cycle touring

blorg

Your height doesn't affect wheel size in any way. 26" is MTB standard and only real advantage touring is the better availability of parts in remote locations (outside Europe.) Having said that there is not really any disadvantage to it either. Again, height really not important.

The likes of that Kona would be more suitable I think than the Tifosi. The latter is an "audax" bike and not really suitable for large loads camping, especially not in Eastern Europe where the roads are worse. Audax bikes are lighter/faster and suited to lighter touring. The key issue is the tyre clearance; I think I read somewhere that the Tifosi may be limited to 700x25c which is really not a lot. Some audax bikes will go to 700x28c but even this is a bit narrow for heavily loaded on bad roads.

Trek's touring bike is the 520 which has been around for a long time and is well designed and respected. You can pick one up locally from any Trek dealer; I know Joe Daly's has one in stock at the moment.

Online Edinburgh Cycling Coop has a few options under 1k. Tourers are a speciality item and tend to be expensive.

I was in Novi Sad myself recently as DFD says en route to Istanbul and the posters were up all over for Exit. I cycled in Serbia from Subotica at the Hungarian border through Belgrade and over the mountains in the south into Bulgaria. There are some hills all right but only really when you get well down south, around 200km south of Belgrade (you can avoid the hills immediately south of Belgrade by going on the other bank of the Danube.) Hills are in any case no problem if you have the gearing and just the time to just go slower. I really liked Serbia; it was my favourite country of the trip.

DualFrontDiscs

blorg wrote: »

Trek's touring bike is the 520 which has been around for a long time and is well designed and respected. You can pick one up locally from any Trek dealer; I know Joe Daly's has one in stock at the moment.

Check out The Fully Loaded Touring Gallery. There was a time when every second bike on there was a T520. As blorg says, it's a well established, long running and well respected popular bike.

blorg wrote: »

I really liked Serbia; it was my favourite country of the trip.

I'm in Serbia a few times a year. Heading back to Novi Sad in September . By plane

DFD.

DualFrontDiscs

Have a look at Thorn. They are held in very high regard. One of the 'ultimate' touring bikes to aspire to. This is the brochure for their Club Tour. It's possibly outside the budget at c.£1,300 STG, but read the brochure, which explains what's on the bike and why.

DFD.

TheBandit

Peetrik wrote: »

Just did Dublin - Galway, Galway - Dublin. 454k over 4 days

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=118199&d=1277654778

Day 1 106k, camped just outside of Moate
Day 2 117k, stayed in a campsite in salthill
Day 3 125k, phone dead at this stage so no gps, took a 5k detour off towards birr before I realised my mistake
Day 4 106k, back in Dublin with one hell of a farmer tan

This seems like a good alternative to panniers. How did you attach the bag to the bike peetrik?

There was post about a seat post attachment a while ago that i have been searching for and can't find. It was some german company and allowed you to put your back pack on the back of the seat. Does anyone know the name of this or have a link?

blorg

TheBandit wrote: »

This seems like a good alternative to panniers. How did you attach the bag to the bike peetrik?

There was post about a seat post attachment a while ago that i have been searching for and can't find. It was some german company and allowed you to put your back pack on the back of the seat. Does anyone know the name of this or have a link?

Maybe in-Sy. I have one of their bags and it works very well- for light loads only though, up to 3.5kg. Anything over that and the whole saddle gets very floppy and wobbly feeling. Good option for lightweight tours but I would not camp with it.

