cycle touring

dayshah · 26-06-2011 12:13pm

Have a look at this for tent porn. http://www.lightwave.uk.com/en/tent_g20trekxt.php

It even has space for 2 bikes inside.

The thing is I also use my tent for hiking, which is why I find the weight discussions funny. I carry 15kg+ on my back over a mountain. But then I also want my tent to handle weather when I've no possibility of retreat to a B&B.

Also, I was only looking at 2 person tents. I find the 1 man tents a bit too 'innovative' for my liking.

But if someone wants to go all out lightweight they can take a look at Alpkit.com, and get a tarp and bivvy bag.

serendip · 26-06-2011 9:42pm

Here's what I got up to at the start of June:

- http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/donau2011

Sorry, but there are no pictures.

Planet X · 30-06-2011 1:24am

..............Anyone fancy giving Brittany et al. a lash in September?
Week or so?
Cycle down to Rosslare. Roscoff and cycle around............?
Would love to do it.

john__long · 30-06-2011 1:41am

Hey guys!

I'm thinking I might try a 2 day spin around Conamara later on in the Summer. Within the next 2 months anyways.

Thing is, I've a Defy 4. I've my newly acquired rack + panniers mounted to that! I've a niggling worry whether it'll take the weight when loaded up.

I've a Lapierre Shaper 100 lying around as well, I can always revert to that in the end. Just thought I'd get your opinions!

John

Defy 4 (2010) with rack + panniers by f0ehammer, on Flickr

blorg · 30-06-2011 8:46am

@John- if you put on the widest tyres that will fit (probably 700x28) and keep the weight relatively low (<10kg) you will be fine. You can survive with narrower tyres/heavier weight but it is not ideal and you run a higher risk of pinch flats and buckled wheels, in my experience.

TinyExplosions · 30-06-2011 9:40am

Planet X wrote: »

..............Anyone fancy giving Brittany et al. a lash in September?
Week or so?
Cycle down to Rosslare. Roscoff and cycle around............?
Would love to do it.

Would be very interested in that, but can't commit to it yet, though keep me informed!

petethedrummer · 30-06-2011 10:01am

john__long wrote: »

Thing is, I've a Defy 4. I've my newly acquired rack + panniers mounted to that! I've a niggling worry whether it'll take the weight when loaded up.

The Defy will take the load, I have toured and commute daily with an SCR(the precursor to the Defy) with rack and panniers. The SCR takes 32mm tyres and probably more but the brakes look to be longer reach than yours and therefore more clearance, so you're probably restricted to 28's. Maybe have your wheels checked over before you head off too.

Where did you get those rack attachments for the seatstays? I need something like that.

feck sake lads · 30-06-2011 11:41am

Planet X wrote: »

..............Anyone fancy giving Brittany et al. a lash in September?
Week or so?
Cycle down to Rosslare. Roscoff and cycle around............?
Would love to do it.

i went there two years ago fantastic area but unfortunately we got rained on for a solid week had to abandon the tour and head back home.
the municipal campsites are great average around 5 euro great stuff.
if you get the sunny weather you will have a ball
one tip book a cabin on the ferry its a bloody long haul 18 hours crossing :eek:

john__long · 30-06-2011 1:02pm

petethedrummer wrote: »

Where did you get those rack attachments for the seatstays? I need something like that.

They came with the rack itself. There are two sizes with it. I had to use the larger size.

The Rack :: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-super-tourist-rear-rack/

petethedrummer · 30-06-2011 1:14pm

Sound, I had to bend my attachments to fit round the brakes. I'll see if they sell them seperately.

Planet X · 30-06-2011 1:21pm

feck sake lads wrote: »

i went there two years ago fantastic area but unfortunately we got rained on for a solid week had to abandon the tour and head back home.
the municipal campsites are great average around 5 euro great stuff.
if you get the sunny weather you will have a ball
one tip book a cabin on the ferry its a bloody long haul 18 hours crossing :eek:

Ah, no probs, been going there virtually yearly with the clan for the last 10yrs. or so on the ferry. Cabin is pretty essential all right.
Yeah, municipals are the job for overnighting all right.

