One that I consider a semi-mistake, but I plan to keep doing it from time to time: bring a ridiculously expensive bike and spend half of your trip worrying that it might get stolen.
@@No_Name_for_y which tent is that? just bought a supersix evo SE and literally can't sleep because i worry. i would totally pack a larger tent for the bike
If it’s right by you, can you not cover it, chain it to a tree or similar and stick an alarm on it? Only a suggestion. I’m a noob and wondering about these things myself.
Being someone who enjoys sleeping with earplugs on, i support this :) I hammock back and i lay it on the ground just bellow me, attaching magician's wire from it to my wrist, so if anyone even touches it I'll wake up. I've thought about setting up a perimeter with it instead but that takes a lot longer, and this works fine. I've woken up to a fox sniffing my pack for food 😂
On my first bike-camping trip, my buddy gave me grief for packing a can of baked beans and fresh avocados. Yes, this made for a heavier kit. At dinner, as he rehydrated his food, I was eating a delicious meal. LOL. But that was not the teachable point of this trip. My buddy broke his chain twice on that trip and neither of us had a chain tool. Removing the failed links and reconnecting the chain, each time took considerable finagling. The next day, I invested in a multitool with a chain tool and squirrelled away some extra links in my kit.
Great video - and a list of things I've been aware of and tried to avoid doing, with some (but far from complete) success. Another thing I'd add to the list is riding past something useful (bike shop, convenience store, petrol station shop etc) with the thought your needs aren't urgent and you'll get to another one soon. No. You. Won't. You. Do. Need. To. Stop.
For me, the biggest mistake is setting expectations. Don't. Just don't do it. Head off on the trip open to all the experiences it may bring you, but don't expect anything from it before you begin.
Great video! Underestimating distances abroad is so familiar haha. One I can add is that I put all the weight high on my bike (full big saddle bag, top tube bag and handlebar bag), which negatively effected the handling on my gravel bike. Next time i will buy a fork bag to make the saddle bag lighter, and mount an Elite VIP cage mount under my toptube near the bottom bracket, again to put the weight in a lower position. Switching to Restrap bags will also save me nearly 500g just on the (empty) bags themselves!
We've used our Fork Bags on a 3 week tour in the US, and they were great for boosting capacity while keeping the weight down. Almost like small panniers.
Good tips. Thanks subbed 👍🏼 New to all this. Trying to improve my health. Got a Dutch style hybrid for now. Loving it so much, I’m thinking of keeping the bike I now have for local shopping and short trips, and getting myself a touring bike with some off-road capability for a bit of wild camping, that’s able to do hills as best as possible with a reasonable load. I’m learning so much, so I think I’m right in thinking that will have something to do with the gears and cassette etc… I might even become a bit of a bike nerd in the not too distant future 🤓
Yep done most of those at some time. This week I should have been off on a 250 mile circuit but this being the first time out since covid I was totally overloaded and under prepared physically and more importantly mentally. Due to 3 years + of full on working and little if any time off (self employed bike mechanic) I just have not done much mileage. Usually I'm fine and get fitter as I go day after daybut 3 miles on, mostly uphill and I stopped for a cup of tea them wussed out. I will go back to basics and get the hammock out for some single night minimist trips to get my head working again and semi retirement is beckoning I think . 😎
@@Restrapltd I've never done 100 miles yet, 93 is my longest (when I was much fitter) and that was with full camping kit and knobblies. I'm going to get the hammock out and start building up again, cheers.
I'm definitely guilty of overpacking, especially when it comes to an overnighter. I end up taking enough kit to survive the apocalypse, should it occur when I'm all of 10 miles from home! P.S. when is Restrap bringing out their new 100 litre saddlebag? 😂
I occasionally overpack. I do some weekend trips like mini-expeditions, just as a way to get the feel of how riding with all the stuff you would need for a trip in a really remote area where villages could be days apart would feel.
What are your views on panniers? I rode to Southern Italy and had front and rear panniers, but I am thinking about loading all my gear on the bike rack for when I cross into Africa. I am unsure about weight displacement though.
Hi Aled, Panniers are great for longer, more self sufficient touring, and carrying a load of kit for a big tour. You will need to bear in mind where the weight is placed on the bike though for sure. If you're using two panniers, front loading will make your bike feel a little more balanced overall, but rear loading tends to allow you to pack a little more (as clearance to the road isn't as much of an issue). Hope this helps!
It does, thank you, and I guess it is all about personal preference. I am being mindfull not to overload the rear tyre. I tried a few days and loved having all the weight onnthe rea because it help me relax my hands and arms while cycling.
