Bike Touring BASICS BIKES & GEAR Choosing a bicycle and the acccessories you’ll need for touring. LIFE ON TOUR Planning a route, finding a place to sleep and what it will cost. INSPIRATION How to get started, where to go and stories from experienced cyclists.

Inspiring you to explore on two wheels A free magazine from www.TravellingTwo.com TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page 4 - Why Go Bike Touring. Page 36 - Training For A Tour. Everything that’s so special about exploring A few things to do, before you take a first trip the world on two wheels. by bicycle.

Page 6 - No Experience? No Worries! Page 38 - How To Pick A Touring Bike. Go on an adventure, even if you don’t have a Over 10 pages dedicated to choosing a touring lot of experience or the perfect equipment. bike. Learn about types of bikes and compo- nents such as frame material and wheels. Page 10 - How Much Will It Cost? A look at different ways of touring, and how Page 52 - Bikes To Consider. much you might spend. A look at some popular touring bikes currently on the market. Page 14 - Five Great Places To Ride. Some favourite bike touring destinations. Page 56 - Gear Focus.

Aside from the bike, what else do you need? ABOUT US Page 20 - Where To Sleep. See our favourite bicycle accessories, camping Photo by Alicia Ackerman, www.cyclingwithoutahelmet.blogspot.com Pitch your tent in a field or splurge on a hotel. gear, bike locks and more. The option is yours. WE’RE ANDREW & FRIEDEL. WE FELL t the time, practical bicycle touring information Page 74 - Loading Up The Bike. IN LOVE WITH BIKE TOURING IN 2006, Awas hard to find on the internet, so we started Page 26 - Route Planning. Now that you have all the equipment, it’s time WHEN WE SET OUT ON A BICYCLE TRIP TravellingTwo.com e — a place to share tips, equip- AROUND THE WORLD. What to consider when mapping out a tour. to learn how to carry it all. We tell you about ment reviews and experiences. panniers, luggage racks and trailers. The site has grown from a personal blog into a commu- Page 30- Solo Or With Friends? nity over the past few years, and our email box has become Should you hit the road alone, or find a friend Page 80 - An Amazing Journey. increasingly full of questions such as Which bike should I to ride with you? A dose of inspiration from Louise Sutherland, a buy? or What do I need to know for my first bike tour? woman who cycled the world in the 1950s. We created Bike Touring Basics to answer those questions. Page 32 - Don’t Freak Out It’s a free guide to the essential things you need to know One woman’s story of her family’s reaction to Page 82 - Equipment List. when getting started. This magazine is our way of giving her plans to ride solo across the U.S.A. Print this checklist so you don’t forget anything! something back to the bike touring world that has given so much to us. GOING ON A BIG TRIP? For even more long-distance touring tips and advice, check out our Bike Touring Survival Guide. Inside you’ll find hundreds of pages of advice for extend- Bike Touring Basics 2015 Edition cover photo ed and international tours, including route planning, what Cycling in Bolivia. Photo by Harriet Pike, www.pikesonbikes.com to put in your repair kit and how to extend the life of your camping gear. Even better - the book comes in 3 formats. This will allow Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition you to print it, to read it on your computer or to load it onto tablets and eBook readers like the iPad, Kindle and Nook This edition was updated by Grace Johnson of Bicycle (PDF, .mobi and .ePUB files). Traveler publications. At just €7.50, it might be the best bike touring bargain going. Download Bicycle Traveler magazine and other FREE cycle touring PDFs at www.bicycletraveler.nl e Buy The Book: www.travellingtwo.com/biketouringguide e

Thanks for your support! z

2 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 23 WHY GO Bicycle touring is heightened awareness. “ It’s the difference between microwaving BIKE TOURING and cooking a meal from scratch. It’s the difference between standing awe-struck in front of a painting and clicking past it on the internet. Now imagine this feeling every day, all day. Something as simple as THE GROUND becomes very important. Is it level? Soft? Wet? You really begin to SEE the ground. You see people. And landscapes. And food. You might even see yourself. -RJ, An Adventure Called Bicycling www.anadventurecalledbicycling.blogspot.com ”

Photo by Angela & Stephane Girard, www.ouestef.net

here is no better way to travel and ex- into full concentration as you spin your legs strike out solo. Pack a little or a lot in your bags. change of clothes. His wallet was empty. T plore than from the seat of a bicycle. furiously to tackle a big hill. Splash out on a posh B&B or camp in the woods. Don’t be discouraged if you’re unfit either. With two wheels under your feet, the world A sense of achievement greets you at the Have a plan or no plan at all. When the going Training can be done on the road, as long as goes by at a perfect pace; fast enough to get top of every climb as you crest the summit gets tough, take time to wait it out or put your you’re willing to take it slowly at first. somewhere and slow enough to admire the proudly, if a bit weak in the knees. With the bike on a bus, train or plane bound for the next As for the other details - what kind of bike, pan- details along the way. hard work over, you can fly down the other appealing destination. niers or trailers, old fashioned maps or a GPS - it’s On your bicycle you are free. You can ride side with ease, stopping at the next store of Above all, don’t be put off by an obsession all a matter of choice. If something doesn’t feel anywhere you like, and stop anywhere that course for a well deserved ice cream. to figure out every last detail. Like any jour- right, try another option until you find a better takes your fancy. Later in the day, you might pitch your tent ney, there’s a lot to think about before you take way of doing things. You can nap when you’re tired, knowing in a campground for the night, get a hotel, be those first steps but, at its core, bike touring is In the end, the best preparation is to get out that you don’t have to rely on a bus to reach invited to spend the evening with a local fam- really quite simple. there and do it. Once on the road, you quickly find your next destination. Just stroke those ped- ily or head back home again. The most crucial ingredients are a bike and a out what does or doesn’t work for you. z als to zip into town for a hearty meal, or head In that flexibility is the most wonderful desire to ride that bike beyond your front door- down a quiet dirt track and make dinner on thing about bike touring: it can be anything step. Experience and equipment are helpful but your camp stove. The choice is yours. you want it to be. by no means required. Back on your bicycle, you’ll pedal along to Karl Creelman, the first Canadian to ride a constantly changing series of sensations. DO IT YOUR WAY around the world, only learned to ride a bicycle One moment you might be daydreaming and Go for a day trip or on a world adventure. a few weeks before making his decision to circle watching the birds. The next, you’ll be thrust Take your whole family and the pets or the globe in 1899. His bags were slim. He had one

4 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 45

NO HERE’S A LITTLE SECRET: WE HAVEN’T ALWAYS BEEN CYCLING FANATICS. BEFORE WE SET OUT TO RIDE AROUND THE WORLD, WE HAD NO BIKE TOURING EXPERIENCE. WE WERE UNFIT FROM EXPERIENCE? YEARS IN THE OFFICE AND WE DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO CHANGE NO WORRIES A FLAT TIRE. hen we launched unprepared figured out that the best wild camping W into bicycle touring, we were spots are hidden, unless you want to simply two people with a dream to see hang out with local teenagers. the world and hunch that maybe – just Despite - or perhaps because of - our maybe – it would be possible and even early mistakes, we learned quickly. Ev- fun to do it on bicycles. ery day we picked up new tricks such as We hit the road imagining that how to fix flat tires and set our tent up everyone would have more experience in record time. We developed an eye for than us: two city slickers, in our 30s, the perfect camping spot. We sent the who’d never even done an overnight champagne glasses back home. And tour before thinking up this crazy ven- one day we found ourselves weaving ture to bike around the world. What we gracefully between heavy city traffic, found couldn’t have been further from instead of nervously dodging cars. the truth. We met students and retired Three years and 50,000km later, we folks. Solo cyclists and families. People were home. Despite setting out with no on first tours and veterans who’d been bike touring experience at all, we made pedalling for years. it all the way around the globe, with a It’s true, we had a steep learning newly discovered passion and dreams curve those first few weeks. Our pan- of dozens of trips to come. niers were filled with things we didn’t We’re telling you this to make the need (anyone want two plastic cham- point that bike touring really is some- pagne glasses?) and our first wild thing anyone can do. You don’t need camping site was in the middle of a to be super fit or below some arbitrary popular local park. On that night we age barrier. You don’t even need to

Friedel smiles for the camera during our world tour. Photo by Andrew Grant, www.travellingtwo.com

6 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 67 know a lot about bike touring, and you certainly don’t need a fancy bike. That doesn’t mean you should drop everything now and run out the door unprepared. Every tip you pick up be- forehand will make life easier. It might even save you some money and frustra- tions along the way. That said, you can learn about and deal with almost anything on the road as long as you go slowly and remain flexible. One of the great joys of bike touring is discovering just how capable and independent you can be. Don’t underestimate your ability to adapt to situations as they crop up. And remember: people of all types and descriptions are out there right now, pedalling across their countries, continents and even the world. You can too, and you’ll have the time of your life along the way. z

Photos by Dennis Koomen, from a tour of the Southwestern United States. See more photos, videos and helpful bike touring tips on his website: www.toko-op-fietsvakantie.nl

8 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 89 Photos by Willem Megens, www.themeeg.nl (left) and Rudi Verhagen, www.themeeg.nl (right)

HOW MUCH in most developed countries and 2-3 years in • Sleeping Mat (Thermarest) - $100 U.S. cheaper destinations such as Thailand and China. • Tent (MSR Hubba Hubba) - $400 U.S. Our total bill for a world tour through 30 coun- WILL A BIKE tries averaged $23 U.S. per day, per person e. For more on gear, see p. 56. That covered routine daily expenses and one-off costs such as flights, visas, vaccinations and bike DOING IT ON THE CHEAP TOUR COST? repairs. It also included treats such as bottles of Can you do it for less? Of course! Start by looking wine, meals out and nights in hotels. for second-hand equipment. Plenty of people have ike touring doesn’t have to cost the earth. By cooking for your- campsites most nights but you How can you save so much money in the first unwanted bicycles and lightly used camping gear Bself, providing your own transport and sleeping in a tent, your might go to a cheap hotel if the place? Here’s how we did it e. hanging around in their basements. daily budget can easily be half of what a typical backpacker might weather is bad. It’s possible to Search eBay and Craigs List, and place a ‘wanted’ spend to travel the same route. afford a short leg by bus or train, STARTING COSTS ad that tells people what you’re looking for. Check That said, it’s easy to burn through cash if you want to spend if you don’t want to cycle the Plan to set aside $2,000-3,000 U.S. if you want to with local cycling clubs and ask your friends if they your days jumping from café to restaurant and your nights in whole way. start touring with a new bicycle and high-quality know of anyone who might have equipment to comfortable hotels. gear - certainly good enough to see you through sell. This takes more time than buying things new, Most people find a happy medium between the two extremes. 3-5 Days: You’ll be cycling lightly many happy years of bike touring. so start searching as soon as you know you want to Spend a few nights camping, for example, and you’ll quickly offset because you probably won’t If you’re suffering from price shock, remember go bike touring. the cost of a hotel and meal out in the next city. need bulky camping gear. In- that things like a stove and a tent save much more As an example of how far you can go on a small Here are a few examples of how far you could get on $500 U.S. in stead, you can stay in a hostel or money in the long run than their initial cost, and budget, we spent a summer cycling around Europe countries such as America, Australia, Canada and much of Europe, B&B most nights. Alternatively, if they give you a great degree of independence. on bicycles that we bought from a charity shop depending on which style of touring you decide to adopt. you enjoy camping you can take Here are some approximate costs: for just $100 U.S. each. We invested another $150 the tent and use your budget to U.S. in a few accessories (including new saddles), 3-4 Weeks: You can travel for up to a month but you’ll need to stick eat most of your meals in restau- • Touring Bicycle (Surly Long Haul Trucker) - unearthed some old camping gear and set off for to a very low budget. This means finding ways to sleep for free rants. You may also be able to $1,300 U.S. 5,000km of cycling adventures. (wild camping, staying with friends or using hospitality groups like travel to and from your tour by • Bike Accessories (pump, water bottles) - Our bargain bikes weren’t without their me- WarmShowers e). You’ll cook all your own food (mostly pasta), and public transport. $50-75 U.S. chanical faults. At that price, you can’t expect a travel solely by bicycle. • Campstove (MSR Whisperlite) - $100 U.S. totally smooth ride. But we overlooked the niggles LONGER TRIPS • Headlamp (Petzl Tikka) - $35 U.S. and treasured the freedom they gave us to go 10-14 Days: With $35-50 U.S. a day to spend you’ll have enough If you save $10,000 U.S., you have • Luggage Racks (Tubus) - $250 U.S. touring when we didn’t have the money to buy for small luxuries like entry to a museum. You’ll free camp or stay in enough to tour for 10-12 months • Panniers (Ortlieb) - $400 U.S. anything better. z

