THE TOURING CORNER: Self Supported Touring

The title for this week’s topic conjures up what many people think of when hearing the words “bicycle touring.”  Also known as “Loaded Touring,” and sometimes as “roll your own,” or even “heavy touring,” this style is about traveling by bike and carrying all you need with you.  The “loaded touring bike” is the Winnebago of the bicycle world. 

            Before we delve any deeper into this, a quick digression is in order.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do a “pure” kind of any type of touring.  I know light tourists and credit card types who pack abit for emergencies, and every “self supporter” I’ve ever known has confessed to the occasional hotel stay, or a bit of “couch surfing.”  The essence of touring is the tour, and the key skills and traits of any good tourist are improvisation and adaptability.

            So what is self-supported touring?  It’s about loading a suitable bike with all that’s needed to keep the bike running and provide for the tourist’s daily needs.  Think about that for a moment.  This is not a style that lends itself to racing type bikes.  The machine for this stuff is designed to carry loads.  Make that heavy loads!  Consider a list that includes only the top categories.

·      Tent

·      Sleeping bag

·      Sleeping pad

·      Cook stove and fuel

·      Camp dishes

·      Clothing

·      Tools

·      First Aid kit

·      Spare parts

·      Lights

·      Book, computer, or other writing equipment

·      Camera

Add in water and a bit of food, the racks and bags that support it all, and the load can easily be between 60 and 100 pounds.

There is an old saying, “You can do three things on a bicycle, Have fun, go fast, carry a lot of stuff.  Pick two.”  Self Supported touring is not about riding fast.  It’s about being out on the road, traveling, and being self-sufficient.  Loaded touring is essentially a trip from one campsite to another, repeated until the journey’s end.

      About the bike:  Touring bikes are built to be tough.  Start with a rugged strong frame.  That frame will have a lot of eyelets and attachment points.  It will be equipped with a driveling that has a lot of gears, and some seriously low ones.  (Think about climbing a mountain pass on a 70 to 100 pound bike.)  Wheels will be stout and built to be strong.  Tires will be wider and tougher.  The fit will put the rider in a more relaxed and upright position.  This is not a lightweight bike.  The basic machine, complete but without racks, fenders or other accessories, will probably weigh in around 30 to 35 pounds.  This isn’t an Arabian, it’s a Clydesdale.  But this beast will carry the rider a long, long way.

      Loaded, self-supported touring is not for everyone.  Loaded tourists tend to travel solo, or in very small groups.  Many folks would read the above and shudder.  But others will be drawn to the idea of traveling in solituted, relying on one’s own resourcefulness, and being the powerplant behind it all.  If the idea of covering ground on the open road, camping along the way, and providing for yourself as you travel sounds good, then you might want to do more investigating. 

Resource: Adventure Cycling