Skinny goes Touring. Bike and gear.

I'm leaning back to some small ortileb panniers now I've everything out.
Would be more sensible and practical.

if you separate the tent from the poles and strap them to the top tube it will pack down a lot smaller

Shout!

Yeah makes it a lot smaller that. Might get another compression back to stick it in.

Think I'll do it like this.

Alpkit bag on the rack, with tent and sleepingbag in.

Front panniers & rack with assorted items in. Split between the 2. Clean/dirty or so.

Should work good that actually. Well weighted and easy access to panniers.

Oh England is only small. Once you look on a map.
http://www.strava.com/activities/60763674

Ha.

We all need to place bets as to how many segment Top10s you rack up on this epic.

100+ ?

Not many. I'll be taking it easy.

Your list looks pretty good, I'd struggle to cut much from it in winter. A few suggestions for extras:

Stuff to wash pots/cutlery with (liquid/sponge)
Cooking things, like oil/salt/pepper whatever. Sounds non-essential but if you're cooking basic stuff spices weigh nothing and make life more interesting. Obviously oil depends on whether you're likely to fry anything but if you are it's an awful lot easier bringing a small container rather than having to buy a litre of the stuff (make sure it's a good container though).
String, for unanticipated stringy needs (making a clothesline over your panniers, perhaps)

I would also take a pillow; I know you can make one out of a ball of clothes but I've never successfully slept on a clothes ball without dismantling it in my sleep and waking up with a wonky neck. I love the Ajungilaks - they weigh 145g and are pretty tiny deflated.

Yeah thanks, had planned extra virgin oil and salt/pepper but forgot. I'll proberbly fry eggs a fair bit. For rice and eggs. And bacon on sundays. :)
String is a good idea!!

Another good place to stash the tent poles are rolled up inside the inflating mat..

String, for unanticipated stringy needs (making a clothesline over your panniers, perhaps)

I found that an elastic strap (2x) make a good clothesline as well as for securing the tent.

Got an MSR Mug mate today. Awesome. Works really dam well.

I can keep my caffeine addiction rolling.

http://www.pushingthepedals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/p10209701.jpg?w=1024

Bugger. Just realised I've been sent BB7 MTB not Road.

Where in london can I buy 160mm road version?

if you're going to be doing lots of cooking, a pot cosy is a really useful thing that will save you lots of fuel. Things like rice, lentils and oats, just bring to the boil then stick into the pot cosy for 15/20 mins, then eat...

I use this one http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/cooking-accessories/QE102.html

How you are you going to be documenting this journey if at all? Don't see any mention of camera/writing gear on your list.

Oh sorry.

I've borrowed my sis dicital camera. THough I'm terrible for taking pictures.

I will be wiring up brief notes on interesting events each night in my diary. I'll them make a post on my blog when I get back in due course.

I'm terrible at taking photos and remembering things. I get caught up in enjoying the moment.

I've always found that, no matter how waterproof the shoes, your feet will end up wet and frozen from water going down your legs and into the shoes. Not great to ride in, but given it'll be cold and wet and there'll be no hot shower at the end, I'd seriously consider some goretex over trousers.

Ever seen a touring bike with a powermeter? No?

You have now.

Everything done for a reason.
3rd bottle cage that'll take large 2l plastic bottle along with one on seat tube. Down tube for a 1l SIS bidon to drink from.

Wifli mec 12-32
60cm frame - which is soo nice.

I chose a 120mm 7deg stem in the end, flipped. Could go lower, but don't need too on this bike. This is comfy and I can get low in the drops if some sunday boys want a race to the cafe.

I noticed you are taking oakley glasses. Best take proper cleaning kit for them. I usually use old Raybans, with glass lenses, as they are far easier to keep clean on long trips without fear of scratching the lenses. Oakleys are just too delicate for long trip.

Ha! Hnag on I'll get a pic of my oakleys!!

And she weights 7.5kg all in, both racks.

Oakleys are seriously tough.

I've never treated mine with respect.

They survived 35mph into a curb, eye first. The lenses didn't crack, just gauged. Not a single part broke.

ha ha! My ray bans would be a pile of shards of glass!
It is the little scratches that wrecked mine, I had to replace them after a month long trip!

Yeah, I've a few little scratches. I guess they're on my head, in my helmet or in they're little bag normally.

Bugger. Just realised I've been sent BB7 MTB not Road.

Where in london can I buy 160mm road version?

Condor had a pair of the BB7 Road SLs last time I was there. More expensive than the vanilla BB7 Roads though, I believe. But they are very shiny.

Change of plan. Getting a ferry to santander and riding back through france.

Weather looks shit for the UK, gale force winds.