10 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 1011 Greg, our favourite Hungarian, “ was going low-tech from Beijing to Budapest with a tent that cost $12 U.S. from the supermarket. When we asked what it was like in the rain, he told us it was s**t. Greg, if anyone, showed us what is possible if you’re determined enough. -John & Gayle http://slothsonwheels.blogspot.com ”

Camping in Iceland. Photo by Rudi Verhagen, www.themeeg.nl

12 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 1213 CHOOSING WHERE TO GO CAN BE THE TOUGHEST PART OF BICYCLE TOURING. THESE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS, AND THEY’RE ALL WONDERFUL CHOICES FOR A FIRST TOUR. FIVE GREAT PLACES TO RIDE THE NETHERLANDS from high mountain passes No country caters for cyclists as to thick forests and roads that well as The Netherlands. hug the coastline. There are thousands of bike Finding a place to stay is also paths to follow, so you rarely breeze. Aside from the usual need to ride in traffic. When you options such as hotels and com- do have to cycle on a road, car mercial campsites, Tasmania has drivers are very respectful of bi- dozens of free or very cheap cycles and leave lots of room. camping areas, usually run by For a glorious sight, come the local municipality. when the tulips are in bloom (late April to early May). You can SOUTHEAST ASIA also explore windmills, museums For an international winter get- filled with the paintings from the away, we highly recommend a likes of Rembrandt and Vermeer, trip to Southeast Asia. very safe. There is almost no desert. Morocco also has a strong and endless beaches along the Thailand and Malaysia have violent crime in Japan. tradition of Arab hospitality. It’s North Sea. fantastic food. Cambodia boasts Obviously some areas were very common for travellers to Dutch food is cyclist-friendly the famous Angkor Wat temples. devastated by the 2011 earth- be invited to share a cup of tea a too: hearty pancakes and apple In Laos, you can climb high into quake and tsunami but there’s meal with a family. cake with whipped cream can be rain-forest covered mountains on still plenty to explore here You do have to be slightly found at almost every café. nearly empty roads. by bicycle. careful; in tourist areas the cup From the Netherlands, it’s easy Costs are reasonable across For inspiration, check out of tea is often just the start of a to continue on to more super the region. You can feast on Journey of 1000li e and long sales pitch to buy a carpet cycling countries such as France, street food and get a basic hotel Finding Sachi e. but in the countryside the offers Germany and Denmark. room for just $20 U.S. a day. are usually genuine. z The only downside is the heat MOROCCO TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA and humidity. Get up early to Perched at the western tip of Hop on a ferry from the city of avoid the worst of it, and take North Africa, Morocco’s exotic Melbourne, and within a few breaks in the middle of the day. kasbahs, ancient markets, high hours you’ll be rolling your mountains and magical deserts bicycle onto the small island JAPAN are easily reached by ferry or of Tasmania. Japan always seems to get low-cost flights from Europe. They’re trying to encourage glowing reviews from the many The tourism industry is well Dream destinations: bike touring here, so your first bike tourists who cycle there. developed so you can choose to The Netherlands (above) stop should be the tourist bureau It’s not just the temples, sushi sleep in formal accommodation and Southeast Asia (top right) . for free maps and information and hot springs that make Japan or to simply pitch your tent in Photos by Friedel & Andrew, designed just for cyclists. so much fun. the wild: maybe in a dip between www.travellingtwo.com It gets better. The landscape is The people are friendly and mountains, under a palm tree truly beautiful. Expect everything love to help foreigners. It’s also or beside nomad tents in the

14 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 1415 Slovenia’s broad range of geo- “ cultural diversity in such a small country lends itself to nicely bike travel. Pedal 60km in any direction, and you’ll feel like you’ve travelled to another land. -Tyler Robertson www.twowheeltravelblog.com ”

A rest stop in Slovenia. Photo by Chris Gruar, www.cycling4cancer.com

16 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 1617 Curious African children “ often make memorable experiences on the road. -Peter Gostelow www.petergostelow.com ”

Photo by Peter Gostelow, www.petergostelow.com

18 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 1819 ostels are the mainstay of backpackers. CAMPGROUNDS HTravellers with more cash to spend will A warm shower and a place to lay your head splurge on hotels. Where does a bike tourist at a budget price. Sounds great, right? At their WHERE TO go? Just about anywhere. best, campgrounds are indeed a haven for the Here are some of the options, starting with passing bike tourist but some cater better than the ones we rely on most frequently: others to the needs of a cyclist. SLEEP? In the developed world, try and steer clear WILD CAMPING of the swankiest privately-run campsites that Put your tent up in a field, behind some trees are more like holiday parks than a place for a In a tent. In a hotel. or alongside a river. Camping in nature, outside cyclist to spend the night. of the confines of traditional campgrounds, Such places tend to prefer big-spending RVs offers total flexibility, costs nothing and is (some will even turn cyclists away) and charge Nearly anywhere wonderfully tranquil. $25-35 U.S. for what is often a pathetic piece In many parts of the world, where tourism of unshaded grass. isn’t yet common, wild camping may be your If you’re lucky, you’ll find a small campground that takes your only option and is a great way to really get a feel with reasonable prices and a dedicated, grassy for a country’s natural beauty. spots for tents. Sometimes use of a kitchen or Nothing is perfect though. First you have to lounge area is even included. The further off the fancy. find your ideal spot. It should be out of sight beaten path you go, the more rustic the camp- of people and roads and preferably free of any grounds become. These primitive spots are also garbage or graffiti that might indicate a local often very scenic, so we think it’s worth putting hangout. Don’t be afraid to haul your bike over up with the pit toilets! fields or through a stand of trees to find a good spot, far from the road, and avoid dirty roadside rest stops at all costs. If you’re new to wild camping, it’s natural to have some fears in the beginning. You may worry about the police coming to move you on or trouble in the middle of the night from strangers or animals. I carried all my camping The more you camp out, the more you’ll realise how peaceful wild camping generally is, “supplies with me (tent, as long as you follow the golden rules. Stay as sleeping bag, air mattress, hidden as possible (don’t get a yellow tent!) and respect anything that indicates private property et cetera) so that I could like fences, signs and cultivated fields. camp in some of the most We have never been bothered by anyone ap- proaching our tent at night, though shepherds beautiful places in the world in the Middle East often came to invite us home like the World’s Highest or offer us treats like fresh bread. Monastery near Mt. Everest Wild Camping Tips: www.travellingtwo.com/ Base Camp; and many kind resources/wild-camping-a-few-tips e strangers hosted me in their yard, often treating me to a home cooked meal.

-Scott Stoll Camping by Lake Song Kol in Kyrgyzstan. Photo by www.theargonauts.com Friedel & Andrew Grant, www.travellingtwo.com ” 20 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 2021 Our favourite campgrounds tend to be run areas of mosques and monasteries and enjoyed by municipalities and national governments. free camping in America’s local parks. Just ask They make the most of their natural surround- at the town hall and beware of sprinklers set to ings and seem less prone to late night parties come on in the early hours of the morning! or the drone of generators that plagues more Since most of these options involve private commercial sites. land, always ask permission if at all possible. If you can’t find the person responsible for a WITH NEW FRIENDS building, ask the neighbours. In small communi- Everyone you meet is a potential new friend and ties (and these options work best in villages), many are willing to let you stay for a night. they’ll know who to contact or will just give To arrange a night with a new friend, start you permission directly. by checking out sites where people offer free When you can’t spot anywhere immediately accommodation to passing travellers. Of the obvious, ask the locals if they know of a safe many such sites on the web, two stand out: place where you can put a tent for the night. WarmShowers e and Couchsurfinge . The wording is critical here. Don’t ask for a place to camp, or they may assume you want to UNCONVENTIONAL OPTIONS stay for several days. Make sure they understand We have dozed behind churches, in school- you’re just passing through. yards and beside official buildings like By asking around, we’ve ended up sleeping police and fire stations. blissfully on the floors of factories and under the We’ve also laid our mats out in the common disco ball of a Greek bar. z

My favourite place to sleep in Southeast Asia “ was at temples. I would arrive at sunset and after a bucket shower with the monks I would find a quiet place to sleep on the side of the temple floor. At 5am the sounds of the gong and prayers would wake me, and before hitting the road I would enjoy recently blessed food prepared by the local women. There’s nothing like snails and sticky rice before you climb on the saddle for a new day!

-Chris Gruar www.cycling4cancer.com ”

Clockwise from upper left: Sleeping in an African Schoolroom. Photo by Paul Jeurissen, www.pauljeurissen.nl Some shut eye in Arizona, U.S.A. Photo by Cass Gilbert, www.whileoutriding.com Camping in a Thai Monastary. Photo by Amaya Williams, www.worldbiking.info

22 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 2223 A hotel room in Sumatra, Indonesia. Photo by Mark Watson, www.highlux.co.nz

24 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 2425 overview of the terrain and Google Maps but also generate point and an end point, plus a secondary roads. These maps can cue sheets, elevation charts and few milestones along the way. be expensive if you need to buy downloadable GPS tracks. They then let the finer details of several for a longer tour but it’s the trip work themselves out. sometimes possible to get entire OUTLINE YOUR ROUTE We prefer the second op- atlases that cover a whole region Once you have your map, start tion. By planning too well, you in good detail for a reasonable outlining the route you’d like risk losing the spontaneity price. You can then just rip out to take. Remember that you’re that adds so much to the bike the sheets you need and throw not looking for the most direct touring experience. away parts as you go. route, as you might on a car trip, You don’t want to turn down If you prefer electronic maps, but rather the one where you an invitation to spend some a good place to start is with the won’t be constantly annoyed time with a new friend or push mapping option that nearly by the sound of vehicles racing yourself too hard through a heat everyone uses on a daily basis: up behind you. wave, all because you ‘had’ to get Google Maps. Is it likely to gen- As you’re considering various to the campground marked on erate a perfect cycling route for roads, research what you’d like to your schedule. you? No. Will it give you a good see in the area, where the camp- idea of the road options and grounds are and where you can VARIETY IS KEY Photo by Chris & Liz, www.bikeabout.co.uk distances for the route you’re get food and water. Jot this down One final note on planning: a planning? Yes. on the map or in a notebook. contrast in experiences and Think of Google Maps as a Look as well for clues to the sensations helps keep the tour lanning a route for your bike tour is almost as much fun as the rough first sketch, which you can landscape. Sometimes moun- exciting and enjoyable. If you’re P cycling itself. It can also be a little overwhelming the first time then refine using paper maps tain peaks are marked. Different planning 3 days of riding in the you find yourself staring at a map, wondering where to go, but don’t and the tools listed below. Once colours can indicate topography middle of nowhere, schedule a worry; we have lots of tips for planning the perfect bike tour. you have a route, the ‘satellite’ as can water sources. If you’re fol- rest day in a larger town or city setting of Google Maps can also lowing a river to its source, you’re for the fourth day, so you can CHECK THE SEASONS be useful to examine road condi- often going uphill. Vineyards also get a shower and treat yourself Weather can have a big effect on your happiness so research the sea- tions (eg. is there a decent shoul- tend to indicate heavily cultivat- to a great meal. sons to get an idea of what you’re in for. You can deal with almost any der for cycling) or to identify ed land and steep slopes. National parks give you a weather, as long as you know what to expect. Take note: the ‘best’ patches of woodland that might chance to get off the bike and go season for general tourism is not always the best for bike touring. You make a good camping spot. To PLANNING hiking for a day. Coastal routes may prefer to go just outside the high season, when there are fewer take Google Maps a step fur- Some people love detailed itiner- often have nice inland diversions crowds, cheaper flights and the weather is still reasonable. ther, try websites like Ride With aries, where each day’s distance that will let you discover a differ- GPS e, BikeHike e and Cycle and destination is laid out in a ent landscape, just a few miles HOW FAR YOU CAN GO? Route e. They are based on spreadsheet. Others pick a start away from the ocean. z We have a simple formula for determining how much distance we ROUTE PLANNING can cover on a bicycle tour. First, we think about how far we expect to go on an average day. For us, this is about 80km, give or take 20km depending on the terrain. Start with a distance closer to 60km if you’re new to bike touring. We then multiply this average figure by 5 for every week we plan to be on the road. This gives us a good idea of how far we can cycle, while still leaving room for rest days, bad weather and sightseeing along the way. If we’re taking a plane to our destination, we count on one non- cycling day on each end of the trip to prepare for the flight (reassem- bling or packing the bicycle, recovering from jetlag, getting oriented in a new place). GET A GOOD MAP A good map is helpful if you want to find the best roads for cycling. For paper maps, a scale of 1:200,000-1:500,000 gives a good Photo by Neil Pike, www.pikesonbikes.com

