Cycling UK Forum

Many thanks to all the people who responded. It has sparked some interesting comments, debate even, and I have probably changed my mind about the bike as a result. I think I'll still want to travel with 4 panniers, but more for balance than anything. I do travel quite light, but I do seem to be really bulky. Super light shoes, but super bulky at the same time. I also like to have the room to buy some shopping including that essential bottle of wine. I cook quite a lot and need space for the stuff.
It was going to be a fairly lightweight titanium tourer with carbon forks, (hence no front panniers) and it will now definitely be a steel tourer with mountings for panniers on the front fork, albeit with Rohloff hub, so still far too expensive ..... Ah well!
Thanks to you all again - and happy touring.

I'm currently in a position to buy a fairly light touring bike, (titanium) that will not accommodate front panniers. The bike suits me perfectly in every other aspect, and, as it will be very expensive, the lightness will make it an excellent machine for regular club use as well as summer tours.
I generally expect to tour for up to a month at a time in the summer. and I have always gone with 2 front and 2 rear panniers and no other storage. I camp and cook, but take a lightish load nonetheless. Does anyone feel that I will be able to substitute the front panniers with one of the the new 'frame bags' combined with a bar bag? And could this combo make up for the loss of both front panniers?

Thank you Bikerwaser. Lovely accounts of your trips which I find quite inspiring.
Best wishes

I'm cycling /camping from Bordeaux to Cherbourg this June and hoping to do quite a bit of wild camping on the way. Can anyone tell me how they've found this in France. Legality, acceptability etc.
Also ... whilst you're here! ... has anyone experience of being dropped off by the Bike bus in the south of Bordeaux and successfully crossed the city to head up the peninsula to the ferry to Royan. It's crossing the city that gives me the shivers a bit. Ta and, as usual a bottle of fine malt to the first person who gives out the kind of advice liable to save at least the cost of two bottles of fine malt.
Thank you all for your helpful comments and advice so far. I will be camping in municipal sites when I find them, but they are often not in the village you arrive at at 9pm, and so the wild camping. The bikebus arrives in Bordeaux at 6am on Sunday morning, so it shouldn't be a problem to cross the city, but I did hope that someone might know of a wonder route (ie dedicated and well marked cycle route ) - just in case!
Oh, the bottle of malt goes to my wife for suggesting I use this forum. Sadly she doesn't drink whisky so ......... Cheers!

gloomyandy wrote:My first tour for years, camping by the beach on Tiree, and to top it all later on I saw an otter!


Hope you don't mind a couple of images...


Andy

PS First post in these parts...

Certainly don't. Looks wonderful.

The campsite in Nevers itself is full of, mostly Dutch cyclists who mostly seem to be heading for the med. I would advise you to pitch on the lower slope adjacent to the river where most of the cyclists seem to congregate and where security for you and bike is best. You can swim in the Loire if you're feeling brave.