Touring and pedal advice please?

[The History Man]

Hello to all. Indulge me a little. I'm off on a three night four day little tour. Hopefully on my new bike, a rigid 29er. I've been wondering, should I go for flat or spd pedals. It will be pretty much all road and tow paths with a bit of exploring once set up for the night. I'm carrying everything in panniers. Not going far, max of 40miles per day. Camping.

I can see pros and cons for both but would be interested in the opinions of others who may have experience.

Any other cycle touring advice will also be appreciated.

Thanks in anticipation THM

 

[Johnboy]

Re:

What about Shimano Deore XT PD-T780's, flats one side spds the other?

 

[mattr]

It'd be flats for me.
The dual sided ones ^^^ always seem to be the worst of both worlds. And using clipless means taking another pair of shoes. Unless you are using "sensible" shoes, i.e the trainer type with well recessed cleats and a decent sole. Rather than carbon soled race slippers...... I've even bought some flats for one bike, so when i eventually get round to doing some bivvying (HA! Yeah right!!) I'll not need to use the mtb race shoes. As thats all i have.

(When i used to convert my old road bike from Audax duties to camping/touring duties, it was almost always flats, as opposed to the time TBTs i used for everything else. Unless i was going somewhere silly hilly. Or doing big miles with big loads, 100+ miles a day type thing. NB this was before the days of SPDs.)

 

[mattr]

Any other cycle touring advice will also be appreciated.

Work out what you think you need, pile it up in the middle of the floor, then put half of it back where it came from.

I did this briefly before the arrival of kids (before aborted attempts to bivvy), and i was pretty much down to a (large) saddle bag (Revelate designs Visicacha, clothes, food, cooker) and a compression bag on the bars (bivvy bag, sleeping bag and mat) for a 2 night trip.........

 

[The History Man]

Ah, i have front and rear racks with panniers and a clip off bar bag for valuables. I was thinking minimal stuff but don't travel light. The plan is to end up somewhere as Mrs HM has agreed to come and find me on the afternoon/evening of day 4. If all goes well it will be a regular event. I would take a second pair of something to go on my feet in case of poor weather while riding as i don't fancy an evening in wet shoes.

I have an Overbury's road tourer on standby in case the 29er frame doesn't arrive/get built next week.

29er flats? rosd tourer spds?

 

[greencat]

Flats.

You need very little for a short tour. Personally, I wouldn't even take any cooking stuff - just make sure you are not too far away from a decent cafe/supermarket - and have plenty of snacks to tide you over. A credit card will fill in any gaps.

Clotheswise. A tee shirt and a pair of pants per day will keep you socialable. Socks you might get away with a pair and a spare for 4 days. I always prefer cycling in rohan like trousers as they don't scream cyclist when you are wandering around off the bike, and dry very quickly (on longer tours, I'd wash and dry them overnight). Zip off legs give you more flexibility still. Take waterproof shoes (and/or gaiters/overshoes). Cold wet feet is abject misery. Once while mountain bike touring in Scotland for 3 weeks - we all ended up buying a pair of wellies each as all of our other footwear got soaked through. Waterproof jacket and trousers - again I prefer walking style ones.

A few (clean) bread bags. Can double as emergency gloves, and if your footwear is soaked, wrap each foot in one, then put on your socks/shoes. A bunch of us once got caught out in monsoon like conditions coupled with a howling gale in the middle of summer. Were it not for the fact I had about a dozen bread bags in my rucksack (from previous lunches) I think a few of us would have got hypothermia that day.

Toolswise. Tube, puncture kit, multi-tool is all you need. You can skip the tube - but if it's pouring down/dark - it ain't no fun trying to get a patch on.

Do make sure you include a mat. The ground tends to get cold at night. A thermarest style mat saves space. At a pinch you can use your waterproofs as a mat - but it's not much fun if it's a chilly night. I did this for one tour and woke up every morning with aching back and kidneys.

Don't forget your lock or a bike light.

 

[The History Man]

All good advice. Flats then. Will ride in salomon shoes and trousers and shirt with cycle shorts under and pack sandals.

I have: inflating mat, tent, down bag, lightweight burner, trangia kettle, coffee bags(very important) spork, tube, tool etc. Waterproofs, mess tins, inflating pillow, personal radio, book, first aid kit, spare specs, head torch, meds,, Kendal mint cake...........

And a pair of porelle dry socks!

I used to motorcycle tour and solo hike so have a fair bit of kit.

 

[Muddy paw]

Well i'm not or ever have been a tourer but i've always ridden with toe clips on flat
pedals as i've always found them easy to use and never had to worry about the cleats getting clogged up and as pointed out theirs always that issue of carrying extra shoes for normal activities so in my mind you've made the hassle free option and it would seem you've got the trip pretty much planned out and with luck your frame will be with you very shortly .

 

[The History Man]

Went out on other 29er today. Locked out with small block 8s. All road. Hmmmm. Took my time on purpose. Just to see how long it would take. I reckon my goals are about right with a full load. Flats it is.

Passing a car at 47mph on a mountain bike is fun! Hope they thought so.

 

[greencat]

40 miles per day on a laden mountain bike is certainly doable on tow paths/roads.

You'll likely be cycling 3-6 hours a day depending on how easy you take it/stops etc. That's a good amount of time to be on the bike if you're just out for a mooch. I have done up to 100 miles per day touring - but that's usually after the first week and if I'm really keen to get somewhere in a hurry as it's a long day in the saddle.