Bicycle Touring and Bikepacking

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For all the pedal pushers out there that love long distance cycling. There are no gear requirements and no 'minimum distances' here.

Have you ridden for a cheeky overnighter or a 3 year global trek? Doesn't matter, you're welcome here.

Have you got panniers, bikepacking bags or just a backpack with the essentials? Doesn't matter, you're welcome here.

Have you got the latest in carbon engineering or your dads old 10 speed from the 70's? Doesn't matter, you're welcome here.

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A very wet week away on the isle of wight (lemmy.zip)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by retrolasered to c/[email protected]

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Didnt start well, a storm stopped me halfway from london to portsmouth, the first day here I dedicated as a rest day as I get problems with my knee when I overdo it. It was a beatiful day which made me optimistic for the week, but there were storms eveyday. I did my planned rides anyway. My running shoes got sodden wet but I had fun regardless. Got a dry day today, so did the main north-south trail, started in my flip flops stopped at blacks to get a dry pair of waterproof hiking shoes on clearance. Got to a closed path, asked a cyclist coming the other way if id make it through, he said yes just keep your feet up. I did, my bike stopped in the middle, had to peddle out with these shoes I had only worn for an hour under the water. Wet weather touring is .. a challenge, but still enjoyable. Going home tomorrow, if it is raining I am getting the train back from portsmouth, ive had enough water for this week.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Was about to start a long weekend today, but now i am sitting on the train home again. The rain killed my motivation, since it's going to rain tomorrow too, i just called it quits. Just the wrong weather for a short trip like this, thought it wouldn't be as bad.

Guess i got a good day ride in though.

[–] retrolasered 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That sucks. I hope you get a good trip in again soon. Do you have the kit for winter trips? We had a frost during the last night of my stay, I was fully dressd under my sleeping but still freezing, I will definitely need a warmer one if I want to get another trip in before next summer*

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It was ok, was a fine day too, just thought i'd rather quit.

I also have a warm sleeping bag too, for around freezing temps. I have the cumulus lite line 200 and 400. If i had no sleeping bags i think i would buy a x-lite 200 (or a lite line 300). Do you have an insulated pad already? That made a big difference for me on colder nights with the lite line 200.

I still have a week of holidays before christmas, not sure what to do with it, maybe a train to southern France or maybe a week in the Vosges if weather permits in October.

[–] retrolasered 1 points 1 year ago

Im pretty sure my mat is thermal, just I got the cheapest sleeping bag to get out for my first tour in the spring. Ill take a look at that bag, thanks for the suggestion

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Your shoe story reminds me of when I was cycling in Portugal in heavy rain. There was a muddy puddle in a gravel road, impossible to judge how deep it was. Decided it would be fine, it was not. My front weel was stopped suddenly by an underwater rock. For some reason (found out later that one of my cleats was crooked) I couldnt click out of my pedals. Then, that slow-motion thing happened and I fell into the puddle, my left side was completely covered in mud and the mood wasn’t great afterwards.

I think it’s great you still went. Cycling in the rain is definitely type 2 (sometimes even 3) fun, but you get to a point where it doesn’t matter anymore ant then it’s great.

[–] retrolasered 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh man that must have sucked. Ive gone down in a deep puddle before, it was the third day of a 6 day ride around the coastline. I ended up with a knee injury that day too, unrelated to the fall. I had to give myself two nights in a hotel to let me knee and my spirit recover before I could continue. Yeah cycling in the rain is its own experience, as long as you can get yourself the required aftercare (for me a hot shower is vital)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I gave myself the ol’ hotel pass as well, spend something like 45 minutes washing the mud out of my cycling clothes. Then put on some warm dry clothes (thank you Ortlieb) and went for a greasy burger and a beer. Things somehow taste better after adventure, don’t they?

[–] retrolasered 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They absolutely do taste better. I was hoping I could avoid paying out for ortliebs, but this last trip I found out my altura dryline panniers arent completely stormproof - I mean they have been great, but the rain I got was a bit ridiculous,. So a set of ortlieb may be on the books soon

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I was also disappointed in my apidura framebag (NB: I got a new one from them that I have yet to test), I have brooks bags (that were produced by ortlieb) and an ortlieb bag on the front. They are excellent.

I’ve heard from people who owned both that in terms of quality there is no big difference between the ‘normal’ and the more expensive variants.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Looks like you lost a bunch of luggage along the way, haha.

[–] retrolasered 2 points 1 year ago

Aha I left it all at the campsite. Glad I did too, the bike took an absolute beating on some of those routes along with the weather. Front rack lost a bolt at some point had to go to a bike shop to raplace it. Not wure when it happened but am grateful that it wasnt while I had the front panniers on!