Generic Touring Thread

Bike in the car deck and can normally be locked to something, but better to take your panniers up, if only because you're not allowed back down during sailing if you forget something.

Also second getting a cabin if possible. I did Portsmouth - St Malo in a chair and it was shit.

Will check it out :)

Touring news: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-11/adventurer-set-to-become-the-first-to-cycle-through-antarctica/6539984

She's gonna kill it, surely, especially after her 13000km unsupported Russia trek.

I currently live in Grenoble. Hit me up if you need any info about the area or wanna stop by for a pint, though I do not recommend the latter as the valley in which Grenoble lies and the roads to it are polluted as fuck.

Yes, that's exactly how I'd describe it.

Whether a road is gravel or paved is shown on OSM Cycle map layer as a dashed line - you can enable the layer when planning a ride in http://www.ridewithgps.com

What about knife, stove, gas canister...? I guess those things are prohibited inside the ferry and must be down there with the bike, right?

No one checks your bags. No one cares.

And I've left my panniers there before. It's on the lorry deck and I felt it was totally safe.

On the overnight ferry I took my roll matt and sleeping bag and found a nice quiet spot in the seating area and just went to sleep. Slept good tbh.

I would never thought about that. It's a great idea actually, I think I'll do that.

Heh check the ferries between Spain and Morocco. More sleeping people than floor! And indeed they don't check so bring whatever you need.

Jobst Bandt 14/01/1935 - 05/05/2015
Some tour diaries

Nice share.

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Thanks man, will see how we get on with planning :)

Are the Cinelli 64 Giro D'Italia or 66 Campione del Mondo good options for touring? The Campione has a larger drop, so maybe the Giro would be better? The bar that came on my old Dawes seems a bit narrow and considering options.

There was a mention earlier in this thread of packing a pair of lightweight shoes, but no conclusion.

My plans this summer will include stopping off at some churches and historic sites, and I don't want any issues with cleats messing up the flooring in protected buildings. Wearing flip flops is out of the question, hence a quest to find the lightest footwear possible.

Nike free / flyknit models seem to hover around 250 g per shoe. Surely there are lighter options out there? I am thinking something like a slip on with mesh should be even lighter, but I've yet to find a slip on that's proper lightweight.

Is there a sort of shoe alternative to the ubiquitos Uniqlo down jacket out there that everyone except me knows about?

Best find so far just by searching the internet is an Asics women shoe which allegedly weighs 135 g per shoe and looks decent as well. The larger sizes would fit my bloke feet, but actually buying a pair could be a PITA.

shoes by weight
http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipment-c3/footwear-c78/footwear-c159

Get some TOMS or something.

They squish down to like flipflops, comfy without socks too.

I'd rather something that packs smaller but is 100g heavier.

crocs, thats what all the modern nike free shoes are deep down anyways.

The crocs thing was half a joke, because they would drive me mad with sweaty clamminess but many tourer types do seem to love them.

A more useful point is, when considering these lightweight shoes. That on long rides you start to feel the pedal dig into the sole of your foot, not saying its painful. Just gets annoying, and it is innefficient, its better to have something stiff to push against the pedal.

Also if you are using toeclips, super thin mesh uppers will provide little cushioning from painful hard plastic/steel clips digging into your toes.

More anecdotal info, but Ive seen a lot of old tourer types wearing modern cycling shoes but with the insert left in to cover the SPD cavity. Using these shoes with flats & toeclips.

For the last year or so I've been using Shimano A530 pedals, non-cleat side, with light trainers, (something like Onitsuka Tigers). Morning rides, weekend trips, up the Pyrenees even - no foot pain, no knee pain (although this could also be from swapping to 165mm cranks), no clacking around off the bike, no spare shoes needed. You can shift your foot position around a bit for more comfort and the dished frame gives good surface contact without the pain of thin ridges digging into soft soles as you get with caged touring pedals.

I've been considering drilling some holes into them for MTB-style pins for extra grip, but they've got a bit of ridging on already and I've not slipped on them as yet (in dry or wet).

Using the same set up for week-long tour shortly.

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@starfish&coffee what about Vibram five fingers? Not sure how much they weigh exactly but it isn't a lot and they don't take up much space.

@starfish&coffee
Sports direct are selling slazenger canvas plimsolls/ espadrilles for £6. They pack flat, are super comfy, and weigh nothing, and can almost look smart.

straps + cheap trainers