Retrobike Touring.

[Chopper the ex Copper]

Re: Retro MTB Touring.

Damn fine. I'm not at all jealous!

 

[highlandsflyer]

Re: Retro MTB Touring.

A little update from me. After much deliberation I decided to take back the two Soloista tents and buy myself a Vango Banshee 200: http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-bansh ... tAodMSUAPA

A bit more expensive than the Soloista but believe me, in the long run it will be worth it. The Vango weighs a little more but when you think about the additional storage and cooking space provided by the two man tent over the smaller one man tent you soon see that it's worth spending more. The build quality is on another level altogether and the tent has an 'Outer First' erection process therefore the inner is kept dry during set up. This can be further enhanced by leaving the inner unit fitted so when the outer is popped up the inner is all ready to jump into. Imagine it's pouring with rain and all you have to do is throw the tent down and insert two poles to get shelter, perfect.

The other change to the standard kit is another quite extravagant investment. Again after much research I decided to buy a set or Ortlieb Back Roller Classic Panniers: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221243108470? ... 1439.l2649

The cheaper £8.50 panniers I bought for the initial 'Tight Budget' set up were 'Ok' on the day but were lacking in space and waterproofing. The Ortlieb's will last 10-20 years and will provide a great return on investment. They will also retain some value if re sold. Go look at the Ortlieb reviews, cracking kit if a little expensive.

Ok, that's it for now. I have another two day bike / camping / tour planned, this time it will follow the Trans Penning Train South to Chesterfield, then West to a campsite on the edge of the Peak District.

Over and Out.

Ha ha!

I guessed you would start showing symptoms of Gear Acquisition Syndrome once you got into it!

Highly addictive!

 

[Rob H]

Re: Retro MTB Touring.

I tend to stay in YHAs where I can find one or a B&B if there's none around. These days there's not much difference price wise between a hostel and a campsite and you can radically reduce the amount of kit / weight you have to carry / buy.

The other thing to consider is how you're going to carry your kit, panniers are fine on the road but I find they make the handelling a pig on technical decents and lifting it over styles etc is a killer. I prefer using a backpack and have just picked up a Lowe Alpine Air Pac to try and make things as comfortable as possible.

 

[RobMac]

Re: Retro MTB Touring.

Ok, Ok. I have booze, drugs, an old HGV tarp and a selecetion of eye watering early 80's porno mags.

What else do I need......

Nothing :shock:

 

[RobMac]

Re: Retro MTB Touring.

This thread really floats my boat, brilliant

 

[highlandsflyer]

Re: Retro MTB Touring.

I just spent a couple of hours yarning with a German tourist. He was on a 'girl's bike' so I pointed that out, and got into a conversation. Turns out that was his 'pub bike', and he had a Giant Sierra Nevada on the back of his camper.
http://www.onbikex.de/Fahrrad/Trekkingb ... 10658.html
Interesting bike.

He also has an XT600 with him on a 'air lift' trailer!

Talk about well equipped.

 

[RobMac]

Re: Retro MTB Touring.

I hate them Germans

 

[RobMac]

Re: Retro MTB Touring.

:shock: Holly sh#t that Giant Sierra Nevada is something else.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Re: Retro MTB Touring.

I will try and get a burnie on it and some pics, the dude is stuck here over the weekend waiting for a new tyre for his trailer. Tut tut! No spare wheel? So not that organised!

We took a quick spin round on 'motorised' bikes, he was pretty impressed with my old Funduro, but laughed at the fact people bought them thinking it was a proper BMW!

Cool guy, he is a semi retired engineer for VW, and comes to Scotland every other year to cycle and bike.

 

[Rob H]

Re: Retro MTB Touring.

Thinking about it you want to do it proper retro style with a mid 90s dome tent.