How to.... Toolkit for touring?

[pedaldog]

Looking at camping in a pretty remote area with no bike shops near enough if anything goes wrong.
I'll be on a recumbent with 26" rear and 20" front wheels so I know I need two tubes. S.O.N. Hub dynamo so I only need bare emergency lights in case of problems there. Cable disc brakes so I need gear and brake cables. I would like a total list of what people would consider necessary and sensible to tour with. I don't have the mechanical skills to take things apart so it would be more the tools and spares to keep me mobile for a couple of days or so.
Suggestions are welcome.

[gary]

hi pedaldo take a look at site updates all you need there more tomorrow
Gary

[pedaldog]

admin said:

hi pedaldo take a look at site updates all you need there more tomorrow
Gary

Woosaflavour wi all this then?

[gary]

Sorry didnt make clear on the fornt page of the web site is a link to site updates here you will find all you need for touring tool kit. Gary.

[pedaldog]

Finally got there thanks Gary.
Good list as far as I can tell, maybe a bit "Belt and braces" though?
What do others think for a single person riding alone with little mechanical skills in a place where I could be three days from a bike shop?

[moriarty]

Exactly how remote are we talking about pedaldog.Are we talking in the UK ?
Have been touring for many years both solo and with my mate and have always found a basic kit adequate.
The kit being a repair kit,2 tubes and a multitool.
Knowing my route and general area ,have printed info on local bus routes,taxi numbers,cycle shops and B+Bs in that area and try to find out before hand about mobile phone reception.
A good map with details of farmhouses and phone boxes is also useful.
Once got a lift into keswick bike shop off a friendly farmer after my chainset commited suicide in Newlands valley.

[pedaldog]

Fair comment Moriarty,
at the moment I might just be looking at the Highlands and Islands sort of thing. Am hoping to do less planning and really follow my nose for a while though.

[pedaldog]

Pretty much got the tools and spares thing sorted now so... on to the next question!
Clothes etc. Might be away for two days or four weeks so I want to be prepared for all things.
Going on a recumbent so I don't need padded shorts. Want to be able to mix in a cafe or pub without looking too geeky.
What should I take?

[gary]

Pedaldog.
When I am away for any length of time on the recumbent I also have some meals in pubs etc,
Generaly I have a tidy pair of shorts And a couple of T shirts and during the autumn maybee a pair of jeans and a sweat shirt.These I tend to keep for evenings and ride in my usual cycle wear or what ever I find comfortable. I tend to strap rain wear to the panniers etc doesnt take up room then. It all depends on how light you want to go if weight is a concern then cut back on clothig and take a plastic bag of washing powder with you and hand wash. Providing the days are dry most stuff will dry strapped to the luggage. I tend to be fashon free these days so wear what I am comfertable with.

[moriarty]

Good advice from Gary. Daz handwash is excellent and cuts down on gear by half..(be careful where you wash your smalls though...pub landords can be fussy !)
The odd night in a b+b takes care of washing.
Pannier weight is key with me and some of the gear I use ranges from - Montane featherlite raincoat-A good windcheater(swear by the Parrott Amazon shell)Fleece tops...Ron Hill or New Balance Ts (light and quick drying)
Cragghopper or Hawkshead Tech trousers for the pub etc....and not forgetting cheap but lightweight y-wabs + socks(argos do it for me !).+ spare light trainers.
This...added to my basic cycle shorts and tracksters usually see me through a decent tour.

[pedaldog]

Going back to the Tools bit.
My Stein Hypercracker arrived from Spa cycles today and I tried it out just now. A little bit fiddly with the possibility of dropping the washers or the spacer but by Heck it works smoothly! I reckon I can shift a cassette on tour in a couple of minutes now if I get a broken drive side spoke or similar problem.

[pedaldog]

For clothes I am looking at the "wash, Wear and Spare" idea of things. I will be on a recumbent so I can use pretty normal looking shorts and, in warm weather, can use them off the bike in the evenings too. Ronhill Bikesters have the advantage that they are not too "Lycra Lout" looking and I reckon 2 shorts, 1 bikester and 1 pair normal trousers.
2 T-shirts and 1 normal shirt. 1 do it all fleece and a very lightweight windstopper jacket that I bought at York last year as well as my waterproofs. Batwangers and socks are essentials and i think a pair of Wet Shoes as an extra to my boots (walking boots with spd's) will take care of the footwear thing. Still open to all ideas and suggestions though so keep 'em coming.

