Touring...or 'bikepacking'?

[HobbesOnTour]

I intensely dislike any topic that seeks to seperate or categorise people, especially in a cycling touring forum, however it's good to see this thread meandering along in a friendly tone. On other fora this exact topic has become as divisive as helmets or high viz discussions!

For anyone seeking inspiration not just for gear, but bikes as well, I recommend
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1mr&doc_id=8000&v=4pL

Broken down by type (recumbents and trikes included! But no e-bikes - a long and painful story) and brand, as well as being international, it is a pictorial exploration of what other people use to tour.
If you come across an interesting picture it's easy enough to track down that person's adventures.

Years ago, for me, it was a great source of inspiration when the idea of packing up a bike and heading away was a terrifying (and incredibly expensive) prospect.😊

 

[Cathryn]

I LOVE Crazyguy - we have several trip reports on there and, every now and again, I go and reread them. Such a great place for inspiration.

 

[Oldhippy]

I do like his yearly 'Best touring bikes for xxx budget'.

 

[Oldhippy]

Slight divergence but still on topic. Cameras, with the advent of posh phones what people's thought on recording adventures? I don't do the social media thing and like to my photos get better over time but phone or proper camera? Which is best?

 

[Blue Hills]

Record less, experience more.
If you want to take pics, a cheap mobile is fine.

 

[FaustoCoppi]

[/QUOTE
I need sheet 573 😉

Sorry @FaustoCoppi

i have it - but unwilling to relinquish - i'm not done with that part of the world just yet - not by a long shot ...

I didn’t expect you to 😄 I’ll get one from a charity shop or t’internet!

 

[mudsticks]

I can't resist buying from Stanfords.

You can probs buy cheaper, but they've got such a range, and you can look through all the places of fantasy that might be travelled through one day.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

Slight divergence but still on topic. Cameras, with the advent of posh phones what people's thought on recording adventures? I don't do the social media thing and like to my photos get better over time but phone or proper camera? Which is best?

Probably worth starting a thread for this topic?
In any case, I use my cheapy Chinese Android phone and a simple point and click Lumix camera, chosen because it uses regular batteries.

I did invest in a bigger, better camera but between all the padding it needed and the sheer volume of it in my bar bag, I found it took up too much space and was really awkward to remove and repack, resulting in fewer shots. So I dropped it.

An advantage of using a phone for me is that the photos connect seamlessly with Strava/RWGPS for recording a day's ride.
Similarly, photos are automatically backed up to whatever online service I want, once I have wifi (not all cameras can do this).
Also, each photo is automatically "placed" by gps which is fantastic years after the time.
However, if you're using your phone a lot - navigation etc. then you may run into battery issues.
In bright sun the screen may be all but invisible.
The zoom function is probably not as good as a camera.
And a phone may not be as useful in foul weather.

Having said all that, I use the camera on my phone for all kinds of things other than taking "pictures" from photos of maps, wifi passwords, documents, passport, visas etc. Great to have on a phone. Once backed up, they will be accessible if I ever lose my phone.

 

[mudsticks]

Slight divergence but still on topic. Cameras, with the advent of posh phones what people's thought on recording adventures? I don't do the social media thing and like to my photos get better over time but phone or proper camera? Which is best?

I mostly use my phone for pics when biking, I do have a nice compact digital too, but mostly just use that when hiking.

I find it hard to stop so often to take photos when cycling anyway, so it doesn't seem worth the extra weight of a 'proper' camera. .

I know some people use a go pro, but I'm not sure I can be bothered to learn how to use, one

Nor what I'd do with the film.

I occasionally write up trips on my blog, but don't use u tube, or do strava.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

I LOVE Crazyguy - we have several trip reports on there and, every now and again, I go and reread them. Such a great place for inspiration.

Care to give us a linky?

 

[Cathryn]

Care to give us a linky?

This was our 'big' trip - we're starting to dream about recreating it in a few years when our son is a little older (he's just 11 now).

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1mr&doc_id=2820&v=oa

 

[iandg]

Oooh intrigue..

I'm desperate to join now.

Just to find out what the deal is

It's just a bit 'slow'

 

[iandg]

No absolutely not true . You MUST have a Dawes Galaxy to cycle tour . Everyone knows that.

Surly you mean a Long Haul Trucker?

 

[chriswoody]

I have a Dawes Super Galaxy, here it is on a mountain in bike packing, touring, whatever you want to call it mode!

 

[Tripster]

I like this thread. I always thought bikepacking was the yoof’s trendy name for ‘back-packing‘ on a bike. I now see it as touring but fast paced on any bike not necessarily a touring specific bike.
I recently bought a Mason and their ethos of ‘faster, Further’ supports this theory but they have bike packing bikes with multi mounting points, racks and designed for minimalist multi day rides. So their bikes are touring specific, but minimalist.
Edit:Pic below is Josh Ibbett, Mason Sponsored cyclist with bikepacking ‘In-search-of’ bike