26 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 2627 If you can’t find any reliable paper “ maps and the Google cars haven’t yet visited an area, then satellite images are a great help for route finding in remote regions. Find 4WD routes on Google Earth, store track and waypoint information on your GPS, then follow these out in the field. -Neil & Harriet Pike www.pikesonbikes.com ”

Photo by Neil Pike, www.pikesonbikes.com

28 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 2829 Photos by Marija Kozin (left) and Jared Mitchell, www.brakingboundaries.org (right) A SOLO TOUR... Or With Friends?

he bike touring experience can be vastly different, simply COMPROMISE IS KEY there’s always someone coming T depending on whether you decide to strike out solo, go Be prepared to compromise as up alongside for a chat. Things with a friend or in a big group. well. Touring with other people that are simple for solo cyclists or Hitting the road on your own means you run the show. You means trying to reach a group small groups of friends, such as determine how fast to go, when to stop for a coffee break or decision. That in turn means wild camping or stopping to take to take a picture. there’s always someone who a photo, become impossible You also decide how much to spend on your daily expenses doesn’t get what they want. in a very large group. z (without any pressure to join the group for lunch in a restaurant) In big groups, the benefits and when you’re tired, you can just call it quits for the day. When and downsides to touring with you’re alone, there’s plenty of time to ponder your thoughts. friends are exaggerated. Usually At the end of the trip you’ll have a special sense of achieve- there’s a chief organiser, which ment, knowing that you had the resilience and strength to over- means you are freed of the re- come all the challenges along the way. sponsibility of planning a route Touring on your own can be lonely though, especially or even carrying a map – just 10 QUESTIONS TO ASK in desolate, monotonous landscapes. When you get the follow the person in front! And Before committing to a bike tour with someone else, ask each other a few questions: 10th flat tire of the afternoon, there won’t be anyone there when disaster strikes, you’ll have to help lift the mood. 20 people willing to assist. 1. How far do you expect to go per day? 7. If the weather turns nasty, do we ride through With friends, it’s just the opposite. You’ll have someone to On the other hand, even 2. How fast do you cycle? the storm or seek shelter and shorten the tour? celebrate milestones with. There will also be help on hand when something simple like stopping 3. What is your daily budget? 8. Do you want to cook meals together, or you get sick, when the bike breaks or storm clouds roll in. for a coffee can take an hour. It’s 4. Should we stay in hotels, campsites or try apart? Choose carefully though: best friends at home aren’t always also harder to find the tranquil- to wild camp for free? 9. What excites you about touring, and what do best friends on the road. It’s crucial to ensure you have similar lity that attracts so many people 5. How often do you want to take a rest day? you think the most challenging part will be? ideas of what a good bike tour entails before you set out. to bike touring. In a small group 6. What time of the day do you like to get 10. What would your ideal day on the road If you want to start cycling at 7am and your friend loves to you can pull ahead of the crowd started? be like? sleep late, you could be in for more stress than fun. for a while, but in a big group

30 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 3031 MOM? know it might be dangerous. As that, but cycling across the U.S.A. concerned parents and grand I know that it’s I my mother pointed out, bears is nothing compared to what parents who want their ambi- are not the only predators out some folks are doing. tious but sometimes misguided unconventional for a there. She also pointed out that China! Across Africa! Across daughter to be safe from harm DAD? young woman to set it would be very easy to stalk the Himalayas! At least I don’t and unhappiness, especially that me on a bike, to which I replied have to bring a passport, a which she inflicts on herself. out on a trip of this that it would be very boring to head scarf and money to bribe Finally, there is the type of Don’t freak magnitude alone and stalk me on a bike. border guards. worry that is absurd and irra- I know that this trip will I don’t want to cause my fam- tional, stemming from one too on a bicycle. be incredibly challenging and ily undue distress. I don’t want many Dateline Unsolved Myster- out but I’m intermittently lonely, frustrat- them to worry. Trust me, I worry ies about the murders of inno- ing, boring, scary, hot, cold, wet, enough about this trip myself. cent young women. and windy. I understand that this As I see it, there are three types The first two types of worry going to bike trip could suck. And you know of worry going on here, and the can be combated with facts, what? If it sucks I’ll cut my losses challenge is teasing apart the dif- details, packing lists, websites, and change my plans. I can alter ferent types and acting to ame- and long conversations. The last across the country. my route, stop for a few days, liorate them accordingly. type of worry I can do nothing or even fly to Georgia. Heck, I First, there’s the worry and about except exasperatedly sigh Diana Johnson writes about the pre-trip fears of many cyclists can stop in Kansas and settle shock my loving family experi- and shrug my shoulders. I want and of their families. down if I want to. ences because they are non- the blessing of my family. I don’t I try to explain to the non- cyclists hearing about this trip want them to worry about me. cyclists (e.g. my family) that this for the first time. I hope that they’ll come trip is not as shocking as it might Second, there is the worry of around. I think they will. z seem at first. Look around, and you’ll find that cycling across the country is not that uncommon. Old people, young people, couples, and kids are cycle tour- ing all over the place. Not only

It’s both exhilarating “ and mildly annoying when I tell a non- cyclist about my plans to cycle across the continent. “WHAT?!” They exclaim. “You’re cycling WHERE?” And then there’s the inevitable, “By YOURSELF?!” Diana Johnson on the road. Her journal: www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/or2ga2011 Photo by Eric Schambion www.worldbiking.info ”

32 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 3233 Enough planning, just go! “ -Loretta Henderson www.skalatitude.com ”

Photo by Paul Jeurissen, www.pauljeurissen.nl

34 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 3435 We are not super-cyclists who put in hundreds “ of miles a week on the bike. What it really took was the realization that we could do it. I think getting beyond all the ‘what ifs’ and just getting on the bikes is all it takes. We finally realized that all we really needed to do was ‘shut up and pedal’! -Dan, Alison, Sonia & Gus www.shutupandpedal.org ”

Photo by Cass Gilbert, www.whileoutriding.com

the road before you leave. tourists apply doubly to you, give you a much-needed break such as starting with modest from the rigours of the road - TRAINING for a TOUR SHOULD YOU TRAIN? daily distances, having a specific just what you need to keep your On extended tours of several end-point in mind for the day spirits up and renew your energy reparing for a bike tour is really nothing to wor- build cycling into your daily routine. Use your bi- weeks or months, you won’t and knowing where the camp- for the next day. P ry about. Oh sure, it’s true that you need to be cycle to go to the supermarket or to get to work. necessarily need to train nearly grounds or hotels are located. Before long, you’ll find your- in semi-reasonable shape to get started and there Although this is more commuting than touring, it as much as for shorter trips. That’s because you won’t have self naturally rising to bigger are a few logistical quirks to work out: what to pack, will give you experience with all kinds of situations That’s because bicycle touring refined your routine as much challenges. Longer days. Steeper how to pack it and how to deal with daily routines you’ll encounter on tour like traffic, dogs and rain. isn’t the Tour de France. You’re as someone who’s trained hills. Free camping. After a few such as cooking your evening meal on a camp stove. not trying to be the fastest rider before leaving. weeks you’ll start to feel like a It doesn’t take much, however, to become com- ADD WEIGHT AND CHALLENGES on the road or cover the most Muster up your best zen-like real pro, taking everything in fortable with these things. Start in your backyard. Once you’re comfortable with the unloaded day miles. You’re just there to have attitude, to deal with the inevita- your stride. z Take an hour or two to set up your tent (make sure trip, plan a series of weekend excursions. Each time fun. With longer bike journeys, ble snags as you figure out what you know how it goes together and packs back up) you have a successful tour, make the next one a you also tend to have a more works best for you. and test your stove. Make sure you understand the little harder by adding a bit more weight, aiming flexible schedule, so you can Whether you decide to train equipment you’ll be carrying, and try packing it in for a longer distance or picking a route with a few take it slow and build up your diligently before your trip or just your panniers or bicycle trailer. more hills. Little by little, increase your strength strength, endurance and routines leap into the experience and Next, put everything on the bicycle and go a mile until you’re building up to the type of days you’d over the course of several days. start learning, take it easy for the or two up the street. See how the bike feels and re- like to do on tour. Opting to train on the road first few days as you’re adjusting arrange the weight if the bike doesn’t seem stable. The time it takes to reach your goal will depend also takes some of the stress out to your new lifestyle. You could also try a day trip. If you have no biking on your current level of fitness and how ambitious of pre-departure. Who has time While most days will come experience, start with an unloaded bike. Just bring a your target is. After a few of these shorter trips to fit in multiple weekend trips easily, others will test your small bag with essentials like snack food, water and you’ll have a good idea of how ready you are to when you’re trying to re-direct resolve with bad weather, flat a jacket. Pick a moderate route of 30-60 kilometers tackle a bigger journey. your mail, rent out your apart- tires and other challenges. When in an area that you’re familiar with. Have a friend on If you have to fit these trips around work and ment, sell all your stuff and find these tough moments come stand-by to pick you up, or plan a route that passes family commitments, give yourself at least a couple someone to adopt the cat? along, don’t be too hard on your- train and bus stations, so there’s always a lift nearby months to complete your training. Block your bike There are some caveats to the self - and treat yourself if you’re if you need it. touring weekends off in advance so that ‘normal life’ ‘learn it on the road’ method. feeling down. Getting a hotel in At the same time as you’re trying out day trips, doesn’t prevent you from getting a feel for life on All the usual tips for new bike bad weather or eating out can

36 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 3637 a junk shop. They weren’t al- ways a smooth ride (we invested HOW TO PICK A another $100-200 U.S. each in replacement parts) but they took After seeing the locals us on some fantastic adventures, TOURING BIKE without breaking the bank. “ transport bananas, car tires The more remote and lengthy and even whole families your trip, the greater the case for investing a bit more in your on the back of their Indian bicycle. Put a special focus on bikes, many western quality wheels (hand-built if you can afford it), a decent travellers buy an old bicycle, gearset, racks that can handle a heavy load and - of course - a strap their backpack on comfortable saddle. the rack and take off on an Top: a recumbent HP Velotechnik Street Machine. Bottom: a Santos Travelmaster, an ICE Adventure Trike and a Kona Sutra. unforgettable vacation. THERE ARE ALMOST AS MANY TOURING Terrain BIKES, AS THERE ARE TOURING CYCLISTS. For a trip on North America’s -Grace Johnson HOW DO YOU CHOOSE BETWEEN THEM? Great Divide, the longest off- www.bicyclingaroundtheworld.nl HERE ARE A FEW TIPS FOR FINDING YOUR pavement bike route in the ‘PERFECT’ RIDE. world, a mountain bike with ” suspension might be the best henever someone asks us which touring for touring. These include plenty of mounting choice. You’ll appreciate the extra Wbike to buy, we start by reminding them points for luggage racks and water bottles, cushioning on bumpy, dirt roads. that the bike really isn’t so important. and a design that favours a comfortable After all, the history of bicycle touring is riding position over long distances, rather filled with cyclists who covered vast distances than speed. on bikes that seem, on the surface at least, totally unsuitable for the job. 5 BASIC FACTORS Thomas Stevens e circled the world on a Before you start thinking of specific brands penny farthing in the 1880s. Heinz Stücke e and models, consider these basic variables. has covered over half a million kilometers on They will help narrow down your choice. a bike with only 3 speeds. Even the sluggish rickshaw has been used to span continents. Budget The point? A nice bike is just that: nice but A reasonably solid second-hand bike will not essential. Determination and a positive at- start around $200-300 U.S. (check at thrift titude are the most vital factors for a success- shops and ask local cycling clubs if anyone ful trip by bicycle, not the price of your bike. has a bike to sell). And there’s no point in spending so much On the other end of the scale, the very best money that you don’t have any funds left touring bikes are priced at $2,000 U.S. and to actually travel! upwards. If you splurge on an expensive bike, Most importantly, don’t be fooled into you can expect features such as a frame built thinking that buying an expensive bike will to match your specific body measurements, save you from mechanical worries. It won’t. hand-built wheels and the latest technology You’ll have to deal with regular mainte- (Rohloff Hubs and belt drives). You may also nance and unexpected occurrences no mat- be able to choose a custom paint colour. ter which bike you’re riding and, depending where you’re cycling, you might have an easier Trip Duration time getting a basic bike repaired, versus a For shorter tours, where you’re travelling very fancy one with specialist parts. lightly and relatively close to home, just Even in lower price brackets, you should about any bike will do. We personally covered be able to find a bike with some ideal features 5,000km on bikes that cost $100 U.S. e from Malawi bicycle taxi. Photo by Paul Jeurissen, www.pauljeurissen.nl