[finartmike]

Mamut jacket & trouzers: windproof waterproof breathable. Expensive but water bounces of 'em like water off a ducks back - no need for a sepatate waterproof. I climbed in the Lakes in the Mamut jkt &trs with no base layers.

At the halt i put on Merino wool Baselayer "Skivvy" £34.50 from www.chocolatefish.co.uk/mtcook.html which absorbs sweat without heat loss and dries out on the body under the jkt. It doesn't need washing on a week's tour and you don't smell as much.

Cycling in the mamut is fine. No need for the usual waterproof over fleece arrangement,
With one Merino base layer there is no need for the T shirts. Cotton is useless as an insulator. Forget denim jeans they are useless, they do not insulate they stay wet and cold and they are no longer fashionable.
You don't need spare clothing except to stuff your pillow bag.

Get a Tera Nova Lazerlight 2 man tent 1.2 Kg, Ortlieb panniers ( or an Aztec 2 man) go to camping shows to decide. You need height in a tent and plenty of vents to combat condensation. An MSR multifuel stove or pocket rocket gas stove and your mats/sleeping bags and you're away- weight around 35lb/20Kg without food/water. Gary's list is good.
Your weight as you listed your gear would top 40 Kg
Best wishes
regards

[butterfly]

pedaldog said:

For clothes I am looking at the "wash, Wear and Spare" idea of things. I will be on a recumbent so I can use pretty normal looking shorts and, in warm weather, can use them off the bike in the evenings too. Ronhill Bikesters have the advantage that they are not too "Lycra Lout" looking and I reckon 2 shorts, 1 bikester and 1 pair normal trousers.
2 T-shirts and 1 normal shirt. 1 do it all fleece and a very lightweight windstopper jacket that I bought at York last year as well as my waterproofs. Batwangers and socks are essentials and i think a pair of Wet Shoes as an extra to my boots (walking boots with spd's) will take care of the footwear thing. Still open to all ideas and suggestions though so keep 'em coming.

If you use zip off trousers, you can leave one pair of shorts out, and craghopper do shirts with zip off sleeves (at least for women, I assume they do bloke ones as well) which are absolututely fab. They are just what you need for British day rides, let alone tours. How many times do you set out in perishing cold and end up boiling by elevenses?

[pedaldog]

Just checked with the manufacturers and because I have a particular Hub dynamo with discs on it I need FOUR different sized spokes for the bike! I'll check with the trike people too but that is a lot of spare metal to be carrying around!

[pedaldog]

Figured out how to get round the different spoke size problem!
The bike is going on Thursday and a Nice Shiny new one will be here to replace it in a week or two!

[gary]

Well pleased! what have you bought will it arrive ready to ride or will you have to get all techy and put it all together.

[pedaldog]

I am going for a total "Ready Packed" Option!
I am getting the Koga Miyata "World Traveler" which comes as specced up as I have ever seen. Lights, carriers, mudguards, prop stands, Brooks saddle, Xt drive train and it is made by the Japanese bunch that can not be faulted on quality. I am going for the 26" wheel model, more based on a Mtb than a road bike, as I prefer the tyre choice and felt comfortable with 26's on my Thorn Nomads. I am also getting my Dahon Speed TR folder back from Daddykins in a week or so. That will be good for lightweight, short meetings such as weekenders. That's a 20" wheel jobbie but I am not worried, I know it'll do the job as I had it before.
Hoping the Koga will come in a box assembled, all bar the pedals etc, but I will cope if it needs more.

[butterfly]

Cool! Is that one of the ones with a mini prop stand on the front rack, to stop the wheel turning and bringing it all down? They are such good idea!

[pedaldog]

butterfly said:

Cool! Is that one of the ones with a mini prop stand on the front rack, to stop the wheel turning and bringing it all down? They are such good idea!

That's the one.
Only slight worry is that they use an "Integrated headset" design to make the front end look neater and I have heard people tell tales of frames wearing with the bearings in there. I assume that it would be covered by a frame guarantee so I am not too worried.

[pilotlight]

I've had a look at the Koga site, looks like a nice bike. Makes my old, very old Univega look stone-age, (reminds me I need to replace those square wheels)

Envious?!?

[gary]

Does this mean you have given up the recumbent? or are you riding both clearly not at the same time!

[pedaldog]

I am still using the Trice, recumbent trike, and will never let that go!
Two wheeled recumbents would seem to be out for me these days though, sad.