Cycling UK Forum

Who has them and how beneficial do you find them?

Also, I've been looking at prices and it seems that you can find them for less than £5. Am I to assume that paying peanuts means you still get monkeys?

Regards

Jason

I ended up buying the Alpkit 'Kipper'...

It's the kid's sleeping mat, but with the dimensions only 2cm shorter in length and 10cm shorter in width than the adult size, and a whole 140g lighter in weight... I was without a choice!

Self-inflating, good quality material and lightweight for 1/3 of the price of the more expensive brands.

Bargain

Anybody have an ideas for a lightweight/foldaway sleeping mat. Preferably something that can be stored away in a stuff sack...

Jason

Evening clothes come in handy for pubs etc...

Not essential but if I can fit them on the back of the bike, then would prefer to have them. Im by no means a glamper of any kind... But I would like to be lightweight and still enjoy the trip.
I guess it depends on what you feel is essential, useful or luxury.

I'm taking the tent and my friend is taking the bags...
Weighs the same, and worked well when cycling JOGLE.

I have a two week cycle ride coming up at the end of March

I've decided I 'need' new panniers... but then after reading about ultra-light cycling man, I figured I could just use a dry stuff sack and attach it with a bungee cord as he's done.

Our camping equipment is being split between myself and one other.
On the back I plan on having:
Evening clothes,
toiletries,
Plimsoles
Lock
Cycle clothes
Chargers, cables etc.

Everything else i need is going in the handlebar bag...
FA Kit
Micro-fiber towel
W/proof jacket
Camera
Spare phone
Chamois cream
Tools

Does this sound reasonable?

Have managed to fit standard pannier rack with tubus adapter pack and p-clips...

Basically had to force it on - frame scratched to bits

Hopefully will hold up

PH wrote:EDIT - Should have asked - What's currently on your bike and what's is wrong with it? That's probably the best starting point.

Its the hard, its plastic, it hurts and there is no pressure release channel...

It seems leather saddles are the way forward, but do also need to be broken in, which I don't really have the time to do.

On wiggle, they sell a Charge Pan which is leather...

will this compare to a brooks?

Jason

Brooks B17 isn't really an option considering my low budget and the need to purchase one before the end of the month.

Does anybody have any experience with the Charge Spoon/stool/pan bill?

I need a comfortable saddle that won't make me infertile after two weeks cycling @ 70+ miles a day lol.
Im fairly skinny and so have quite a bony ass if that makes any diff?

I understand that the Brooks B17 is the favoured choice but it just isn't an option unless someone gives me one for free lol

thanks for replies

Hello All,

Can anyone recommend a saddle for touring to go on my road bike?
Cheaper the better really because don't have a lot of money.
What do people think of gel saddle covers?

Jason

Bike is the Barracuda Sharpfin... Retails around the £300, but I've bought one for £165 by trading in my old bike

I'm aware that the bike wont be particularly strong, but with an 'ultra-light' mind set, I'm guessing it should be ok?

Well...

I've bought P-Clips for the top end and a tubus attachment kit for the bottom end to fit my standard pannier rack to my new road bike.

Hopefully I can keep the weight to around 7-8kg, as well as using a handle bar bag.

As the bike is entry-level, will it be up to the task??

Jason

nmnm wrote:

jdudleyuk wrote:Ok well I'm thinking I'm not going to need too much...

Second set of cycling clothes,
Evening clothes
Micro-fiber towel
Puncture repair bits an pieces.
A remarkably light two man tent.
Trusty chamois cream
Toiletries
Bike lock

Not a great deal more that's significantly weighty...
I'm also going to be using a handlebar bag which will carry around 6 litres.

You'll need sleeping bags, mats, luggage - all big weight items. I think Brucey's maybe about right with his 12-15kg estimate given the 3 sets of clothes, handlebar bag etc..

I definitely wont be taking three sets of clothes!! lol
I'm thinking as light as possible as the bike is quite light weight and obviously I don't want to treat it like a tank.
Also the weight of the tent is equivalent to the weight of our two sleeping bags, therefore one will carry the tent whilst the other carries the bags.
I'm confident that i can really keep the weight down, it's more about which rack is going to be most up to the job.

I'm swayed toward the standard rack with attachments so far

Daddig - Just checked the saddlebag out! Great idea but a tad expensive as i already have pannier racks... are there cheaper options which have a decent enough capacity to take most of my luggage?

Cheers for the reply

nmnm wrote:Browse the ultralight tour guy's site for a few ideas, some of them tongue in cheek.

That certainly inspires some confidence.

The reason for asking about a seatpost rack is that my bike has no eyelets for pannier attachment and was wondering what my options were.
So now the question is, do I buy a seatpost rack or attachment kit for standard rack?

Jason