38 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 3839 I enjoy a spin on 400 from VSF Fahhradmanufak- Other places where manufactur- On the whole, none of these “ my bicycle. It is tur are just a few of the touring ers often cut corners include: things matter much if your goal splendid to feel bikes currently on the market is to take shorter tours, mostly on that strike a good balance be- Racks - Mid-range tourers are paved roads. If you’re planning the wind blowing tween quality and price. often fitted with racks that are a more adventurous trip, factor in my face and the Expect to pay $1,000-1,500 fine for moderate loads but not in the cost of upgraded racks, U.S. for bikes in this category: heavy touring. Often, only a back wheels and a better saddle. springy motion of a significant investment but rack is included and some don’t With a few changes, you can one that should give you many have racks at all. You have to buy turn a mid-range touring bike my iron steed. happy years of touring, and at them as an extra accessory. into a decent bicycle for longer - Helen Keller a price tag that’s significantly expeditions and still come in well cheaper than many high-end Gearing - The gearing can be below the cost of a high-end touring bikes. a bit to the high side, without expedition touring bicycle. Bikes in this category a true ‘granny gear’ for serious If you decide to make up- ” should have: hills. grades, try bargaining with your local bike shop. They might give A Long Wheelbase - This style Wheel Clearance - Check to see you a discount on things like bet- of frame ensures that your heels if there is enough space be- ter quality tires and racks if you’re have plenty of room to clear the tween the frame and the mud- buying a bike at the same time. panniers as you pedal. guards to fit the widest tires. If Planning ahead also helps not, dirt road touring could be make your money go further. Attachment Points - Room for challenging. If you can buy your bike in the 3 bottles plus mudguards and autumn or winter, just as next Mirjam Wouters (www.cyclingdutchgirl.com) has been touring the world for over 10 years. racks is ideal. Wheels - The wheels will prob- year’s models are coming out. Photo by Jane St. Catherine. ably be machine built and not You might get a great deal on Decent Components - The quite as strong as those built last year’s version. popular and robust Shimano LX by hand. and XT groupsets are often used. Expedition Bikes Tires - May be a bit thin for dirt The expedition touring bike On the other hand, if your trip the most common touring chances are you haven’t found Don’t expect much of a choice, road touring. is the big, sturdy brute of the involves mostly paved roads and choice, but certainly a possibil- your dream bike or it needs some however, when it comes to bicycle world. These top quality decent weather then a touring ity. Visit Path Less Pedaled e adjustments. custom options like colours and Saddles - They’re often not the machines are ready to take what- bike with skinny tires will prob- to see how ‘foldies’ are being wheel size. most comfortable models. ever you can throw at them. ably do the job just fine. You used even for a cross-continent, TYPES OF BIKES Some are made by craftsmen, might even get away with taking fully-loaded tour. Now that you have a basic idea turning out a dozen or so bikes a racing bike, as long as you plan If you do go for an unconven- of what kind of bike might be a year from their garage. Others to stay in hotels and travel with a tional bike, you may still be able best, it’s time to learn about come with a brand name like minimal amount of luggage. to get it on that plane (or even the most popular types of bikes Thorn or Koga. ship it ahead by courier) but be for touring. Regardless of their pedigree, Planes, Trains and Buses prepared for a bit of extra hassle. As you shop around, remem- these are bikes you should be Taking your bike on other forms ber that touring bikes aren’t able to ride around the world, of transport can be one of the Comfort commonly stocked by many over mountains, through riv- more stressful parts of touring. The best bike is ultimately the bike shops and certainly not in ers and down rocky tracks with This is doubly true if you choose one that feels best to you. Bike department stores. Track down every confidence that they can an unusually long or wide bike, touring is not supposed to hurt. a specialist dealer who can handle the terrain and the week’s such as a tandem. Before you settle on any bike, give you good advice, and who worth of food you’ve loaded on It makes sense, then, to go for at least a short ride. Bet- will have a few models for you the back luggage rack. choose a relatively standard ter yet, convince the bike shop to try out. Frames are often made to bike if public transport is a big to let you borrow it for a few measure and the wheels will part of your trip plan. You might hours or rent it for a weekend. Mid-Range Touring Bikes almost certainly be the 26” stan- even go for a folding bike like If you return with aching knees, Trek’s classic 520 model, Surly’s dard that is most easily replaced a Brompton or Bike Friday - not a sore neck or strained ankles, Long Haul Trucker and the TX- The very popular Surly Long Haul Trucker touring bicycle. anywhere in the world.

40 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 4041 Across the bike, the focus should be on high quality components and there should also be an ele- ment of beauty. Custom paint jobs and beautiful welding work Riding a tandem isn’t really a fine are to be expected on this level art, more a messy sketchbook of of bicycle. “ wobbles and wavy lines before Rohloff Hubs you get the hang of it, especially Expedition bikes are also where you’re most likely to see the fully loaded. The important thing latest technology, including the Rohloff Hub – a nearly mainte- is to synchronize at all times. nance-free and sealed gearing When stationary, pushing off with system. Because everything is en- a chant of ‘3, 2, 1’ helps takes closed, the Rohloff is great for the strain off the knees. -Chris & Janyis http://thespokeandwords.wordpress.com ”

Alex & Kat speed across the desert. www.cyclingabout.com Photo by Alena Pesavento, www.frischlufttour.ch The Rohloff Hub: a high-tech piece of touring gear with many benefits. It also adds $1,200 U.S. to the price of your bike. trips down dirty, dusty roads. It also lets you shift without ped- in Germany and back? few months before your bike is benefits too. They’re aerodynam- Big hills can be harder to tion and use it to make new alling (if you want to change Our personal preference is to ready. Starting to look six months ic and their unique style means climb than on an upright bike friends, or find being in the gears at a stoplight, for example), deal with the quirks of a derail- or even a year ahead of your de- less worry about your bike being because you can’t get out spotlight overwhelming. and a wheel built with a Rohl- leur, which we can fix and which parture day is not too soon. stolen. Most thieves wouldn’t of the saddle to really pump If you’re considering a recum- off is very strong, because the every bike mechanic the world have a clue how to ride one the pedals. bent, find a specialist dealer and wheels don’t have to be ‘dished’ over understands but plenty of Recumbent Bikes & Trikes away! A trike can be great for For two-wheeled recumbents, try a few out before you buy. or arced as they do on bicycles cyclists are completely in love Sit back, put your feet up and people with stability problems, you will have to learn how to with derailleurs. with their Rohloff hubs. It’s not watch the scenery glide by. With and doubles as a seat when you ride them. It’s different than an Tandem Bikes On the downside, the Rohl- really a case of derailleurs versus a recumbent bicycle or trike, stop for lunch or to camp. upright bike but 10-15 minutes You know all the words to ‘A off costs an extra $1,200 U.S. Rohloff but being aware of the you’ll be doing just that. What’s the catch? Like ex- of practice is usually enough to Bicycle Built For Two’ but does and in the unlikely event that pros and cons to both, before These reclining bikes are pedition bikes, these specialist learn this new way of balancing. that mean you should consider something does go wrong, you’ll you make a decision. renowned for being a luxurious bicycles aren’t cheap. Expect to Other concerns include the touring on a tandem? For many probably have to send the hub way to tour. The generous seat pay more for a recumbent than potential challenge of sourcing riders, the answer is yes. back to the factory to be fixed. Think Ahead and laid back position takes the you would for an upright bike of non-standard replacement parts If you’re a cycling couple, The customer service is, by all One final thought on expedition pressure off your upper body, similar quality. on the road and the fact that where one person tends to ride accounts, wonderful but how bikes in general: plan ahead if eliminating aching backs, sore Their unusual shape and rela- recumbents are still rare enough much faster than the other, a will you feel if you have to stop a you decide to buy one. necks and numb hands at the tively heavy weight also makes to make you a tourist attraction. tandem is one option for keep- tour and wait for your wheel to They are often made to order, end of a long day on the road. them harder to pack for bus, Only you know whether ing both of you together on make the journey to the factory and it can take weeks or even a Recumbent bikes have other train and plane travel. you will revel in the atten- the road.

42 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 4243 Families on tour like tandems should be enough to buy an are far more common and easily Other things to check: guards and bottle cages. These because they lessen the worry older bike and make some adapted for the job. could be challenging to fit if the of young riders straying out into upgrades like adding a better To help sort the good from Wheels - Do they spin in a per- bike wasn’t designed with this traffic. A tandem can also allow saddle and robust racks. the bad, focus on brand names fect circle? Feel the spokes to see in mind. people with poor eyesight or With $1,000 U.S. to spare, you like Trek, Cannondale, Marin if they are loose. Examine the other disabilities, who couldn’t might pick up a bike that sold for and Specialized. This usually rims for any sign of cracking. If in doubt, take a bike-savvy ride a bicycle on their own, enjoy twice as much when it was new. guarantees components of a friend along or see if a local bike the pleasures of bike touring. Often people get rid of brand- reasonable quality and pro- A Loose Headset - There shop can quickly assess its condi- Your ability to form a good name touring bikes because tects you from buying a shoddy shouldn’t be any movement tion. Although slightly tricky to team will be the key factor in they simply never use them. supermarket bicycle. when you grip the brakes and arrange, these checks could save tandem touring success. The Whether you go for some- Look also for a ‘hardtail’ bike push or pull on the handlebars. you hassle down the road. z captain sits up front and must thing old and simple or a high- without back suspension so you take responsibility for steering end bargain, you’ll be saving a don’t get cornered into buy- Gears - Run through all the gears and keeping the stoker happy lot of money. That’s cash you can ing specialist racks for carrying and make sure they change by choosing appropriate gears use towards the rest of your trip. your luggage. smoothly. for both riders. Warnings about Begin your search at garage When you examine the bike, bumps ahead in the road are sales and second-hand shops. look closely at the frame. Chain rings - Look for sharp also appreciated. Websites like eBay and Craigslist Touring puts a lot of pres- points on the teeth. This indi- From the back seat, the stoker can be good hunting grounds. sure on a bike frame and serious cates heavy wear and a need to has to develop total trust in the Even your local bike shop may damage will be expensive or replace the chain ring. captain and pedal steadily. A occasionally have trade-in impossible to fix. Be cautious if tandem partner who leans back bikes for sale. you spot dents, cracks or any- Attachment Points - Look to see and reads a book all day won’t A steel touring bike is the thing more than a tiny amount of if the bike has braze-ons or at- be anyone’s favourite! ideal find, but mountain bikes surface rust. tachment points for racks, mud- Be aware that a tandem is long and heavy, so tasks that are Cass Gilbert’s bike: a Surly Krampus with 29+ tyres. relatively simple with standard www.whileoutriding.com bikes - like carrying your bicycle up a set of steep stairs in a hotel - could prove nearly impossible with a tandem. Everyone’s journey, and Packing for a tandem tour is “ the way they go about it, is another challenge because two people have to share one set of unique - stamped with their luggage. Some pannier manufac- own interests and flavour. My turers have risen to the challenge and made extra large bags for mountain-bike inspired setup tandem riders. You can also tow a reflects the fact I like to ride dirt trailer (see p. 77). You may also want to consider roads as much as possible, both extra-strong wheels. A standard to escape the hectic traffic that touring bike often has a 32 or 36-spoke wheel. More common plies the modern highway, and on tandems are 40 or 48-spoke for the simple joy of weaving my wheels, built with the best rims that money can buy. way down a quiet and remote

Used Bikes backcountry trail. -Cass Gilbert Buying a second-hand bike is an www.whileoutriding.com ideal way to make your touring budget go further. Setting aside $300-500 U.S. ”

44 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 4445 LifeI’m just is eitherinto my a second “ daringmonth andadventure have started ortalking nothing. to my bike. I’m worried it - Helenwill Kellerstart talking back to me from month three. -Steve Talon ” www.turnrightforjapan.com ”

Photo by Paul Jeurissen, www.pauljeurissen.nl Cycling in Peru. Photo by Cass Gilbert, www.whileoutriding.com

