-
In my experience Sidi Dominators are good touring shoes. you will need waterproof overshoes for uk in november. These can be really uncomfortable on your achilles so test ride before you set out.
You should take a lightweight pair of trainers with you too. I know I appreciated mine very much at the end of a long day. And a pair of flip flops. Flimsy as you like. If its wet and you're wild camping and you need to do any wandering around your campsite, looking for firewood, water or whatever, you can use your flip flops and keep your bike shoes and trainers dry. Cable ties are a must. Anything they can't fix can be fixed with electrical tape, at least temporarily, so take a sizeable roll of that too. Weighs hardly anything.
For me, the most important things are a decent sleeping mat, and a good pillow. Alpkit as mentioned earlier in the thread are good for the mat.
For the pillow you can fill a bag with clothes or whatever, but a foam pillow weighs 200g or close, and for me makes a world of difference and means a good nights sleep, which is invaluable.
As you've suggested you will do, use a rack and panniers. At the very least they will keep your kit balanced and low on your bike, and save you from any sweatiness and chafing that would result from using a back pack. Whether you pack light or go fully loaded you will have a better ride with low slung panniers compared to a barbag / saddlebag combo.
It's a gnarley time to tour the uk, but you will have an amazing time. Jealous.
-
Sleeping: from my experience a tent is not needed as long as you have a decent sized ground sheet and a good bivvy bag. Both you can get at an army surpass and will be green for wild chomping which will help. The ground sheet needs to be big enough to cover two people comfortably (even tough it's just for one). Important practice setting up your bivvy before you leave, there are loads of different ways for differnt scenarios, google it. You will need lots of bungies and long steel tent pegs (wide ones with flat sides) get extras, you'll loose them. Around 10-15.
This will be plenty warm enough with a good waterproof bivvy bag and a decent sleeping bag. Last but not least, strip down to just a tee and pants for sleeping. Seems counter intuitive but is warm. All wet kit gets shoved to the end of your bag by yoUr feet. It won't dry completely but better than leaving outside your bag or sleeping in it (don't be tempted). I have camped like to in temperatures down to minus 20 no probs (Norway).Cooking: buy a jet boil if you can afford it. Small, easy to use and very fast. Buy boil in the bags. Cheap, easy to use, tidy and don't need cutlery much as you just squeeze it out the bag in to your grid. Porridge, pasta, mash. Easy. Also take tobasco, makes anything edible.
Washing: wet wipes and talc. That's it.
Water: petrol stations. If you collect your own from steams when you are up top make sure you boil it for 10-15 mins. Plenty of sheep get drowned in the autumn as the rain starts and you don't want to be lapping down their rotting carcass.
Clothes: a wet set for riding. A dry set for night time plus one spare. Few spare socks n pants. That's it.
Anything I've missed?
-
You may want to take into account the shorter days in November, especially for your time in Scotland. With as little as 8 hours daylight good lights will become important. A head torch is useful if you are setting up camp in the dark.
If you expect to have a couple of hours between arrival at the camp site and falling asleep you should take a book or something similar to keep away the boredom.
Consider going to Barmouth and the estuary on your way through Wales, both are stunning. You could follow the coast from Aberystwyth to Barmouth and then take the cycle path along the estuary to Dolgellau to get back to your original route.Should be a great tour!
-
Get one of those rechargable battery packs for phone / garmin / lights. Charge it during the day via a dynamo, if you have that option, or in the pub in the evening if you don't.
The lastest generation of leyzenne lights are charged via USB. They are powerful, light, and and can be helmet mounted which then doubles up as a head torch.
-
This sounds like a totally awesome and ill-advised adventure.
You should almost certainly just stay at home until Spring, but if you insist on being a toughy nutter, here's My 2p:Get panniers.
Use rubble sacks inside the panniers to keep everything dry.
Leave enough room in your panniers to allow for food shopping.
Take cable ties: almost everything can be fixed with cable ties!
Make sure your tent has a side bit where you can keep your wet shit / muddy bags separate from your bedding.
Always keep a set of fastidiously dry sleeping only clothes.
Use flat pedals so you can wear normal shoes.
Don't scrimp on tools.
Marathon.
Bottle opener.And make sure your sandwiches don't get squashed.
Fixed.
-
If you're planning on cooking most meals, I'd go for a Trangia 27. They're multifuel but meths is most commonly available in the UK. If you want to go lighter weight the MSR ones are good but much less stable and versatile. I've got a Pocket Rocket which weighs nothing (though you do need to take into account gas canisters). Additional advantage of the Trangia is it comes with all pots and pans.
Map - for 20-30 days I'd just rip pages out of a road atlas, anything larger scale is going to be too much hassle.
-
also http://www.gaynors.co.uk worth a look for kit (terrible website but great range/prices).
-
also I would strongly advise against wild camping every night or you will have to change your username to stinky.
-
That would be fine too.
-
+1 one the MSR pocket rocket. ligthtweight and fit's inside a kettle.
jimalex
Gndlf
hesa
Howard
hugo7
Dandy
amey
JB
tricitybendix
Midi
deleted
Dammit
hippy
Kdregg-
Post a reply
About
Skinny goes Touring. Bike and gear.
Posted by
This sounds like a totally awesome and ill-advised adventure.
You should almost certainly just stay at home until Spring, but if you insist on being a toughy nutter, here's My 2p:
Get panniers.
Use rubble sacks inside the panniers to keep everything dry.
Leave enough room in your panniers to allow for food shopping.
Take cable ties: almost everything can be fixed with cable ties!
Make sure your tent has a side bit where you can keep your wet shit / muddy bags separate from your bedding.
Always keep a set of fastidiously dry sleeping only clothes.
Use flat pedals so you can wear normal shoes.
Don't scrimp on tools.
Marathon Plus.
Bottle opener.
Cycling tour I - YouTube
And make sure your sandwiches don't get squashed.