Adventure Cycling Association Forum
Bicycle Travel => Gear Talk => Topic started by: lilskipper on January 11, 2018, 02:37:11 pm
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New to long distance touring and before I buy a dedicated touring bike I would like to try it out using my trek madden rode bike. Can I load it with a handlebar bag and seat post bag and get along ok - any issue placing a seat post bag on a carbon seat post. The websites say ok for carbon seat posts but looking for member comments please.
Thanks in advance for taking the time to respond.
Tony
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It's fine. I've done it. As you say, just a saddle bag (like an Apidura) and a handlebar bag. Most of the weight of the saddle bag is on the saddle rails, not the seat post.
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I plan on a 6000 km bike tour this summer on a carbon bike using a saddle bag, small frame-bag and a handlebar-bag.
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I have toured on a light road bike and see no reason you shouldn't if you pack in a way that makes sense for that bike. Three approaches come to mind:
- Using a trailer with medium light to medium heavy gear. I have met quite a few folks happily going this route
- Packing ultralight with backpacking gear. I did the Southern Tier with 14 pounds of gear and was able to cook and camp comfortably. With a load like that you can not only get by with a light bike, but one is probably preferred. You can do as I did using a rack and strapping on the gear using just stuff sacks or you can use bike packing rack-less type bags. Another option would be one of those big seat bags like Carradice makes. A few folks like that route. My next trip, I plan to go rack-less.
- Credit card touring. Staying in hotels you could get by with just what you can carry in your jersey pockets, but would probably want a handlebar bag too. If you want to carry more you can add a seat bag.
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I've toured extensively with an off-the-shelf Trek Madone road bike. Upgraded the wheelset from Bontrager to Mavic but otherwise stock. I travel super light CC style with one medium saddle bag and a 2 Liter Camelback backpack....that's it. It's a good setup for covering high mileage. Bike has over 30,000 miles with no problems. Traveling with heavy panniers and other weight might be a bit much for my lightweight rig however.
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Carbon works well for touring. My best set up is with a Thule bike rack along with a handle bar bag. The Thule rack places the weight low on your bike and has 4 mounting locations. My seat bag was high on the bike; too small,and torqued my seat post too much. My bag has 3 compartments, enough space to carry your bring along needs.
First try it out with test rides to get comfortable with the strange load. The load of 15 pounds can weigh as much as your bike. Everything doesn’t work as efficient as no bags.
Go have some fun.