We have all threatened it, it can’t be that difficult, can it? Personally, touring with or without canvas has over the years seemed like an impossible task, the idea of stowing a tent or a mass of clothing, no matter how small with the associated outdoors paraphernalia has seemed a preposterous proposition, but is it really that difficult or is it just something that can be achieved rather easily, if some prior careful planning is applied and the correct equipment is utilised. In my preparations for my epic Caminoride the idea of camping along the route had briefly crossed my mind, but was it feasible?
When assessing what equipment and clothing to pack, it’s logically all about space, weight and the capacity of your bike. Oh and obviously the expected length of your journey. Whether a couple of days or an around the world epic, the freedom of initiating a touring adventure is so liberating, sometimes roughing it, has its attractions. However, I understand the preparations and planning can at first glance appear daunting, especially for the less adventurous types, you really do need to explore your options.
The internet is a great tool for scrutinising what other people have done and where they’ve gone. The best piece of advice ischeck out a wide selection of blogs, websites and magazine articles to get inspired and this will hopefully put your mind at ease. Reading about the experience of others will help you decide what you actually want to achieve and the best way to attain it, but in reality, it’s your experience so just enjoy, you might make mistakes but who cares, life is all about hard knocks and hard times, but it’s all about how you deal with those experiences.
My usual failing is to get too carried away and get completely overwhelmed, instead of making a modest foray into the wilderness (2 or 3 days, or maybe a weekend) and choosing a simple environment and climate.
Also you have to recognise that the longer your project is, the fitter you have to be, so several practice outings is definitely recommended. With the Camino I made sure I checked the weather regularly and also the 10 day weather forecast just before departure for the regions I would encounter throughout my stay, and select my equipment accordingly. Again I failed miserably, do as I say and not as I do!
Planning is essential How are you going to get there?, When are you travelling?, What is your budget?, the wind direction? (cycling into a constant headwind is no fun) and what equipment will you need?
The choice of bike is usually the one area that provokes heated debate. Unless you’re getting vehicular support you’ll be carrying everything you need on or behind your bike.
A rack and panniers, or frame bags are the traditional option for transporting your luggage but trailers are also of growing popularity. Whatever you do, don’t try and ride with a bulky rucksack. It’s a fast track to back pain, again something I found to my cost, logically a hefty bag and the normal riding position is fraught with dangers and definite neck and shoulder pain. The majority of racks and panniers are simple to fit and do surprisingly provide plenty of space for your equipment. As for the bike itself, gears need to be quite low and I would recommend purchasing a set of good quality tyres, to offset the weight from the panniers and equipment.
Decent quality touring, hybrid and mountain bikes should all be adequate on the road, while the latter with a single wheeled trailer yis by far the best option. If you have planned to use the off-road version exclusively on tarmac, avoid those with heavy power-sapping rear suspension systems and make sure you fit slick tyres. 28mm is probably about the thinnest tyre you’d want to tour with on any bike. Another suggestion is get the bike serviced before departure, so it is in good working order, ready for the exertions that lay ahead.
Scot Whitlock
Editor, CADENCE Cycling Magazine
Whitlock McCann Media Ltd
Twitter: cadencemag Website: www.cadencemag.co.uk
Author, ‘Simple Words from the Saddle’
Twitter: @saddlescot
