Any pics of your tourer? And any kit and set up recommendations.

Not strictly a tourer, but it’s what I use for touring:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/wXkAYG]Untitled[/url] by Alistair Harper, on Flickr

That was it set up for 8 nights of camping in Norway, but I’ll be carrying just the 2 rear panniers on a 5 night trip in Scotland next week. With only weight on the rear it can get a bit wobbly up front so it actually rides better with something on the bars too.

And this is the front:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/wY6caz]Untitled[/url] by Alistair Harper, on Flickr
Alpkit Kanga with a 13l Airlok extra – which leaves just enough room between my bars as long as you get 5 rolls on the closure. And provides a handy space to clip cameras and glasses to.

Not visible is the huge (by road standards) 10-36 cassette, which combined with the 34/50 chainrings allows you to sit back and cruise up the hills.

http://dawescycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/3IMA-Review.jpg

allyharp, thats perfect! Thats the frame I’m building up at the moment. I’ve a couple of Ortlieb front rollers and an old Ortlieb bar bag, I’m trying to decide what I need to do for a 4 day trip (in Scotland). Bar bag is a bit problematic, its for 26.0 bars and I’ve a 31.8 stem, I’m either looking for a new bar attachment or shimming down to smaller bars. I think Ortlieb have changed their mountings for the bar bag.

Looks a bit sad really, currently getting some (a lot of) TLC in the shed.

Old Skool luggage, 2x25l rear panniers, 2x20l front. Once moved house on it, still took several trips!

[url=https://flic.kr/p/xbrbSH]20150816_171434[/url] by thisisnotaspoon, on Flickr

what tlc do you have planned, tis a lovely old bike.

They have, but Lyon Equipment should be able to get you spares fro the old ones.

I agree that some weight over the front is a good idea. In fact, I’m rather taken by the more continental approach of using front panniers – even without rears.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/cx2Ta1]P1040480[/url] by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/oE3PEk]P1010510[/url] by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

old one.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/us32jf]cidImage_FOT38B5.JPG[/url] by 20ston, on Flickr

new one

[url=https://flic.kr/p/DicYGT]cidImage_FOTBDCA.JPG[/url] by 20ston, on Flickr

Thats one of the things I’m trying to decide, I reckon all I’ll need is the panniers. Maybe a lowrider set up and a seatpack for tools will suffice. I’m not building a tourer exactly more a burly road bikem but want to use it for this trip.

what tlc do you have planned, tis a lovely old bike.

I think the mudguards are being kept, apart from that……….

Pretty much everything was worn out, falling off, or past it’s best, so new wheels, tyres, cranks, BB, chain, cassette, canti brakes, headset, cables, saddle (shame as it was lovely, but it really has had it now). Original bits remaining, frame, forks stem, post, bars and brake levers.

A Kona Sutra outside a pub.

Smaller granny ring fitted. Rear Panniers and bar bag is all that’s needed unless you’re camping.

On route and on way back to airport. I frickin’ love touring!!

I did a reasonable ‘tour’ a couple of years ago, with front panniers only (and some frame bagging). Working quite well and was quite stable. Would happily do it again. Not sure if can find pics.

It didn’t work so well on narrow, rutted off road sections though 🙁

Recently bought a kona rove al for my replacement tourer.

Going for the 4 pannier approach for touring (pic taken when commuting)

Old mtb. Guards, and rack added. Heavy load but this is pretty much kit for two with comfy camping, including food for the next 24h. Goes like stem train downhill.

This is mine;

On One Pompetamine
Spa Nidd Saddle
Carradice saddlebag (not shown)
SKS chronoplastics (set up here for usual 32mm tyres but changed for 23’s on for quick ride last weekend.)
XT Dynohub with 36 spoke wheels with B&M front & rear lights
3X9 gearing with 24/39/53 upfront and 12-32 at the back.
Got front and rear panniers for upcoming summer tour

super comfortable for all day cruising.

***sod it, can’t seem to link to photo***

Norco Indie Drop for light touring mainly, either front panniers or bikepacking setup. Never going back to rear panniers!

Also got a Specialized AWOL but no decent pictures, same setup though!

On One Inbred 26
old man mountain front rack
tubus rear
ortlieb (over rated)

talking of touring, what are everyone’s plans for this year. me and the wife are away to Brittany for 2 weeks in may. St Malo and along to northcoast to Morlaix, then back via the lumpy center.

Skye next week camping.

Trans sierra nevada trail from malaga airport in october – but thatll be bikepacking with minimal gear.

Fort William(ish) to Torridon and back via the coast and Skye. Over the Bealach too.

Across France from Basel to the Atlantic on EuroVelo 6.

What lowrider rack are you using steezy?

None yet, waiting to see how the job situation pans out. Really want to get a few long weekends in regardless.

either front panniers or bikepacking setup. Never going back to rear panniers!

Out of interest, why? I always load up the rear’s then enough in the fronts to prevent wheelies as my rears are quite a way back.

Having said that, after doing a bit of bikepacking I reckon I’d struggle to fill a 25l pannier. OTOH panniers do feel like the right tools for the job, even if they are only half filled.

On a related note, could anyone recommend some good looking racks? The topeak is functionally perfect, but really ugly! This (Bobbin) rack is nice, but only rated for 25kg (which may well be enough actually, but it doesn’t bode well for stiffness). Also needs to be cheap, so no £90 tubus jobs! Want/need matching front and rears too. Front preferably mounting to the mid-fork mounts , but with a platform over the top to take a bar bag for commuting. Needs to look good because the bike looks a bit bare without them. (fussy, moi?)

When the panniers are on, you can’t really see the rack. Aesthetics?? Bah!

topeak dx for discs. perfect rack for the cash.
aesthetics……….lol

Yea, but the bike looks a bit odd without them, and the DX is a bit agricultural.

the dx works…end of.

Three weeks and waiting.

Got a week in Brittany funnily enough – just outside Roscoff in August.

Week in Wensleydale in November and either Lakes & Dales or Lancashire cycleway at the beginning of June.

My Vaya.

As for where I’m going? Not sure yet, see how busy work is this year.
But really fancy getting the Bike Express somewhere warm, and then having a couple of weeks riding around..

Have a look at hollandbikeshop.com for period looking racks.

Touring bikes without mudguards = WRONG.

Pinnacle Litium 3.

I prefer the straight bars rather than the drops on a long distance bike. It’s got SKS full guards and a Topeak DX super tourist rear rack. Using Altura Arran panniers.

I’ve not toured on it yet but I’ve commuted on it. The panniers easily carry all my Bikeability stuff. In the pic I’m at Shap summit just with 1 pannier, hit 37 mph on the descent and felt really stable.

I’d like to think a second pannier wouldn’t upset the balance.

Touring bikes without mudguards = WRONG.

Only took them off today..
You know, just as the rain started.. 🙄

But here you go Flashy.

Avec guards.

Avec guards.

Good recovery.

Barra Beach by Richard Picton, on Flickr

Used my Tripster ATR for a tour last year with rear panniers, would like to add fronts but the forks don’t take a rack. Anyone know of a tapered disc fork that does?

It doesn’t have to be tapered. You could fit a straight-steerer fork and a suitable adapter/crown (e.g. the Hope one)

Hmm yes but then swapping back to the original fork would be a pain. Only a thought, to be honest if I was going to carry more stuff I’d probably use my old MTB instead.