TheBandit

Cheers, that's the one. I've been reading about people who go ultra light yet are fully loaded. The basic idea is taking as little as possible with little in the way of luxuries, few clothes, no books etc. You try get the carried weight down to the 10kg mark and use saddle bags and handle bar bags

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/carradice/camper-long-flap-saddle-bag-ec006362

I went for a little trip around the wicklow mountains with fully loaded panniers and found it difficult, having to walk at some parts. The gearing on the bike wasn't forgiving and the weight all in(including bike) was about 35-40kg. I'm trying to figure out a way that is as enjoyable as possible and doesn't become laborious, dreading the thought getting back on the bike

Doctor Bob

blorg wrote: »

The likes of that Kona would be more suitable I think than the Tifosi. The latter is an "audax" bike and not really suitable for large loads camping, especially not in Eastern Europe where the roads are worse. Audax bikes are lighter/faster and suited to lighter touring. The key issue is the tyre clearance; I think I read somewhere that the Tifosi may be limited to 700x25c which is really not a lot. Some audax bikes will go to 700x28c but even this is a bit narrow for heavily loaded on bad roads.

The Tifosi does take up to 700x28, according to the spec, but it might be a tight squeeze. And it really seems to be only a 'credit card' bike.

I'm currently grappling with some big decisions re full-on touring bike (likely a Thorn) vs audax (likely the Tifosi- mainly for the aesthetics [the grey, not the blue]). It's proving to be a pretty tough call. Or maybe I should just get both and be done with it? (I know what the Boardsie answer to that question is! ) I'll probably be back with a dedicated 'Please Help!' thread at some stage- don't want to derail this one.

One thing's for sure- my curiosity about touring has only been strengthened by reading all the accounts here. France in particular looks like a grand old time, DFD. Hats off to you all.

TheBandit

There is a great blog on ultra light touring

http://ultralightcycling.blogspot.com/

in which he carries about 8kg which is very possible on the audax bike. Just treat it as putting on 8kg in weight, you wouldn't need a new bike if you put on a bit of weight. Fair enough you will probably need more than 8kg of stuff but i'm sure 10-13kg is manageable

TheBandit

Detailed packing list from the blog

Packing list
Here is the list of things that I would take on a long journey - posibly even a RTW trip. The list is based on what I had on 1-month journey through Central Asia (Tadjikistan, Kyrgizistan, China, Pakistan and India) in 2008.

ITEM WEIGHT POSITION
[grams]
BICYCLE 10321
Bicycle alone. 9600 bike
2 bottle cages with bolts. 116 bike
Rear rack with bolts. 454 bike
Computer with holder,
magnet and reciever. 35 bike
Altimeter. 32 jersey
Lock. 48 bike
Mirror. 36 bike

CARRIERS 488
Underseat bag used as
handlebar bag. 90 bike
Main stuff sack (30 L). 156 rear rack
Stuff sack for tools. 10 tent
Stuff sack for medical kit,
spare glasses, etc. 10 stuff sack
Bungee cord for the main
stuff sack. 70 rear rack
Spare nylon belt. 6 tent
Spare velcro straps. 6 stuff sack
Plastic bags. 50 stuff sack
1 l and 1.5 l plastic bottles. 90 bottle cage

TOOLS AND SPARES 788
Flat screwdriver 30 tool sack
Spoke key, allen keys 42 tool sack
Razor blades
(instead of a knife) 2 tool sack
Pump 22 tool sack
Patch kit 20 tool sack
15 mm pedal wrench
(cut in half) 50 tool sack
8 mm, 10 mm wrench 20 tool sack
2 tyre levers 10 tool sack
Hypercracker 24 tool sack
Chain tool 40 tool sack
Bolts and nuts 6 tool sack
Oil 10 bike
Duct tape 10 seatpost
3 spare spokes 10 rear rack
2 spare tubes 196 bike
Spare tyre 296 rear rack

CAMPING 1950
Tent. 888 rear rack
Sleeping bag with
compression bag. 972 stuff sack
Strip of bubble wrap
(sleeping pad). 72 stuff sack
Mini flash light
(= bike taillight). 18 stuff sack

FOOD AND WATER 2700
Water in two plastic bottles. 2500 bike
Emergency food. 200 stuff sack

