UPDATE - went!!! Budget touring : seeking advice on equipment

[random37]

My local Adult Community College was offering a course on OS map reading, and the use of a compass.

I thought about doing it, but it doesn't fit in with work and I like to think I can read a map if I have to. I am self taught, though, so maybe I'm missing something?

Worth looking and seeing if your local council has something like that.

[pjclinch]

My local Adult Community College was offering a course on OS map reading, and the use of a compass.

I thought about doing it, but it doesn't fit in with work and I like to think I can read a map if I have to. I am self taught, though, so maybe I'm missing something?

Worth looking and seeing if your local council has something like that.

Map reading for cycling isn't typically that tricky as you're following lines in a network, often with signposts at junctions. If you get in to serious map reading with a compass then you get in to things like slope aspects and micro navigation pulling info out of contour shapes and it's all very cool and everything but frankly a bit OTT for a cycle tour.

Not that I'd want to discourage anyone, mind. If you really want to get good at pulling info out of maps do some orienteering. Like cycling, it's as much of a race as you want to make it so don't get scared off with "but I can't run" thoughts. It's the best way I've ever come across of learning how to use a map, not only knowing where you are but where you're going too.

Pete.

[Vantage]

Bolton, is that near cardiff?

Not really. About 150 miles away.
The little garmin will suffice for now and when that doesn't work (rarely) I have my smartphone as backup. When/if that fails I have a stash of jelly babies to keep me going for a couple miles

[crazydave789]

Bolton, is that near cardiff?

Not really. About 150 miles away.
The little garmin will suffice for now and when that doesn't work (rarely) I have my smartphone as backup. When/if that fails I have a stash of jelly babies to keep me going for a couple miles

I used to navigate using a mail on sunday pocket road atlas - photocopy. but then I have a 3d awareness and think like a pigeon.

even when satnaving it I look the area up first and get my head around the route. google maps satellite view is very handy for this.

[Old Blue]

I have everything together aside from inner tubes which are in the post. Looking at the forecast, most of the days I can get away have at least a 50% chance of rain. My thoughts are that I'll go anyway - as it will enable me to see what touring in less-than-perfect conditions is like, how I cope, what things I wish I had brought, and what things I didn't need. I'm staying less than 20 miles from home in case disaster strikes.

[crazydave789]

I have everything together aside from inner tubes which are in the post. Looking at the forecast, most of the days I can get away have at least a 50% chance of rain. My thoughts are that I'll go anyway - as it will enable me to see what touring in less-than-perfect conditions is like, how I cope, what things I wish I had brought, and what things I didn't need. I'm staying less than 20 miles from home in case disaster strikes.

pah! inner tubes are over rated, real men stuff their tyres with clay - the ultimate in eco friendly solid tyre solutions.

[Vorpal]

pah! inner tubes are over rated, real men stuff their tyres with clay - the ultimate in eco friendly solid tyre solutions.

Good thing Old Blue isn't a real man, then.

[crazydave789]

pah! inner tubes are over rated, real men stuff their tyres with clay - the ultimate in eco friendly solid tyre solutions.

Good thing Old Blue isn't a real man, then.

aye if he was he'd be cruising the wolds in corduroy trousers, arran sweaters and jesus sandals.

[Vorpal]

pah! inner tubes are over rated, real men stuff their tyres with clay - the ultimate in eco friendly solid tyre solutions.

Good thing Old Blue isn't a real man, then.

aye if he was he'd be cruising the wolds in corduroy trousers, arran sweaters and jesus sandals.

Old Blue said in her first post that she's female. But she might well cruise the wolds in corduroys, arran sweaters, and jesus sandals.

Although wet corduroys and cycling don't mix well...

[Old Blue]

But she might well cruise the wolds in corduroys, arran sweaters, and jesus sandals.

Have you been spying on me...?

I quite like Jesus sandals and Arran sweaters, but I draw the line at corduroys...

[Vorpal]

I quite like Jesus sandals and Arran sweaters, but I draw the line at corduroys...

yeah, me, too

[crazydave789]

Good thing Old Blue isn't a real man, then.

aye if he was he'd be cruising the wolds in corduroy trousers, arran sweaters and jesus sandals.

Old Blue said in her first post that she's female. But she might well cruise the wolds in corduroys, arran sweaters, and jesus sandals.

Although wet corduroys and cycling don't mix well...

oops my bad. I assumed only a bloke would cycle in crocs

wet cords are better than wet jeans, as a child on outward bound courses they recomended them. My grandma used to knit us arran sweaters.

[mjr]

I quite like Jesus sandals and Arran sweaters, but I draw the line at corduroys...

Lots of lines in corduroys!

[Old Blue]

I've been sorting through my bits getting ready to pack my panniers, and found the klick-fix thing that I thought I didn't have for my bar bag.

I also found a mesh bag that fits my "cookset" perfectly, (thank you HobbesOnTour!!) with a little plastic screw top box for the trangia to sit in once it's cooled down. I also have two gas stove thingies (Thank you Vantage!!) but no gas cartridge yet. Since I do have meths, I will see how I get on with the Trangia for this trip and try gas on the next one. My front panniers have turned out to be rear panniers - a set of fairly old Karrimor found on freecycle some years ago. They are a bit larger than the new (to me) rear panniers (Thank you Freiston!!) so I will use the new panniers on the front and the Karrimor ones on the back.

There is someone local selling a down sleeping bag for £15, I am waiting for them to get back to me with details. However for this time of year I think the freebie sleeping bag + liner I already have will be fine, especially with wool base layers, socks, and hat if I get really cold.

I have the tools, tubes, first aid kit, even most of the food to take with me . Now I just need to decide which direction to go and which campgrounds I will stay in. I'm sure the actual trip will be the fun part but I'm quite enjoying getting all the gear together.

[yutkoxpo]

I've been sorting through my bits getting ready to pack my panniers, and found the klick-fix thing that I thought I didn't have for my bar bag.

I have the tools, tubes, first aid kit, even most of the food to take with me . Now I just need to decide which direction to go and which campgrounds I will stay in. I'm sure the actual trip will be the fun part but I'm quite enjoying getting all the gear together.

You seem to have the bottomless "bits box"

Well done on getting enough stuff together to get away.

I'd suggest trying out all your gear at home, if you can, before you head away.
Make sure you can put your tent up. Make sure you can use the stove.
Nothing worse than racing against a rain cloud to pitch your tent..... and losing and then realising that you've forgotten something important (like fuel! ) to make something warm!

Best of luck!