How much weight are you carrying on a big tour?

daviddd
daviddd Posts: 637
edited February 2008 in Tour & expedition
When I arrived in Brisbane I thought I'd weigh the gear to see just what a load I was carrying. The 4 panniers weighed 33kg gross, and that with me having reduced the amount of food I was carrying lately too, with a full load of food it would be around 40kg.

Additional to that is weight of water, varying from 2kg to 12kg (only occasionally have I carried 12kg / litres, although this will be more likely in the Top End to come.

Additional to that is the tent, footprint and shade cloth, 3kg, bar bag around 1kg and me at 67kg; the bare bike with racks weighs 18kg.

Thats a grand total of between 124 and 141kg (depending whether minimal / maximum water and food)

How do you compare IN TOTAL? I have probably got most of the steeper hills in Oz out of the way now, so the weight will be less significant. Thank God for the low Rohloff gear ratio I chose, I've not had to push yet, even on 15%+ hills.

I'm not really carrying anything I don't need - minimal clothing, but quite a few tools and spares which weigh quite heavy, stove, pans, 3-season bag, Thermarest mattress and chair, small radio, binoculars, PDA and small keyboard, spare batteries, charger, solar panel, book and maps, water purifier etc.
Oct 2007 to Sep 2008 - anticlockwise lap of Australia... http://www.davidddinoz.blogspot.com/
French Alps Tour 2006: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=r ... =1914&v=5R
3 month tour of NZ 2015... http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/nz2014

Comments

  • xilios
    xilios Posts: 170
    My bike is 17kg and equipment is 24kg. Wifes bike is 16kg and she carries 18kg.
    No food or water. Complete list on our page.
    Like to add were very envious of your tour, looks like a fantastic ride.
    If only we had the time :(
  • daviddd wrote:
    When I arrived in Brisbane I thought I'd weigh the gear to see just what a load I was carrying. The 4 panniers weighed 33kg gross, and that with me having reduced the amount of food I was carrying lately too, with a full load of food it would be around 40kg.

    Additional to that is weight of water, varying from 2kg to 12kg (only occasionally have I carried 12kg / litres, although this will be more likely in the Top End to come.

    Additional to that is the tent, footprint and shade cloth, 3kg, bar bag around 1kg and me at 67kg; the bare bike with racks weighs 18kg.

    Thats a grand total of between 124 and 141kg (depending whether minimal / maximum water and food)

    How do you compare IN TOTAL? I have probably got most of the steeper hills in Oz out of the way now, so the weight will be less significant. Thank God for the low Rohloff gear ratio I chose, I've not had to push yet, even on 15%+ hills.

    I'm not really carrying anything I don't need - minimal clothing, but quite a few tools and spares which weigh quite heavy, stove, pans, 3-season bag, Thermarest mattress and chair, small radio, binoculars, PDA and small keyboard, spare batteries, charger, solar panel, book and maps, water purifier etc.

    I weigh more than your grand total. I won't bother factoring in the weight of my camping gear :lol:
  • rdaviesb
    rdaviesb Posts: 566
    ..and I would need to factor in the weight of the wife as well! :lol:
  • daviddd
    daviddd Posts: 637
    .
    I weigh more than your grand total. I won't bother factoring in the weight of my camping gear :lol:
    lol - not enough cycling then V?!
    Oct 2007 to Sep 2008 - anticlockwise lap of Australia... http://www.davidddinoz.blogspot.com/
    French Alps Tour 2006: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=r ... =1914&v=5R
    3 month tour of NZ 2015... http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/nz2014
  • jalapeno
    jalapeno Posts: 1,009
    Here in Colombia/Ecuador I started with 14kg of gear (including tent and stove) with my trailer weighing an extra 4kg.

    Painted Roads.. colourful cycling adventures
    http://www.paintedroads.com
  • daviddd
    daviddd Posts: 637
    jalapeno wrote:
    Here in Colombia/Ecuador I started with 14kg of gear (including tent and stove) with my trailer weighing an extra 4kg.
    very light J, is that including food and water (surely not)....
    Oct 2007 to Sep 2008 - anticlockwise lap of Australia... http://www.davidddinoz.blogspot.com/
    French Alps Tour 2006: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=r ... =1914&v=5R
    3 month tour of NZ 2015... http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/nz2014
  • jalapeno
    jalapeno Posts: 1,009
    daviddd wrote:
    jalapeno wrote:
    Here in Colombia/Ecuador I started with 14kg of gear (including tent and stove) with my trailer weighing an extra 4kg.
    very light J, is that including food and water (surely not)....

    No, but then water is available everywhere and food I can get away with just a day's worth, there are villages and stuff everywhere....

    Painted Roads.. colourful cycling adventures
    http://www.paintedroads.com
  • daviddd
    daviddd Posts: 637
    jalapeno wrote:
    daviddd wrote:
    jalapeno wrote:
    Here in Colombia/Ecuador I started with 14kg of gear (including tent and stove) with my trailer weighing an extra 4kg.
    very light J, is that including food and water (surely not)....

    No, but then water is available everywhere and food I can get away with just a day's worth, there are villages and stuff everywhere....
    OK I see. I note from your blog that you're on a fixed! Must read your website about riding fixed, as it intrigues me how you guys get up hills - I love my low gears!!
    Oct 2007 to Sep 2008 - anticlockwise lap of Australia... http://www.davidddinoz.blogspot.com/
    French Alps Tour 2006: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=r ... =1914&v=5R
    3 month tour of NZ 2015... http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/nz2014
  • jalapeno
    jalapeno Posts: 1,009
    daviddd wrote:
    jalapeno wrote:
    daviddd wrote:
    jalapeno wrote:
    Here in Colombia/Ecuador I started with 14kg of gear (including tent and stove) with my trailer weighing an extra 4kg.
    very light J, is that including food and water (surely not)....

