Touring usually means very long multi-day (or multi-week) rides carrying a lot of gear (camping, cooking, clothes, etc) on the bike. Can also apply to unloaded/creditcard touring involving using hotels/motels instead of camping.
45
votes
26answers
5k views
How do I deal with a dog chasing me when I'm touring?
Once I was riding my road bike down a rural road. I heard barking over my shoulder and saw two dobermans running toward me. I can't think of a time in my life that I felt more endangered.
I reacted ...
18
votes
7answers
633 views
What are important items for a touring first-aid kit?
When riding long distances, either solo or with groups of people, it is obviously necessary to carry a first-aid kit in case of a crash or other injury. What are the most important items to pack, ...
14
votes
4answers
694 views
How to estimate how long a tour will take? (UK to Greece)
If someone of moderate cycling abilities, and pretty good fitness tried to cycle to Greece from eg. London; how long would it take approximately. Assuming around 8 hours of cycling a day?
And please ...
14
votes
1answer
213 views
Pass in the Alps that can be crossed by mountain bike?
I'm looking for a pass in the Alps that I can cross with my mountain bike. I know that if there's a road, I could just use it, but my question is a little bit more special.
I'm looking for a pass ...
12
votes
5answers
1k views
What should I look for in choosing wheels for a road bike?
I have a commuting/touring bike and my riding is a good bit of commuting mixed with weekend rides of up to 50 miles.
In my lame knowledge, I'll assume that lighter wheels can be had when you spend ...
11
votes
4answers
1k views
Touring load weight distribution
What's the best way to load a touring bike, to increase stability and balance? Assuming a standard two-rack-and-panniers setup, where should I put most of my weight? I have a camping load, about 50 ...
9
votes
8answers
332 views
Map during touring?
Do you attach your map to the bike or have some sort of desktop or how do you maintain your map during touring? You surely need some sort of cover but if you have how do you attach it to your bike or ...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
I'm going to take my bike with me on a plane. Do I really need a special bike travel bag to have it transported safely?
I have a road bike that I want to bring with me to the place I will be flying to.
I know that there are bags that are designed especially for this kind of situation: the bike travel bags such as the ...
8
votes
4answers
547 views
What is a good formula to translate a Google Maps cycle time estimate into a reasonable trip time for very long distances?
I want to get to San Francisco from Los Angeles. I've looked at a number of options, including cycling. I have never biked such a great distance before, so I consulted Google.
It says that the trip ...
8
votes
9answers
491 views
Protecting gadgets against rain during touring
When carrying laptop / camera around I'm always stressed out when it starts raining. Living in a city one can easily avoid rain though - but on a long touring trip there will inevitably be cases when ...
8
votes
5answers
283 views
Worth it carrying spare spokes?
Truing a wheel and lacing spokes is a big deal, requires a truing stand and everything. I know some do it without tool just with the spoke wrench and the naked eye, but feels like a big deal to me.
...
8
votes
1answer
1k views
Is there a downside to spoke protectors?
A few weeks ago, the derailer on my touring bike caught on the chain and ripped itself off the frame. (See the link below for more info on the incident.) The spoke protector was cracked in half by ...
8
votes
1answer
199 views
Water safety during touring?
This question raised a new sub-problem of which I was not at all aware of.
I carry a heater to boil the water before I drink it but I am unsure whether it removes all dirt from water. Please, note ...
7
votes
2answers
313 views
Which endurance tires for touring?
I got a recommendation from an experienced tourer to switch to Schwalbe Marathon Plus endurance tires during summer and Schwalbe Spike something during winter. I like the Marathon Plus tires, despite ...
7
votes
1answer
128 views
I am going cycle touring. What should I carry in my first aid kit? [duplicate]
I am going cycle touring and I am packing a first aid kit to take with me. What items are essential to have in there, and what items are 'extra'? I have found it difficult to find clear information ...
6
votes
9answers
2k views
Are Merrell Barefoot shoes suitable for bike touring?
These are the specific shoes: http://www.merrell.com/US/en-US/Product.mvc.aspx/22876M/0/Mens/Barefoot-True-Glove?dimensions=0
I'm going on a 210 mile bike trip this weekend and am looking for a new ...