46 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 4647 initially built, while the corrosion was caused by pany you buy the bike from. You want a bike that’s paint rubbing off our steel frames, allowing rust backed by a company with good customer service to set in. in case something does go wrong. Ask yourself: If you find yourself with a more seriously dam- aged steel bicycle, it might not be possible to • Will this company send me replacement find someone with the appropriate welding skills parts if necessary? and understanding of bicycles to make the repair. For seriously warped and damaged frames (after • Are the bikes that they make solid, well de- a crash, for example), it’s almost certainly better signed and well tested, meaning that major to look into buying a new frame or having one problems are unlikely? shipped to you, rather than trying to bend it back into shape. No matter what material your touring bike is made of, the answer to both of these questions should ALUMINIUM be ‘yes’. Aluminium touring frames are often (but not always) a bit cheaper and weigh a little less than GOOD WHEELS FOR TOURING? those made of steel. They won’t rust, which means The first decision to make when it comes to wheels you don’t need to be as vigilant about covering is which size to use. There are two main choices: Photo by Friedel & Andrew, www.travellingtwo.com up small chips and nicks to the paint as you do 26” or the slightly larger 28” / 700c. with a steel bike. You may hear people say that Wheel size doesn’t matter so much if you’re high-end custom bike builders aluminium frames are inherently weaker than planning to tour mostly in the developed world. and is renowned for giving a steel frames but unless the bicycle in question Excellent wheels can be built in both sizes and BIKE BUYING lively, almost springy ride. Com- is particularly old (in which case an aluminium both are common enough that they should be eas- pared to aluminium, steel is also frame can be more vulnerable to fatigue cracks), ily repairable or replaceable by most bike shops. a relatively straightforward mate- its strength comes much more from the design Once you start travelling further afield, a 26” QUESTIONS: rial to weld and this is a key part and overall build quality than the base material. wheel becomes the better, internationally available of the pro-steel argument. choice. That way, if your wheel fails while you’re The logic goes that you’re TITANIUM on tour, you can be much more sure of finding a ANSWERED! more likely to find someone who Titanium frames are becoming more popular, replacement.” can fix damage to your frame en although they’re still a niche part of the touring ouring bicycles can be made of nearly any material. Steel and route if it’s made of steel, rather bike market. They have three notable advantages: Other factors to consider are: Taluminium are the two most popular choices. Titanium is also than aluminium. That’s true to they’re extremely strong, completely immune to increasingly an option, and if you want to stand out from the crowd some degree but a lot depends corrosion (you don’t even need to paint the frame, Hand-built – If you can only afford one luxury you could even consider a bamboo or wooden frame. on the skill of the welder and the it simply won’t rust) and of course they’re very item for your bicycle, make it a hand-built wheel. The vast majority of people will go for a frame made of either severity of the problem. lightweight compared to touring frames made of No machine has yet been able to match a talented steel or aluminium and for good reason. Most bikes are made of one In Cambodia, we were able steel or aluminium. The downside is that titanium wheel builder when it comes to reliability and of these two materials, so you’ll have the widest choice in touring to find a welder who could fix is an expensive frame material. Prices are coming strength. Anything that saves you the hassle of bikes if you focus on steel and aluminium frames. Both are robust small cracks in our steel frames. down as titanium bikes become more popular but broken spokes and wheels that fall out of align- and affordable choices for a touring bike. Titanium is another pos- The cracks were then repaired a for most people, steel or aluminium will still be ment is worth paying for. sibility, although bikes built with Titanium frames tend to be more second time in Australia. At the the best choice based on budget alone. expensive and for that reason alone most people will turn their same time, we had some of the Spokes - Most touring wheels will have 32 or 36 attention elsewhere. drop-outs and mounting points THE BOTTOM LINE spokes. Anything less and the wheel will struggle On touring forums and in books, you’ll find a never-ending de- for luggage racks repaired as Frames made of steel, aluminium or titanium can to support the weight of your body and all your bate about which of these frame materials is the ‘best’. We believe well. They had corroded away. be good for touring. What is certain is that you bags. A good wheel will also have spokes that it’s largely a question of personal preference, and the short answer is It was nice to be able to repair should choose an all-metal frame (no carbon fibre, cross each other at least 3 times. that the frame material doesn’t matter so much as long as the bike is our much-loved bicycles. It’s also please — it’s too prone to damage). Don’t worry designed and built by someone who knows what they’re doing and possible to argue that we might too much about small differences in the weight Double-walled Rims – Cheaper rims are made as long as you like it and find it comfortable to ride. not have faced these problems in of one frame versus another. Unless you’re plan- from a single layer of metal. If you’re in a pinch, a If you want the long answer, read on. the first place, if we had chosen ning an ultralight journey, a few hundred grams single-walled rim will get you to the next decent an aluminium frame. The cause of extra weight on a frame is unlikely to matter by bike shop. It might even last a few thousand kilo- STEEL of the cracks was a small weld- the time you load up your bike with clothing, a meters but don’t invite trouble. Start out with solid, It’s the traditional choice, tends to be the favoured material of ing error when the bikes were tent and other gear. What is important is the com- double-walled rims.

48 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 4849 Decent Hubs - We’ve tradition- ally used Shimano hubs, and we find that they’ll last thousands of kilometers with minimal mainte- I’d feel very confident taking my Avid nance. Go for LX rather than XT “ BB7s for a long tour. The pads are so because the newer XT models aren’t as durable as they used small you could carry enough for a to be. If you have more cash to year or two in your back pocket, the spend, you might look at hubs by manufacturers such as Phil cable is standard, and it’s not difficult Wood and Hope. To generate to straighten a disk if it gets whacked your own electricity, a SON dy- namo hub is fantastic - although and bent, although it is hard to get it quite pricey. perfectly flat again. More on hubs: www. -Stephen Lord travellingtwo.com/resources/ www.adventurecycle-touringhandbook.com which-hubs-to-use-for-bike- touring e ” BRAKING SYSTEMS photo by Amaya Williams. www.worldbiking.info Like the argument over bike- frames, you can spend hours Santos touring bikes (see: www. this process, so clean your rims The usual advice is to pick me- buying another bike. able to spin quickly in a low gear weighing up the merits of vari- travellingtwo.com/resources/ with a rag occasionally, especially chanical or cable-operated If you do choose to use takes pressure off your joints and ous braking systems. santos-travelmaster-review e). after riding on muddy roads. disc brakes over hydraulic ver- suspension forks, make sure the prevents knee damage in the They are extremely responsive sions, but you’ll find tourers suspension is in good shape long run. Rim Brakes and have a great reputation Disc Brakes using all types. before you set out and keep The range of your gears is Rim brakes in the V-Brake design for reliability. Traditionalists scorn them, but Avid’s BB7s are a popular ca- your load as light as possible measured in gear inches and a are a common choice. They have Nevertheless, make sure you disc brakes are becoming more ble model, and the experienced in the front. good range for a touring bike is two arms which extend over the know how to maintain them - common in the cycling world. adventure cyclist Tom Allen Normal racks don’t work with usually about 20 inches at the tire and grip the rim to stop the just in case. It’s not hard to bleed They’re a little more expen- has reviewed Magura’s Louise suspension so look at special low end to 90 inches at the top bike. These types of brakes are the brakes, once someone has sive than their rim brake coun- hydraulic brakes e. models from Tubus and Old end. For more about gear inches, relatively inexpensive to buy and shown you how to do it. You’ll terparts, but for the price you Man Mountain. Both companies check out Sheldon Brown’s easy to repair. also want to take spare parts get unparalleled braking power CAN I TOUR WITH make high quality racks that will Gear Calculator e. You can take care of V-Brakes on longer journeys through (especially in rainy conditions). SUSPENSION FORKS? do the job. Trailers are another Alternatively, look at the num- yourself using basic tools. Any less developed countries, and it You’ll be able to stop more It’s not common to tour with option for carrying luggage on a ber of teeth on the chain rings. A bike shop around the world doesn’t hurt to make sure your quickly and with more con- suspension forks and the aver- bike with suspension forks (see standard set up is 3 rings with 22, should also have the parts bike frame has the necessary V- trol than ever before. This may age bike tourist probably doesn’t more on p. 59). 32 and 44 cogs on the front and and knowledge to fix and Brake bosses. That way, you can prove to be especially im- go off road enough to offset back rings covering a range of adjust them. always fit a new set of V-Brakes, portant if you’re planning on the risk of mechanical problems WHAT ABOUT GEARS? 11-34 teeth. On the downside, V-Brakes are if disaster strikes. tackling rough trails and steep with the suspension forks en It’s easy to get drowned in If in doubt, always give your- not as powerful or responsive No matter which type of rim mountain passes. route - potentially a costly or technical details when it comes self a bit more range on the low- as other types of brakes, espe- brakes, you buy, be aware that Disc brakes also don’t wear difficult repair job. to gears but it all comes down to er end than you think you’ll need. cially in the rain. On a wet day they will slowly wear away your down your rims like V-Brakes do, If you’re planning a trip that this: get gears low enough so You’ll never regret having the or a steep descent, you may find rim, making it thinner and even- and that means your rims should will take you predominantly off- you can pedal uphill at barely ability to spin up that killer climb. yourself gripping the brakes for tually causing the side of the last much longer. road, however, you may appreci- more than a walking pace. You may not want to think longer periods than someone rim to crack or break away. This In terms of repairs and ate the extra padding between These low gears are often about gears at all, in which case with disc brakes. rarely happens before you’ve replacements en route, be you and the bumpy surface called granny gears and you’ll be you can invest in a Rohloff Hub; For more stopping power, you cycled a significant distance prepared to do it yourself, underneath your wheels. Equally, happy you have them the first an internally sealed gearing might consider hydraulic rim (about 15,000km, in our experi- in case you can’t find an if you already have a bike with time a mountain looms in front system that requires almost no brakes. Magura makes the HS33 ence). Dirt between your brake experienced mechanic. suspension forks, you may prefer of you. Not only will you be able maintenance but is very expen- brake, which we had fitted to our pads and the rims can accelerate Which disc brakes are best? to adapt it for touring rather than to climb calmly to the top, being sive. (see more on p. 42). z

50 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 5051 Surly Long Haul Fahrrad Trucker - Steel Manufaktur TX- frame with 26” or 400 - Rohloff or 28” wheels. From derailleur equipped. Bikes 2014, with Steel. 26” wheels. disc or rim Choice of ladies to brakes. Great frame. Cost: value at From $1,800 $1,300 U.S. U.S. www.surly www.fahrrad consider bikes.com manufaktur.de

Trek 520 - Steel frame with 700c wheels. Shimano Deore components, Bontrager back rack and classic drop handlebars. Cost: $1,400 U.S. for the 2014 model. Paula Bradshaw on her Fahrrad www.trekbikes.com Manufactur T400 (the current version is the TX-400).

Santos Travelmaster Tout Terrain Silkroad - Dutch built. Loads of - Flat bars, Rohloff hub or options. Steel or aluminium derailleur. Disc brakes. frame, 26” or 700c wheels. Can accommodate Belt drive, Rohloff suspension fork. hub or derailleur. Integrated rack with 24 colours. Cost: 40kg capacity. 60mm From $1,900 U.S. tire clearance. Made Emma cycling in Laos www.santosbikes. in Europe. Cost: From on her Thorn Sherpa com $2,700 U.S. www.tout- expedition touring bike. terrain.de www.rolling-tales.com

Thorn Sherpa - Ridgeback Panorama A Surly Long Haul A sturdy expedition - With Shimano Deore Trucker, loaded up touring bike, with hubs and derailleur, and touring the coast steel frame and steel frame, SPD pedals. of California. www. derailleur Upgrade to slowcycler.wordpress. from a UK include racks, com builder. better gearset. Cost: From Cost: From $2,200 $2,000 U.S. U.S. www. www. sjscycles.com ridgeback.co.uk

52 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 5253 Cycling in South Indial Photo by Paul Jeurissen, www.pauljeurissen.nl

54 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 5455 GEAR FOCUS Bicycle Accessories Which tent should you buy? Which ERGON HANDLEBAR GRIPS with mud, and this stops the wheels from turning. stove is best? The following pages For longer trips, it’s essential to have handle- Cleaning the mud away from your wheels is a bars that give a variety of riding positions. This messy, time consuming job. The lesson? If you see will help you choose. helps to prevent roads covered in thick clay-like mud, take the mud- conditions such guards off first. t’s all about the gear; or at least that’s what some people would as carpal tunnel Ihave you believe. Just start researching what to take on a bicycle syndrome and A LOUD BELL tour and you’ll find there are a million things to spend your money on. tingling hands. Every cyclist needs a bell, and the louder the better! We’ve highlighted some of our favourite products over the fol- We’ve used We like the DingDong Bell e. As its name suggests, lowing pages but no journey or cyclist is identical. What works for Ergon Handlebar it gives a classic sound us may not be your ideal solution. In addition, there are so many Grips e and and is one of the loudest different options that we couldn’t possibly summarize all of them. extensions since bells on the market. That’s where you come in. 2009, specifically Your bell can be used We encourage you to do your own research. Read the experiences the GC3 model. to alert cars and pedestri- of other bike tourists. Try things in person. Go to your local camping They have a sup- ans to your presence, to shop so you can flop on the sleeping mats and crawl inside the tents. portive rest area for your palms and - with the communicate with other Remember as well that you don’t need to go on a mega shopping extensions - offer plenty of options for differ- cyclists if you’re riding in spree. Ingenious thinking and compromise goes a long way. Your ent hand positions. a group (for example, to voice can be as effective as a bicycle bell. Just shout ‘hello’ or whistle a Also worth considering are traditional, signal that you’re stop- tune as you’re cycling. Similarly, a new tarp is nice to have but you can simple bar ends (the cheapest option and by ping), and to ‘sing’ hello to people by the roadside. also make your own out of a sheet of plastic. no means a bad one) and butterfly bars – a A bell also attracts great attention when you With those caveats out of the way, read on for some of our equip- large figure-8 shaped handlebar. stop by the roadside. It’s often the first thing people ment recommendations. touch. If you’re inside a shop you merely have to MUDGUARDS OR FENDERS listen for your bell being rung by local folks, to know Unless you plan on touring exclusively in the that your bike is still where you left it and hasn’t desert, you’ll want mudguards or fenders. A been stolen! good set protects you and the rider behind you from the dirt being kicked up off the road. LIGHTS We use SKS Mudguards e. They come in Don’t set out on a bike tour without decent lights. several sizes, Even if you don’t plan to be riding after dark, you to fit almost never know when you might get caught out. Lights any bicycle, also come in handy if you have to ride through a and they’re dark tunnel, or in foggy and rainy conditions. incredibly Of all the lights on the market, German manu- durable. After facturer Supernova make 50,000km of some of the best. We’ve use, ours were been using their dynamo- still in good powered E3 Pro lights for shape (there several years now and are was a small very impressed with the crack on one of the mudguards). quality. They also make If you’re feeling creative or skint, you can battery-powered lights, if also make your own mudguards out of things your bike doesn’t have a such as plastic bottles. Just search online hub dynamo. for directions. Other options include: One small warning: if you’re hauling your • Cateye HL-EL530 bike through a wet field or down a muddy Cateye’s brightest front light. It will last up to road, mudguards can quickly become clogged 90 hours on 4 AA batteries. Photo by Tom Allen, www.tomsbiketrip.com

