Touring virgin

slunker

Hi all,

I am looking at starting to do a few tours but have no idea where to begin. I ride bikes alot (cat2 racer) but the appeal of touring and actually "taking it all in" is what I'm looking for.

Not sure if my winter bike can take a rack, it is a Kinesis TK and also saw some cheap racks at Aldi. I have done a few rides before with wild camping but this was from a base (the car and tent) but would like to start from my house and just go on the bike.

What would be the basic neccesities be for touring? Think I would start off easy...ish with a 3-4 day tour.

Is it best to stick to a plan?? Usually when I'm on the motorbike I just go where the mood takes me with no route planned.

Thanks

AidanR

There's no big secret. Your bike will take a rack, so there's no problem there. Then just take some camping gear if that's how you're going to sleep, get some (preferably waterproof) panniers and away you go. My tips would be:

- Take tools to make basic repairs, including a chain tool.
- Pare down your kit to the bare minimum
- If you don't have a triple, or at least a compact with 27/28T cassette avoid overly hilly routes
- Don't treat it like a stage race

Tusher

Just go, slunker, and enjoy it!
But you do realise that you'll be hooked, don't you?

I would add a credit card to the list as well. Miles from home, in a strange bike/camping shop, you'll find The Gadget that you've had on your wish list for years. If it's big, you can always post it home.

We usually cook by the tent when we stop for the night, but lunches are to be savoured, and a restaurant that is too expensive for a dinner will often do a cheap lunch that is just as good. (Others will, of course, differ in their views.)

Our luxury items are swimsuits. There's often a swimming pool nearby when you stop at night, and that swimming pool may just have a sauna/steamroom which is total bliss after a hard, wet day in the saddle.

But I agree with Aidan, to start out, just pack light, be waterproof, and go. Leaving from your front door just adds to a wonderful sense of freedom.

GyatsoLa

The big decision is whether to go credit card touring or camping - big difference in weight and complexity. For starting out, I'd suggest credit card touring.

The key to packing clothes is multi-use and layering. Outer shell for rain, wicking stuff for the base, pick kit that will dry overnight after washing (i.e. no cotton). if you have bike base layers that look ok off the bike, all the better, saves bringing 'casual' clothes.

campbellrae1

I think for the first tour or two I would go credit card touring, at least that way the kit weighs a lot less so it's a bit of a gentler introduction. Think I made quite a big mistake for my first, it was 1000 miles round the north of Scotland fully loaded. Got through it OK, but was a hell of a shock for the first few days to the point where I strongly considered hoping on a train and going home!