I wouldn't go with front first for two panniers. Weight really affects the steering so it's back first every time. I've seen loads of guys with that silly caterpillar bag pointing into the sky from the seat post. I mean, there's hardly any gear and the weight is way too high. Two panniers on the rear every time, and then add two on the front if you need extra space. Much better for space, weight distribution and overall management of your gear.
A great hack in terms of price, weight and efficiency for insulation from the floor when sleeping is a car’s windscreen shield. When sleeping in a tent, you loose so much heat to the ground without proper insulation. A sleeping bag with really low temp rating is no match for a cold floor.
I ain’t gonna count the first one as a tip, haha. “Don’t overpack, but don’t underpack” reminds me of the advice I was given by a chess player: “Always play the best possible move, even if it’s not immediately obvious”. It’s kind of a blank canvas.
I see what you mean - essentially we're stressing the point that both ends of the spectrum can hinder your tour. For example, you might be so used to small overnighters - you'll need to think of a new strategy if you're planning on a trip that lasts 2-3 weeks.
I got caught out riding in northern France and on a Sunday nothing was open. Man cannot survive on gels, power bars and water alone - we need coffee and cake. So check on the local patterns and don't assume that everywhere is like here.
About the the first tip - if you're just going away for the weekend, unless tou already have the gear or you're really in it for the camping and solitude, just get a hotel/hostel. You'll have way less weight so more fun and mileage, less expenses in total (unless you really like it and do many microtours per year)
All pretty obvious but still important to emphasise. The one I might challenge is the trial run. On most tours I only get into it after 2 or 3 days when everything has settled down and I'm into the routine. So the problem with just going for a weekend before is that it doesn't really reflect what you'll experience on the full tour. I prefer to go for individual day rides on the loaded bike, to make sure the equipment is holding up and also to get me used to the weight and balance.
The plus of a trial run, just a couple of nights, is that you'll learn what you wish you had brought (What? I forgot a corkscrew?) versus bringing really silly things like two pairs of flip flops.
We know - Jon was complaining about how noisey his back wheel was because his bike maintenance skills are terrible. In this clip we stopped to laugh at him and record his frustration. 😉
Hello, that k you for the video what bags or kind of bags would you recommend for a long trip around the world? I don't want something to heavy as you say. Could you recommend me something?
Most decent bags last a long time. Ortileb is a weird design which you need to be comfortable with. I prefer a flap to a roll top, can get much more in and manage it better, which is very important on the road. Ortileb are also very expensive and I don't really see what extra you get. But it's personal preference.
Bring less, pack well in a single pannier or two at most. So there will be no need to buy a top tube bag, a handle bar bag, a fork bag and a saddle bag. Bikepacking is the cure for the cycling industry that have been looking for new ways to sell us since decades because old school cycle touring equipment get old very late or just never get broken.
Tbh I think most of the mistakes you've mentioned are very basic and what can really come down to not being a regular rider. Use you're bike daily or at least every week so you are ready to ride longer. If you're sedentary then suddenly hit to pedals young or old you're an idiot. Youth is a basis for acting a dick and not do things right, which is far cooler.
Can anyone explain to me the reason for this current youtube convention of holding your fingers up every time you say a number? Are we learning how to count or something?
One that I consider a semi-mistake, but I plan to keep doing it from time to time: bring a ridiculously expensive bike and spend half of your trip worrying that it might get stolen.
Yeah. Thats me. 3000€ Rose Backroad Carbon. I have a 2 Person tent to put it in there, while im sleeping😂
@@No_Name_for_y which tent is that? just bought a supersix evo SE and literally can't sleep because i worry. i would totally pack a larger tent for the bike
If it’s right by you, can you not cover it, chain it to a tree or similar and stick an alarm on it? Only a suggestion. I’m a noob and wondering about these things myself.
Being someone who enjoys sleeping with earplugs on, i support this :)
I hammock back and i lay it on the ground just bellow me, attaching magician's wire from it to my wrist, so if anyone even touches it I'll wake up. I've thought about setting up a perimeter with it instead but that takes a lot longer, and this works fine. I've woken up to a fox sniffing my pack for food 😂
Topeak has a water bottle cage with Apple’s AirTag mount, I think that’s something you guys need.
Love how this video starts with "ey up"
Fantastic video. So refreshing to hear someone from the UK
LOL!!! I love how in the beginning of the video with all the huge bags, umbrella and water pitcher or whatever that was LOL!!!
