As to choosing between the Atlantis and the Ram, is it possible to do a loaded ride with each bike and see how you like the handling? I love my Atlantis and think it's absolutely perfect for loaded touring, but YMMV.
Whichever bike you choose, I suggest 35mm tires and fenders. I can't remember whether those work on a Ram, but if they don't, that would be one reason to pick the Atlantis. I tour with both front panniers and a handlebar bag. I find if I put too much weight in the handlebar bag, I get a shimmy. So if you're planning to load up your handlebar bag, test the configuration beforehand on downhills to make sure the handling is what you want. You'll get a variety of opinions on how much carrying capacity you need. I like to carry a lot of stuff, but plenty of tourists are happy with a minimal load. I suggest figuring out what you plan to bring and seeing whether it will fit in the panniers you have. I like Ortlieb bags for front and rear. It only takes one big rainstorm with other panniers to demonstrate the superiority of Ortlieb. When figuring out how big your panniers and bags need to be, *don't forget extra space*. How will you carry the sixpack, chips and dinner you buy in the afternoon? How will you carry the fruit, loaf of bread, three peaches, cheese and bag of cookies for lunch? Where will you jam your sweater and jacket when you take them off midmorning? On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 9:18 AM, GeorgeS <chobur...@gmail.com> wrote: > I am planning a modest ride this summer from NE Vermont to Montreal > and back. I have a Rambouillet and a Atlantis. A couple of > questions: > 1. I would prefer to ride the Ram but it's not a major thing. Given > the fact that I'm going to be on good roads, is there enough > difference between the bikes to make me go with the Atlantis? > 2. I have a Nitto front rack and several boxy style front bags. I > don't have any rack for front panniers and zero experience with them. > Recommendations on rack and front panniers? > 3. I am planning on using a Carradice Nelson Longflap on the rear but > no rear panniers. Any problem with that? > Sorry about your family situation. I've been through that twice. > Thanks for offering your advice. > GeorgeS > > On Apr 7, 10:41 am, Dave Craig <dcr...@prescott.edu> wrote: >> Adam >> >> Loading - >> >> The first principle is to travel light overall - you'll have more fun. >> >> Ratios - I'm not super scientific about this, but Pamela and I both >> like the way our bikes handle with heavy, dense stuff packed in low >> rider panniers in the front, SMALL handlebar bags, and bulky lighter >> stuff in the back. We always keep the heavy stuff as low as possible >> and we avoid rack top loads when possible. As a starting point, let's >> call the loading 60% front and 40% rear. The idea is balanced weight >> while riding. By packing relatively heavy stuff up front, we balance >> the rider weight that is carried more over the rear wheel. With both >> wheels equally sharing the weight, the bike feels balanced on the road >> and the rear wheel is less likely to have problems. My solution is to >> mess with my packing system until the bike feels right - good steering >> response, combined with a balance feel and the acknowledgement that my >> rear wheel needs to be protected by sharing the weight more evenly >> between wheels. >> >> I have no experience with extensive off road touring. For dirt roads, >> the principles are the same as above. >> >> Dave >> >> On Apr 7, 7:17 am, Adam <oceanm...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> >> > Could you speak to your experience of how it is most appropriate to >> > load a bicycle for: >> > a. strictly road touring >> > b. mixed terrain (dirt and road touring) >> >> > What ratios of weight do you recommend in the front and rear? >> >> > Thank you! >> > Adam >> >> > On Apr 6, 10:36 pm, Dave Craig <dcr...@prescott.edu> wrote: >> >> > > It is that time of year again. Many of us have probably started >> > > planning or dreaming about a summer tour. I'd like to offer my >> > > commitment for the next 5 days, until midnight on Sunday, April 11th, >> > > to address questions from anyone who is curious about loaded touring, >> > > has questions about gear, or other topics relevant to traveling and >> > > camping by bike. Riv related content - I tour on my RBW bikes and I >> > > don't meet many other Riv riders on the road! >> >> > > My motivation: I'm going through a difficult time right now with an >> > > aging and ill parent and I'm seeing my own opportunity for a summer >> > > tour slowly evaporate. I would love to have the productive distraction >> > > of helping others to realize their own dreams of travel by bike. I am >> > > not selling anything. >> >> > > My background: I work as a professor of adventure education at a small >> > > southwestern college. My entire adult life has been dedicated to >> > > teaching others how to enjoy and travel safely in the outdoors. I am a >> > > League of American Bicyclists Bike Ed instructor. I have traveled >> > > thousands of miles as a bike tourist and have spent years of my life >> > > living outdoors in remote wilderness. I have a Quickbeam, a Bombadil, >> > > and an Atlantis. I've toured with the last two. >> >> > > Rules of engagement and disclosure: Ask a question or questions via >> > > this forum or via a personal message to me. I clearly don't know >> > > everything and will say so when I don't know. If I don't have direct >> > > experience with something, I'll also say so. No BS. I expect to learn >> > > as well as share. As an open forum, anyone else with direct experience >> > > on a topic should feel free to weigh in or answer a question. If I get >> > > a question via email that I can't answer, I'll post it back to the >> > > group after asking permission from the sender. Please, don't answer a >> > > question with info that you've only heard or read about. Internet >> > > forums are already too full of that kind of second or third hand >> > > advice. That's one of the problems with getting good answers to bike >> > > touring questions. However, if you know of a great resource that's >> > > relevant (like RBW), please share it. I will try to check in on the >> > > RBW Owners Bunch no less than three times a day in order to answer >> > > questions. >> >> > > Moderator Jim: The RBW forum is the only internet forum I care to >> > > participate in. I appreciate the quality of thought and the civil >> > > discourse I find here. If you believe that my offer isn't an >> > > appropriate use of this forum, let me know and I'll retract my offer >> > > without a fuss. >> >> > > Professor Dave- Hide quoted text - >> >> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - >> >> - Show quoted text - > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > > -- -- Anne Paulson My hovercraft is full of eels -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. 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