Why is there no thread on this? There should be.
Post anything related
Experiences
Stories
Future plans
Bike set ups
>>911424
Ha, I'm going tomorrow for 3 month!
>>911427
where to my friend?
planning to go to Iceland for four weeks in the middle of may
first real long tour, feeling really pumped
Got my Ortlieb Back Roller Classic and I'm planning to get a Trek 520.
*Not my pic*
>>911428
Aww Yeah. I'm so exited
There was a fema/n/on here some time ago that was going to tour around Iceland. I wonder if she still lurks, and if she actually went.
>>911442
>Trek 520
recently looked into buying a new bike, actually went for the Specialized AWOL instead.
Didn't really like the trek 520, felt like it had really bad handling
I've only ever done weekend camping stuff but am looking at a month in Croatia and the surrounding area this year.
http://theradavist.com/2015/12/bikepacking-the-mongolian-steppe/
>>911438
Iceland is a whole other level than other countries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDpRT_Huc7c
What bike would you recommend for longer trips? I'm searching for a new one and haven't got a clue on what to look for yet
>>911444
Went to CHCH and mount cook earlier this year, it was fuckin' ace. Jelly as hell, have a rad time anon.
Also the hills in NZ don't fuck around.
>>911453
well I'm just doing the classic ring road, so I wont really have to deal with anything more than heavy rain and wind
>>911452
This movie is so awesome! Beautiful
>>911456
I'm prepared as much as I can
>>911465
South or north island?
What do you ride?
>>911453
that is the dumbest shit ive ever seen, literally just making everything more difficult themselves.
Ill never understand the fixie mentality.
>>911444
thats fuckin rad, lad. I'm doing almost the exact same thing starting on feb the 5th but going in reverse from you. I cant fuckin wait.
Are you camping along the way or what? Ill no doubt dump into you at some point along the west coast!
Ive converted my old dawes clubman audax and its riding so smooth at the moment.
>>911484
honestly I don't understand the deal with fixies at all, or singlespeed for that matter either
unless it's for exersise purposes of course
Berlin - Shanghai
for those who speak german
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRXs2XYe7Og
>>911484
Haha awesone!
Yes I`m alone. I hope I meet others to ride with. Maybe you. That would be amazing. But I wish you a nice ride man
Btw. Download this app. It has even a offlibe-map for all camping places.
>>911424
>Why is there no thread on this?
Because >90% of /n/ doesn't even own a bike, let alone actually ride one, they just shitpost like they do.
The remaining <10% who actually do own bikes and ride them, are mainly fixie riders who don't go farther than a few miles at a time, faster than 10mph, or anywhere near anything that even remotely resembles a hill.
Of the remaining few that, like you, post threads about this sort of thing, most *talk* about doing something like this, then when the reality of having nothing but a bike and the few things they can carry actually hits them, they quickly abandon the idea and speak of it no more. If there actually has been someone on /n/ who went ahead and did this alone and was never heard from again, it's likely that they didn't survive the attempt and their body still hasn't been found.
That's why you don't see threads like this one on /n/.
>>911505
Lol plenty of people do this sort of thing, and they dont get lost and never found again.
Ive been on many before and ill continue doing them for a long time, ill keep you updated with pics whilst im in NZ if you're worried about me not surviving friend.
>>911502
Sorry forgot the link: https://www.rankers.co.nz/about/official-camping-nz-app
>>911512
>tfw windows phone
I mostly just find a spot near the road to settle in for the night 2bh.
Ill do some research on campsites along the way as pit stops though for when i need to shower, cheers anyway pal.
>>911510
Are you this? I try to remember your face in case we meet us on the road!!!
>I mostly just find a spot near the road to settle in for the night 2bh
I try the same as good as I can. but I have heard if they catch you the fine is 400$
watch out
>>911514
Yeah thats me, i best just not get caught then haha
>>911505
I did a tour from Vienna to Triest last summer if that counts.
>>911530
Of course it counts bro, small summer tours from your doorstep are the comfiest of them all.
>>911543
i still hate "muh bike lane herp derp cagers" - fixie fags though...
>>911545
Brotip, you are either a cyclist or a cager. Owning a bike does not make you not a cager.
Sincerely,
A cyclist who rides 6800 ultegra to work every day
p.s. end your life
>>911550
>Owning a bike does not make you not a cager.
srsly... wat?
i own a bike and hate all those fixie fags who get a heart attack as soon as anybody says "car"!
this has to be bate...
>>911553
If I had a heart attack every time I saw a car, I'd have about 12000 heart attacks by the time I even got to the office in the morning. Luckily since I ride (unlike you), my risk of a heart attack is actually quite low. Doesn't mean cages and the cagers they bring shouldn't be banned from the city.
You're a cager. Go back to /o/.
>>911557
obviously bate now. so i'm going to post more oc.
next planned bike tour: Innbruck - Passau - Vienna
>>911484
>that is the dumbest shit ive ever seen, literally just making everything more difficult themselves. Ill never understand the fixie mentality.
Look at it this way: by electing to travel NZ by bicycle, you are literally just making said trip more difficult for yourself. You could travel by car or motorbike, but instead you choose to be your own motor. Why? Don't answer. Whatever it is, your reason are personal, subjective. In the end, it is a matter of personal preference. It is as irrational to criticise these people for fixing across Iceland as it would be to criticise someone for having another favourite colour than you. I myself like single speed touring. I don't know why, I just do, even if most other people would disagree. Perhaps especially because most other people would disagree. Special snowflake syndrome? Maybe, but that doesn't matter. And that's the point.
>>911562
Well personally i reckon theres a much bigger difference between touring by car to bike than geared to a fixie.
You are right though i guess it is a subjective experience, but when they're like carrying their luggage on their backs when paniers are a thing, not using tents, being forced to ride in a single high gear when there is 80 mph winds sideblasting you.
I just can't personally understand how someone goes through those points and is like... 'hmm yup that all seems fine to me, lets go!'.
Dumbest shit was perhaps rash, but, god damn.
