine for touring, the right rack and panniers should keep it away from your feet.

Here's another example of an ultralight tourer;

It's an audax bicycle, a bit more clearance than a typical road bike but still tighter than a tourer.

Still perfectly fine for touring, the right rack and panniers should keep it away from your feet.

Indeed, 99% of us have no need for a 'proper' touring bike. An audax bike is perfect in most cases and personally I much prefer the handling of and audax bike or 'cross bike. 'Proper' tourers are just so sluggish and handle like busses

Finished!

I just need to add a rack to the back and buy myself a rack top bag (recommendations??)

Looks really good, will be perfect for long rides and wet winter miles. Very nice, any idea of weight?

I know it's an audax bike :-) What I'm asking is, who it behaves with panniers, because it looks tight.
Saying that, I forgot about the mudguards.

Dear Mr Scoble,
Where would one fine a bag such as the one filling the frame there ^^^
Kind regards,
Mr CYOA

Indeed, 99% of us have no need for a 'proper' touring bike. An audax bike is perfect in most cases and personally I much prefer the handling of and audax bike or 'cross bike. 'Proper' tourers are just so sluggish and handle like busses

Looks really good, will be perfect for long rides and wet winter miles. Very nice, any idea of weight?

err no idea at all really, I think the stock weight before I removed bits and pieces of sora was 10kg, with all the 105 it feels much lighter, I don't have scales at home but when I go over to my parents I'll weight it.

I'm not too hung up on weight, it's very responsive though, pretty much my perfect bike for the kind of riding I do. (I know I'll never be a racer!!)

I know it's an audax bike :-) What I'm asking is, who it behaves with panniers, because it looks tight.
Saying that, I forgot about the mudguards.

I'll stick the rack on there tonight (if I can find some spare allen keys, I left them at my parents) and fill the panniers up.

Dear Mr Scoble,
Where would one fine a bag such as the one filling the frame there ^^^
Kind regards,
Mr CYOA

this^

is it an archies?

does anyone else do them?

What can you fit in those frame bags? I mean to stop your knees hitting what's inside.

The frame bags and seat packs are by Revelate designs which used to be Epic designs until the lovely folks at Specialized threatened to sue him for using the name 'Epic'.

Carousel design works also does similar stuff but slightly differently.

The frame bags are narrow and have internal dividers, so they don't normally hit your knees.
I used mine to keep all my tools in and spare food. Sometimes i'd use the top half to hold a water bladder.

Bikepacking gear like that is my preferred method for carrying stuff as it doesn't add to the width of the bike, doesn't rattle about like panniers often do, and is way more stable than a lot of traditionalists would have you believe.
I've had mine fully loaded with huge saddlebag, frame bag, and handlebar harness and never once felt unstable on the bike.
There is also the added benefit of being able to use the kit on pretty much any bike whether you have rack mounts or not.

what about sidewinds?

The 'tangle bags' from Revelate are a really nice compromise, as they only go in the top half of the main triangle and provide extra storage but still allow access to the bottle cage area.

I never had any problem with sidewinds. On a fully loaded bike it would need to be the kind of sidewinds you wouldn't feel safe riding in anyway to cause any problem. :]
You'd normally have water bottles and your legs covering most of the internal triangle anyway so it's not all that different.

ah right, I was discussing the frame bags with someone the other night looking at pros and cons over panniers. He seemed to think sidewinds would be a problem, i hadn't really considered it.

Either way, Revelate aren't taking any custom orders for a while. I thought the cost looked pretty reasonable at between $1-200 . plus shipping of course.

Do you know the approximate volume of yours?

Eric at Revelate is a great guy and has worked REALLY hard the past couple of years to get things moving. The crap with Specialized caused him major headaches.
He's been putting money into the business for new premises, new equipment, researching new materials, tweaking designs, so he's been focusing on getting stock products sorted first.
He also goes on amazing adventures so has to work around that...and his recent addition to his family.
I did speak to him about maybe importing some of his stock tangle bags and seatpacks, so if there was interest I may mention it again to him as it should cut down on shipping costs a little?

I don't have my bikepacking kit anymore as i sold it with my other Brooklyn, but i'm making new stuff for my road bike and my new Brooklyn at some point. :]