Tips for Travel
Nothing can prepare you for road touring like an actual trip. However, here are some favorite tips and tricks for the road offered by experienced tourists you might want to consider.
Food
Keep plenty of space in your bags for shopping - food for a nice dinner can be surprisingly bulky.
You can make a pot cozy by cementing together pieces of a blue foam sleeping pad. Instead of wasting fuel simmering food like pasta, bring it to a boil then set the pot in the cozy so its completely contained within. The cozy will maintain the temperature and the food will cook as if you were simmering.
Mix oatmeal with brown sugar, dried fruit and powdered milk. When mixed with water hot or cold this makes a good breakfast or emergency food.
One thing to take if you are going to carry food is pita bread. Don't worry about it getting squashed. Flour tortillas also pack well.
Always hang ALL your food in trees if there is the remotest possibilty of bears in the area, and especially if is raining. Animals tend to have a keener sense of smell when it rains.
One way to keep your water tasting good is to squeeze just a little bit of fresh lemon juice into your bottle. You don't need much to get the desired taste and it is especially good for those of you who don't like drinking water. Adds a bit of an edge, while keeping the water bottle fresh.
Skip the dishes all together! Most all of the single serving oatmeal packets or granola packets are wax or foil lined, you can pour boiling hot or cold fluids in them and eat right out of the bag. This trick saves lots of time and feels good on your hands on cold mornings.
Always cook outside your tent (nylon is very flammable). If it's raining, put the stove under the fly but outside the tent itself.
Maintenance / Repair
Use a small cut-down length of spoke with a hook formed at one end as a chain-lifter for when the chain derails.
Carry an over-long spoke when on tour. In the advent of a spoke breaking on the drive side, cut off the end, form a hook which can be hooked through the hub and threaded up to the rim. Tension and if overlong cut down to size so that it doesn't protude through the rim tape.
Wrap a yard or two of duct tape (or electrical tape) around a film canister, pill box, or something similar. Tape is great for temporary repairs/spontaneous construction projects.
Carry an old toothbrush for cleaning the chain.
Before touring with an all-in-one tool like the Topeak Alien or Crank Brothers Multi, make sure you can effectively use the individual tools. Some of these mini-behemoths are awkward to handle. My toolkit now contains only one multi-purpose tool: a Park Tool hex wrench set that I can use easily. Everything else is a single-purpose tool (needle nose pliers, tire irons, etc.)
An old sock in the under seat wedge cramed with tools keeps them quiet & keeps the hand clean when grabbing the chain for a flat fix.
Always carry a bundle of zip ties (or some call them cable ties) with you wherever you go. You'll never know how useful these things can be until you are in need of them!
Take a couple pairs of latex gloves with you so your hands stay clean when doing repairs and adjustments. Your handlebars will also like you for it. When you are done with them, take them off inside out and reuse them.
Packing
Always carry a good map of the larger region you're travelling in. If you get lost, the route map you've got may not help.
Pointy metal objects (such as mini tripods for a camera) should not be stored loose in a pannnier packet. They bounce up and down and wear a hole through the material.
Instead of folding and refolding large maps to squeeze into a map case, make a copy of the map and cut it into pieces with scissors - only use the section you need. Smaller sections are easier to deal with, especially when it is breezy.
A sarong is a wonderful thing! It is small and light so it doesn't take up much room or add to the weight of the load very much and yet ... it can be used as a piece of clothing, as a pillow, as a blanket, and as a towel. It's very versatile!
A Space Blanket (emergency blanket) is a great thing to bring. It packs small and is tougher than a 2 dollar steak. It can be used as a wrapper over sleeping bag when it gets colder than Iexpected, as an emergency rain shelter or sun shade.
Use a canoeing "dry bag" to put your sleeping bag and other water-sensitive items in. These bags are relatively cheap, much stronger than garbage bags and can easily transform into laundry bags or shopping bags if needed.
Don't use bungee cords to secure stuff on your rear rack. Instead, use a bungee web. It's many times more versatile. You can always secure "one more thing" under it.
Old bike tire tubes make excellent bungee cords. Use them with the ends from worn out bungee cords - they don't lose their elasticity and they don't tear easily.
Camping
Rather than carrying a flashlight, use an LED helmet light. The helmet light is good if you end up riding after dark, and can also be used if you set up camp after dark. It frees up your hands so you can set up the tent quickly and easily, and cook your supper.