56 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 5657 • Knog Blinder Lights popular model for touring is the with a bit of A slick little light that Brooks B17 e. grip, that helps is held in place on your Not everyone fancies the your feet stay bike by a silicone strap. It long break-in period. On the firmly in place weighs just 15g and can other hand, not everyone finds on wet days. be recharged by USB. it as painful to wear in a Brooks We use a • Planet Bike Superflash saddle as you might imagine cleated moun- Don’t be fooled by its from the online chat forums! We tain bike pedal small size. The Superflash found ours comfortable from the such as the DMR V8 e. The little has LED bulbs that blink first outing. cleats or spikes on the pedals bright enough to be seen Terry saddles e are also give you more grip than normal up to a mile away. It lasts popular, especially their women- flat pedals. Your feet won’t move up to 100 hours on two specific range. an inch, even when you’re rid- commonly available AAA Whichever saddle you go for, ing through pouring rain or on batteries. muddy, bumpy roads. The only downside is that if your ped- A COMFORTABLE als do somehow happen to hit SADDLE your legs (when you are pushing You’re going to be sitting on your bike uphill, for example) it your saddle for several hours can really hurt! each day so it’s worth getting a SPD pedals are another com- decent one. Despite the impor- mon option. They require you to tance of this accessory, many wear special shoes with cleats, bikes come with terrible saddles. remember the counter-intuitive which ‘click’ into place on the rule that harder is better. Softer pedals, locking your feet firmly saddles are actually less support- in place. When you need to stop, ive than their firmer rivals. you twist your foot slightly to release the lock. PEDALS Like saddles, the pedals that More About Pedals: Expect this to be one of the first come with most bikes tend to www.travellingtwo.com/ things you upgrade. be cheap. Happily, it doesn’t resources/pedals e Brooks leather saddles cost much to upgrade to a change shape to fit your bot- better pair. tom over time and fans of Deciding which type to Brooks evangelise about how buy is a little more difficult. comfortable they are. The most Ideally you’ll want something

Cycling in Bolivia. Photo by Harriet Pike, www.pikesonbikes.com

58 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 5859 As ours is a long ride across “ multiple continents we decided strength and reliability were more important than speed, and so we prioritised steel frames, steel racks and well-built 26” wheels. When we’ve met other cyclists on the road, broken 28” wheels have been the most common tale of woe by far. -Ryan Davies & Rebecca Holliday http://worldcyclingtour.org ”

Photo by Neil Pike, www.pikesonbikes.com

60 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 6061 improve ventilation. On the downside, it weighs 3-person version). Doors on each side make it about 500g more than the Nallo 3GT. easy to get in and out, and it’s relatively good value at around $500 U.S. MSR HUBBA HUBBA For warm-weather trips, this freestanding tent could be an excellent choice for a solo tourer or two very good friends.

TARPTENT CONTRAIL This tent took top place for solo travellers in Back- The MSR Hubba Hubba e has a frame that packer Magazine’s 2009 buyer’s guide. It weighs is based around the inner layer, which means just 700g, costs $210 and gets rave reviews. you can leave the fly-sheet off in dry weather for great ventilation and evening star gazing. At a mere 2kg, it’s hardly going to weigh you Photo by Willem Megens, www.themeeg.nl down and in 2011 MSR brought out a green model (much better for wild camping than the earlier bright-yellow models). The Hubba Hubba is also excellent value: TENTS less than half the cost of a Hilleberg. Both Peter Gostelow e and Shane Little e used What’s the catch? Some say it’s prone to con- HILLEBERG NALLO GT Nallo 3GT Review: www.travellingtwo.com/ this tent as they cycled through Africa. densation and can let in quite a breeze – not good Our tent of choice comes from Swedish tent resources/hilleberg-nallo-3gt-review e at higher altitudes or in chilly weather. maker Hilleberg. We have the 3-person model, the BIG AGNES COPPER SPUR Also, because the tent is mainly aimed at back- Nallo 3GT e. At 2.9kg it’s light in weight but heavy MACPAC CITADEL The Big Agnes Copper Spur tent has been used packers, the company assumes that you have a on your wallet. Expect to pay about $830 U.S. We recently had a chance to admire the Macpac and loved by many bike tourists, including trekking pole to add extra support to the structure. Price brings quality, however, and this tent, Citadel - a tent that good friends of ours have been GoingSlowly e and PathLessPedaled e. Since, you’re probably not carrying a trekking pole with its roomy vestibule and separated sleeping using for long-distance touring. It’s roomy and relatively light (2.2kg for the you’ll have to buy a tent pole from Tarptent. area, has never failed us. In 15+ hours of a down- Like Hilleberg’s Nallo 3GT, it’s a great option for pour in New Zealand, we were perfectly dry. In strong winds, our tent gracefully flexed with the gusts, without ever breaking a pole. HOW TO PICK A TENT The customer service from Hilleberg is also A tent is an important piece of equipment for the independent bicycle tourist.

It will be your home away from home and a key to travelling on a budget .

In an ideal world, you’ll chose a lightweight tent in a muted colour for easy wild camping, and a tent that is a cinch to set up - even in the dark!

couples planning a long bike tour together. You may also prefer a freestanding tent (one that doesn’t require pegs), although we’ve person- In terms of design, the Citadel offers 2 entrances ally never had a problem putting up our non-freestanding Nallo 3GT e. to the sleeping area, and 2 porches – a large one top-notch. If you can afford it, you won’t regret for cooking and a smaller one for reading or relax- More Tent Advice: www.travellingtwo.com/resources/tent e this tent for serious expeditions. ing. This is a nice convenience, and should also

62 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 6263 “Terra Nova Duolite Tour- “MSR Hubba Hubba for the tropics, Hilleberg for the rest; er is our choice as a cycle EVEN the Hubba is surprisingly weather proof during this rainy touring tent.” South African summer” @shanecycles @davebikenotes MORE “Christine & I love “Macpac Citadel - plenty “Vaude Hogan Ultralight. It was my our Big Agnes of space and not heavy. TENTS second home during my bike ride. I Seedhouse SL-2” As suggested by The #Minaret is a smaller, @travellingtwo had to change one zipper, the rest is @kentsbike lighter 4-season alter- Twitter followers... still great.” @mk4220 native.” @oddbikes “Rab Ridge Raider. “Our group uses the @ Light & quick to “Big Agnes Seedhouse 2, easy ENOHammocks - with pitch, but small. If I to pitch, light, and plenty “MSR Mutha Hubba is a great a little rope we have no was camping every of room for 1. Also a sub- size for two sharing. But if problem finding trees in night I’d take my dued green colour for wild weather permits I love to the southeast U.S.” Hilleberg Akto.” camping” @cycle4india sleep outside in a bivvy bag!” @jonahchitty @bazzargh @tomsbiketrip “Vango Tempest 300. Cheap, ok “@Hilleberg Nallo 3GT. For weight, ok packsize, two enough space; a bed- spacious, porch big enough for room and a front room to sit, a bike with wheels off.” eat when it rains and leave @aegisdesign muddy panniers.” @worldcyclevideo

Photo by Tom Allen, www.tomsbiketrip.com

64 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 6465 Bicycle touring “ is travel’s live theater. - Tom Hale ”

Local traffic in China. Photo by Peter Gostelow, www.petergostelow.com

66 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 6667 as the tempera- Some people find it too thin and uncomfortable, ture doesn’t dip although we slept just fine on it. It’s also relatively too far below bulky. We carried our Z Lite mats in a bag, on top of freezing. the back luggage rack. Like all inflat- able mats, how- Z Lite & Prolite Comparison: ever, it is prone www.travellingtwo.com/resources/thermarest- to punctures camping-mats-review e and - after several months of con- PETZL HEADLAMP stant use - can fail We’ve had our Petzl Tikka 2 e headlamps for 6 entirely. Thermar- years now and they’re still going strong - even est have a great lifetime warranty on these though they’re well past the 3-year warranty period. mats, so if you’re doing shorter trips and can We’ve dropped them, thrown them in our pan- get the mat replaced easily enough, then go niers with no special care and lugged them all for it. On an extended world trip, however, we around the world and prefer a solid foam mat like the Z Lite e. they are still fault-free. You get up to 120 EXPED MATS hours of burn time For the ultimate in comfort and warmth, on 3 AAA batteries Exped’s DownMat e (with down feather and they’re very light: Photo by Paul Jeurissen, www.pauljeurissen.nl just 85g, including the batteries. THERMAREST PILLOW CAMPING GEAR: A pillow is definitely a ‘luxury’ camping accessory. Many bike tourists create their own pillows by sleeping bags, mats, pillows... filling) andSynMat e (synthetic filling) are stuffing clothes together in a sleeping bag sack. We definitely worth considering. did that too but at a certain point you decide that Their thick profile will keep you cozy, even you want a bit more cushioning. PHD MINIM SLEEPING BAG from one side of the bag and no rolling onto an in well below freezing temperatures. We chose This is the sleeping bag we’ve used for over 4 uncomfortable zipper in the middle of the night. On the downside, they take longer to inflate the Thermarest Compressible Pillow e be- years. It’s a down-filled bag, made by UK com- It also shaves a few grams off the overall weight of than thinner mats and can be noisy when you cause it’s compact, washable, lightweight and pany PHD e and retails for about $360 U.S. the bag and removes one of the few things that can toss and turn during the night. reasonably priced. We like down-filled bags because they’re break on a sleeping bag. For us, it also feels warmer and lighter for the size than synthetic On the other hand, you can’t open a zipless bag if Our Review: www.travellingtwo.com/ like a ‘real’ pillow fillings. A disadvantage of down is that it won’t you’re too hot. For couples, it also rules out the pos- resources/exped-downmat-synmat-review e although this is obvi- keep you warm when wet, whereas synthetic sibility of zipping the bags together. ously highly individual fillings will. If you do get a sleeping bag with a zipper (by far THERMAREST Z LITE so ‘try before you buy’ the more common design), choose a bag with a ‘zip If your priority is an indestructible sleeping and see what you baffle’ or ‘draft tube’ that seals out cold air. The zipper mat, try the Thermarest Z Lite e. like best. should also be heavy duty. It’s the one item on your It’s a closed-cell sleeping bag that gets used over and over, and will foam mat. This means Our Review: almost certainly be the first to wear out. you never have to www.travellingtwo. worry about damage com/resources/ Sleeping Bag Tips: www.travellingtwo.com/ to the mattress. You thermarestpillow e resources/6-tips-for-picking-a-sleeping-bag e can throw it on top of a bed of thorns, and the THERMAREST PROLITE MAT mat will be just fine. Our particular sleeping bag has one unique Among bike tourists, Thermarest’s Prolite Sleeping It’s also half the price feature: there’s no zipper. You just slide your- Mat e is one of the most popular choices. It’s light, of an inflatable mat! self inside. This means no draft coming in super compact and should keep you warm as long What’s not to like?