CLOTHES 2514
Cycling cap. 34 myself
Glasses. 40 myself
Cycling jersey. 160 myself
Arm warmers. 60 myself
Cycling shorts. 160 myself
Cycling gloves 28 myself
Socks. 20 myself
Shoes. 580 myself
Wind jacket. 170 rear rack
Rain shell jacket. 120 rear rack
Polar fleece jacket. 248 stuff sack
Long trousers. 314 stuff sack
Rain pants. 112 rain jacket
Underwear. 32 stuff sack
Rain shell gloves. 10 rain jacket
2 pars of light
fleece gloves. 66 rain jacket
Overshoes. 78 handlebarbag
2 pair spare socks
(ligh + waterproof). 110 stuff sack
Nylon stockings
as leg/arm warmers. 16 jersey
Fleece cap. 34 stuff sack
Spare T-shirt. 122 stuff sack

PHOTOGRAPHY 316
Digital camera and battery. 228 handlebarbag
Battery charger and cable. 74 stuff sack
Card reader. 10 stuff sack.
Bubble-wrap protection. 4 handlebarbag

PAPERWORK 118
Passport, air tickets. 70 myself
Notebook, calendar, pencil. 38 jersey
Photocopies of town maps
and distance card. 10 jersey

MISCELANEOUS 216
Tooth brush. 6 handlebarbag
Skin cream. 30 handlebarbag
2 dispensable razors. 12 handlebarbag
Dish washing cloth
used as a towel. 10 handlebarbag
Lighter. 10 jersey
Pen water filter. 20 stuff sack
Spare glasses in soft case. 40 stuff sack
Medical kit, sewing kit. 88 stuff sack

---

TOTAL: 19411 g
TOTAL without bicycle, water and food: 6390 g

blorg

TheBandit wrote: »

Cheers, that's the one. I've been reading about people who go ultra light yet are fully loaded. The basic idea is taking as little as possible with little in the way of luxuries, few clothes, no books etc. You try get the carried weight down to the 10kg mark and use saddle bags and handle bar bags

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/carradice/camper-long-flap-saddle-bag-ec006362

I went for a little trip around the wicklow mountains with fully loaded panniers and found it difficult, having to walk at some parts. The gearing on the bike wasn't forgiving and the weight all in(including bike) was about 35-40kg. I'm trying to figure out a way that is as enjoyable as possible and doesn't become laborious, dreading the thought getting back on the bike

The in-Sy clamps onto and is supported entirely by the saddle. That is I think the key issue with it needing to be kept light. If I was going to be carrying more I think I would want something with a seatpost support. I know you can get such a support for the Carradice, one clamps just to the saddle but there is another that goes on the seat stays. If you had a different, more sturdy saddle, it might work better either. I was using a Brooks Swift with Ti rails.

My own touring bike is 11kg unloaded and with panniers, tent, mattress, sleeping bag I can still keep the load to 10kg. A hell of a lot more stable than the saddlebag arrangement IMO.

TheBandit

21kg all in, that's a manageable weight. What is the heel clearance with the panniers like? The reason i'm worried about this is that i won't be buying a dedicated tour bike, just using my road bike(I have to purchase another one, my Giant got robbed in May) and i think i would constantly clip my heels. The saddle set up would take a lot of fiddling to get it stable but would probably be more viable than panniers on road bike with a short chainstay

rottenhat

Doctor Bob wrote: »

The Tifosi does take up to 700x28, according to the spec, but it might be a tight squeeze. And it really seems to be only a 'credit card' bike.

That would almost certainly be without mudguards - with mudguards you might be down to 23mm. I wouldn't even class that as an audax bike.

I'm currently grappling with some big decisions re full-on touring bike (likely a Thorn) vs audax (likely the Tifosi- mainly for the aesthetics [the grey, not the blue]). It's proving to be a pretty tough call. Or maybe I should just get both and be done with it? (I know what the Boardsie answer to that question is! ) I'll probably be back with a dedicated 'Please Help!' thread at some stage- don't want to derail this one.

One thing's for sure- my curiosity about touring has only been strengthened by reading all the accounts here. France in particular looks like a grand old time, DFD. Hats off to you all.

