My Raven Tour. 3500 miles on (11,000 miles on)

[freddered]

I'm in north Lancashire - south Cumbria.  My maximum single day has been about 105 miles over hilly terrain in the Yorkshire dales, although I only ride slowly.  If I remember correctly, this took about 8 3/4 hours including lunch and drink stops.

http://www.aukweb.net/cal/index.htm

Use the calendar months (JFMAMJJASOND) to bypass any problems looking ahead more than a few months.

I reckon there are quie a few rides within a short drive.

100 miles in under 9 hours is perfectly reasonable for a Audax speeds.  I usually allow myself 5.5hrs per 100km (including stops).  This lets me have a fairly leisurely ride whilst not risking missing the cut-off time.

[geocycle]

Cheers Fred, that's helpful.

[bobs]

Great photo's as usual.

[jags]

brilliant pic's  were the road's  NOT to dangerious to ride (ICE PATCHES)

[Cake]

Great pics Fred.

Can i ask what upper body clothing that is that you have on?

Gary.

[freddered]

Hi Jags.  The roads were perfect and dry.  It had been dry for weeks and the frost was a wierd one, the air was full of tiny ice crystals for a couple of days.  It looked like the result of a heavy snow that never made it to the ground.

Cake.  I'm ALDI-sponsored in that photo.

Red ALDI winter jacket (£14 and superb value, I should have bought some more).
Black ALDI Windproof Gilet (£7 I think).  I like Gilets because they add a layer without making you overheat (mesh back panel).  The Zip is a bit crappy and I think I may have just broken it but it's still a quarter the price of a 'known' brand.

Underneath is an ALDI winter jersey (£7).  Another decent enough bit of kit.  Not a great fit but perfectly good enough for commuting/training.

I wear a ski-band (ear-band) and a cap under my helmet and a buff.  Bib-longs and lovely Shimano Winter shoes (MW02)

I think everything I'm wearing, combined,cost less than an ASSOS short sleeve Jersey.

Oh yes, ALDI winter gloves (£4)

[jags]

great stuff fred.. so tell me is there another tour planned for the comming season,
i know bob's,tours, with just two panniers ,and i always meant to ask what gear you take on a tour (packing list) have you had any bike problems over the last 9000 miles.
 anyway thanks for the pic's, any help on the packing list would be great ,for my up and comming tour of france in june.

[freddered]

great stuff fred.. so tell me is there another tour planned for the comming season,
i know bob's,tours, with just two panniers ,and i always meant to ask what gear you take on a tour (packing list) have you had any bike problems over the last 9000 miles.
 anyway thanks for the pic's, any help on the packing list would be great ,for my up and comming tour of france in june.

I've only ever done this 3 day camping trip but I don't think you'd need much more stuff for 2 weeks.

Ortleib Bike Packer Plus panniers.  Brilliant kit, the external mesh pockets are good for repait kit, inner tubes, wet gloves, overshoes and so on.  The straps on top are great for carrying jerseys, waterproofs and so on.

In one pannier I have my Thermarest sleep mat and my tent.  I don't use a tent bag, I just stuff the tent into the pannier (the poles fit in vertically). pans and stove go in same pannier.  On my rack I have my sleeping bag in a dry-bag.  The other pannier has clothing. If the tent was wet then I would put sleeping bag in pannier and tent on rack.

I have a bar bag for wallet, phone, camera and other valuables.  It unclips in a second so I can take it into a cafe/shop.

I also carry a very small cable lock to stop an opportunist theif wheeling my bike away but it wouldn't stop a determined thief.  I don't think I'd need front panniers unless it was a very wet and/or cold country.  The more space you have, the more you will carry. 

[jags]

thank's for that fred, yeah you have or should i say, i have the same set up as yourself.
im trying to keep things as light as possible ,without sacrificeing comfort.
i did buy the carradice camper saddlebag for my tent and spares but im going to have to rethink this one.

[bobs]

Jags,
2 rear panniers and a bar bag should enough space.  I strap my Atko on top of the rack so it doesn't matter if its wet or not.
Last time I was away it was wet. I packed everything away in the panniers while still in the tent, then quickly packed the tent away.  As you know the Atko tent bag is oversized so its easy to roll it up and put it away.
It's one thing packing eyery thing away neat and tidy when doing it in your living room another thing when away on tour.
I'm going to Germany in april/May and taking front panniers. The only reason for this is to balance the bike and to have plenty of space. I will ensure it doesn't encourage me to take too much.

Bob

[jags]

thank's bob's yeah your wright the akto is going on the rear rack,do you use the the footprint for your tent,im thinking of buying one ,the plastic i have is a pain to fold up and it's heavy enough,
i emailed alpenstock for a price for the footprint,so i'll wait and see what it cost's.

[PH]

Nice photos as usual.

I've only ever done this 3 day camping trip but I don't think you'd need much more stuff for 2 weeks.

I'd pretty much agree, over a week and I take a complete extra set of cycling clothes, not strictly necessary, just eases the pressure of getting the laundry done (or more commonly, dry again)

2 rear panniers and a bar bag should enough space.  I strap my Atko on top of the rack so it doesn't matter if its wet or not.

I find my Raven handles better with the weight spread about, I can carry the same kit in a pair of 40 ltr rear panniers (I do on another bike)  but with it in 4 panniers a saddlebag and a bar bag the Raven handles better than it does unloaded.

[jags]

nice photo ph,like the brolly very dandy.i don't have that much seat post showing,
so my camper bag sit's on the rear rack,do you mind me asking ,what have you in the saddle bag.as i said in another post, i have my tent along with footprint and bike spares.but i find it's to hard to take the bag on and off the bike.i have it strapped to the brook's and seat post.

[bobs]

Iv'e not got a foot print but will get one. The Climbers shop has them for about £30 posted.

[jags]

bob have you a link for that thanks,