Touring Equipment

Means you can attach all kinds of things in places you would otherwise have struggled to get a secure attachment.
Combined with stuff sacks they're great .

I was struggling with the bivvy bag as it's the ast piece in the puzzle, and the underside of the Moulton is perfect to carry such bag.

Will give Brixton a quick check if they have such thing in stock before I go.

I found the buggering hole

:o

Bivi's are tiny Ed why don't you just strap it to the top of the saddle bag?

With Moulton you can strap things nicely to the frame (double tubes).

Ed, I have very light plastic bottle cages like these:

They're cheap, light at 48g and surprisingly durable with good flex and grip.

I got a day left to go now.

I ditched the Carradice saddlebag, feel that it just encourage me to take more than needed, but need to find a way to store the camera without getting it wet (rain all the way up).

I've got that waterproof rack top roll-top bag, but it's one of those which will probably move from side to side with a heavy camera inside. You're welcome to borrow it.

Halfway done with my set-up.

I decided to offload all the tools, and two spare inner tube inside a free Evans water bottle and leave it at the bottom cage.

the sleeping bag is currently strapped to the frame, the frame being thin is like a rack, so that strap work perfectly with it, the hand pump is also strapped too (below the tent), may probably will strap it on the back on the rack.

the two tent I'll be carrying will go on top of the racktop bag, have enough stack room to put it on either way.

handlebar bag and racktop bag come with it's own rain cover which should work perfectly fine than those waterproof bag.

Main reasoning for removing the saddlebag - can't get the saddle forward enough to be comfortable!

As for tools, make sure you don't carry the same ones Dan does already and vice versa. There's no point to have two sets of Allen keys or a couple of wrenches. Also one pump's enough. Perhaps one long cable with that alarmed padlock?

Ed why don't you strap the tent on top of the rack bag? It would make it much easier on the back of the bicycle.

I've got that waterproof rack top roll-top bag,

What are the advantages of a specific rack top bag?
I have now ordered front and rear panniers (2x12Ltr front, 2x16Ltr back), and plan to get a bar bag and standard roll bag from the same company. Basically I want everthing to be super water proof.

I am planning camping trips, possibly up in the mountains. Access to dry clothes is pretty important. The large volume is more for shorter camping trips with my 5yo. In which case I will have the boot of his trailer to fill with food.

the two tent I'll be carrying will go on top of the racktop bag, have enough stack room to put it on either way.

Ed why don't you strap the tent on top of the rack bag? It would make it much easier on the back of the bicycle.

????

Oh and Ed if you want to save on space try and pick up some canoeing compressing bags I managed to fit a whole weeks worth of clothes into about the size of a bag of rice.

????

My bad I read it wrong.

It all looks very good, but won't you need some form of waterproofing for the sleeping bag?

Tesco's "every little help" bag.

it may turn out we no longer need tent and sleeping bag, but there's always a chance of missing our stop/cock up.

Agreed Ed but if we miss our stop we can just turn round and cycle back! I'd consider leaving the tent/bag behind if I were you. You'll be glad for it on the hills!

Oh and Ed if you want to save on space try and pick up some canoeing compressing bags I managed to fit a whole weeks worth of clothes into about the size of a bag of rice.

Cheap and reliable.
http://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/Dry-Boxes-dry-bags-uk.html#a444

Just went out to Millets and brought one (£6)

sterling recommendation spenceey.

No problem, I used one last year for the first time and was amazed how much you can fit in them and how much they compress down, just when you think it can't get any smaller they do!

why take a lock? ive been on 3 quite long tours in this country and not taken a lock. no problems. i dont think people are after riding off on a loaded bike?? how often are you separated from your bike?

maybe its the type of touring i do...i certainly try and avoid areas of habitation...

Because the feeling of losing a bicycle after being so far away from home is something i do not wish to experienced.

I have a very very cheap abus cable lock, about £7, so it's nice to be a bit reassured that someone won't just grab the bike and ride away.

why take a lock? ive been on 3 quite long tours in this country and not taken a lock. no problems. i dont think people are after riding off on a loaded bike?? how often are you separated from your bike?

maybe its the type of touring i do...i certainly try and avoid areas of habitation...

Maybe you should talk to Fixie Dave Nice. He was racing in the tour divide years ago and was in the middle of nowhere...He camped for the night in his bivvie bag...when he woke up after getting a few hours sleep, somebody had stolen his fixed surly cross check and left him stranded halfway through a 27OO mile race. :[

Dammnnn, that precisely what I want to avoid, even though I'm in England.

Speaking of The Great Divide, Mike told me they're working on a subtitled option, hopefully they will as it look fantastic.