Packed Bikes
We often assume so much about our method of travel. Several people have asked how we are going to carry our stuff with us if we don’t have a SAG wagon. Will we wear backpacks?
Personally, I can barely survive wearing a waist pack. It works for short trips, but I don’t like the feeling of something strapped to me. Even though it may not weigh much, packs around my waist make me feel encumbered. I don’t know that I would like wearing a hydration system for the same reason.
Our method of carrying our gear is a fairly standard one, although pulling a trailer has become more popular. We each carry four panniers and pack them so that most of the weight is in the front panniers. I made the mistake once of touring with only rear panniers. My steering was out of control and stopping was especially troublesome as the front wheel always wanted to raise up off the ground. My bicycle was an unruly, bucking bronco. I got more bruises on that trip just trying to control that bike. After that unpleasant experience, if I were only using two panniers, I put them on the front.
Our bombproof panniers are Arkels. Designed by people who understand bicycle touring, they have all sorts of features that make packing and traveling simple. I especially like the dedicated pouch for tent poles. Some tent have poles that are just a tad too long for the rear rack. They can shift around and become thigh pokers. With the Arkels, they store vertically in their pouch. If they are longer than the pouch, the opening can simply be left partially or fully opened. The other panniers that we carry are made by REI.
For this trip we are trying a different sort of packing system. We have two large duffle bags that will hold all by the two large Arkels that we will us are carry-on luggage. Since we don’t need to cycle directly from the airport, we will simply ship the duffle bags home as soon as we empty them later on the first afternoon. Panniers are my least favorite type of luggage to carry. Their shape makes them unwieldly to carry for long distances.
We have most of our camping gear and tools packed. Instead of carrying a sleeping back for each of us, we take one lightweight sleeping bag and open it up on the thermarests if it is warm enough and use a sheet and fleece to cover up with. If it is cold we put the sheet on the sleeping pad and use the sleeping bag or fleece to cover up with. This system works well for us, but there are many other options. One new concept that I have read about, but not tried, is a sleeping hammock. Supposedly, it weighs little and has some versatility, but I think that I will stick to the traditional camping gear.