Bought rack and panniers and I am set for a mini 3 day try out before heading out for anything longer, had my 1st lesson in what not to do by nearly wiping out on a gravely corner due to lack of weight on front wheel on test ride tonight
Any tips great and small much appreciated please
Anything special with tyres?
make a kit list assemble it then dump half of it
take some clean pants!
go somewhere sunny
i've used conti top touring and they last ages. schwalbe marathons are meant to be good as well
I've toured on lightweight racing bikes for years. always used a bar bag + pair of panniers at back. 23c race tyres and 36 hole openpro rims are perfectly good enough if you are a smooth careful rider and keep tyres pumped up properly. - but ideally go for touring specific tyres for peace of mind.
always take a proper pump (not mini) + 2 spare tubes etc.
take a new pair of shorts for every other day + baby wipes + antiseptic cream to keep sores away (depends on type of touring, i..e if roughing it and thus often can't wash)
Use threadlocker on bolting up attachments (cages + pannier racks) otherwise they work loose.
instead of carrying heavy/bulky air mat/roll mat for in the tent - look for bracken/long grass etc. near your campsite and put a nice thick layer of it under the tent before you erect it... comfy & cosy!
bar bags are best when you can put the map in the top for easy access on the move. ideally they have special waterproof clear cover to protect yet still see the map.
pack clothes and sleeping bag in waterproof stuffsacks that compress (Pod Airstream Lite Drysac - uses an eVent section to allow air to be pushed out but no air or water in)
if you can possibly do without it, then don't take it.
You need less clothes than you think.
I would always take a sleeping mat, I have a neoair which is the dogs bollocks but pricey, alpkit do some pretty light ones now which are much better value.
I strap my tent to the handlebars with an alpkit airlock drybag which has loops for straps.
Get frontloader panniers (but put them on your rear racks), if you can't get your kit in them then your carrying too much.
You need less food than you think, you will pass shops several times a day, just carry enough for a few meals just in case.
oh and bako cook in bags, add boiling water and packet pasta meal leave for 5-10 mins then eat out of the bags,much cheaper than specialised backpacking meals and no cleaning burnt bits of pans.