Can we pleas stop this shit? Does it have to be in every fucking thread on /n/ ? I`m so sick of it. Ride the fuck what ever you want but stop telling other peopel what they should
>>911424
Fenders rub all the way, too lazy to take off bagages to adjust
REEEEEEEEE
Next day adjusted, still rubbing REEEEEEEE
Size up on fenders
I'm in Vancouver, really want to go down the Oregon Coast to Cali
>>911465
I hope u got a triple
>>911567
Fuck off back to your Reddit hugbox, faggot.
>>911513
>>>tfw windows phone
I know that feel and am fucking sick of it.
Oh just a reminder to the NZ tourers you probably already know but like straya here they have mandatory helmet laws and shit.
>>911618
seriously. whats the penalty?
>>911597
pretty sketchy road on a good day. no shoulder and semis flying past on blind corners. drove it last summer and would not take my bike
>>911669
Quick google says NZ$55 or just under 40 burger bucks.
>>911674
any NZers know how strict they are? I really dont like wearing a helmet, mainly for comfort reasons.
>700c
>26"
Which is best?
>>911681
which 26" are you talking about? Please use the ISO bead seat diameter to avoid ambiguity
>>911678
Stop being a faggot and respect the laws of the country you're visiting
What kind of sleeping gear do you blokes take?
>>911681
I have 700 and like it for tourig.
>>911713
A cheeky one man tent is nice. I used a friend's bivvy bag once but would rather take the weight penalty
>>911681
26" simply because it's far easier to find parts in shit countries
Sounds like tons of fun, but I don't think I'll have time for a while.
>>911681
700c because I highly doubt you will be going anywhere that can't service 700c
Im planing to do a trip from Istanbul to Sarajevo with some 500$ mtb, how fucked i am? Should i look into other bikes or its weel enough?
>>911769
You should be fine. I did my first tour on a 100€ bike (it was 300€ actually, but I got a discount). It was one of these dutch type bicycles and had like 6 or 7 gears. After 300 km a pedal broke off. I got it fixed and had no major problems for the remaining 800 km.
>>911769
yeah youll be fine, touring isnt about speed, just comfort. Id be more worried about the 5 million refugees who'll probably be robbing and raping you along the way desu
>>911713
Im taking pic related, it ways just over 3k which some may consider a lot for a touring tent but at the end of the day especially on long tours i find you really want the extra space and comfort and at the end of the day 1.5k with the rest of your shit makes absolutely no difference.
Plus with this i can keep my bike in the front with me, keeping it dry and in eyesight.
>>911803
Why are plain square/rectangle camping tents with just 2 arching rods hated by people with touring bikes? They seem much simpler to set up and don't require don't of pegs and ropes and shit.
>>911805
Not aero enough
>>911805
I could talk about tents all day. So i will.
First of all those tents tend to be cheaper, which means lower hydrostatic head on the waterproofing, heavier materials, less quality control and fiberglass poles (which are more likely to break).
However the argument between that structure in higher quality tents is basically that the geodesic tents (cross poles) tend to be taller, and use more pole per area.
The reason you want your tent to be lower is for one to lose weight, by using less material, (i would say the equivalent area you save about 20-40% in weight with a tunnel tent) and secondly by keeping a low profile on the horizon, which is great for stealth camping.
The advantage is they are taller so you have more room inside to fuck around, and because they support themselves, you can put them anywhere, like on concrete, sand etc, which can be incredibly useful for touring.
I disagree with you that tourers prefer one over the other as i know plenty who use both, because they both have their pros and cons. However i would say the key factor that crosses most peoples mind is simply weight, which is why you'll more commonly see tunnel tents used.
>>911808
***The advantage with the geodesic/cross-pole tents is that they are taller so you have more room inside to fuck around, and because they support themselves, you can put them anywhere, like on concrete, sand etc, which can be incredibly useful for touring.
>>911809
I guess what I mean is gear junkies like the super lightweight tents with 20 stakes because they're light or something. I think ease of construction and the ability to pop it up anywhere is more important.
>>911803
Do you mean kilograms?
>>911810
For you perhaps, i chose my tent because i think itll be awesome to have my bike in with me for security reasons (i always worry when i cant see it and hear noises), and you get more floor space for organizing your gear when its raining.
I find that the amount of times you cant find suitable places to drive stakes into is extremely rare, and i dont really want to be camping on gravel/stones anyway cus itll jsut increase the likelihood i damage my tent.
>>911813
yeah 3kg sorry
bought my ticket to NYC, going there to buy a bike and will then tour the world from there this summer.
Any recommendations for a good bike shop that sells surly LHT in NYC?
been looking at 718 cyclery and they seem decent enough
>>911981
are you retarded? why would you voluntarily pay NYC shop prices for a bike? buy one in NJ or something and save yourself a couple hundred bucks.
>>911761
Actually not as common outside the USA.
Had to find a 700c presta tube in Japan earlier this year, shit was surprisingly hard.
>>911424
Did a sweet Tokyo-Kyoto bike tour back in late April this year.
>>912085
Had a pretty hilarious set of bikes
>bike 1
Late 80s(?) Titanium Litespeed, with a disc tab welded on and carbon fork. Split seatstay, Gates carbon belt drive, single speed. Dude was a BAMF, he outran the other two of us up the mountains...
>>912087
>bike 2
Carbon road bike from Specialized, forget the model. Di2 electronic shifting. Rim brakes. Really sketchy tubeless conversion. Absolutely no rack mounts, so the rack was bodged on with p-clamps. Definitely the fastest on the flats.
>bike 3
My bike. Specialized Cirrus Sport Disc, bought less than 48 hours before departing. The bike I had prior to the trip had spent 8 years doing winter commuting in Minneapolis, and we discovered a bunch of corrosion issues while disassembling it for shipping - and the seatpost was seized in place. Deemed unfit for long distances, so a new bike on short notice was the only option... it was kind of a tank, but the fatter tires and discs were very confidence inspiring on the descents - I definitely ran away any time we headed downhill.
>>912089
We were roughly following the route that this guy suggested, except in reverse: http://www.japancycling.org/v2/cguide/part1/
Dude must have been a masochist, the descent on highway 34 east of Nagoya was nutso steep - riding UP it would have been the roughest part of the ride, by far.
