forums

[Mtb tourer]

Is this the only UK based forum that is active for touring, been on 2 others and they usually post for info . Is it all about organised tours today, pay the money and tour in a group insulated from the locals.

[Nearholmer]

There is a big following for “bike packing” (cue string of assertions that it’s just a recent marketing ploy, reinventing what we all did the old days under a new name, etc), involving lightly loaded, often but not always fairly short-duration, touring, often largely off-road, but the socialisation around that tends to go on via Facebook, rather than forums of this style.

[mattheus]

There is a big following for “bike packing” (cue string of assertions that it’s just a recent marketing ploy, reinventing what we all did the old days under a new name, etc), involving lightly loaded, often but not always fairly short-duration, touring, often largely off-road, but the socialisation around that tends to go on via Facebook, rather than forums of this style.

It's mostly on the 'Gram. Man.

Do keep up!

[brianleach]

https://www.cycletouring.org/

There is this one which has a completely different emphasis but is about connecting individuals rather than companies I think. It was set up when CTC gave up its tours as I recall.

[Mtb tourer]

We bump into very few British tourists/bikepackers ,last ones were Morocco and 2 in Eire last year.
lots of Europeans bikepacking/touring . Fixed center or organized is popular, mainly for those on race /sportive bikes . Lots like seeing a different country without carrying gear ,it's big business now catering for that style of holiday.
Probably true that the bikepackers are the new tourists, met quite a few going up through Spain last year.

[simonhill]

It would be interesting to know how many people in the UK tour. One off, occasionally, regularly, etc. Camping or hotel, bike packing or panniers, etc, etc

From what I see home and abroad I don't think it is very many.

Are there any stats? Or educated guesses. I wonder if the (previously known as) CTC ever knew.

[MrsHJ]

There are some Facebook forums. Tends to be a higher proportion of people who haven’t toured before and some of the pages are area specific.

[Mtb tourer]

With the youth hostel system today it's an expensive way to get away from the cities. And they are few and far between.
.camping is just as bad. Can't wait for a good weekend forecast and go ,its book well in advance.Bikepacking wins today ,a tiny tent tarp or bivi bag and your good to go .Find a spot put of sight and that's the nights stop sorted.

[Ron]

It's mostly on the 'Gram. Man.

Telegrams are back?
Shock horror.

[Mtb tourer]

Even worse with selfies attached.

[pjclinch]

With the youth hostel system today it's an expensive way to get away from the cities. And they are few and far between.
.camping is just as bad. Can't wait for a good weekend forecast and go ,its book well in advance.Bikepacking wins today ,a tiny tent tarp or bivi bag and your good to go .Find a spot put of sight and that's the nights stop sorted.

For some values of "camping"...
Sort of places you can just plonk a bivvi down are often also the sorts of places you can put an actual tent down, especially off-road, and in summer in Scotland not get eaten by midges while pitched.

Couple of summers back we did a road tour across Scotland and back using formal sites every night on a "just turn up" basis, and had absolutely no problem with spaces, so pick time and place well and no booking is needed.

Pete.

[mattheus]

It's mostly on the 'Gram. Man.

Telegrams are back?
Shock horror.

Everything comes round again, given long enough!

[Cowsham]

With the youth hostel system today it's an expensive way to get away from the cities. And they are few and far between.
.camping is just as bad. Can't wait for a good weekend forecast and go ,its book well in advance.Bikepacking wins today ,a tiny tent tarp or bivi bag and your good to go .Find a spot put of sight and that's the nights stop sorted.

Bivi bag -- not for me -- you'd probably drown and the tarp would be blown away ( where I live ) -- a real good tent and I'm happy. Wild camping -- no problem but the price of campsites now is getting ridiculous.

[Navrig]

There are some Facebook forums. Tends to be a higher proportion of people who haven’t toured before and some of the pages are area specific.

A lot of the Touring Groups on FB are full of beginners which is fine but so many of them are asking basic questions which could be answered quickly by a web search.

I think Forums, like this one, are a much better source of advice because the information is not "lost" within a day or so and the search functions tend to be better. I like this forum and the Thorn Cycles forum.

[brianleach]

A lot of the Touring Groups on FB are full of beginners which is fine but so many of them are asking basic questions which could be answered quickly by a web search.

I think Forums, like this one, are a much better source of advice because the information is not "lost" within a day or so and the search functions tend to be better. I like this forum and the Thorn Cycles forum

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