bevo
New Member
Posts: 3
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Newbie
Mar 25, 2006 8:49:18 GMT
Post by bevo on Mar 25, 2006 8:49:18 GMT
Help & advice needed. Hi to everybody. I am looking for any advice you guys can throw at me about touring. I am looking to go on weekend camping trips with myself and my 3 kid’s two boys 15/13 and a girl 11. Bought the bikes (ridgebacks) X 4! Two tents Jamet Makalu 4000 chosen because of there big roomy size and small packed size and weight @ 4.3 kg. each. Now I need the sleeping bags, cooking, clothes etc. The more I read the more I become confused and worried about my bank account! as I am buying for 4. Also the big question I have is about toilets, what you do if you are caught short! Might seem a daft question but I can not find anything about emergency loos. (or is it still a spade job?). Does anybody know of a sensible “training” program that will help us to get to a fitness level where we can entertain reasonable distances on our cycles with all the kit on board as I have not been in a saddle for quite a few years now!
Any advice would be appreciated.
Bevo
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Newbie
Mar 26, 2006 17:34:20 GMT
Post by butterfly on Mar 26, 2006 17:34:20 GMT
Hi there! Welcome. What you need to take depends on where and when you are going. If you camp already, some of your existing things can be used, such as plates and sleeping bags, at least to start with. If you can stretch to down filled sleeping bags, the warmth to weight ratio is worth every penny. If you are in Britain, there are few places for wild camping, so as a cycle camper, you chose a site with loos, and possibly showers so this is not a problem. I would suggest starting with a local trip for a weekend (maybe 10-20 miles), to give yourself a chance to try everything and make sure you have no glaring omissions. Another slow-start is to try a weekend in a hostel or bed and breakfast, to get an idea of what you will need apart from camping things. Regarding clothes, particularly in summer convertable clothes that serve more than one purpose are useful, for example, cycle shorts instead of underwear and trousers with zip off legs and shirts with zip off or button back sleeves. A fleece can go in a stuff sack to use as a pillow and so on. To work up to fitness, try starting with regular short rides and gradually increase you distance. I don't find speed an issue, but then I'm on my own, not holding anyone up, so I can be as slow as I like! Have fun.
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bevo
New Member
Posts: 3
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Newbie
Mar 26, 2006 20:21:52 GMT
Post by bevo on Mar 26, 2006 20:21:52 GMT
Thank you for the advise, took my bike out for the first time today and realised very quickly that the years of “bad” living has took its toll. Only done 4 miles and felt pretty knackered! I reckon I will need about two months of regular riding to get in any kind of shape to haul all the kit on the bike. The 10 to 20 miles sounds just about right as we have a few choices of places to go in my area. I was going to buy the Vango Ultralite Voyager 50 sleeping bags as they seem to about right in rating and weight, although these are not down filled bags, but they do seem to have a good rating, do you have any experience of these bags ? For my jacket choice I have gone for the Altrura Nevis as they are rated as waterproof and breathable and it is the only jacket I have found that comes in extra small for my kids. Can you advise if this jacket is suitable (we will be mainly doing summer runs). Speed wont be a issue as my daughter is only 11 and although her bike has the same size wheels and the gearing is the same (just the frame is smaller) she will struggle to keep up !
Thank you again for your help.
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Newbie
Mar 26, 2006 20:37:31 GMT
Post by butterfly on Mar 26, 2006 20:37:31 GMT
It is surprising how fast you get fit! I should think the altura jacket would be fine. Shops such as peacocks do zip off trousers for children, or craghoppers do some better quality ones. I highly recommend cycling shorts for the children - the extra padding really helps. Chamois cream for the nether regions is also helpful, although sudocrem does the job and costs less.
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bevo
New Member
Posts: 3
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Newbie
Mar 26, 2006 21:03:45 GMT
Post by bevo on Mar 26, 2006 21:03:45 GMT
Hi butterfly are these shops on line ? if so do you have there address ?
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Newbie
Mar 26, 2006 22:15:58 GMT
Post by butterfly on Mar 26, 2006 22:15:58 GMT
peathingys! Peac**ks! I don't think they are online, they are a bit cheap and cheerfull, like primark. Craghoppers are sure to be available through some of the online stores. If I see some I'll post the site. Otherwise, they have a shop in Covent garden called The Adventure Traveller if you know someone who is passing that way.
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Newbie
Apr 5, 2006 14:51:48 GMT
Post by gary on Apr 5, 2006 14:51:48 GMT
You could try kitting yourself out on ebay if you are careful what you are buying if you are new to touring read the information on www.touringcyclist.co.uk also dont push yourselves to hard only ride as far as the whole family is able enjoy but dont over kill with time you will be amazed at how far you can travel in a day. Plan your trip well take rest days and allow for p;enty of tea breaks its good to research your trip on the net to find interesting facts along the way to keep the kids interested they will get bored. happy cycling gary.
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Newbie
May 10, 2006 14:46:40 GMT
Post by finartmike on May 10, 2006 14:46:40 GMT
Bevo: Do I take it that you intend to cycle from home to the campsite with no motor transport? I would not think it practicable to expect your offspring to share any of the group camping load - never mind their personal items. However, putting 4 bikes on a car and the passengers plus camping gear in it - is also a tall order. I have car camped in a large Vango with porch for a portable loo. But if these tents have no porch then toileting is impossible. What is the latest in your quest? Regards
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