Planet X · 30-06-2011 1:23pm

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Would be very interested in that, but can't commit to it yet, though keep me informed!

How's the bike progressing?

Yeah, two or three people would knock the cabin price into touch a good bit. €200 odd for myself + cabin return on bike puts me off somewhat.

TinyExplosions · 30-06-2011 2:01pm

Planet X wrote: »

How's the bike progressing?

Pretty Good:

All I have to get is mudguards now (the other ones I had on it won't fit 32mm tyres, and either buy a front hub (dynamo if I can afford it), or stick a wider tyre on the existing wheel, and I'd be good to go (the rack is awaiting the mudguards to go on).

I actually took it out for a spin yesterday as it's pictured, and love how comfy it is, and the bar end shifters aren't anywhere near as awkward as I thought they'd be!

Planet X wrote: »

Yeah, two or three people would knock the cabin price into touch a good bit. €200 odd for myself + cabin return on bike puts me off somewhat.

I agree that it's steep at 200 -it's the main thing that was putting me off going on my own too!

As a total aside, does anyone know if you'd do any damage running a dynamo hub with no lights or anything attached to it? I don't think it'd be a problem, but I'm no electrician, so want to be sure! (main reason is there'd be a couple of months between being able to afford the hub and being able to afford a light for it!)

McTigs · 30-06-2011 2:11pm

Phone chargers are now available in dynamo too!

dayshah · 30-06-2011 2:12pm

TinyExplosions wrote: »

As a total aside, does anyone know if you'd do any damage running a dynamo hub with no lights or anything attached to it? I don't think it'd be a problem, but I'm no electrician, so want to be sure! (main reason is there'd be a couple of months between being able to afford the hub and being able to afford a light for it!)

Well, I have a hub dynamo which I can switch off at the lights (I usually let it run though).

How about a bottle dynamo and lights while you save up for the hub. I've a bottle dynamo on my town bike. Its handy as a backup for when my batteries run out on my main lights.

TinyExplosions · 30-06-2011 2:18pm

McTigs wrote: »

Phone chargers are now available in dynamo too!

Way ahead of you on that one -I've a fair idea of everything I want, it's just being able to afford it that's the key.

dayshah wrote: »

Well, I have a hub dynamo which I can switch off at the lights (I usually let it run though).

How about a bottle dynamo and lights while you save up for the hub. I've a bottle dynamo on my town bike. Its handy as a backup for when my batteries run out on my main lights.

I know you can switch off the lights, but I guess the question is if there's an issue with over voltage or anything if you have nothing connected to a hub vs a light with a switch (which could have some protection or something built in).

There's not really a need for a bottle dynamo, as I'm not really in a hurry to get everything so am happy to get it bit by bit -it's really just a case of if I build up a wheel with a dynamo, should I leave it sitting in the flat till I can afford lights (or chargers etc), or can I run it on the bike without problem

Planet X · 30-06-2011 2:27pm

Looks good. Like the front "tray of beer" carrier.

feck sake lads · 30-06-2011 2:33pm

T EX are you going to fit rear racks on your bike , sorry if i missed it.

TinyExplosions · 30-06-2011 2:45pm

Planet X wrote: »

Looks good. Like the front "tray of beer" carrier.

Tis very handy for that, or a sleeping bag etc

feck sake lads wrote: »

T EX are you going to fit rear racks on your bike , sorry if i missed it.

Yup, I've a Surly Nice Rack for the rear, I just need the bigger mudguards to go on first, then I can install it

feck sake lads · 30-06-2011 3:54pm

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Tis very handy for that, or a sleeping bag etc

Yup, I've a Surly Nice Rack for the rear, I just need the bigger mudguards to go on first, then I can install it

ah very good just that i have a new single wheel trailer (bob copy) i was going to suggest you could borrow it for your next tour;)

TinyExplosions · 30-06-2011 4:32pm

feck sake lads wrote: »

ah very good just that i have a new single wheel trailer (bob copy) i was going to suggest you could borrow it for your next tour;)

Cheers for that, but I'm sorted -though I may be back next year to borrow it!