On my first bike-camping trip, my buddy gave me grief for packing a can of baked beans and fresh avocados. Yes, this made for a heavier kit. At dinner, as he rehydrated his food, I was eating a delicious meal. LOL. But that was not the teachable point of this trip. My buddy broke his chain twice on that trip and neither of us had a chain tool. Removing the failed links and reconnecting the chain, each time took considerable finagling. The next day, I invested in a multitool with a chain tool and squirrelled away some extra links in my kit.
Great video - and a list of things I've been aware of and tried to avoid doing, with some (but far from complete) success. Another thing I'd add to the list is riding past something useful (bike shop, convenience store, petrol station shop etc) with the thought your needs aren't urgent and you'll get to another one soon.
No. You. Won't.
You. Do. Need. To. Stop.
For me, the biggest mistake is setting expectations. Don't. Just don't do it. Head off on the trip open to all the experiences it may bring you, but don't expect anything from it before you begin.
Great video! Underestimating distances abroad is so familiar haha.
One I can add is that I put all the weight high on my bike (full big saddle bag, top tube bag and handlebar bag), which negatively effected the handling on my gravel bike. Next time i will buy a fork bag to make the saddle bag lighter, and mount an Elite VIP cage mount under my toptube near the bottom bracket, again to put the weight in a lower position. Switching to Restrap bags will also save me nearly 500g just on the (empty) bags themselves!
We've used our Fork Bags on a 3 week tour in the US, and they were great for boosting capacity while keeping the weight down. Almost like small panniers.
Great info that should be followed
Good tips. Thanks subbed 👍🏼 New to all this. Trying to improve my health. Got a Dutch style hybrid for now. Loving it so much, I’m thinking of keeping the bike I now have for local shopping and short trips, and getting myself a touring bike with some off-road capability for a bit of wild camping, that’s able to do hills as best as possible with a reasonable load. I’m learning so much, so I think I’m right in thinking that will have something to do with the gears and cassette etc… I might even become a bit of a bike nerd in the not too distant future 🤓
This was so entertaining 😂😂😂
"Ey up" is so much better than 'What's up?' Class!
Yep done most of those at some time. This week I should have been off on a 250 mile circuit but this being the first time out since covid I was totally overloaded and under prepared physically and more importantly mentally. Due to 3 years + of full on working and little if any time off (self employed bike mechanic) I just have not done much mileage. Usually I'm fine and get fitter as I go day after daybut 3 miles on, mostly uphill and I stopped for a cup of tea them wussed out. I will go back to basics and get the hammock out for some single night minimist trips to get my head working again and semi retirement is beckoning I think . 😎
Make sure you enter our Solstice Century challenge - restrap.com/solstice
@@Restrapltd I've never done 100 miles yet, 93 is my longest (when I was much fitter) and that was with full camping kit and knobblies. I'm going to get the hammock out and start building up again, cheers.
I'm definitely guilty of overpacking, especially when it comes to an overnighter. I end up taking enough kit to survive the apocalypse, should it occur when I'm all of 10 miles from home! P.S. when is Restrap bringing out their new 100 litre saddlebag? 😂
I occasionally overpack. I do some weekend trips like mini-expeditions, just as a way to get the feel of how riding with all the stuff you would need for a trip in a really remote area where villages could be days apart would feel.
Yeah I wish I could pack light.
thanks for advices guys 😂
Great stuff
Awesome info
What are your views on panniers? I rode to Southern Italy and had front and rear panniers, but I am thinking about loading all my gear on the bike rack for when I cross into Africa. I am unsure about weight displacement though.
Hi Aled, Panniers are great for longer, more self sufficient touring, and carrying a load of kit for a big tour. You will need to bear in mind where the weight is placed on the bike though for sure. If you're using two panniers, front loading will make your bike feel a little more balanced overall, but rear loading tends to allow you to pack a little more (as clearance to the road isn't as much of an issue). Hope this helps!
It does, thank you, and I guess it is all about personal preference. I am being mindfull not to overload the rear tyre. I tried a few days and loved having all the weight onnthe rea because it help me relax my hands and arms while cycling.
I wouldn't go with front first for two panniers. Weight really affects the steering so it's back first every time.
I've seen loads of guys with that silly caterpillar bag pointing into the sky from the seat post. I mean, there's hardly any gear and the weight is way too high. Two panniers on the rear every time, and then add two on the front if you need extra space. Much better for space, weight distribution and overall management of your gear.
Great vid! I have definitely made all these mistakes. Question: what tent is that red one?
