Skinny goes Touring. Bike and gear.

is a cdf essential for this jaunt? won't any correctly sized cheap secondhand touring frame do?

Disc shit over canti/v, especially in the wet.

true, but in the 100 odd years before bicycle discs we managed to brake adequately....

Not essential. But I will also use this bike for winter training. So 25h+ a week when at home.

And last year I used a rim brake bike. I went through 2 sets of rims and a few pairs of pads. Plus not being able to fit proper mudguards was annoying.

if you're despo to get out soon, any old tourer off ctc or ebay would do. have your adventure then put it back up for sale, leaving you plenty of time to build up a do-it-all winter bike

just a thought

true, but in the 100 odd years before bicycle discs we managed to brake adequately....

in the 100 odd years before the discs, we have to worry about the braking limitation, whether now with discs, we only have to worry about the tyres limitation.

I can't go away till teh 25th anyway, as I'm in wales on holiday till then.

Just wanted to get it and get it build sooner. So I can teeth any issues.

in the 100 odd years before the discs, we have to worry about the braking limitation, whether now with discs, we only have to worry about the tyres limitation.

Most rim brakes created in the last 20 years will lock up a wheel.

In the wet, aggressive use of either rim or disc will likely have you on your arse.

Yup.
I'd never take a touring bike to the alps!

Missing the the point of touring a bit there, skinny. :P

Missing the the point of touring a bit there, skinny. :P

Yup. I might ride a touring bike anywhere. But if going specifically to the Alps to ride, like when the Tour is on. I'll take a poncy light bike with me.

Yup. I might ride a touring bike anywhere. But if going specifically to the Alps to ride, like when the Tour is on. I'll take a poncy light bike with me.

You can still tour with a poncy light bike like this poncy gentleman here;

More info here.

And this too I guess;

info here.

Yeah first option looks nice. And if it were summer and I were going away for a week, I'd bike pack on a nice bike. But in winter, I feel panniers, steel and full mudguards are the best option to enjoy the trip.

Ordered a load of stuff earlier. Sweet. No backing out now.

in winter, I feel panniers, steel and full mudguards are the best option to enjoy the trip.

this is making sense.

V brakes vs. Discs:
Discs are better at stopping, but Cantis / V's are much easier to service when you're in the middle of nowhere. If you pringle a disc then you're really shafted.
I've never had a problem with the stopping-power of my Deore cantis, even in rain.

Ordered a 3 season sleeping bag but it's massive!
Tempted to go to 2 season!

Hmm

Might be worth the extra volume, for warm, sleep-ful nights.

I don't think you need a 3 season if you sleep in a tent with some clothes on..

I joined the Polo crew to cycle through the Alps this Summer; as a relative bike-touring virgin, I was worried about making a lot of bad choices and was also on a tight(ish) budget - as it turned out, all the kit I chose worked out really well.

I opted for a rear rack (Tortec) and panniers (Ortleib) which I didn't feel impeded the handling too badly - though we were only doing moderate distances at low speed.

Tent wise, I aspired to a 1kg tent but as I didn't have £300+ to spare, I opted for a Gelert Solo from Amazon - it cost £29.99 and weighs in at just under a kilo and a half. Though it lacks luxury, it is easy to put up and small enough to carry on the top of the rack with a bungee.

http://www.gelert.com/products/solo_tent

I would +1 Ed's suggestion of a UniQlo down jacket w. a lightweight rain shell (though for the UK in November I guess you'll need something beefier)

It is well worth spending money to ensure that you'll sleep well. I got this sleeping mat:

http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/mountain-equipment-helium-3-8-mat-83120064?id_colour=98

It is genuinely comfortable and rolls up nice and small. I splurged a bit on a nice down bag which was absurdly overspecced, even for the high Alps. But if you are going to carry extra bulk, its got to be on bedding. Oh, and take a pillow.

Can't wait to get back out there and put it all to use again...

Thanks.

I think I'll take the big sleeping bag, I'll put it on my rear rack with tent. In a dry bag

I've gone for front rack and front ortlieb bags. I don't need much space and ed persuaded me front racks would be better. Then some stuff on the back and split the weight.

I've got some pots and pans from Alpkit and a MSR pocket rocket.

I got a Vango Banshee 2man tent. And a karrimor roll mat, looks the same as the expensive ones, feels good too. I don't think I'll bother with a pillow. I never use one at home, plus i sleep on my face and hand anyway, as if I sleep on my back I get sleep parlysis. But If this is wrong I can always pick one up somewhere.

I'm borrowed a garmin 800 off a mate, so I'll have 2 of them. That should last me 6 days of following a made route, still need to make a route!!. Then I've a charger recommended by ed from amazon. Then I can charge somewhere when I stop at a house if needed. Also got a Nokia 105 as the battery lasts ages and it's got FM radio, for when I get bored. AS my ipod nano battery runs out quick using radio.

I'm still undecided on cycling/top. I'm thinking of getting a Torm top, but unsure. I only have race fit lycra cycling tops really. So not sure what to do there. I might just get some merino T-shirts. But can't see any cheap ones?

I've got a lightweight down coat. I'll take my goretex cycling jacket and rapha softshell. That should do me on and off the bike.

I'm trying to find a non vented road helmet???, so my head will stay warm and dry when it rains every day. As cycling caps are great, but only for a few hours.
Ala;

Sounds like you are well sorted!

FWIW, I absolutely loved the Torm jersey I used and was impressed by how unsmelly it was considering how few washes it was graced with! I also took some bamboo base-layers from Aldi which were great - not sure they are still selling them though.

I'm trying to find a non vented road helmet???, so my head will stay warm and dry when it rains every day. As cycling caps are great, but only for a few hours.
Ala;

Would a helmet cover be more practical, (either Goretex or a home made version) you could then use your existing helmet and cover depending on conditions

IMO panniers on the back and a bag up front beats a big, high-up saddlebag if you ever want to get out of the saddle. Everything is stable and the weight is low down. You've got to push a bit more air (if your panniers are big). I've not tried panniers up front.

The route looks great.

You could save a trip on a really nasty road as you travel north of Dartmoor... I'll try and upload a screen grab... The A30 has the old main road running in parallel it's quiet, sweeping and fast, it runs (west –> east) Sticklepath, SouthZeal, WiddonDown, Crockernwell, TedburnStMary. In contrast the A30 is dual carriageway, articulated lorries and long hills with the road cut into the landscape – not nice.

I'll second that: some lovely riding along that stretch - off the A30, that is!

Is that your neck of the woods Miro_o? I have been going to S. Zeal for many years.

James
I have some Ortliebs if you want to try them, and what size steel frame do you want you are not much shorter than me, I still have a red steel project frame in the shed with braze ons etc for Canti's

Small panniers up front even out the handling, depending on how much weight you carry, either a saddle bag up back or larger panniers.

Climbing out of the saddle just takes getting used to, first time I went on a Tour four panniers and a saddlebag I nearly ended up on the deck the first time I got out of the saddle

Thanks steve but I've found some panniers so all sorted.

I'll sort a frame, found one. As I need a proper winter bike anyway!

pretty sure those non-vented kask helmets are the triathlon versions. Will be hot as hell - my k50 with vents is unbelievably hot. Why not get a waterproof cycling cap and a merino skull cap?