From: blue yin <blue_yin@...>
Subject: [ultralightbiking] Urban Touring with a carbon fiber road bike?
To: ultralightbiking@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 9:42 PM

Hello all, In two months I am leaving for a 7-9 day cycling trip around south florida.
I will probably do the 100mile+ keys route there and back, then putter about the
coast line. I anticipate about 7 days of road cycle touring avg 50-80+ miles per
day. I own a Specialized Tarmac Elite $1800+, full carbon fiber bike. I want to
tent camp in national/state parks most of the time. I will probably bring an
ultra light weight stove and a couple backpaking meals but mostly will buy cheap
food on the road (pizza). My questions are:
1) Is my bike too expensive to cycletour with? As in will it get stolen even if
i lock it up with a GOOD lock, while i shop for groceries/eat food, walk around,
or sleep. I plan on putting a tyvek cover over it and have it partially in my
vestibule while i sleep. 2) Am I insane to think i can get all my ultra lightweight gear on it w/o
panniers? Here is what im thinking:
a) 3 pound 2 person tent, body in some sort of handlebar bag, or just
strapped to the handlebars. Packed it is less then 1 foot by 5 inches. VERY
small. b) tent rods against the frame, with padding to keep the frame scratch
free.
c) 40 degree, 1 lbs. 10 oz sleeping bag which I will strap to the
back/bottom of my seat measures 1foot 1 inch by 5 inches. I may get a
compression bag to make it smaller. d) light Dueter or Camelbak bike specific hydration system/backpack that
has space for a little bit of clothing. 1 spare pair of cycling clothes, rain
jacket, rain pants, 2 pairs of socks, etc etc. Clothes only. e) bike tools, electronics, everything else in the frame bag or possibly
in the handle bar bag. I havnt weighed the gear or decided exactly what I'm bringing but I have
really light weight gear. I think I can get it all on the bike with just a
couple bike specific bags. The question am I crazy to try and do it? And do you
all think its too nice of a bike to have to leave occasionally when I have to go
to the bathroom or grocery shopping. All help/suggestions/comments welcome! blue
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