>>912090
Lots of steep climbs with switchbacks
>>912091
The first two days were over 6000ft of climbing each. There was snow up on top of some of the peaks!
>>912092
Carbon bike dude overheated a rim on a long descent and his tubeless conversion failed. I was the only one with a pump and I'd been leading the descent, so I had to ride back up to meet them. Fortuitously, we met up at this roadside bun stand. Lunchtime!
The guy didn't speak a single word of english, and our japanese was pretty poor. Still, it's not too hard to convey "we want to purchase one of everything" by pointing, and he let us fix our bikes in his backyard.
>>912093
Beautiful views everywhere
>>912089
I take it by your light gear you guys were "CC" touring?
Still, neat. Carbon tourer guy is crazy.
>>912093
Carbon bike guy also had a nasty crash coming into Gifu City, and badly tweaked his rear wheel - we had to remove the caliper brake to keep riding.
We dashed into this guy's bike shop right before closing time. He seemed tickled by what we were doing, and especially the bikes we were doing it with. He said he'd fix us up overnight and meet us in the morning.
He had the wheel ready at 8:00am sharp, and charged us basically nothing to true it up. We later learned he normally rides in the morning and doesn't usually open his shop until noon.
If you're ever in Gifu, drop in tell him that the silly Americans with the titanium single-speed belt drive touring bike still remember him.
>>912097
We never felt unsafe on the roads - most and wide smooth shoulders, and speed limits on the mountain roads were fairly low. Not a lot of traffic either - sure is nice to have an extensive passenger rail network.
>>912095
Not familiar with the term, but yeah, very light touring - staying at hostels and little B&B style places most nights. We each basically had two sets of clothing and some bike tools.
>>912099
>>912101
Climbing over this mountain pass hurt - especially because it was the first day. No warmups...
>>912103
Close to the pass itself, contemplating our impending doom.
>>912105
Saw a lot of ridiculous civil engineering. Multi-kilometer tunnels through the mountains, and for smaller roads, too - not just the big highways
>>912106
>>912107
The first two days had much more climbing than the rest of the week. At the start of the third day, single-speed belt-drive guy swapped to a different belt and chainwheel (beltwheel?) for a higher cruising gear.
>>912109
>>912110
Bombing down some steep switchbacks
>>912109
Why not just use an IGH?
>>912111
Trying to do flatbar touring was a huge mistake, BTW. I come mostly from mountain biking, and my old commuter had an OnOne Mary bar - the radical sweep definitely helped with the wrist position on day-long rides. But I'd never done multi-day rides before...
The flat bars on the Cirrus were just agony when riding all day. I had a little bit of numbness in my left hand at the end of the first day, which went away overnight. But I had a lot more numbness at the end of the second day, and it was still there the next morning. I was in serious pain by the end of the third day, when I finally found a pair of barend grips at a bike shop.
The numbness in my left pinky and ring finger never really went away during the trip, and it was a few months until I regained full feeling.
>>912114
You could ask that question of everyone who runs single speed.
As you might be able to tell, this was sort of a #YOLO "run what you brung" bike trip. Bringing a spare belt and chainwheel was a minimal concession to the fact some days would be hillier than others without significantly re-engineering the bike.
>>911424
last year i went home from tibet by bicycle
>>912058
Im european so it all looks super cheap to me, but can you recommend me an NJ shop?
aluminum or steel frames for touring?
>>912191
>shots fired
>begin fight
Steel, just don't buy overpriced Shitly brand steel frames
>inb4 lht
>inb4 heavy
>inb4 rust
>inb4 fixies
>inb4 hipsters with surly fixies and man-buns
>inb4 performance bicycle
S T E E L I S R E A L
T
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>>912188
a surly LHT is $1275 in both NJ and NYC, with basically the same sales tax (1.8% difference) so I dont really see why I should buy one in NJ
>>911981
Surly you must be joking looking to buy a piece of shit from a shit company. Get a bike/frame that actually comes with a warranty and that was put together by competent humans rather than a hipster man child.
>Kona
>Giant
Literally any brand as most come with lifetime warranty on the frame, only shitfuck brands offer less because they do not stand behind their lack of "quality". Now, here come the hordes of reddit posters that circlejerk each other for having Surly brand bso. Praising a company they have never done business with or potentially have but only experience with the bike/frame was picking it up from the LBS and taking a picture to post on reddit to show they are part of the surly club too
>>912188
i don't live anywhere near there, but i've been to NY. due to it's size and particular local economy, prices on everything across-the-board are hugely inflated, higher than mostly anywhere on the continent (SF is also this way.) i'd compare NYC shops' prices on LHTs with prices from shops outside the city. adding paying for a ferry/train/uber to a shop on Long Island or NJ or wherever might still be cheaper than buying a new LHT in Manhattan or Brooklyn.
i don't know about new bike prices specifically, but NYC really is fucking expensive for the US. the used bike prices posted here on /n/ are always way more. i guess if the Euro is strong then maybe you won't notice, but it seems silly to pay an already large expense at NYC prices.
>>912198
Kona doesn't have any 26" wheels.
Giant doesn't have any dedicated touring bikes?
I'm not buying that surly is a meme, just because something is popular doesn't make it bad. To me the surly LHT has to most bang for the buck, no? I would be super glad if you could prove me wrong and point me towards a better bike (in the same price-range).
I'm planning to bike NY->chile->aus->singapore->korea->japan->trans siberian railway->home
>>912203
Surly is not the best bang for your buck, let's see what other opinions appear in this thread but this debate goes on weekly if not daily.
I will point out, 3 year warranty against defects on Surly has too many warranty claims for such a small customer base AND if you factor in that these customers had defects that appeared within 3 years of purchase. This does not include the people that had frame failures past the 3 year warranty.
General rule is the frame should not break, but that is the same as saying planes/cars/trains/anything mechanical or electronic should not break/fail. For spending $500+ on the frame, it better come with warranty worth a damn or be custom designed specifically for your body.
