Winged Wheel
Page 29
Oct - Dec 2017
What to Take on Tour
John Thompson Gives His Ideas In response to Richard's request for advice on what to take on tour, perhaps my 14 years as a tour leader and being an 'old school' tourist qualify me. I call myself an 'old-school' tourist because I am still into non-assisted moving-on tours. From Winged Wheel it seems many Suffolk CTC members are also into it. However, there is much less of it nowadays. Many tours are fixed centres and/or vehicle supported. Obviously you don't need to carry so much on those tours. My advice will be for unassisted moving-on tours with panniers. I am not a technical person so wont comment on things like”disk brakes or not?” and “drive belt instead of a chain?” Perhaps I can however comment on the best type of frame. To do so, I start on a general point. If you want to do serious 'old school' touring 'in full comfort' you have to accept carrying things that are going to slow you. It seems to me a lot of riders nowadays can't cope with the 'psychology' of that. On my tours I had no few who didn't bring things, like spare clothing for bad weather, and got caught out. The 'buzz' I got was that they could not cope with the thought they would not be riding as fast as they are capable of, particularly when climbing and being caught by people who would not normally. There are a number of reasons why many don't go on unassisted moving-on tours nowadays but I'm sure one of them is because the thought of carrying 'so much' is daunting. That leads to choosing a
frame. While up to a point you can weigh it – no pun intended - with the type of touring you anticipate doing and how often, lightness should not be the prime consideration. You need a robust frame that can withstand a lot. I am pleased with my Thorn Audax steel frame. As one person said, “They're not a fast frame but can take anything you throw at them.” Regarding what to take on tour, I am a 'credit card tourer.' Generally however, I think my guidance for hotel / b&b tours applies to breakfast provided hostel tours. While I am somewhat out of touch about hostels, I believe sleeping bags are now provided as a matter of course. but as far as I know you still need to carry a towel and soap. I can't advise about cycle-camping as I have never done it. That said, my Thorn Audax has bosses on the front forks for panniers so perhaps is appropriate for cycle camping but that is as far as I can go. What you take partly depends on how long you are going for. I will base advice around a 'standard' two-week holiday. I find a pair of 'medium' size panniers, with the addition of a seat pillar bag for tools, adequate. When I chose my current Altura panniers I thought they looked a bit small at first but with zip pockets at the top and side pockets they are fine. A piece of advice I offer is to avoid panniers with perforated side pockets. From experience, they easily tear, especially on airport runners. Handlebar bags are quite popular but I could never get on with them. Maybe that was me but with a seat pillar bag for tools I'm okay without one. The map viewer on handlebar bags is useful – if not a total Garmin person - but I take a map holder. Valuables I keep with me if away from the bike, although I take the point a handlebar