Touring Equipment

I'm sticking with my Maxxis Refuse 25's for now. I've hardly had any punctures on them and at least if I do they're easy as pie to take off

This. A decent set of road tyres roll so much faster that it's worth 'risking' punctures, imo

I think it was 350 total for 2 people with reclining seats (cheapest option) for a return journey. Portsmouth to Saint Malo, then 2 weeks later, Santander back to the UK. And that was the cheapest of cheap options they had available - some days were cheaper than others etc.

For a supposedly cheap idea for a holiday, cycle touring is bloody expensive if you have to cross water it seems.

Yeah I've heard from a few people that route is notoriously expensive. If I'm honest flying seems like the best option at the moment. I'm kind of put off by all the horror stories I've read but relative this is a very small % of cyclists flying abroad.

For a supposedly cheap idea for a holiday, cycle touring is bloody expensive if you have to cross water it seems.

I find that part of the fun is trying to do it as cheap as possible.

"LFGSS on tour: Shoplifting our way through France and Spain since 2011"

I'd love to do a lightweight tour with a few of you guys, none of this fixed malarky!

in.

Oh hang on, unless it's abroad, in which case...IN when i finally get a passport!

It would be nice to go abroad, even to France or something, Ed could bring his trailer.

Although I suppose staying in the UK would keep the cost down. We would just have to plan a route and stop points.

Lowestoft to Wales looks nice - width of the UK.

Northern Scotland! Midges, wild camping, whiskey and wilderness.

I'd be up for some light UK touring around august and September time... some of you guys should come up north and we can do the lakes, like men.

August time sounds good to me. Up north should be a bit warmer then!

Did Einstein need to show photos to prove his theories?

They are still theories.. so yes, he probably did.

I put my Obree hat on at the weekend and made myself a new mount for my Garmin.
The problem I have is that I like to use tri bars for long rides, but preferably without losing hand positions on the bars. This means i need to mount my Garmin in the centre. Normally that wouldn't be a problem because you'd mount it on the stem....however...if you're planning on riding longer than the Garmin battery lasts and need to use an external battery pack you're fucked with the stem mount thanks to Garmins great idea to put the charger socket underneath the bloody thing, so you can't get access to it when it's on the stem.

I ended up using a topeak moonshine light bracket which mounts at the side of the stem, but then sits the light centrally over it. I removed the part the light clips onto and replaced it with a short section of broom handle...drilled a hole for the knurled part of the bracket to sit in and bite against, then mounted the regular garmin mount to that.
A bit of colouring in with a sharpie and presto!

I now have a Garmin mount that sits centrally over the stem, but far enough forward, and high enough to allow access to the charger port...and it sits perfectly between the arm rests of my customized tri bars. :]
I also have space on the other side of the stem to mount my light bracket and have the light under the bars.

Pics or it didn't happen.

When the fog came in my blutack-mounted glowsticks fell off my powertap so I had no computer visibility any more. I need something to light up the computer. Help!

^My current touring rig^

Does anyone have a checklist of what they'll take with them on a (2/3 week) trip?
I'm looking for some comparison to see if I'm not taking way too much with me..

Here's what I took on a tour to Nice last year

http://steves999.wordpress.com/2010/07/18/kit/

http://steves999.wordpress.com/2010/07/31/packed-and-nearly-ready-to-go/

Probably a hell of a lot more than I needed, but everything got used and I do like my comforts!

Jeez that's a lot of stuff!!

How long were you touring for?

Rack top bags - water proof and able to hold enough stuff for day rides/ short tours

What do you all recommend? Talk to me!

I need something to light up the computer. Help!

This but bar mounted? or this taped on, with bit of tape stopping it shining in your eyes,

1+

+1

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/41146/Creek2Peak_Pioneer_16L_Rack_Pack

16 Litres here, looks quite good, not sure if I'd need more though for audax/ light tours.

Actually it does expand to up to 22L which with some careful packing should be more than enough for sleeping bag + bivi + spare bibs/jersey.

Some of the Topeak trunk bags are really nice.

Bloody expensive too!

They are still theories.. so yes, he probably did.

They're proven last month, though. You don't question Einstein, you don't question Scoble.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-04/einstein-s-theory-of-relativity-proven-right-by-stanford-nasa-space-probe.html

I'm in for some light touring by the way. Not before mid August.

Some of the Topeak trunk bags are really nice.

I was thinking about the big expandable one.

Settled for a simple waterproof roll top Pacific Outdoor and similar panniers. I'd prefer something with more pockets and easy access. Right now it's like having a glamourised carrier bag from Waitrose :-)

Anyone has tried those waterproof rool-top panniers from Topeak? I've read that someone ripped one straight away on some street furniture.

I need something to light up the computer. Help!