>>912203
Surly is a meme bike because most people who buy a surly think a 50 mile ride is a tour and 100 miles is an unimaginably long distance for a road cyclist. Almost none of them actually need 26" wheels.
That being said, while 26" is a common size in 3rd world shit holes, you're just as likely to find 700c, if not more likely. By relying on 26" you run the risk of relying on cruiser or MTB tires, and you may have to remove your fenders to run them. Some countries, like Japan, 26" is for boutique MTBs, and now old and obsolete boutique MTBs.
Keep in mind 26" is an American standard, that comes from cruisers. Some countries adopted other standards for similar 26" wheels that are not compatible. For example, the 26" tires in Japan are usually 650A, not 559s.
Do some research about the tire standards of the countries you'll visit. Either with 26 or 700, it may be advisable to carry spare tires with you.
>>912210
Just as likely to find 700c, or more likely, in first world countries*
Keep in mind, 26" shitty MTBs and cruisers are falling out of favor even at the department store level.
>>912191
Aluminum. Lighter, sturdy enough, stiffer. The difference in comfort is non-existent for a standard touring bike with 32+ mm tires. Steel is better for narrower tires but make sure you get the stiffest possible steel frame in that case or it will bend like crazy while riding loaded.
>>912217
Aluminum isn't close to as stiff as steel. Even the best aluminum alloys have about a 1/3rd of the youngs modulus of good steel. Hence alu bikes have such fat tubes to compensate for the lack of rigidity.
>>912085
Dude. Awesome. I would love to do something like that, and it's great to hear you had plenty of B&Bs and hostels to stay at for the duration.
How much did such a trip run you? Not factoring in the cost of bike or the trip to and from Japan, as plane tickets are easy to figure out.
I'm considering heading off to new zealand touring in the later part of this year.
And I noticed that one of the Aussie bike manufacturers have dumped their alu and carbon road bike range for this year for steel. Does this look like a bike ok for touring?
http://www.malvernstar.com.au/bikes/oppy-s-2/
>>912255
no rules but i think you really want something rock solid and loadable - this one
"looks" a bit like a touring bike but maybe a lightweight in terms of frame and wheels if you're really going to load it up ? also, disk brakes and sti levers aren't exactly bulletproof - traditional touring bikes have cantilevers and bar end or downtube shifters for a reason, dead simple and pretty reliable, easy to maintain etc...
i dunno though, depends where you're going i guess, how remote it is etc ? You don't "have" to buy a touring bike to tour, can actually tour on pretty much anything, but if you're going to shell out pick something a bit more appropriate and save yourself the grief maybe ?
here's my setup and a random dog friend
>>912270
w2c that doge
>>912215
>>912236
Thanks! It was really the trip of a lifetime.
>>912247
I honestly don't really recall, but it wasn't super cheap. We kind of ate ALL THE FOOD - street food, 7-11s, fancy restaurants, a 4-course dinner at one of the B&Bs...
Pictured: one of the four courses of our dinner at a family-owned B&B near the Oigami hot springs
>>912302
Whoops, forgot the file
>>912303
Potato soup for lunch on the first day at a roadside stand to the north of Konsei Pass, on the far side of >>912103
and >>912105. I was so exhausted that breathing hurt and barely remember this.
Not pictured: A fried fish on a stick.
>>912305
Street food in Kusatsu at the end of the 2nd day. Fatty chicken(?) bits and salted chicken(?) hearts(?). Very tasty, whatever it was.
>>912306
Gah, forgot the file again (sorry)
>>912307
The 4th day was actually a very interesting day, /n/-wise - all the kinds of ground transport, except for cars.
We'd ended the third day in Nagano. The route over the Japanese Alps between Nagano and Takayama is supposed to be gorgeous (http://www.japancycling.org/v2/cguide/part1/takayama.shtml), but it was early enough in the year that the roads were still closed for the season and unplowed! So we ended up taking the Shinkansen from Nagano to Tomura, a local train to Takayama, and then bussed into Shirakawa-go for lunch before riding south in the afternoon.
Pictured: noodles for lunch in Shirakawa-go
>>912310
Dinner near the end of the trip, just east of Kyoto. Meat of some sort. The server claimed one of the meats they gave us was horse. Carbon-bike guy is from Kentucky, and flatly stated "I know what horse tastes like, and this ain't it". Tasty, though.
>>912311
One more bike shot to finish this. Thanks for reading!
>not suggesting a surly
>in 2016 year of our lord
holy shit, I can't take any of you guys and your opinions serious
for 1400 dollars you can't get a better off the shelf bike.
Sure a kona is fine, but they have worse craftsmanship and shitty fenders and racks that you'd replace eventually anyhow.
Jamis aurora is a little better, but similar problems, at least you'll have more dosh to throw around after.
Maybe look at the fuji touring bike too, but v-brakes? oh christ.
and even then, all three of those bikes have a mediocre drive train, no triple bottle boss, no downtube shifter brazeons, and yeah the 26" option does matter for short men or average women.
You can get 26" tires at a hardware store for christ sake, 700c is somehow not the new ubiquitous tire size that grows on trees.
They get even sweeter when you hit gnarly roads and want a 2" wide tire or want to hit some single track.
As much as you faggots think surlys are only for pansys who stick to day trips and credit card touring, the other options on the market fit that bill even more accurately.
>>912318
oh fuck me, 1400 is for the disc model, the canti model is only 1200.
>>912318
try harder
>>912318
>worse craftsmanship
The frames are both made by Maxway, not to mention they have a lifetime frame warranty. The Kona Sutra disc is also $1400, comes with a Brooks saddle, unlike the generic piece of shit on the Surly that you'd replace anyways
Can you shill harder surly shill?
>>912318
surly is desperate for more customers I see
>>911424
New to cycling but would love to fly up to Scotland and do some cycling there, inner and outer hebrides and all that.
Need some money for a better bike and camping gear though, but I think it might be a goal I'll work towards. Flights will be cheap from London to Glasgow or w/e, will have to rent one of those bike box alan things for my bike though.
>>911681
I think the general consensus is if you're touring in the west 700c, if you're touring in third world shitty countries then 26"
>>912084
700c everywhere in Europe m8. Wonder if the Japs use 26" because they're short.