6
votes
12answers
382 views
Bike touring/camping tip(s)
I have a tentative first-time bike touring/camping trip in the planning stages and working out my set-up. I have a good idea of the essentials. My question is especially directed to those who have ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
How can I adapt a mountain bike for a one or two week tour?
This is the situation. I have GT Agressor 1.0 mountain bike. I want to travel for about a week on my bike, which means that I will have to ride a lot on paved roads (around 70% of the road). So I ...
6
votes
5answers
271 views
Sunscreen for Riding
What type of sunscreen is best for long road rides? I'm thinking sweatproof, non-greasy, non-smelly. Ideally it would be a 'low risk' and 'safe' according to something like the EWG or Good Guide, ...
6
votes
2answers
595 views
How to maintain chains during touring?
I think requirements are reusable, simple, small-size and things-to-easily-to-carry. There are exotic answers with chain clearers and other things that do not qualify to me simple. Perhaps, the ...
5
votes
2answers
288 views
Quality to/from work bike
I want a bike that will take me to and from work quickly, but not make it too easy.
To get to work, I have to ride a quarter mile up a steep hill, which will be difficult on a bike. I want to spend ...
5
votes
5answers
2k views
Is my dream of finding a light/commuter/hauling bike a pipe dream?
For a while now I have been trying to find the perfect bike. One that is fast and allows me to ride 20 mph for 50 mi. One that I can load stuff on and has braze-ons for racks, fenders, etc. A bike ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the best web application to create cycling cue sheets for future rides
I'm looking for good software to help me map out routes that I have not done before and create cue sheets and probably also printable maps. I plan to use this for my own rides, planning group rides, ...
5
votes
5answers
3k views
What kinds of kickstands are good for touring?
I am using a sturdy 2nd-hand-bought diamond-framed Crescent Sport bike which I like to use for random touring.
I have seen a cyclocrosser using the kickstand to spin the pedals while cleaning and ...
5
votes
2answers
230 views
Food during touring?
A problem with this kind of tasty food here is that you become depended on it, usually having no such luxuries so a more spartan question.
I use a lot of vitamin supplements for B, C, D and Calcium. ...
4
votes
3answers
258 views
Good pedal and shoe combination for summer touring
First off given that I will be sightseeing as well is it worth the extra weight to take a dedicated cycle shoe and a walking shoe or is the extra hassle of having something else that can go wrong not ...
4
votes
6answers
575 views
Clothes during touring?
Are your touring-riding clothes a lot different than, let say, clothes for riding to work? Do you wear better or different clothes for touring? Have you found some good way to wash your clothes during ...
4
votes
4answers
388 views
Carrying water during touring?
The earlier question, here, raised this question about carrying water.
How do you carry water during touring? Do yo carry it in panniers, water-bags, bottles, containers or elsewhere? How does your ...
4
votes
1answer
298 views
How to choose a front rack
I am thinking about getting a front rack for when I am doing some touring. What should I look for when determining if it will fit. Steel or aluminum? Better styles?
4
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I properly apply chamois cream?
There is a lot of advice out there to use chamois cream on long rides to prevent sores and chafing. How are you supposed to apply it?
In particular I'm curious about the following:
Do you apply ...
4
votes
2answers
643 views
Road Fork: Curved vs Straight?
I found a frame I'm interested in building up, but it doesn't include a fork. So I've been looking for carbon 700cc forks... with disc tabs. I've found a few, but ran into a new dilemma - curved vs ...
4
votes
4answers
269 views
Social network for bike users
Does a social network exists for bicycle users?
I'm working on a website that caters bikers who want to discover some parts of France, and I'd like to allow bikers to share their experience. I could ...
4
votes
2answers
106 views
How to plan routes for touring?
I am a bit lost even to find the shortest safe way to the nearest city. How do you choose your routes for long journeys? Do you need to do compromises very often or change plans?
4
votes
1answer
209 views
How to properly adjust rim brakes for a touring bike?