68 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 6869 Bicycle Locks Stoves CABLE LOCKS extra security is worth the added bulk. If you plan WHISPERLITE INTERNATIONALE There’s also no pressurising of fuel or priming of the A good cable lock is perhaps the most useful on passing through a lot of cities on your tour, a big The MSR Whisperlite Internationale e is a stove. To cook you simply pour a few spoonfuls of type of lock for touring. It’s relatively light- lock like this may be worth it. For many bike tour- bike touring classic. It’s also the stove with methylated spirits into the burner and light with a weight, cheap to ists, however, a U-Lock is probably overkill. The lock which we are most experienced. We’ve fired it match or (better yet) a fire steel. purchase and can pictured above is the Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 up well over 1,000 times and carried it for our In terms of disadvantages, be aware that alcohol be stretched around U-Lock e. entire 3-year world bicycle tour. stoves don’t produce as much heat as a stove run- anything from bike You can run it on almost any fuel (from ning on white gas. It will take longer to boil water so racks to telephone WHEEL LOCK white gas to unleaded petrol) and it’s easy to if you’re impatient or need to cook for a group, this poles. This type of lock is known by at least 4 names: o- fix in the field using stove isn’t for you. Make sure you lock, ring lock, wheel lock or frame lock. It’s standard the MSR tool kit. If you Turning the stove off can be a bit tricky because you get one that’s long equipment on many bikes in need to replenish your have to close the simmer ring while the stove is still Kryptonite Combination Lock enough (over 1 me- Europe. tool kit, you’ll find that running. We throw ours on top with a frisbee-like ter) and don’t go for The varying names all refer many of the parts in it motion and then nudge it into place with a fork, the cheapest one. The very thin, flimsy cable to the same thing: a lock that are basic and can be if necessary. locks that tend to be sold in supermarkets attaches to your frame. You put picked up at plumbing won’t slow a thief down at all. the key in and push down on a and hardware shops JETBOIL GROUP COOKING SYSTEM There are many lever so that a metal ring slides around the world. We’ve also found MSR cus- A super easy stove to oper- types of cable locks. between the spokes of your tomer service to be fantastic. ate. Like all canister stoves, We like two locks back tire, locking the bike. On the downside, the burner does get black this Jetboil Stove e doesn’t from the Kryptonite We love wheel locks because they’re so darn con- with soot (only the burner - not the pots you need to be primed. It’s Kryptoflex range: venient for quick stops while on tour. Coupled with use to cook with) and - despite its name - this ready to cook at the flick of the Combination a cable lock, they also make for a fairly secure setup. stove is reasonably loud. It also needs to be a lighter; perfect for a quick Lock e and the 7’ Our current touring setup includes the ABUS primed. If you release too much fuel during cup of coffee by the side of cable e, which can 4850 LH NKR e model of wheel lock, plus a com- the priming process (or if there’s a lot of wind), the road. be used in combi- patible cable lock that slots into the wheel lock. it’s possible to get an impressive flare from the On the downside, you’ll nation with a U-lock Kryptonite Cablr Whisperlite Internationale e! have to be touring some- or separate padlock. More On Wheel Locks: www.travellingtwo.com/ where fairly mainstream for this stove to be an resources/wheel-locks-for-bike-touring e Our Full Review: option because you won’t necessarily find the fuel U-LOCK OR D-LOCK www.travellingtwo.com/resources/msr- canisters everywhere in the world and you can’t take These locks are effective whisperlite-international-review e them on a plane. Also, this stove isn’t easy to fix in and secure but very heavy the middle of a field. If you have problems you may to carry on a bike tour. It’s CLIKSTAND well need to send it back to the dealer for repair. up to you, whether the A close second to the Whisperlite on our list of favourite stoves is the Clikstand e. The basic TRANGIA STOVE Clikstand model is a nifty triangular frame built Trangia stoves e are adored by many cyclists. to hold an alcohol They’re extremely quiet, easy to maintain, robust burner. We use the and simmer beautifully. SECURITY TIPS same burner that They burn methylated fits in the Trangia spirits. It’s a fuel which is 1.TIP A LOCAL SHOPKEEPER $1-2 U.S. to be your ‘bike security guard’. stoves. It’s easy to broadly available world- assemble. Once wide but can be tricky to 2. GET A HOTEL IN CITIES and keep the bike in the room. running, the Clik- find. Research the local stand is everything name for this fuel before 3. LOCK YOUR BIKE TO SOMETHING SECURE in a highly visible place. the Whisperlite you fly off to an exotic is not. It burns silently and cleanly. There is destination. 4. MAKE IT LOOK UNDESIRABLE. Cover brand names with tape. String laundry no soot and no mechanical parts to break or across the back to dry maintain. Even better: the Clikstand packs Our full review: www.travellingtwo.com/ down flat and weighs a featherlight 150g. resources/why-i-love-trangia-campstoves e

70 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 7071 I’m just into my second Evenmonth though and have a big started international “ tourtalking is a tolife-changing my bike. I’m experience, sometimesworried it will a three start or talking four day bikepackingback to me from trip into month the woods can offer a powerful mental reset . three. -Steve Talon -Loganwww.turnrightforjapan.com Watts www.pedalingnowhere.com ””

Photo by Paul Jeurissen, www.pauljeurissen.nl Photo by Logan Watts, www.pedalingnowhere.com

72 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 7273 et’s begin with panniers. They’re the most com- and poles perfectly. This protects the tent from Lmonly used option among touring cyclists. rain and sun damage and keeps it in one compact In case you’re not familiar with the lingo, pan- package that can be easily strapped onto the bike niers are bags that attach to luggage racks, so with bungee cords or compression straps. LOADING UP you can carry equipment over the front and back wheels of your bike. Handlebar Bag - Clips to the front handlebars of Most panniers are commercially made out of the bike. It’s ideal for storing your wallet, camera heavy-duty fabric but you can make your own out and other valuables. It can be easily taken along THE BIKE of backpacks or even plastic buckets. when you need A standard touring set-up is 2 large bags on to leave the bike the back and 2 smaller panniers on the front. You for a few minutes. ow that you have a bicycle, camping gear, clothes and can also strap a tent and sleeping mat across the This brings peace Na whole pile of other stuff to take on tour, how will you top of the back panniers. of mind and carry it all on your bicycle? makes it much The options are numerous. You could go for the classic com- PANNIER ADVANTAGES easier to lock bination of panniers and luggage racks, or you might opt to tow Panniers are popular for several reasons, starting your bike up and a trailer behind your bicycle. Some people have both luggage with versatility. A well designed set of panniers run a few errands We like Vaude’s Road I Handlebar bag: racks and a trailer. Other folks travel ultralight and get away with will let you clip and unclip the bags from the racks because you know www.travellingtwo.com/resources/ barely more than a handlebar bag. within seconds. That means it’s easy to get your the most impor- vaude-handlebar-bag There’s no one correct answer. The only way to know for sure panniers off the bike tant items won’t is to try some different combinations yourself and see if you’re and inside your tent in be lost, should disaster strike. Most bags also come happy with that solution. That said, here are some starting points a rainstorm. with a map case on top to make navigation easier. to get you thinking about what might be best for your trip. You can also quick- ly grab a single pan- Brands to Consider nier (for example, the Everyone wants to know which brand of panniers one with your laptop are best. The better question to ask is “Which and other valuables panniers are best for you?” in it) to take along as Almost any pannier on the market will be fine you go supermarket for occasional tours. Don’t expect cheaper brands shopping. to perform well over time or in heavy rain. Like most touring cyclists, we’re In a city, an empty When you spend extra money, you’re paying for in love with Ortlieb panniers: pannier can be durability and ease of use. That means panniers www.travellingtwo.com/ resources/ortliebpanniers used as a day bag made with more robust fabric, better quality zips while sightseeing. and a system that makes them easier to remove When you fly with your bicycle, you can check from the bike. your panniers as normal luggage (a Chinese For a good set of panniers, you won’t go wrong shopping bag e is helpful for this). by investing in a set of Ortlieb Panniers e. They’re Panniers help you stay organised as well. You by far the most popular brand and relatively ex- can sort your equipment into different bags. One pensive but for your money you get waterproof for food and cooking gear, one for clothing and panniers that are a breeze to get on and off the yet another for tools and emergency supplies. bike and will last for a lifetime of bike touring. Most importantly, there is very little that can go We only recently replaced our Ortliebs after wrong with panniers, especially if you get a good over 60,000km of touring and we only bought set to begin with. They have almost no moving another set because someone sold us their nearly- parts. Any problems that do arise are usually small new Ortliebs for a bargain price. The old ones are and easily fixed. still working (if a bit sunfaded). There is one big downside to Ortlieb panniers: You might also want to add a: most models don’t come with pockets and that annoys people who like lots of compartments Dry Bag - A waterproof sack, often used for ca- to organise their things. noeing or kayaking. Cyclists use dry bags e too Other brands to check out include Vaude, Car- because their tubular shape fits a rolled up tent radice, Jandd, Lone Peak and – at the luxury end Photo by Paul Jeurissen, www.pauljeurissen.nl

74 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 7475 months of bumping and jostling on the road. you choose, chances are the paint will wear As long as you don’t scrimp on quality, you thin with time, especially where the panniers shouldn’t need to do much to your racks during a rub up against the racks. tour. Just check occasionally to see if any screws Keep some touch-up paint handy (nail pol- or bolts are coming loose. ish will do the trick in a pinch). This helps keep With a cheap set of racks, pack some hose the racks free of rust. clamps and zipties in your repair kit. Less expen- You can also wrap duct tape around your racks sive racks are more likely to break under the strain at the points where the bags make contact with of a heavy load. the metal, to prevent scuffing.

What to look for? TRAILERS Our favourite racks are made of steel; not because Trailers are an alternative choice to panniers and there aren’t good aluminium racks on the mar- luggage racks for carrying your gear around. ket but because steel racks can be easily welded They cost and weigh about the same as the back together, if necessary. standard combination of panniers and racks, with We also look for racks with a high load capac- some definite advantages. ity. The most robust back racks are rated for about For example, trailers allow you to carry a lot 90lbs or 40kg of weight. of gear if you’re planning a bicycle trip through You won’t likely carry that much but it’s nice remote parts of the world, where you might need to know the racks are more than strong enough to haul large quantities of food and water. for the job. As a bit of extra insurance, try and Trailers are also ideal if you want to tour get a rack with a guarantee. with young children, or on a bicycle that wasn’t

Peruvain kids check out the fat bike. Photo by Cass Gilbert, www.whileoutriding.com If we had to pick out just one brand of lug- designed for touring and therefore doesn’t gage racks to highlight, it would have to be have the necessary braze-ons or attachment Tubus Racks e. They have a well proven track points for luggage racks. record in terms of strength and durability. For more on trailers, we turned to David Her- of the scale – the exceptionally pers prone to failure. Roll tops process. The best panniers un- Even better, they come with a 30-year guar- bold, who writes for the Bike Trailer Blog e. He well designed but extremely are like a dry bag. You can roll hook automatically when you lift antee, including shipping of free replacements outlined the main differences for us between expensive Arkel bags. them very tight in bad weather the bag up by its handle. anywhere in the world for 3 years. two types of trailers: versions with one wheel and As you are researching pan- and they’ll be totally sealed. You A final word on racks. No matter which one those with two wheels. niers, consider these features: can also leave them open when LUGGAGE RACKS you need room for extra food. Once you’ve bought panniers, Waterproof or not – Some pan- Panniers that seal with clips and you’ll need racks to hang them niers are 100% waterproof. When buckles aren’t quite as easy to on and - like panniers - you it starts to rain, this means you stuff full with extra supplies but get what you pay for when it PANNIER PACKING TIPS don’t have to jump off the bike they are a little easier than roll comes to racks. and put on rain covers to keep tops to open and close, in our If you plan on doing any Packing your bike panniers can be confusing, especially when you do it for the first time. everything dry. Other bags are experience. amount of touring, it’s worth Here are 3 quick tips to get you started: more water resistant than wa- spending a bit of extra money for terproof - fine if you’re cycling Weight and volume – Like a decent set that will withstand 1. Everything In Its Place - Sort gear into categories. Cooking equipment and food can go in one in a dry climate or are willing to backpacks, panniers come in all bag, clothes in another. Bike tools should have their own spot that’s easy to access, so you can protect sensitive equipment in different shapes, materials and quickly find what you need when a tire goes flat. waterproof bags. sizes. There’s no point getting a bigger, heavier bag if you don’t 2. Balance The Weight - Make sure that your bike is balanced. This means that bags on the right Type of closure – Zippers. Roll- need the extra space. and left sides should weigh about the same. Between front and back, most people go for a 60-40 ing tops. Clips and buckles. Who split, though you’ll find differing opinions on whether more weight should be up front or in back. knew there were so many ways Attachment systems – Make to close a bag? Try to minimise sure the panniers are easy to put 3. Leave Extra Space - Don’t fill your panniers to the brim. You’ll want extra room for food and the number of zippers on your on and take off the bike. You’re souvenirs as you travel. Ideally, leave home with at least half a pannier’s worth of empty space. bike bags because the dirt from going to be doing this at least The Tubus Logo back rack - e the road and repeated opening twice a day, if not more, so it just one of many models profiled at: More pannier packing tips: www.travellingtwo.com/resources/packing-bicycle-panniers and closing motions make zip- shouldn’t be a long and tedious www.travellingtwo.com/resources/racks

76 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 7677 One Wheel Designs Two Wheel Designs “The weight of the trailer’s load is shared be- “The majority of the load rests between the trail- tween its only wheel, and the rear wheel of the er’s own two wheels. This leaves the rear wheel of bicycle. Due to the weight being spread between the bike, and therefore the handling of the bike the bike and the trailer, the rear driving wheel of itself, relatively unaffected by the added weight. the bike will be pushed into the ground aiding Actually, it’s only the weight being pulled that is traction tremendously. felt, for the most part. Tire wear should not in- When off-road touring or bike-camping, this is crease substantially and using a single kickstand a great advantage. Also, the width is an obvious is no problem as the bike remains independent of bonus in tight conditions. The compromise how- the trailer. The compromise of course, is the width ever, is that the handling of the bike changes in of the two-wheel design. For any type of technical direct reflection to the weight of the load. terrain, or extremely tight areas of operation, this With maximum payloads often being around can become overwhelming. Narrow sidewalks and 45kg, this can be a dramatic difference from the gates can become a real obstacle.” z bike alone. Learning to predict the weight shift in tight terrain and quick manoeuvring is key as the More On Trailers: www.travellingtwo.com/ bike will occasionally try to find its own direction.” resources/trailers-for-bike-touring e

Photo by Stijn de Klerk TRAILERS? PANNIERS? It’s not a case of which is ‘best’ but rather Popular Trailers which is right for you.