>>911442
those aren't classics :^)
I think they're backroller city
I'm currently refurb/upgrading this schway touring bike. It's 27" wheels, but that doesn't really bother me too much. I doubt I'll have much time for extended touring, but weekend camping trips will never be the same now that I have this bad boy :^)
I'd like to do some extended tours though. Time permitting.
>>912442
27s roll very smooth, Next time I buy tires, Im buying some continentals, have some cheap 15 dollar tires now.
Perfect touring tires, they absorb the road and roll very well
>>912361
>kona sutra disc
>steep ST angle
>straight seat post
>stock brooks saddle
yeah, that's all retarded. Yes, I replaced the generic surly saddle because I actually knew what brooks I wanted to replace it with. Sure, 50% of customers might want a b17, some of them might even want it to be black, but including it out of the box is a disservice. Any smart customer should prefer to choose the actual seat their butt will be resting on for the next 100,000 miles.
>Deore/Alivio drivetrain
>>912451
smart customers are building a bike up from the frameset if they're getting a new bike
>>912451
The Surly also has a straight setback seatpost. Neither comes with a bent Thomson. Also the Sutra at least comes with not only a third set of bosses under the downtube, like you claim it doesn't, but also bosses on the fork for full dork mode.
>Surly
>we should put shitty parts like a generic saddle and cranks a SORA fd because people are going to replace them anyways
>but we should also charge just as much for these shitty components
>also making the rear a weight weenie XT will prove its an XT bike even if all the other components are shit
>GENIUS
It's not even worth fact checking anything but your first example when you make so many factual errors.
>>912462
>paying taiwanese carbon fiber prices for taiwanese gas pipe
No, I'm not saying you should tour on carbon
>>912403
Japan doesn't use American 26", they use 650A.
>>912463
haha topkek my friend
you think anything that's not a thomson setback is a "straight seatpost." A straight seat post is one without setback.
Sorry for any confusion I caused, but upon further inspection the Kona, does have some setback, albiet not as much as the generic that surly uses.
Also, as much as I think a slack ST is important, the 26" models come with that, the 700c doesn't. Maybe not an important option to you, but at least surly offers it.
Sorry, again, moot point all around. You are wrong and I am wrong on that.
Still pointless to put a brooks on a stock bike, as it's a hefty investment that not all might be into. Contact points are very tricky.
The funniest thing about your opinion is that you clearly don't have much experience with those different derailers if the only thing you discern as the difference is the weight. The Sora derailer is actually not meant to be replace. FDs are retard proof and the Sora level is most reliable for the cost. The XT derailer is not supposed to be replaced, but is supposed to handle tough conditions, shift smoothly, and last. The bad news is RDs are practically a consumable.
Once you understand Surly's design decision and it's application, you'll see why they are the best off the shelf touring bike.
>>912468
>he doesn't know that buying a complete bike is the cheapest way to get new components
trust me buddy, i don't run stock shit, but it's worth it to buy a complete and sell the take-offs rather than buy a bar frame.
>>912467
now i want to convert my miyata 615 to 650a to make it even more jdm-tyte
>>912480
>Once you understand Surly's design decision and it's application, you'll see why they are the best off the shelf touring bike.
Damn they aren't even trying anymore, all out damage control from the shill
>>912480
Those are seat tube angles from the 26" model moron. The only advantage of an XT rear is weight. You criticize an Alivio FD, but a Sora FD is okay? The mental gymnastics of a brand zealot/paid shill.
>a $1400 without a brooks is better than a $1400 bike with a brook because you may not like the brooks
>this is what surly owners actually believe
>>912485
>trust me buddy, i don't run stock shit, but it's worth it to buy a complete and sell the take-offs rather than buy a bar fram
At least when you sell the take-offs like that guy, you'll get more for your plastic foam seat than a brooks, because the buyer may not like the brooks
>>912484
haha, the everything positive is a shill meme
you're doing great, keep it up buddy.
you must poor, dumb, and paranoid to think that /n/, with a max of 100 posters, has attracted attention from surly to advertise to NEETs who don't even ride their bikes.
>>912489
It just means they have an intern that they tell to do social media outreach and post on reddit and twitter and bikeforums using sockpuppet accounts.
>>912485
>a 1400 dollar bike with better components and no brooks is better than a 1400 bike with shitty components and a brooks
yes, this is in fact what I believe.
if you spent any time thinking about it, you might be able to figure out the business move that kona is making by putting the brooks on there.
>>912464
>not supporting a local framebuilder
>>912491
nobody considers 4chan to be a sports forum, buddy.
not even other anons, even some oldfags, know that there's a bike board here.
>>912493
Because the sora FD is so much better than the alivio FD.
>>912496
>4chan nerds cant become interns
>4chan nerd applying for internship at bike company doesnt know about bike board
>>912493
You mean making a better bike at the same price point?
>>912499
nikki, are you back now?
>>912318
>Maybe look at the fuji touring bike too, but v-brakes? oh christ.
the Fuji tourer is a great bike - mine is 2012 and doesn't have v brakes but cantilever, 2 bottle mounts, nice long chainstays, a triple up front, index/friction bar end shifters, little extra spoke mounts etc - super solid and comfy, it's basically a surly that's a couple of hundred bucks less.
>>912198
>>912207
>>912210
>>912318
>>912361
>>912397
>>912451
>>912463
>>912464
>>912480
>>912484
>>912485
>>912488
>>912489
>>912491
>>912492
>>912493
>>912496
>>912498
>>912499
Christ, you fucks. I'm going to refrain from commenting on either of your stuff because it's all stupid on all sides. Once exception:
>>912463
>bosses on the fork for full dork mode.
If you think for mounting is full dork mode, get the fuck out of this touring thread.
More sweet touring bike and stories please, less moronic bitching.
>>912554
>fred getting offended by being called a dork
Looking like a dork never stopped ol' Sheldy from being a Fred.
>>912555
Simply looking like a dork does not a fred make.
I am planning to cross Europe this summer. Looking for route suggestions. I've previously done a coast to coast US tour and central america tour (cancun > panama city).
