> I have my pack weight down to
about 8 pounds. I hate to put on a rack and panniers that weigh more
than that.
>Ive thought about just carrying my pack on my back.. but I love "riding"
I think that in most cases the rack and panniers is still the ideal
option. Although I wish there were some lighter weight choices
available commercially for racks and panniers.... Unfortunately
they're made to support the weight of over loaded tourists.
When you think about it as a percentage of you bike weight rather than
a percentage of your pack weight then it becomes less outstanding.
If we're getting technical it's time we started thinking about it in
terms of bike weight + pack weight + possibly even rider weight
because afterall it's all three of those that you have to lug up that
hill at the end of the day.
We haven't had alot of discussion about the bikes themselves and I'm
sure theres plenty of threads to come on that issue alone.... Also
because most of came from the backpackinglight group there a question
of where to draw the line in the sand as what is necessary
discussion... Some of our members don't have that same background and
so discussions about tarptents and alchohol stoves would be directly
releted to cycle touring and cycle touring only.
I'm still excited about this group and as the ice starts to thaw and
my thoughts turn toward this summer's trips I think of more and more
ideas I want to throw at the group.
The list has been pretty quiet. Have we said all there is to say? I really enjoyed Kent Peterson's post about his overnighter last week. That is the kind of...
I've gone from solo fully loaded, to group rides where they carry all my gear (AIDS Lifecycle from SF to LA, twice), and am tending back toward solo touring....
I weighed my tent and sleeping bag yesterday, thinking they couldn't possibly weigh that much, and that spending money on new, lighter- weight gear might not...
Look very carefully at the Tarptent line of single walled tents. I have the Virga 1 with the extended beak and extended tub style floor. The tent is as large...
... Good suggestions. Thanks. People seem to be in love with the Tarptents, so I'm going to purchase one. I am slightly concerned with how the Tarptent (I...
... I can tell you that any wet bag is miserable, whether it's down or synthetic. http://westernmountaineering.com/ For the lightest and warmest bags, look at...
Hello, I have the Kelty Lightyear 25 and it is a down bag. My bag is 1 year old. I have used it a couple of times and it worked good. It packs down small....
I think a case can definitely be made for down bags when it comes to cycle touring. The main argument against them seems to be that getting them wet renders...
I have the WM catalog here and it shows the lightest bag they have, the LineLite, at 14 oz and pack size of 6x10. Its rated for 45 degrees. Mine is the...
... I hope not. Nobody has really discussed the bikes themselves yet (?!?!) ... Interesting choice of wording. I see any touring where you carry your own...
... I sure hope not. My guess is that winter is not a great time to talk about touring. ... Originally, when we started this list, the idea is my mind was to...
... about 8 pounds. I hate to put on a rack and panniers that weigh more than that. ... I think that in most cases the rack and panniers is still the ideal ...
I'll add my testament about the 50-degree bag. Very comfy, and it really does pack down to a coffee can. Quite amazing, light (1 lb. 11, I think) and...
I have used this bag for about 50 nights, including on a 23 day bike tour of Nova Scotia last summer. A great bag, quilted great in my hammock, but the regular...
One thing I bring along, too, are clothespins. If I get into camp early enough, it's handy to air out shorts and other items by simply clipping them to the...
I don't know how a down bag could be any smaller than my synthetic-fill, 50-degree bag, which is about 9" long by 5" diameter. It doesn't even take up half of...
My point is that a stronger case can be made for down when cycle touring than it can for hiking. Yes the wrong combination of events can cause some grief. If...
True enough, but it happens to rain on occasion. I once rode in the rain for three days straight, and everything was soaked, despite triple-bagging, Gore-Tex,...
... Thanks for everyone's responses. What I think it really comes down to is whether one prefers risky behavior or not. A safe bet is synthetic, with the...
Ill add one more data point to the mix. I was out hiking and came up to a trail ranger that was responsible for training rescue dogs. She said no matter what...
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