    No, but then water is available everywhere and food I can get away with just a day's worth, there are villages and stuff everywhere....
    OK I see. I note from your blog that you're on a fixed! Must read your website about riding fixed, as it intrigues me how you guys get up hills - I love my low gears!!

    i do ride fixed, but not touring on one! Hills though, just a state of attitude I think on fixed...!

    Painted Roads.. colourful cycling adventures
    http://www.paintedroads.com
  • daviddd
    daviddd Posts: 637
    phew! that's a relief!
    Oct 2007 to Sep 2008 - anticlockwise lap of Australia... http://www.davidddinoz.blogspot.com/
    French Alps Tour 2006: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=r ... =1914&v=5R
    3 month tour of NZ 2015... http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/nz2014
  • nun
    nun Posts: 434
    edited February 2008
    daviddd wrote:
    When I arrived in Brisbane I thought I'd weigh the gear to see just what a load I was carrying. The 4 panniers weighed 33kg gross, and that with me having reduced the amount of food I was carrying lately too, with a full load of food it would be around 40kg.

    Additional to that is weight of water, varying from 2kg to 12kg (only occasionally have I carried 12kg / litres, although this will be more likely in the Top End to come.

    Additional to that is the tent, footprint and shade cloth, 3kg, bar bag around 1kg and me at 67kg; the bare bike with racks weighs 18kg.

    Thats a grand total of between 124 and 141kg (depending whether minimal / maximum water and food)

    How do you compare IN TOTAL? I have probably got most of the steeper hills in Oz out of the way now, so the weight will be less significant. Thank God for the low Rohloff gear ratio I chose, I've not had to push yet, even on 15%+ hills.

    I'm not really carrying anything I don't need - minimal clothing, but quite a few tools and spares which weigh quite heavy, stove, pans, 3-season bag, Thermarest mattress and chair, small radio, binoculars, PDA and small keyboard, spare batteries, charger, solar panel, book and maps, water purifier etc.

    I've worked hard to reduce my load

    Bike with racks 12kg
    Camping Equipment Clothes, bags etc 8kg
    water and food 3kg

    Total 23kg
    This is for a multi week tour on roads

    2166938009_328bfdeb91.jpg

    Here's an equipment list

    CAMPING
    Tent, Contrail
    Summer down Sleeping Bag
    Big Agnes, Sleeping Pad
    Trianga stove and pots
    Denatured Alcohol
    Ti Spork
    BIC Lighter
    50' Cord

    CLOTHES CARRIED
    MTB Shorts
    Convertible Long Pants
    Wool Long Underwear
    Padded cycling Underwear
    Wool Short Sleeve T-Shirt
    Long Sleeve "Adventure" Shirt
    Microporous Rainsuit
    2 x Socks
    Flip Flops
    Gloves
    Windshirt
    Beanie hat

    TOILETRIES
    Mounthwash
    Razors
    Skin Cream
    Sunscreen
    Microfiber Towel
    Shampoo
    Toothpaste and Brush
    DEET
    Dental Floss
    Toilet Paper

    BIKE STUFF
    Bike Cable Lock
    Multitool
    Leatherman, Juice
    2 x Kevlar Spokes
    Chain Lube
    2 x inner tubes
    Pump
    2 x Patch Kits
    Tire boots
    2x Powerlink
    Brake cable
    Gear cable
    Brake Pads
    Misc Nuts and Bolts
    4x AA batteries
    Plastic Bags
    Duct tape

    MISC
    Wallet
    Map
    notebook and pen
    First Aid Kit
    Sewing kit
    small FM radio
    Cell phone/camera and charger

    CLOTHERS WORN, NOT INCLUDED IN WEIGHT
    Padded Underpants
    Long Sleeve T-Shirt
    Cycling Knickers
    Socks
    Cycling Shoes
    Helmet
    Bandana

    BAGS
    Carradice saddlebag, small handle bar bag and 2x silnylon compression sacks
  • daviddd wrote:
    .
    I weigh more than your grand total. I won't bother factoring in the weight of my camping gear :lol:
    lol - not enough cycling then V?!

    I get the miles (and pies) in :-)

    In the past three years:
    1 x LEJOG
    1 x JOGLE
    1 x Channel to Med
    45+ x 100km Audaxes
    6 x 200km Audaxes
    10+ weekend/mini tours

    countered by:
    pies, curries, fish and chips, fine ales, pasta, pizza etc.....
  • petew
    petew Posts: 47
    On my last trip I was 104kg in total (1.5l water, 600g of gas - a lot more than I needed).
    Bike + rack 10kg, I *was* 74kg. Main heavy items were small tent (1kg - though I'd go bigger and heavier next time), self inflating matt (880g) and sleeping bag (1kg) and nice Merrell sandals (800g). I took too many toilettries and a copy of Don Quixote (very heavy).

    I don't think I could get below 100kg.

    Loaded bike ready to roll -> http://warwick.ac.uk/~strcah/loadedrig.JPG
  • petew
    petew Posts: 47
    I should have added that this was for a ~1200km 8 day tour.