Amsterdam > Istanbul appeals to me, via the Alps and would also like to pass through Greece. Would it be better to go down italy and take a boat over to greece? Or maybe start in Lisbon or Madrid instead? I've never been to Europe.
How much volume do I need to tour in Canada ? I have 52L of panniers. Is that enough ?
>>912554
There is always one of these guys everywhere you go in life, fucking everything up
>>912270
good friend
>>912559
Do you know about the eurovelos? I highly suggest you follow one of them.
I think a better route would be the rhine route (eurovelo 15) to Basel and then do the eurovelo 6 to vienna and then follow eurovelo 9 to the adriatic and then jump on the eurovelo 8.
I did eurovelo 6 last summer and the bike infrastructure was amazing, did 800km on it and I never had to share a road with cars.
>>912644
this is awesome.
there are ferries connecting e.g. the 1 route across the water?
>>911442
The Trek 520 is a good bike friend
I did about 5000ks of touring on mine last year in Australia and Vietnam and couldnt have been happier with my choice.
>>912794
That's a lengthy tour. How far did you cycle?
>>912794
Jesus christ, is that a charge spoon? I assume you weren't planning on having kids.
>>912656
No. European trucks are amphibious for this reason.
>>912937
Cable ties, my man.
>>912794
>all the weight at the front
Doesn't that handle like arse?
after i finish my peace corps service in a few months, can't wait
>>912987
Yeah and I can't wait for you to die and have your body never found because it was eaten by African cannabals lmao
>>912991
Racist fuck face, I've met some of the best people in my life these past two years
>>912995
>Racist fuck face
I'm trying to help you. Assuming these starving 3rd worlders wouldn't kill you on the spot for a nice bicycle is very stupid. But yes, blow it off as an evil internet racist lol...
>>912996
I've done a lot of small tours around here in the past two years, the more rural and poor the area, the more the people are willing to give in general. You have no idea what you're talking about and your prejudices will only keep you from seeing this awesome world, which is good because I don't wish to run into, fuck off /n/
>>912987
I love how the mere mention of travelling in Africa always attract these "hurr durr you gonna die" posters. I'd be more scared to tour the US.
Anyway, seems like a great adventure, make sure to keep us updated.
I'm going on a trip across my county! Only on paved roads though, my bike can't handle anything other than perfectly even tarmac. And to maximise the chance of getting hit by a car, I ride on county roads where cars go over 100km/h.
And if that wasn't enough, I make sure to breath in as much of the car exhaust as I can for that mid 40s cancer feeling.
Wish me luck on my "how can I annoy as many people as possible" trip and death to all cagers! ahaha, you know what I mean
>>913001
You don't need to ride your 15 mph piece of aluminum through the shittiest place in the world to have fun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECs8ZrmH8D8
>>912995
>racis fuckface
said the guy on a nazi anime imageboard.
>>911530
Dude thats great can you share some wisdom? I plán to go Bratislava - Trieste through Slovenia this summer in june.
What route did you take?
What was your sleeping arrangement? I'm going hostels because First long zrip and camping gear adds lots of weight.
How long did it take you from Wien? I want to do it in 6 days, is it realistic?
>>913003
>across county
that's hardly touring.
>>911515
I want to do this, what type of bike do I need? What tyres? Can I spend under $200 and get everything I need (2nd hand obv).
I don't currently own a bicycle.
>>913033
my first instinct would be no. I'm no expert on second hand stuff, but i just spent £500 replacing the parts on my bike ready for tour and the bits to go with it, and at least another £500+ on kit. The initial cost of bike touring is not cheap, but once you have the stuff it should hopefully last you a while.
Ideal bike would be a tourer, something that can take lots of weight but still be pleasurable to ride. I ride 700 28 tyres but ive heard 26s are better? desu ive ridden 700c all my life and i have no real idea, just a preference i guess.
rather than make a new thread i will ask here
is their anything you look for when picking a camping site? anything to avoid?
>>912581
It would be tight. You wouldn't be able to bring cooking gear or much extra clothing. Get a 25 litre drybag for your tent + sleeping bag + sleeping pad and strap it on top of your rack. Also get yourself a handlebar bag.
>>912987
That takes balls.
>>913033
Doubtful, get a job and save for a few months. Do some small tours around your area and see if you like it.
>>913058
Pine forests are the best because they are so dry, no morning dew. Beaches are shit because your tent will get full of sand and soaking wet.
>>913033
>less than $200
I don't think so. I think getting just a comfortable and trustworthy bike is going to be $200+.
>912115
>912109
mention why its worth it to have a bike made for touring.
/bbg/ will help you find a used bike in your area and /bqg/ might be able to help trouble shoot it. /out/ might have a gear thread that you can ask questions in.
Non consumables for a short trip this summer, longer trip this fall; some of it is used daily, some of it is waiting patiently:
bike (used, probably late 90s Randonee) $255
back panniers (vaudes, floor model) $100
Bar bag (used) $20
fenders+back rack (used) $20
1-man tent (used gift from a friend) $0
down sleeping bag, liner, and mid-weight mat(new, slight sale and coupons) $270
bike shoes (new, clearance) $50
Pocket Rocket gas stove + cooking gear (will be borrowing from a friend) $0
2 pairs of shorts (new and clearance) and 4 Jerseys (floor models marked down) $145
Windbreaker (gift from parents) $0.
Ulock (gift from my parents) $0
New Lights $20
New Tire Repair Kit $35
>experiences
Have toured 35,000 km's around Canada and USA.
>stories
Randomly met so many awesome people, given food, beer, places to sleep, bike parts, money. Had bears stalk my campsite, one stole a bottle of chainlube from me. Shot at, kidnapped, and mugged in Mexico. Broke rear derailleur and biked singlespeed into Jasper. Crashed hard in the Sierra Nevada coming down a mountain. Nearly lost everything to a flash flood in Alaska.
>future plans
Iceland, Norway, Morocco, Himalayas, Peru to Argentina.
>bike set-up
Dynohub, 10-speed Shimano, mtb frame, front suspension, Schwalbe Marathon tires.