A great hack in terms of price, weight and efficiency for insulation from the floor when sleeping is a car’s windscreen shield. When sleeping in a tent, you loose so much heat to the ground without proper insulation. A sleeping bag with really low temp rating is no match for a cold floor.
I ain’t gonna count the first one as a tip, haha. “Don’t overpack, but don’t underpack” reminds me of the advice I was given by a chess player: “Always play the best possible move, even if it’s not immediately obvious”. It’s kind of a blank canvas.
I see what you mean - essentially we're stressing the point that both ends of the spectrum can hinder your tour.
For example, you might be so used to small overnighters - you'll need to think of a new strategy if you're planning on a trip that lasts 2-3 weeks.
It's actually 2 tips for the price of 1!
Back from 1,300ks in Scotland....HUGE issue with minimal bike transport on trains, and this has become horrid since 1988 (my 1st trip) !!!
Beautiful stavanger
I got caught out riding in northern France and on a Sunday nothing was open. Man cannot survive on gels, power bars and water alone - we need coffee and cake. So check on the local patterns and don't assume that everywhere is like here.
can you mount 1.6 foot height 40pounds bag on rear seat?
Hi, you should have a look into our 18L saddle bag, which you can find on our store: restrap.com
@@Restrapltd I noticed that you do not have bag designed to be mounted on top of the rear wheel
About the the first tip - if you're just going away for the weekend, unless tou already have the gear or you're really in it for the camping and solitude, just get a hotel/hostel. You'll have way less weight so more fun and mileage, less expenses in total (unless you really like it and do many microtours per year)
All pretty obvious but still important to emphasise.
The one I might challenge is the trial run. On most tours I only get into it after 2 or 3 days when everything has settled down and I'm into the routine. So the problem with just going for a weekend before is that it doesn't really reflect what you'll experience on the full tour. I prefer to go for individual day rides on the loaded bike, to make sure the equipment is holding up and also to get me used to the weight and balance.
The plus of a trial run, just a couple of nights, is that you'll learn what you wish you had brought (What? I forgot a corkscrew?) versus bringing really silly things like two pairs of flip flops.
@@jimmccorison But you won't use everything in two days so you won't know what you actually need or not, which is my original point.
LoL, you crack me up!
Make/model of the front rack?
The rack used in this video is a Pelago Commuter Rack :)
I love my Trangia UL-35, would not go for MSR multifuel stove, too heavy!!
Some of the multi fuel MSRs are lighter. And even 100gm either way is irrelevant on a 20/25kg full load. Weird comment.
What’s that app called for planning your ride?
We use Komoot for planning our rides :)
what front rack is that?
This is a Pelago Commuter front rack :)
Sram has an umbrella?? I want a T-Mobile garden spade.
It's to keep your groupset dry
5:10 your spokes are undertensioned
We know - Jon was complaining about how noisey his back wheel was because his bike maintenance skills are terrible. In this clip we stopped to laugh at him and record his frustration. 😉
Hello, that k you for the video what bags or kind of bags would you recommend for a long trip around the world? I don't want something to heavy as you say. Could you recommend me something?
In terms of durability I'd recommend Ortlieb bags
Most decent bags last a long time. Ortileb is a weird design which you need to be comfortable with. I prefer a flap to a roll top, can get much more in and manage it better, which is very important on the road. Ortileb are also very expensive and I don't really see what extra you get. But it's personal preference.
Top # 6 mistake, the wrong handle bars on your touring bike. Pull bars and racing handle bars= sore back muscles soon enough.
Yeah drop bars for touring is insane.
👍🤣
Bring less, pack well in a single pannier or two at most. So there will be no need to buy a top tube bag, a handle bar bag, a fork bag and a saddle bag. Bikepacking is the cure for the cycling industry that have been looking for new ways to sell us since decades because old school cycle touring equipment get old very late or just never get broken.
Depends how you like to distribute your weight across the bike. Different strokes for different folks :)
Bikepacking is touring with less gear. It really isn't a new or radical concept.
200 quid bike is good investment
Any bike is a good investment!
Tbh I think most of the mistakes you've mentioned are very basic and what can really come down to not being a regular rider. Use you're bike daily or at least every week so you are ready to ride longer. If you're sedentary then suddenly hit to pedals young or old you're an idiot. Youth is a basis for acting a dick and not do things right, which is far cooler.
Mistake number 1 - not wearig a helmet.
Can anyone explain to me the reason for this current youtube convention of holding your fingers up every time you say a number? Are we learning how to count or something?
Yeah, it's called having a laugh.
Overacting bro!.