Trailer Advantages Pannier Advantages

- Ideal for carrying bulky, heavy items such as - Easily carried one-by-one into your tent or lots of water across deserts hotel room and over obstacles like fences and - Kids trailers give the children a place to rest, streams (no single bag is very heavy) away from strong sun or bad weather - Your luggage can be sorted into different - Handy for home use as well as touring parts and stored per bag, making things (carrying groceries, collecting large purchases easier to find (in theory!) Radical Designs Cyclone III: Clever design that Chariot Cougar: consistently gets great Exrawheel Voyager: Proven performance for from shops) - Accessible while riding; you can reach things allows the trailer to be folded inside the duffel off-road trips. Very light and can act as a reviews from parents who bike tour with - Often built with a wide profile that strapped on top of panniers or stored near bag for easy transport on trains and planes. young children. spare front wheel. encourages cars to leave more room the top, without getting off your bike when passing - Simply designed, with few moving parts that - Easily unhooked so you can ride a ‘naked’ can get lost or break bike without racks - Versatile. Use all 4 for longer trips or take just - Aggressive dogs tend to chase the trailer, one on a short day trip; carry a single pannier keeping them away from your legs as a ‘day bag’ when visiting cities

Trailer Disadvantages Pannier Disadvantages

- May be harder to pack for train, plane and - Put strain on a bike, particularly the back bus journeys wheel, possibly causing broken spokes - More mechanical parts that could need - Increase tire wear and wind resistance repair or replacement (spokes, tire, skewers) - Need to be reasonably well balanced BOB Yak Plus: A long-time favourite among Carry Freedom Y-Frame: Simple and versatile. Put bike tourists. Solid, easy to assemble and can nearly any type of container on the back, from a - Can be tricky if you need to back up, park or between the left and right sides or the bike be flipped over to use as a table. large plastic box to an Ortlieb bag. navigate through narrow gaps will feel unstable

78 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 7879 An Amazing Journey Hilary Searle of the CycleSeven website writes about Louise Sutherland, an adventurous bike tourist who went around the world in the 1950s.

ouise Sutherland was a nurse from New Zea- men and certainly never to a white girl. Anyway no Lland who was working in London in 1949, girl is permitted to travel third class alone.’ when she set off cycling around the world. She had, of course, received many warn- She bought a bike in a church jumble sale in ings against going to India. In Bombay, she was Soho for £2.10s and a ‘grateful patient’ in the inundated with offers of hospitality but later hospital where she was nursing made her a small found herself in a famine region where she went trailer ‘to trundle merrily behind it.’ She seems to for 3 days without food. have set off round the world almost on a whim. “I knew that only by keeping the pedals turn- She had initially only intended to go to Land’s End! ing could I ever get to the dense green jungle that Louise returned to London to collect her would indicate a rain soaked district, and only by passport and her £50 savings and set off, first for reaching such a district would I again get food.” Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. She only returned to London in 1956. “During my first day in Italy I felt most dubious about my chances of survival. I had been offered I was never dire warnings about what happened to small girls “ lonely while I was travelling alone in that country. I did not wish to forego the camping, but equally, I did not relish cycling. I had my the thought of being attacked in the dead of night. bicycle to talk to. Of course no one did attack me.” The warnings grew even more dire as she ap- proached Yugoslavia: ‘They shoot on sight’, ‘They’re ” communists remember. If you’re arrested you Unfortunately all the warnings she had received might never be heard of again.’ and ‘They’re so almost came true when she was attacked by 2 men poor they’ll attack you just to steal the valve rub- but they ran away when a bus appeared. bers out of your inner tubes’. “The memories of the attack by the few have The people, however, treated her with great now blunted and are fading, but the kindness of kindness. From Yugoslavia she went to Greece the many will always remain clear.” and then took a ferry to Israel. She had an amaz- “After the fear had completely left my mind, I ingly resilient spirit and refused to be daunted by could feel nothing but anger for those two men. the fact that having paid the boat fare she had They had placed me in a position where all the only 13/6d left in the world. world could say: ‘I told you so!’ But does one swal- In Haifa she took a job in a Mission Hospital low make a summer?” z for 3 months, then cycled onto Jordan where she worked as a nanny. From there she cycled to Beirut and spent 6 months working in a sanatorium. She had hoped to cycle across the desert to Baghdad but was refused a visa so had to travel by train to catch a boat across the Persian Gulf to More on Louise Sutherland: India. She was refused a third class ticket, with the www.cycleseven.org/louise-sutherland-around- line: ‘We do not sell third class tickets to white the-world-before-i-was-born e

80 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 8081  Away, away, Here’s a ‘cut-out-and-keep’ guide to some touring basics. “ from men and PACKING LIST Vary the list to suit the destination and season. towns, to the Bicycle Equipment FF Long-sleeved shirts (one lightweight wild wood and to protect from sun and one warmer for FF Bottle cages and bottles (ideally 3) cool temperatures) the downs. FF Compression straps or cargo net (to FF Long-johns (to sleep in and cold days) -Percy Bysshe Shelley hold things to your back luggage rack) FF Padded cycling gloves FF Lights FF Rain jacket and pants FF Lock FF Socks (3-5 pairs) FF Mirror (Take-A-Look Mirror) FF Sunglasses ” FF T-shirts (2-3 pairs) Tools & Spare Parts FF Underwear (3-5 pairs)

FF Brake and gear cables Your Kitchen FF Brake pads FF Chain lube FF Cleaning supplies (dish soap, scrubber) FF Duct tape and zipties FF Cookware (MSR Alpine) FF Mini cassette remover (NBT2 or JA Stein FF Kitchen sink (Ortlieb folding bowl) tool) FF Screw-top bottles (for oil, honey... FF Multi-tool (with a chain breaker) FF Spices (our top 3: an italian seasoning, FF Patch kit curry and cinnamon) FF Pump (Topeak Mountain Morph) FF Stove FF Rag for cleaning FF Thermos FF Replacement spokes FF Utensils (spork, cup, bowl...)

Camping Gear Toiletries

FF Flip flops or sandals(for grotty showers) FF Basic kit (shampoo, toothbrush, sun FF Groundsheet (extends your tent’s life) screen...) FF Headlamp (Petzl Tikka) FF Baby wipes (an ‘ instant’ shower) FF Tent FF Laundry powder for hand washing FF Sleeping bag FF Menstruation cup (Mooncup) FF Sleeping bag liner (preferably silk) FF Toilet paper (or use water to wash FF Sleeping mat yourself so there’s no dirty litter to FF String, 6-10 meters (numerous uses, dispose of!) including a clothesline) FF Travel towel FF Water carriers (Camelbak or Ortlieb) FF Water filter(MSR Miniworks) First-Aid Kit

Clothes (We love Merino wool clothing and - in FF Bandaids general - anything light and versatile.) FF Emergency blanket FF Gauze FF Bandana (soak it in water to keep your FF Medicines (for colds, diarrhea, head head cool in hot weather) aches, dehydration) FF Cycling shoes FF Scissors FF Cycling shorts (1-2 pairs) FF Tiger balm (for mosquito bites) FF Hat with a wide brim FF Tweezers

The Hilleberg Nallo 3G tent. Photo by Friedel & Andrew Grant, www.travellingtwo.com

82 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 8283 Harriet & Neil Pike www.pikesonbikes.com e Hilary Searle www.cycleseven.org e Jared & Katie Mitchell www.brakingboundaries.org e John & Gayle http://slothsonwheels.blogspot.com e Logan Watts www.pedalingnowhere.com e Loretta Henderson www.skalatitude.com e Michael www.slowcycler.wordpress.com e Marija Kozin www.twitter.com/mk4220 e Mark Watson & Hana Black www.highlux.co.nz e Michael & Karen Stefanyk www.twowheeledwanderers.ca e Mirjam Wouters www.cyclingdutchgirl.com e Nancy Sathre-Vogel www.familyonbikes.com e Nathan Chase www.foolhardytravels.blogspot.com e Patrizia & Brö www.somewhereonearth.org e Paul Jeurissen www.pauljeurissen.nl e Paula Bradshaw www.rikandpaulaseetheworld.com e Peter Gostelow www.petergostelow.com e Rebecca Jensen www.anadventurecalledbicycling.blogspot.com e Ryan Davies & Rebecca Holliday www.worldcyclingtour.org e Sarah Outen www.sarahouten.com e Scott Stoll www.theargonauts.com e Shane Little www.shanecycles.com/africa e Stephen Lord www.adventurecycle-touringhandbook.com e Sylvie & Ben www.frogsonbents.over-blog.com e e Photo by Jared Mitchell, www.brakingboundaries.org Tara Alan & Tyler Kellen www.goingslowly.com Tim Travis www.downtheroad.org e Tom Allen www.tomsbiketrip.com e THANKS Trevor Luker www.oddbikes.com e Tyler Robertson www.twowheeltravelblog.com e Many people in the bicycle touring community made this Vera and Jean-Christophe www.magical-world.eu e e magazine possible by contributing photos, articles and help Willem Megens & Rudi Verhagen www.themeeg.nl with editing. We thank them enormously and encourage you to Thanks also to our Twitter followers, who suggested great tents for touring: @mk4220 e, @tomsbiketrip e, @cycle4india e, @davebikenotes e, @oddbikes e, visit their websites for even more bike travel inspiration. @shanecycles e, @aegisdesign e, @jonahchitty e, @bazzargh e and @worldcyclevideo e

Alena Pesavento & Marcel Egli www.frischlufttour.ch e Alex Denham & Kat Webster www.cyclingabout.com e Alicia Ackerman www.cyclingwithoutahelmet.blogspot.com e Passionate about bike touring? Amaya Williams & Eric Schambion www.worldbiking.info e Angela & Stéphane Girard www.ouestef.net e Us too! That’s why we’ve collaborated with the cycle touring community to publish this Cass Gilbert www.whileoutriding.com e free eBook. We invite you to read it and share it with others. Email it to a friend. Post it on Chris & Janyis www.thespokeandwords.wordpress.com e your website for others to download. Print it and give away a copy. Chris Gruar www.cycling4cancer.com e Chris Leakey & Liz Wilton www.bikeabout.co.uk e We only have two small requests: keep the information free (don’t sell this book or any Dan, Alison, Sonia & Gus www.shutupandpedal.org e part of it) and give us, www.travellingtwo.com credit if you publish an excerpt on your David Herbold & John Lipton www.bikeshophub.com e blog or in another book. David Houghton www.biciklo.com e Dennis Koomen www.toko-op-fietsvakantie.nle Text copyright © 2015 Friedel & Andrew Grant. All rights reserved. Diana Johnson www.crazyguyonabike.com/dianac e For photographs, the rights remain with the creator. You should contact Emma Philpott & Justin Hewitt www.rolling-tales.com e the owner of the image for permission before re-publishing it. Grace Johnson www.bicycletraveler.nl e

84 | Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition Bike Touring Basics - 2015 Edition | 8485 GOING ON A BIKE TOUR? You’re already on your way. To learn even more about setting out on a two- wheeled adventure, try our Bike Touring Survival Guide. It’s hundreds of pages, packed with practical information for long bicycle trips.

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www.TravellingTwo.com/BikeTouringGuide