>>913089
I'd like to know more about being kidnapped, if you're willing to share.
My tour, starting next week, will being going to Mae Sai, the most northern point in Thailand, and the riding to Betong, the most southern point in Thailand. Then if I'm feeling good, skip Malaysia, as it sucks in too many ways, and go to Indonesia. Either ride around Southern Sumatra for a while, or go to Java, as I still have a ticket to Bangkok from Surabaya.
After my last trip I went home and brought back my Rivendell Atlantis. It has all the comfort that the Marin I used last time didn't have.
The last time Half the stuff I carried I never touched . So this time I'm going to carry just one pannier, and keep the total weight of everything to 2 kg.
>>913090
This was in 2012, news of cartels and missing people was common. I knew the risks and decided to go for it anyways, wanted to go to Cancun then back up the west coast. Biked into Mexico at the Los Indios crossing, got past Valle Hermoso and it started getting dark. Open fields, literally nowhere to safely stealth camp. Texas was difficult to find a stealth camp, but this area of Mexico was impossible. Continue biking for another hour and finally settle on sleeping inside an abandoned house. Traffic on the highway ceases after dark. All of a sudden it starts feeling very remote and hostile. I was having trouble sleeping and around 2 am I hear some vehicles coming down the road. I get up and look out the window and none of the vehicles have their headlights on. They stop right infront of the house where I am sleeping. I start picturing chainsaw beheadings, start panicking on what to do. Some guy walks in the front door and sees me sitting there, he turns around and walks back to the vehicles. I grab my shit and head out the back door into a field. All of a sudden, BOOM, BOOM, they were firing warning shots at me. I start yelling "don't shoot, don't shoot!!". Two guys come out, punch me in the face, put a gun to my head and take me back to the vehicles. They load all my stuff in the truck and we take off down some backroads to their camp, a mere 5 minutes from where I was sleeping. 20 dudes standing around with AK47's, shotguns, handguns, doing coke around a campfire. They go through all my stuff and take anything of value. We wait around for morning to come and then load into the truck and head to Matamoros. We stop and unload at some shady mechanic workshop. I give them my pin # on my bank card, they hold me until they get money out. And that was it, I was free to go. Black eye, iPhone stolen, $800 withdrawn from my account. They didn't want my bike because of serial numbers. I went straight back to Texas but that ended my tour.
Flatbar or drops for touring?
>>913093
Didn't you hate indonesia last time? In any case, I look forward to more journals if you're doing those.
PS is that saddle angle really tolerable?
>>913093
What didn't you like about Malaysia? I loved the country, but granted would not want to cycle through it.
>>913101
Drops, no question.
>>913101
Butterfly bars.
But if you insist on these two only, choose drops. More positions > one position. Switching hand positions on long rides is the key.
>>913033
I did 1000km on an mtb with a broken front hub that I bought for 50€. I dont recommend it but yeah its possible
>>913102
The seat feels really good, from the very back there's a bit of drop so my balls don't get compressed. I'd like to use my Cambium, but I'm not sure if it would last for the trip.
I like Indonesia, it just might be my favorite country. I just have trouble with the food. The last time was also rough, as I wasn't tour ready at the start, and that bike wasn't meant for Touring. If I make it there, this time will be better.
>>913105
I went up the east coast of Malaysia. First, the roads suck, as many have real narrow shoulders, or they have broken up shoulders, that are too bumpy to ride on. There are also not a lot of route options, so you're stuck on a highway most all the way. I'm in Thailand now, and if I want to go to Suphanburi, I have at least 6 options, and all are about the same distance, and all will have nice shoulders, or no traffic. Malaysia doesn't have that.
Then it's just the whole East coast vibe. It feels so represive there compared to Indonesia, let alone Thailand. I went days without seeing a woman's arm. Then I arrived in Thailand, and the 10 days or whatever I spent in Malaysia just seem like such a waste.
Finally, that was the fifth or sixth time I'd ridden up or down Malaysia, and I really didn't like it the first time.
>>913115
Ah, neat. Good luck dude.
Think you'll ever hop across the sea bit further and do Australia or NZ?
>>913128
you
>>912559
In Istria there is a bike trail on an old closed train line. I would check that out. Also cycling in triest is a nightmare.
>>912109
Why is the sky burning?
>>911981
I don't have a surly, but my favorite shop in the city is Bicycle Habitat and they do sell surly bikes
>>913174
> bitches don't know about my film camera
>>913128
u w0t
Road or MTB (trekking) drivetrain?
>>913174
Yep >>913214 figured it out. First picture on a fresh roll of film. Olympus XA, Kodak Ektar 100. Probably shot at f2.8, maybe f4.
>inb4 "you filthy hipster"
The infection is terminal, sorry.
It's a sweet little camera, very pocketable. About half the japanopictures I posted were taken with it:
>>912085
>>912089
>>912091
>>912092
>>912094
>>912099
>>912101
>>912103
>>912109
>>912115
>>912312
>>913128
Meme harder, autist
>>913278
>>912895
Two trips, 6 weeks through Vietnam from Hanoi to HCMC with a little bit of back and forth in the middle and Sydney to Adelaide via Canberra, the Alpine National park, Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road.
>>912934
In this particular photo i was in Vietnam where are cheap and a tent wasnt needed. When i toured in Australia however i had an extra two panniers to accomodate sleeping amd cooking gear.
>>912937
As the other anon said, zipties are your friend
>>912957
In my experience no, if im only running two panniers i prefer to have them at the front, makes the bike easier to lean up, push and also reduces that annoying out of saddle sway.
Okay im off on tour to NZ at the end of the month, pretty much got all my gear sorted apart from luxuries.
So first of all i want some kind of device other than my phone to keep in contact with, write diaries, route plan when at wifi etc. So either a small laptop or tablet, I need it to be able to charge from USB due to solar panel limitations, what do you think are my best options?
Secondly I want some sort of camera, my friend will possibly sell his dslr to me for very cheap but it would be lens-less. I need something that again charges from usb or is long life. Would i be better off with a more compact camera or an action cam? I sort of want to be able to take nice pictures.
