Hi All!
Thorn Cycles' designer, Andy Blance, has expanded on his earlier views with some load schemes and suggested weights for touring – this time for typical European and Alpine touring with less than the Nomad's maximum capacity. He has kindly given his consent to share his comments for the benefit of the Forum.
Since loads – and how they are packed – directly affect a bike's stability, I think it is helpful to include his recommendations in this same thread. Unlike my more specialized requirements, the greater number of cyclists will likely tour with lesser loads, just as I do when in more populated areas. When I toured Europe for 5 weeks, I carried 25kg...there was simply no need to carry such enormous back-stocks of food and water I require in the wilderness.
Hi Dan,
Thanks for your email. Fiona and I are more than happy for you to publish our recommendations for loading bikes for touring in Europe, where supplies and services can usually be found every day.
Like you, we really enjoy many different types of cycle touring. We especially like to be at altitude in wilderness and we certainly agree that it is the quantities of food and water which are necessary that produces such extreme loads! The bonus is that these loads reduce…often on an hourly basis!
...I know when Fi and I go cycle camping in Europe, we very occasionally carry as much as 32.5Kg.
We carry either a bar bag or a saddle bag depending upon the type of tour we are planning.
Bar bag set up…ideal for really long tours. Includes plenty of appropriate clothes for cultural activities.
We aim to carry as little as possible in our bar bags…phone, camera, binoculars, passport, glasses, wallet and bean bag for use as a camera support…this also line the bottom of the bag. Total 1.75Kg
We carry 2 x litre coke or sprite bottles of water in the seat tube and under down tube cages and 1 x 0.75l bottle of drink in the down tube cage Total 2.75Kg.
We carry alternative shoes some provisions and clothes we won’t use during the ride in the front bags. Total 6Kg
We use a large, transversely mounted dry bag with our share of the tent, air mattress and sleeping bags. Total 5Kg
Our rear panniers carry our share of heavier tools and spares, food, cooker, yet more clothes and hopefully, some wine! Total 17Kg
Grand total 32.5Kg
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Saddle bag set up…ideal for serious cycle tours in the Alps. Includes one set of lightweight smart casual clothes, to prevent us from feeling self-conscious, should we decide to stay at a hotel and go out for a meal.
We carry 2 x litre coke or sprite bottles of water in the seat tube and under down tube cages and 1 x 0.75l bottle of drink in the down tube cage Total 2.75Kg.
We carry alternative shoes some provisions and clothes we won’t use during the ride in the front bags. Total 4.25Kg
We use a large saddle bag with a warm layer, waterproofs, snacks, simple tools inc. tubes and a document bag with passport and extra cash .We have all the things we are likely to need for the day’s cycling in our saddlebags. We also carry phone, camera, binoculars, glasses and wallet in the pockets of the saddlebag. If we wish, we can leave all the other kit at a hotel or in the tent and go for a day ride, without having to extensively re-pack. Total 5Kg
Our rear panniers carry our share of heavier tools and spares, food, cooker, tent, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, yet more clothes inc. down jacket, which doubles as a pillow and hopefully, some wine! Total 14Kg
Grand total 26Kg. This is the set up you can see Fiona and me using in the Nomad brochure on pages 3 and 15. There is no need to carry too much food but we always carry a whole day’s rations in addition to what we plan to eat that day. When the bikes are set up like this, I believe that they will out handle any racing bike or mountain bike!
Best regards,
Andy B.
Something that really caught my eye as useful and appealing is Andy and Fiona's inclusion of clothing and footwear appropriate to off-bike use and for attending cultural events. If the bike is used for a "balanced holiday" of touring, one doesn't always wish to look like a cyclist off the bike! Touring is *supposed* to be fun; not all wish to Adventure Tour in the most extreme of climates and locales, and even for those who do, the variety of an occasional break in routine is welcome. And nearly everyone will agree...carrying less weight is a whole lot more fun. Besides, a bike designed to handle maximum loads provides an extra margin of security at something less than maximum carriage.
I (Dan) have made some graphics that show how Andy and Fiona distribute the two kinds of loads described above, and attached them below.
Best,
Dan.
