Cycling UK Forum

I can get front and rear , both 36 spoke with Deore hubs for £114. Not hand built but will these do the job for fully loaded touring? I dont want to go as extreme as Sputniks bit need something stronger and slightly wider than an open pro.

jags wrote:ok so i went and bought the garmin hcx legend and a blank sd card so how now do i get a map of Ireland onto it
keep this simple lads total idiot all things tech.

I have the same as you. Great bit of kit but a steep learning curve in trying to use it.

Here are some links to help you when you get it : These will explain everything so much better than the instruction book.

http://cycleseven.org/garmin-etrex-hcx- ... ring-setup

http://www.aukadia.net/gps/lwg_0.htm

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.ph ... sta-Thread


I originally downloaded free maps from openstreetmap but in areas of France they were lacking in detail, also to convert them to use on mapsource is a bit fiddly.

I did 11 days in France in June. I camped at a cost of between 4 Euros and max was 15 Euros (4 star camp site bells and whistles etc).

I didnt have a budget but out of choice purchased everything in supermarkets / small shops from bread to every bit of food I ate / cooked. I didn't eat out. Lets be honest we are on about cycle touring arent we? We are not doing a weekly shop so I struggled to notice harldy any difference in prices from the UK on my minimal daily supermarket spend which was about 15 Euros a day.

The nature of touring means that you will more often or not have to use the small village shops and these are bound to be expensive than Tesco and Asda but its the same in villages over here.

I think I spent about £150 on campsites and food over the 10 days.

I have the Garmin etrex Legend and found it invaluable on my recent Spain to UK tour. However I would advise also using a map, Michelin 1:200 000 in addition .

For users of the Etrex who dont want to carry a charger etc and who want maximum life I would recommend AA lithium batteries. I am getting between 30-40 hours a pair using these.

foxyrider wrote:For me there is only one choice - Vaude Taurus Ultralight or maybe the very slightly heavier Power wind proof version or extended XP. Weight is under 2kg, its tall enough to sit upright in and if you were close it will take 2 persons. Just because you are on your own doesn't mean you can't have some comfort!

http://www.vaude.com/epages/Vaude-de.sf ... cale=en_GB

Been using mine for 10 years and its survived Alpine thunderstorms, gale force winds and travelling over 10,000km on my bike!

Ive got a Vaude Taurus ultralite and agree its a great little tent. It cost me just over £100 last year in a sale at Blacks. A few issues, I am 6'1" and lengthways found it a touch too small. I used it for the first time in the Pyrenees only to find a small tear in the tent (roof) that leaked in the night and got me wet . Vaude didnt respond to my e mails as to how to repair it as the fabric is silicone based. Did some research and ended up using domestic silicone sealant for the repair - nice to see yours has survived 10 years!

Hypocacculus wrote:I've posted this before, but I think this guy has taken things pretty much to the limit.

http://ultralightcycling.blogspot.com/

he also is a bit economical with the realities of touring ie Wash your clothes in the evening so they dry by the morning. when what he actually means is wash your clothes in the evening and then put them on wet in the morning. Apart from that a good read however the cooking / having a hot brew part I feel is essential( he doesnt believe in it)

He is happy to go with 8kg- Im happy to go with 20kg. I recall reading a post on a guy doing Europe and was in the Pyrenees and he had 60kg of gear

The tunnels I encountered crossing the Pyrenees last month weren't open to cyclists, this was on the Spanish side on the C152 /C36 and the C38. I just carried on anyway apart from one particular tunnel which was about 3 miles long so had to take a detour.

Trust me ...I am counting. Things arent good at the moment and if this Government have their way my leaving date wont be 2017...it will be 2026. Dont they know I have plans for 2017 that include a Pinarello for the weekend, a new Touring bike and an open ended tour to..wherever!

Great read

We have several things in common..same bike, understanding wives , job ? however.... I still have 5 years 9 months until my 30 is up

I know that camp site off the A30 as I worked in that area for 5 years (Blackmore Vale caravan site?)..beautiful part of the world. Out of interest, apart from the saddle have you changed anything on the Tricross and what do think of it for touring? I use mine for touring (just done Spain to St Malo) commuting and day rides..a great all round bike but have my eyes on something a bit more solid (Surly LHT or similar).

Have you tried this site

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/

also

http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co ... earch.aspx

Ive just done a quick search on the first site above and there appears to be plenty of choice

Have you considered a specialized comp stem

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... gn=froogle

Its adjustable but because the adjustment is done with an internal shim you dont get it working loose or creaking. Should fit your bars as well.

I read the great soap debate before my recent tour. I did 29000 feet of climbing in 10 days (you may do more) and it worried me non stop beforehand- this weight issue.

However this is what i decided / did....

the greatest pleasure you will get at the end of each day is a hot shower!!!....and a meal. I took one bar of soap, one very small tube of shampoo, a tube of travel wash and a small container of washing up liquid.

I washed my hair with the shampoo - and sometimes my body ...it was great..sometimes I was in the shower so long i used the soap. The travel wash cleaned my clothes and the smidgen of washing up liquid cleaned my cooking stuff.

The trick was to take a little of each....its no great mystery

I dont think Willem realises you leave in the morning ..not the best time for a weight / equipment debate?

We would all love to have the money to afford quality lightweight equipment but if I can drag 20kg in 4 panniers over the Pyrenees then back to the UK on a non touring bike and get a shed load of satisfaction out of doing just that with the equipment I have then you will enjoy your tour just as much.

Like you i never had issues down below before but It crept up on me on day 4/5 as my mileage increased . Took a small pot of vaseline and it worked fine during the day, the sudocreme is basically nappy rash cream so is well proven and can literally sort things out overnight,I took a very small pot.

I had rain most days so was for ever drying stuff out and the washing line was invaluable (as were the pegs!)-.when riding I bunjeed wet washing to the rear rack, and often it would dry during the day. Also took some Tesco wet wipes (the cheap ones at 18p) - they were brilliant for everything, hands, bike, cleaning cutlery, spillages- worth considering if not on the list.

Have a fantastic tour and best of luck

It may be too late but why take a whole chain? A couple of links and sram connectors weigh nothing. I really dont think you will need spare pads for the trip if your current ones are new.

Are you taking a piece of washing line and some pegs? or a travel washing line? Do you have a liner for your sleeping bag? Travel sink plug for sinks in the camp sites that dont have plugs. Vaseline for your bum and sudcocreme at night to clear up any saddle sores....worked a treat for me its that good.

If you are taking 2 pairs of shorts you wont need trousers, if mossies start biting use the spray. Sunglasses?

Just some thoughts.

Further: even if your panniers are waterproof use rubble sacks as well, when it rains and your panniers are wet you can slip the rubble sack out and sort out your kit in the tent without getting things inside the tent wet.