Strictly speaking, I interpret the term "Light Touring" as a credit card tour with a handlebar bag and small panniers or saddlebag. Chris Kulczycki of Velo-Orange has an article on his blog that describes just such a tour:
http://velo-orange.blogspot.com/ (see the blog posted under the title: "Minimalist Cyclo-Touring" It sounds, however, like you're planning a cycle tour which includes camping. If this is correct then "light" has to include a carefully considered assortment of camping equipment, including tent, sleeping bag, cooking gear, etc. I frankly don't see how you're going to accomplish this with less than about 30 pounds of equipment, distributed between a handlebar bag and panniers - mounted either on the front or rear (with a tent, sleeping bag and pad on the rear rack). I've toured in Arizona along the Mongollon rim area with a bicycle loaded with camping equipment. This was a rather challenging tour with considerable gains in altitude over steep mountain roads. It definitely requires some consideration of what you really need to pack, with an eye to reducing weight by not packing too much. I think that it's quite easy pack a lot of stuff you may not need. If you have a companion, for example, you're probably not going to need a complete tool and repair kit for each of you. With some planning a cyclo-camping tour can be accomplished without becoming a grueling experience. Good Luck! Jim On Jun 26, 4:34 pm, Mike <[email protected]> wrote: > So I'm curious what constitutes light touring. I ask because in August > I'm doing a 7 day bike tour that will take in paved and unpaved roads > in and around Mt St Helens and Mt Adams. My initial plan was to use my > Surly Cross Check which I have no doubt about being able to handle the > load and terrain. But currently it's set-up as a single speed and I > kinda want to leave it as such. So I'm thinking about using my Hilsen. > Can the Hilsen handle a large Berthoud HB bag on a Mark's rack and > rear panniers and rack. I have Ortlieb Back Roller Cassics and a rear > Surly rack. I may even use small Ortlieb panniers as I'm trying to > pack light and only what is absolutely necessary. I really like the > way my Hilsen rides and it's a comfortable position. I imagine going > with the biggest tires possible takes some stress off the frame. Right > now the Hilsen is sporting Panaracer 700x35 T-Serves (Paselas > basically). I guess I should add that I weigh just under 200lbs. My > Hilsen is a 63cm. > > I also have some concern about the stopping power of the Silver > brakes. > > I imagine that the Hilsen is probably a sturdier bike with better > brakes than many of the bikes marketed in the 70s as loaded touring > bikes. > > What do you think? > > --Mike --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