I think I'm going to go the Bob Jackson route myself

blorg

TheBandit wrote: »

21kg all in, that's a manageable weight. What is the heel clearance with the panniers like? The reason i'm worried about this is that i won't be buying a dedicated tour bike, just using my road bike(I have to purchase another one, my Giant got robbed in May) and i think i would constantly clip my heels. The saddle set up would take a lot of fiddling to get it stable but would probably be more viable than panniers on road bike with a short chainstay

Heel clearance is fine and I have reasonably big feet (45) and put the panniers pretty much as far forward as possible. If you put the panniers back I'd say you would be OK on a road bike. I had a rack on my Giant Bowery (Giant road frame) for a while and it was fine.

Peetrik

TheBandit wrote: »

This seems like a good alternative to panniers. How did you attach the bag to the bike peetrik?

Carradice SQR bag. I found it perfect for light touring, lighter than panniers and rack, max weight is 10kg.

Couple of different types http://www.carradice.co.uk/products/type/sqrtour

PGN

Just did a week in Kerry using Tom Coopers Cycling in Ireland guide. Trip was Tralee-Dingle-Kilorglin-Portmagee-Derrynane-Kenmare-Kilarney-Tralee.
We were blessed with the weather with only one shower the whole week.
Guide was excellent and kept you off the main roads but minor road surfaces were good. Special mention for Portmagee Heights B&B who do the best Pancake Breafast ever and the Derrynane Hotel in Derrynane who do a special Cyclist B&B rate of €40pps. Great facilities, pool, sauna,gym and one of the warmest welcomes you are likely to get as a cyclist.
I used the In-Sy system but the seat clamp failed after about 15 miles so I had to carry it as a rucksack for the remainder.

feck sake lads

maybe to late in the year now but is there anything happening in Ireland that would be worth me loading up my touring bike and spending a few days there camping of course. In Britain you get a lot of cycle rally's which can be very good im a member of the fellclub excellent club they have meets all over the UK myself and a buddy attended such a meet in june we had a fantastic time .anyway if anyone knows of some good campsite with something hapening please let me know
thanks.;)

Planet X

Loose plan, well not too loose as I have it mapped fairly tightly and campsites picked............ eh, early summer 2011 or.............


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Roscoff,+France&daddr=Avenue+du+Dorlett+to:Chemin+de+Gravellic+to:Route+Pointe+St+Gildas,+44770+Préfailles,+France+(Camping+Eléovic)+to:Ploermel+to:Boulevard+Paul+Doumer+to:Roscoff&hl=en&geocode=FQaD5wIdsizD_ylnXK1-ReETSDFFSFvQ-e_afg%3BFQWa2gIdlwTE_w%3BFXyf1gId-6vU_w%3BFeovzwIdJffd_yGt-g8LeTyKvw%3BFQJh2wIdDmfb_ykJDG0X2LcPSDHQv-I2zaUMBA%3BFXQR5AIdpt3V_w%3BFQaD5wIdsizD_ylnXK1-ReETSDFFSFvQ-e_afg&mra=dme&mrcr=4,5&mrsp=5&sz=15&dirflg=w&sll=48.508303,-2.757826&sspn=0.023343,0.051713&ie=UTF8&ll=48.495905,-2.725296&spn=0.093393,0.206852&z=13


.....don't have a touring bike yet, but have the build components sorted 99%.
What do you think?

Apologies, you have to zoom out. Don't have the puter knowhow.

Forgot, including the Dub. / Rosslare cycle. Return ticket please.

Add 290k to that 701k.

Odd.........990 kilo.

cdaly_

Impressive route. I was down near Pornic this summer. Nice flat cycling around there. Don't forget coffee on the seafront at Pornic.

A fair climb on day one south of Morlaix for about 40km but a corresponding descent to make up for it after. I've driven that route a few times...

Some seriously pretty seaside (or river end) towns on day two. Stops at Hennebont and Auray are probably worthwhile. Go for a stroll around Auray, ISTR it was very pretty.