CramCycle · 30-06-2011 4:58pm

TinyExplosions wrote: »

buy a front hub (dynamo if I can afford it),

I have a Shimano DH-3N80 which I am considering putting on adverts soon, 36h rim (Mavic CXP33) included but it needs a few replacement spokes and the insulation around the earth/live is damaged but all it needs is some shrink wrap to get fixed if your interested. You can have a look at it for interest if your around south Dublin.

I actually took it out for a spin yesterday as it's pictured, and love how comfy it is, and the bar end shifters aren't anywhere near as awkward as I thought they'd be!

I am sticking bar end shifters on mine as soon as I get free time to sort it all out.

I agree that it's steep at 200 -it's the main thing that was putting me off going on my own too!

You could get a sail and rail for 40euro each way and then get a ferry from south England for 35pound each way. Just an idea if you have an extra day and you want to cheapen it up a little bit.

As a total aside, does anyone know if you'd do any damage running a dynamo hub with no lights or anything attached to it? I don't think it'd be a problem, but I'm no electrician, so want to be sure! (main reason is there'd be a couple of months between being able to afford the hub and being able to afford a light for it!)

Does no harm at all, not with a modern Shimano or SON anyway,

TinyExplosions · 30-06-2011 5:06pm

CramCycle wrote: »

I have a Shimano DH-3N80 which I am considering putting on adverts soon, 36h rim (Mavic CXP33) included but it needs a few replacement spokes and the insulation around the earth/live is damaged but all it needs is some shrink wrap to get fixed if your interested. You can have a look at it for interest if your around south Dublin.

I knew the decision to get a 32h Rim before buying the hub would come back to haunt me in the long run! (though I may be sending you a PM anyhow!)

Awesome to hear that I'd not do any damage to the hub running it without anything attached!

CramCycle · 30-06-2011 5:12pm

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Awesome to hear that I'd not do any damage to the hub running it without anything attached!

Since buying my first Dynamo hub a few months ago, I have since upgraded to a dynamo hub on all my bikes, no problem running them during the day with the lights off, only a slight drop in resistance when there is no power being drawn AFAIK.

Looking into buying a tent at the minute but am struggling to decide which one, thinking of one of the Quecheua ones, my old flatmate got one and they seem good quality but there doesn't seem to be a comfy way to carry them on the bike.

blorg · 30-06-2011 5:14pm

If you have a suitable front wheel use that and defer the dynamo until you might actually need it. A dynamo would be very useful for remote/wilderness/wild camping touring, IMO, where you don't have electricity at night, but quite unnecessary otherwise.

CramCycle · 30-06-2011 5:16pm

blorg wrote: »

If you have a suitable front wheel use that and defer the dynamo until you might actually need it. A dynamo would be very useful for remote/wilderness/wild camping touring, IMO, where you don't have electricity at night, but quite unnecessary otherwise.

I know my dynamos are unnecessary for my work bike but the get on and spin, never needing to worry about batteries, etc made it to good an idea to resist, have a schmidt edelux on the front and a B+M toplight on the back.

feck sake lads · 30-06-2011 5:41pm

i priced a custom front wheel with dynamo from sjs (thorn) i think it was around £350 bought a led light instead.:D

blorg · 30-06-2011 6:05pm

CramCycle wrote: »

I know my dynamos are unnecessary for my work bike but the get on and spin, never needing to worry about batteries, etc made it to good an idea to resist, have a schmidt edelux on the front and a B+M toplight on the back.

Sure, nice to have, I would like one myself, but unnecessary luxury if he already has a wheel (and good battery lights for that matter) and is budget constrained.

CramCycle · 30-06-2011 9:14pm

feck sake lads wrote: »

i priced a custom front wheel with dynamo from sjs (thorn) i think it was around £350 bought a led light instead.:D

You can get a 3N80 hub with Mavic CXP33 rims fully built and delivered for approximately 170euro. Just to say. Rose Bikes do it

feck sake lads · 30-06-2011 9:23pm

CramCycle wrote: »

You can get a 3N80 hub with Mavic CXP33 rims fully built and delivered for approximately 170euro. Just to say. Rose Bikes do it

cheers cram cycle i'll have a look at that.;)
i have a set of mavic cxp33 the rear needs a new hub .

cycle touring

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