Touring in the 50's
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Re: Touring in the 50's
You wanted weight. I don't have weight. I can show you volume.
Kazimierz Nowak, Mediteranian-Cape Town-Mediteranian, mid-1930s
Kazimierz Nowak, Mediteranian-Cape Town-Mediteranian, mid-1930s
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Re: Touring in the 50's
Young Leopold Wenger on his way to a Hitler Youth Rally, 1937
Wenger was only, hmm, 16? He slept on the ground with no tent. Ah, youth!
Wenger was only, hmm, 16? He slept on the ground with no tent. Ah, youth!
Last edited by Sid Aluminium on 25 Sep 2021, 4:43pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Touring in the 50's
Norma Jean Belloff, 53 days diagonal across the USA, 1948
Traveling light and fast, Miss Belloff also did not take a tent. When she could not find indoor accommodation, she did what we call in Texas 'cowboy camping' - roll your pallet out on the ground.
Traveling light and fast, Miss Belloff also did not take a tent. When she could not find indoor accommodation, she did what we call in Texas 'cowboy camping' - roll your pallet out on the ground.
Last edited by Sid Aluminium on 25 Sep 2021, 4:45pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Touring in the 50's
Victor Franco on a big orbit of the USA, 1950
Quality gear, not too much, well packed.
Quality gear, not too much, well packed.
Last edited by Sid Aluminium on 25 Sep 2021, 4:45pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Touring in the 50's
The aforementioned Brian Walker in France, 1950
"The really successful lightweight camper is one whose pack shrinks every year and whose enjoyment increases in ratio with every vanished ounce." - Brian Walker
"The really successful lightweight camper is one whose pack shrinks every year and whose enjoyment increases in ratio with every vanished ounce." - Brian Walker
Last edited by Sid Aluminium on 25 Sep 2021, 4:56pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Touring in the 50's
Heinz Helfgen around the world, early 1950s
His book of adventures does not seem to have ever been translated into English. IIRC he made a point of not taking much nor having appreciable funds.
His book of adventures does not seem to have ever been translated into English. IIRC he made a point of not taking much nor having appreciable funds.
Last edited by Sid Aluminium on 25 Sep 2021, 4:48pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Touring in the 50's
Gustaf 'Stälfarfar' Häkansson on his bucket list ride from Sweden to the Holy Land, 1959
He famously entered a Swedish stage race in 1950. I believe he was in his mid-70s at the time of his Israel trip. In 1962 he rode from Sweden to Vatican City to meet the Pope. What a mountain of gear on that roadster! OTOH, very spiffy dresser!
He famously entered a Swedish stage race in 1950. I believe he was in his mid-70s at the time of his Israel trip. In 1962 he rode from Sweden to Vatican City to meet the Pope. What a mountain of gear on that roadster! OTOH, very spiffy dresser!
Last edited by Sid Aluminium on 25 Sep 2021, 4:53pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Touring in the 50's
Heinz Stücke in 1966. He left home in Germany and stayed on the road for some 48 years!
He seems to have a lot more dunnage than his tour-for-decades contemporary Ian Hibell.
He seems to have a lot more dunnage than his tour-for-decades contemporary Ian Hibell.
Last edited by Sid Aluminium on 25 Sep 2021, 5:07pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Touring in the 50's
Colin Martin, brilliantly packed for around-the-world, 1969
Re: Touring in the 50's
thanks freiston and PT. does seem odd that they didn't come up with anything better. Lack of perceived demand maybe? I do have an old raleigh bike I acquired but never really ridden - must say I wouldn't trust its rack for much.freiston wrote: ↑24 Sep 2021, 11:42pmI do remember my Karrimor pannier rack (I recall that we called them "carriers" rather than racks) swaying side to side when loaded. Before that, I vaguely remember a chromed steel wire affair and I do remember thinking the Karrimor to be better in both rigidity and weight. A lad who joined us for a trip had an awful tubular rack that fixed with large eyes over the axle and clamped with a single wide plate across the back of both seat stays.PT1029 wrote: ↑24 Sep 2021, 9:46pmUntil Jim Blackburn racks came along, no rack that I am aware of had triangulated design struts, so the rack could flex/wobble from side to side when loaded (pedealling out of the saddle was always an interesting experience).why were there not rigid rear racks? One would have thought that in the glory days of heavy engineering they would be rigid. Heavy maybe but tough
Most racks were 3 point fixing (drop outs plus brake bolt) allowing for even more flex. Anyone who went camping with a Tonard Brazing Co rack will remember this.
Karrimor racks were a bit better (clamped to the seat stays), though the metal was a tad slender, I often used to see racks that had taken a permanent set to one side or the other.
Before my cycling days, I remember using 1950s (or earlier?) canvas "bivouac tents" with poncho groundsheets when camping with the CCF.
Sweep
Re: Touring in the 50's
I've just taken a quick look at some old stuff I have "digitised" on the PC, particularly some 1952 CTC gazette pdf files. I couldn't see any rear rack except for this one in an advert - otherwise almost exclusively saddlebags [EDIT: - I've just noticed that in the advert, the racks are referred to as "carriers" not "racks"]:
I also found this advert for a "pup tent" - only 4½ lbs in weight:
The awful "pannier rack" that I mentioned previously was very similar to this:
Disclaimer: Treat what I say with caution and if possible, wait for someone with more knowledge and experience to contribute.
Re: Touring in the 50's
Long distance cyclists had custom made racks built into the frame. Pictured are Hibbell’s Argos bike and a 1962 Jack Taylor.
Re: Touring in the 50's
That’s for the canvas. I wonder what the poles (x2) and rubber proofed cloth groundsheet added. Then there’s the pegs and rope. That 4.5 lb is more likely 9 lb.
Re: Touring in the 50's
Pah! They're optional extras - cut your own poles and pegs from a nearby coppice and use your capes as groundsheets
Disclaimer: Treat what I say with caution and if possible, wait for someone with more knowledge and experience to contribute.