Mike, I've noticed that you've responded to several of the posters pertaining to your original post. I'm still, however, rather confused on what is the general type of tour that you're planning. With just a quick perusal of Google maps it doesn't appear to me that the Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams areas are in the vein of a "Vermont Country Tours" experience.
Are you planning on camping or staying at whatever lodging is available along your route? The type of tour really is going to determine what clothing and equipment you'll be packing, and as an obvious resultant whether this is a "light" tour or a more adventure cycling tour. If you're staying at commercial lodging you certainly can get by with around 20 pounds of "stuff" (clothing, raingear, repair kit, snack food, etc.). I corresponded, at one time, with Dr. Clifford Graves (the dean of American cyclotourists). For a Continental tour he strove to carry no more than 15 pounds in his bags (usually a medium handlebar bag, small panniers - mounted on the rear pannier rack of his Rene Herse along with a medium saddlebag). This was a guy who was a bon vivant and presented himself in appropriate clothing for an upscale hotel at the end of the day. Jim On Jun 26, 4:34 pm, Mike <mjawn...@gmail.com> wrote: > So I'm curious what constitutes light touring. I ask because in August > I'm doing a 7 day bike tour that will take in paved and unpaved roads > in and around Mt St Helens and Mt Adams. My initial plan was to use my > Surly Cross Check which I have no doubt about being able to handle the > load and terrain. But currently it's set-up as a single speed and I > kinda want to leave it as such. So I'm thinking about using my Hilsen. > Can the Hilsen handle a large Berthoud HB bag on a Mark's rack and > rear panniers and rack. I have Ortlieb Back Roller Cassics and a rear > Surly rack. I may even use small Ortlieb panniers as I'm trying to > pack light and only what is absolutely necessary. I really like the > way my Hilsen rides and it's a comfortable position. I imagine going > with the biggest tires possible takes some stress off the frame. Right > now the Hilsen is sporting Panaracer 700x35 T-Serves (Paselas > basically). I guess I should add that I weigh just under 200lbs. My > Hilsen is a 63cm. > > I also have some concern about the stopping power of the Silver > brakes. > > I imagine that the Hilsen is probably a sturdier bike with better > brakes than many of the bikes marketed in the 70s as loaded touring > bikes. > > What do you think? > > --Mike --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