On Day three, you might consider cutting south from Nivillac towards St Nazaire and across the Loire there. The bridge has cycle lanes marked but it's pretty high and likely to be windy. I'm not sure would I cycle it from the wind point of view but there are remarkable views to be had. I understand that there's a free ferry crossing the river around there too but I can't see any sign of it on maps. Heading south from there, follow the 'cyclovert' coastal cycle route all the way to Pointe St Gildas. Again, nice pretty surroundings...

Alternatively, if you're not into crossing the bridge and can't find a ferry, when you cross the Loire at St Pellerin, consider heading NorthWest towards Paimboeuf and on to St Brevin Les Pins to pick up the 'cyclovert' route. Gives you a different route rather than an out and back to Pointe de St Gildas. There's a lovely canal-side route between St Pellerin and Paimboeuf with an interesting looking garden park that has just reopened after reconstruction having being flooded out in 2009 at the 'B' marker in that link.

Coming back from Pointe de St Gildas, take the 'route scenic' for Pornic from la Plaine sur Mer rather than the D13. Brill views. Then, after leaving Pornic, try to use back roads from Chauvé to Rouans rather than the D6 - D206.

At stage E, take a few hours (like 5) to visit the Musée du Poete Ferrailleur at Lizio. It's only 12k from Ploërmel and is seriously cool.
Basically it's a museum of contraptions made from scrap. Some utterly charming animated marionettes and a bunch of the coolest 'machines'. My family had to drag me away...


In general, you might be better staying off the 'D' roads and trying to work out routes on the smaller roads. The 'D' roads can be quite busy with plenty of trucks though they pretty much all give cyclists loads of room and will sit behind you waiting to overtake rather than the traditional irish way of running you off the road. Even so, the smaller roads can be almost deserted.

Sounds like a pile of fun, hope you enjoy it.

Planet X

^ Cheers for the advice. Been to France about a dozen times already, never cycling though. Camping fishing etc.

Yeah, the above route is loose enough, haven't but will get the road map out and fine tune it at some stage, nice Irish winters evening, something to look forward to.
It's all just a plan at the mo.

serendip

Have you googled "Voies Vertes Bretagne"? There are Voies Vertes for much of that route.

Also see:

http://www.stanfords.co.uk/stock/brittany-cycle-atlas-112720/

and:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0955708850/ref=oss_product

Planet X

Brilliant. They seem indispensable. Very good. Will buy.

serendip

I got them recently. I'm planning a similar (but somewhat shorter) trip the week after next.

serendip

serendip wrote: »

http://www.stanfords.co.uk/stock/brittany-cycle-atlas-112720/

I should mention that this is in German. The maps are excellent, but the descriptive text will not be so useful unless you can read German.

serendip

I'm just back from a week-long tour of Brittany. I've written up a trip report here:

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?doc_id=7752

feck sake lads

great write up i really enjoyed that thanks for sharing.i also have a sherpa great bike.

Planet X

Got the Voies Vertes about two weeks ago and a Mitchelin Road map of Brittany.
All planned out...:D:D


Brill. report. Just looking at the pictures, seems you got good weather aswell.

How's the knee?

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

serendip

Planet X wrote: »

How's the knee?

My left knee is still slightly uncomfortable, not sore, going up and down stairs. I tried my son's bike as he was heading off to school this morning, very gently. It'll probably be safe to get back on the bike in a day or two. But better safe than sorry.

The funny thing as that the first problems I had were in my right knee, but they went away all by themselves.

feck sake lads

bump this thread up lads anything happening for the coming months touring i mean .want to share any routes around ireland.;)

Canis Lupus

feck sake lads wrote: »

bump this thread up lads anything happening for the coming months touring i mean .want to share any routes around ireland.;)

I'm off to Africa May 2nd :P Unless Morocco flips out or Ivory Coast pulls W Africa into a war in which case I'll just head East via Europe.