And finally is there any good way of getting cheap internet on the move whilst away from wifi? Or am i better just upgrading the contract on my phones data allowance and use it as a hub
>>913311
If you actually know anything about photography and have the money your friend's camera and a lens is surely a good bet.
Otherwise what phone do you have? I imagine lower end point and shoots have little advantage over all but low end phones these days.
Not sure how you're going to get data aside from mobile when you're away from wifi (satellite???), so upgrading that is probably a good idea.
>>913311
Personally I'd just stick to the phone and get a NZ sim. At most a cheap tablet (nookhd/nexus7) with decent battery life. On the camera side a DSLR is nice but the simplicity and compact size of good point and shoot can't be underestimated. Also take a disposable or film camera for when you run out of juice/see something really cool.
>>913315
Basically keep it as simple as possible. And remember you can download maps onto your phone so won't need the internet for navigation.
>>913315
>>913316
I have maps on my phone already with gps its sorted but I'm just thinking of luxuries, i just know when ive been on long tours before theres only so much i can do on the roadside at night before i get really bored/lonely.
Basically I want something to keep me entertained at night: something to write logs, read ebooks etc, browse the internet if i somehow get internet.
Something to take nice photos: My phone camera is adequate but not exceptional
And yeah internet is just a plus.
How easy is it to get a short term sim in a foreign country?
>>913313
I know nothing about photography, but he can teach me the basics and i can improve as i go? i mean ill be gone for a long time with a lot of practice.
I have a nokia windows phone, it works really well and i can download maps and shit, just lacks app accessibility which is a real downer.
>>913317
>How easy is it to get a short term sim in a foreign country?
Too easy mate.
>>913318
Okay about to be super lazy here:
Any NZers know the best providers for remote signal and like cost effeciency? Not too worried about minutes or texts, just data
>>913308
>5000 ks
>6 weeks
Which was it? What distance did you traverse during that time.
>>913311
>Device for writing, route planning
Like you say, small laptop or tablet. I'd strong suggest a small 11" laptop (much more useful than a tablet) but if you're really restricted to charging off of USB, you may be stuck with a tablet. Not sure how much more useful that'll be than a smartphone, though.
>camera
If you really don't know anything about photography like you say in >>913317, you should get a small point&shoot camera or simply use your phone. DSLRs aren't that hard to learn to use, but you're not going to have a lot of time on the road. It's also not the kind of camera that you can whip out of your pocket to take a picture of something cool while riding.
On my last tour, I brought a mirrorless DSLR and a pocket point&shoot. I took about 10x more photos with the point and shoot (and my phone) than the DSLR. It was just deadweight.
By an "action cam", do you mean something like a GoPro? If so, absolutely not. They're not meant for photos; they have an ultra-wideangle lens.
>Cheap internet away from wifi
Data SIM. NZ has great coverage everywhere.
>>913358
>mirrorless DSLR
>>913358
Thanks dude really helpful advice, i think my sister has an old point and shoot, i might just nick it for a while if a dslr is going to be a ball ache.
On the subject of the laptop i just went to a store today to ask for advice or what they'd recommend, this was really the only thing that worked like a laptop but you could charge from a usb, but has actually useful inputs like a usb port, ssd slot etc.It does look pretty nifty and I probably will get it but just jewing around for a better price on the web.
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/asus-transformer-book-t100ha-10-1-2-in-1-grey-10137163-pdt.html
>inb4 asus shill
I dont suppose electronics are cheaper in NZ like they are in the states?
>>913366
>I dont suppose electronics are cheaper in NZ like they are in the states?
If it's anything like here in Australia then no
>>913341
6 weeks in vietnam
4 weeks in aus
Roughly an even split 2500ks per trip
>>913401
Where did you tour in Aus?
>>913401
You are confusing me: you keep contradicting yourself. Why won't you tell me how far you travelled?
>>913479
By the holy power of Sheldon, be gone from this place, SI autist. And never return.
>>913481
Zimbabwe!
>>913112
Are butterfly bars really that good?
>>913128
How is km the correct prefix?
why would you tour on a bicycle
>>913594
k is the prefix for m, ya dingus
>>913592
comes down to personal preference. a lot of people like albatross bars, some people like boscos, and some people like being really unique and shit
>>913128
km
kilometer
>>913599
why would you walk to the store instead of taking the bus?
why would you drive to the next town over when you can get a train?
why would you drive to work when its quicker to ride a bicycle?
Its all preference lad
>>913604
km means kilomile
>>913606
Essayez de ne pas me donner des conférences. Kilometer est en France donc nous apprenons km... va te faire foutre.
>>913610
The French always turns to their own language when they get angry. So I'm guessing your angry.
>>913633
It's kilometre. SI symbol: km
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilometre
>>913633
post link to brochure please
>>913652
http://www.bipm.org/en/publications/si-brochure/
The SI Brochure is available for download in both English and French (which takes precedence if there is any discrepancy between the two) at the above URL.
>>913416
Sydney to Adelaide via Canberra, the Alpine National park, Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road.
Reaal good trip, highly recommend cycling the omeo highway if you ever get the chance
>>913610
i m laughing so hard to that fake french
I have this mountain bike. Once I wear out the tyres I will replace them with semi-slicks. What am I looking at in regards to getting a set of Pannier Racks for the rear with bags?
I usually buy from Wiggle.co.uk if you could give me examples please?
Yes pictured wrong side, my bad.
>>914127
you want ortlieb back rollers
I bought some on wiggle like 1 month ago but theyre gone now.
>>914127
if you haven't already, since you're getting semi slicks and bags presumably for commutes, you should also check if you can lock out that front fork; or dial up the stiffness to the max, if possible.
ortliebs are recognized as top tier, but they're pricy. you might get what you need out of something cheaper. the only ones i've ever personally used are an old out of business company brand. they're inferior to orts, but totally fine for grocery getting.
i'm not sure there's a whole lot of difference between racks except load rating, but i could be wrong.
>>913599
You get to see a lot. It's an adventure etc.
>>913610
It's kilometre m8, you invented the system and spelt it kilometre yet you're getting cucked by americans into spelling it kilometer?
