Just getting started

pimptovimto

Hi Folks

I am looking to do a 130 mile route from Inverness to Perth in the next couple of weeks to dip my toes in the water before contemplating something bigger next year. I have an old MTB and am trying to spend as little as possibel to get it ready for a longer road journey.

Do pannier racks fit any bike or will I most likely have to carry a backpack?

I was thinking of buy Schwalbe Marathon Plus ATB tyres as the MTB ones I have will be no good has anyone used these and could recommend a buy or avoid?

And finally bearing in mind budget is important what is a suitable 1 man tent that will fit in backpack or hopefully pannier bag?

Thanks a mill

PV

Wooliferkins

Pannier racks need mounting points. Normally a threaded hole at the top of each your seat stays and two more down by your rear axle. if you havent got them then there are bags the will fit to your seatpost
Off or on road? Marathons are good across the range, far and away my most popular tyre.
Tents are a thing not to skimp on. You might find a bivvy bag a good bet if you go really minimalist. I use a Terra Nova Laser Comp Not cheap but small light waterproof and up in a trice.

RonL

You can do this route in a day if you wish. Suggest just plain Schwalbe marathons, the Plus are great but heavy. Most of the route is on good roads or tracks, the worst section is after Dalwhinnie until close to Blair Atholl, really quite rough but marathons are upto it. If your new to camping, buy a cheap tent until your sure, I use a Hillberg Akto but like the TN Laser expensive. There is a Youth Hostel at Pitlochry which many cyclists use as an alternative. Its around 105 miles to there. If using the Sustrans route it's quite hilly out of Inverness but easy going thereafter. Plenty stops for food and refreshment en-route. You don't need to carry too much.

pimptovimto

Wooliferkins, thanks for that, I can see threaded holes near my rear axel on the seat stay but nothing obvious at the top, your tent looks great but way out of my budget, I might try and hire one.

I was going to get the marathon ATB's sounds like they do a great job on road and do provide a little grip for the landrover tracks.

RonL
The route I am doing is not down the A9, I am going to come over the Cairgorms through Breamar and Glenshee, This is a lot further than anything I have done before which is why I was going to play safe and camp out for the night, I do intend to go as far as I can for as long as I can on day one and if I get anywhere near the finish I wil keep going.

Thanks a Mill

PV

tripwire

Hi, I'm currently trying to get kitted up for my first tour too, and was struggling to find a compact one man tent to fit in a pannier. A lot of lightweight tents have poles that fold down to 45-50cm which is ok for a backpack but a little bit long for panniers. I ended up going for a Coleman Avior X2 which fits nicely in a pannier and was relatively cheap. It also has enough headroom at the peak to sit up straight without touching the liner.

Unfortunately I've not had chance to use it properly yet so I can't really give my own opinion, but I have used a Coleman Phact X3 before and that was good. Probably a fair bit heavier than the more expensive options, but keeps you warm and dry which is what matters really.

Stuck on a Giant

You could consider packing the tent fabric in a pannier, and strapping the poles on top of the rack - doesn't really matter if they get wet, and they don't take up much room there

Tim Farr

Pimptovimto - don't feel that you have to throw lots of money at this problem. If I were you I'd use youth hostels/backpacker hostels /B&B's and at a stroke you'll cut out buying lightweight camping gear. You'll also cut out loads of extra weight to haul. If you do decide to camp - there is top of the range kit as there is in all spheres of life - but do you really want to spend £200+ on some fancy tent and the same again on a chique sleeping bag. See if you can borrow or get along to Millets or other high street store for a non-top brand.

As for the bike, you don't need some super dooper machine. I did my first youth hostelling on a 'sit up and beg' 26" wheeled Royal Enfield! Just make sure that the bike is roadworthy and that it's not carrying any fault that you put up with around town, but under the stress of longer distances and heavier weight will lead to a breakdown. e.g. tyre walls, close examination may show that they are cracked; any sign of that, then you need to ditch them or face the possibility of a burst tyre.

To carry panier bags you would probably need eyelets on which to fix a pannier carrier - but there may be an alternative, ask at your local bike shop (LBS). In any case if you're hostelling/B&B ing, all you'll need is a saddle bag of some kind and a front bag - don't buy mail order unless you are sure that they'll fit on your bike; in the case of the saddle bag that it does not catch the rear wheel; in the case of pannier bags (again you don't need top of the range ones) make sure that the heel of your shoes does not catch on the bags when you are pedalling (another reason to use the LBS and not mail order).

There's another active thread on this area on this forum which you may find interesting.

Good luck and I hope this is the first of many trips.

Bodhbh

Stuck on a Giant wrote:

You could consider packing the tent fabric in a pannier, and strapping the poles on top of the rack - doesn't really matter if they get wet, and they don't take up much room there

I dunno if it's the done thing among more experienced tourers, but I bungee the poles as well as a stuffsack with the rest of the tent on the top of the rack. The tent fabric can hold alot of water and shed it into your panniers even if double bagged. Plus frees up more room ofc, although have to be careful bungeeing - if it's not solid they'll be vibration and you'll be wearing holes into it.

Crapaud

Cheapo tents: Lichfield Apache 2. I used one for a 2 week tour up the west coast of Scotland and it stood up well to the elements. The 2 man gives a bit extra room to keep panniers etc. out of the rain and still leave space for yourself. Can be had for £19.99 from Amazon.

Place it across the pannier rack (the dark bule bundle just above the saddle--->