My touring bike needs new brake pads, and I'm about to do the swap. I've done it before, and plan to consult the usual YouTube videos to refresh myself in the procedure. (Brakes are something where ...
3
votes
5answers
430 views
How to cope with boredom whilst cycle touring?
I went on a long cycle tour before and I found myself getting bored whilst I was riding at some points. E.g. on monotonous main roads, and areas with not much scenery or people to stop and talk to, or ...
3
votes
3answers
691 views
Are bicycle rear racks and panniers suitable for cross-country riding?
Later this summer, I intend to make a ten-day travel. It is going to be mainly road touring with one-two-tree days of sloped dirt roads or forest trails possible.
I usually pack heavily, carrying a ...
3
votes
4answers
802 views
Traveling Overseas with Bikes
My wife and I are planning a cycling trip through Europe. This will be our second, and we're planning to build a pair of dedicating touring bikes for this (and other) adventures. We'd like suggestions ...
3
votes
2answers
453 views
What options do I have to charge my GPS and Phone using a dynamo hub?
I'm planning to purchase a supernova infinity-8 dynamo hub and wanted to use this during daylight hours to charge my Phone and GPS during bike tours.
What products are available that will work with ...
3
votes
3answers
665 views
Is there anything similar to motorbike roadbook holders for bicycles?
Does anybody know if there may be in commerce anything similar to the roadbook holders they use on offroad motorbikes, but for use on bicycles?
I know there are some electronic versions in commerce ...
3
votes
4answers
825 views
How to warm up / stretch and cool down?
I'm starting to ride again after a couple of years of not doing any sports at all. I dimly remember some stretching exercises back from school, but I don't know if I'm doing it right at all.
Instead ...
3
votes
2answers
456 views
Are there LED based dynamo powered lights suitable for night time MTB riding on singletrack?
Are there LED based dynamo powered lights suitable for night time MTB riding on singletrack?
Likely they would need to have:
High Brightness, likely 500 lumens or better. Not sure how that translates ...
3
votes
5answers
849 views
Bike for a shorter rider to do touring, daily commuting and light off-roading?
I want to buy a bike. These are the things I'm looking for:
frame that can handle weight and light off-roading (eg, sand, gravel, rocks, roots, but no big drops)
frame can accomodate fatter, ...
3
votes
4answers
542 views
Items required in a World travelling bike?
I saw a fascinating bicycle today with "world traveler" hand-written on the frame. I was awe-struck by this bike. The odometer showed over 2000 km ridden, in freezing winter temperatures. The plastic ...
2
votes
4answers
179 views
Is a recreational bike sufficient for a 10-hour bike trip?
I am planning to go on a bike trip from Chicago to Milwaukee in the end of June. Is my Trek Allant, a recreational bike, suitable for the trip?
2
votes
4answers
153 views
Essential maintenance for my bike whilst on a long distance tour
I am thinking about what I need to do for maintenance whilst on a long distance tour I am planning. can anyone help me out with this?
2
votes
5answers
220 views
Sun protection while touring
I'm preparing for a mini tour in the greek islands this August and I'm getting concerned about sun protection. I'm considering not using a helmet (as I'll reach 30 km/h max). Last year I was wearing a ...
2
votes
2answers
194 views
Extend drop bars with additional positions
I have my touring bike set up with drop bars, very similar to this:
However, after riding all day for a few days, I tend to miss additional position(s) to avoid minor annoyances such as "numb ...
2
votes
2answers
277 views
Should I get wider tyres/tires for my tour if I'm not going to go off-road?
I'm going to do a ten-day long tour down the west coast of New Zealand. I'll have some luggage in rear panniers, but no tent (staying with friends and in backpackers accommodation). There'll be a fair ...
2
votes
1answer
158 views
Why should the front wheel be more heavily loaded when touring? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Touring load weight distribution
In reading advice for carrying cargo on a bicycle, whether for touring or otherwise, I see recommendations (such as here) that load ...
2
votes
2answers
821 views
How to find the vertical height between any two points? [closed]
Is there any source in the Internet that allows me to calculate the vertical height between two arbitrary points?
Im thinking of something like the calculate route function of Google Maps. But ...