The inside of a pop can is fairly reflective and makes a great night time lantern. Cut a square hole in the side, cut small holes or X around the outside edge (for the 'star' effect), insert candle. Hang from a tree by the tab using bungee cord. I've done this for years.
Firestarting tip: Dip a cotton swab into vaseline, then put it in a ziploc bag. Repeat. When you have many in there, smoosh them so that the vaseline is spread out. To start your campfire, just put 4-5 cotton balls under your kindling wood and light them. They'll burn surprisingly long. No need for newspapers for starting the fire.
Practice putting your tent up before your trip.
The stuff sack from your sleeping bag stuffed with extra clothes makes a passable pillow.
Don't go into your tent with your shoes or wet clothes on - you'll track water or dirt (or both) and possibly damage the tent floor.
Organize your camp the same way every day/night. That way you'll be able to find things quickly when you need them. Also less chance of leaving things behind when you leave.
Leave no footprint - this is your ethical obligation.
Cleaning
You can give yourself a refreshing sponge bath almost anytime. Buy a refill size of unscented baby wipes. put them in baggies and add rubbing alcohol (optional) to each bag. They are great for quick cleanups after fixing the chain and other sanitary purposes too.
Wash your clothes in the sink (bring something along to stop the drain), wring them out, place a dry towel on the floor, put your article of clothing on the towel, roll it up completely, walk on the rolled towel, unroll, hang the garment, and you'll have dry clothes by morning! Ask for extra towels.
Instead of a towel or "camp towel," get a synthetic chamois in the auto department. Take it into the shower, rinse it out, hang it within reach, shower, use the chamois, wring it out (marvel at how much water it absorbed), and put it up wet. It packs into a small cylinder, packs well and doesn't need to dry out. You aren't going to be absolutely dry instantly, but in 30 sec you will be.
A single very small bottle of biodegradable soap will do for all soap needs. Be sure to empty any soapy water far away from camp and never into streams or lakes. Food smells left over from dishes could attract critters and detergent can harm wild fowl by dissolving the basic oils which allow them to float on water. If you wash in a lake, don't use soap (you might not really need it anyway - our bodies build up only a small amount of oil).
Making Stops
Bring small luggage straps to attach to your handlebar bag and Carradice bag so that they are easier to carry around grocery stores, bus/train stations, on hikes, etc.
A velcro strap about 8 inches long, can be used as a "parking brake" by wrapping it around your front brake lever and securing it to the bar. You can lean your loaded bike against any vertical surface, and it won't roll out from where you put it.
About 2-3 weeks before your trip, begin drinking three big glasses of Metamucil or some other fiber supplement every day. Stools will be firm, easy to pass and have little cleanup required afterward. This tends to offset the negative impact power bars and other carbs you consume while riding have. This is a big plus when stopping along the side of the road to do your business.
Fast food restaurants can be a good resource for more than just food. You can do a quick hair and body wash in the restroom in the off hours (and pick up a few sheets of extra toilet paper) and you can acquire up a supply of small prepackaged condiments for the evening meal.
On the Bike
If it seems that your front tire may have lost some air, stop immediately to check it without turning. Trying to turn on an underinflated tire can send you out of control.
One way to rest is to stop and sit a while. Another is to simply walk your bike - you're still moving, still expending calories, and really helping your body to continue the ride.
Health & Safety
Carry a tiny aerosol container of liquid bandage. After cleaning a wound, spray on a thin layer or two of liquid bandage. The resulting film is flexible, breathable, impervious to dirt, and easy to reapply.
When Good Trips Turn Bad...
Once you hit the road, there are a number of basic but typical potential problems which can wear you down and suck the fun right out of your big adventure. With good planning, you can eliminate most of them before you start. Even if you don't plan them out of the picture in advance, by being alert you can still diagnose your problem on the fly and adjust accordingly.
Too much auto traffic A heavy dose of traffic, particularly when combined with narrow shoulders, can create a lot of stress and reduce the joy factor considerably. When this happens, try to find alternative routes which bypass traffic, even if they are less direct and take more time. You'll enjoy the trip a whole lot more.
Time pressure Things can happen on tour which throw your schedule off. If you're too tightly locked in to a calendar, delays on the road will create a lot of stress for the duration of the trip, even cause you to bail out early and ruin your trip. Leave a little breathing space in your itinerary so you can rest or make side trips.
Failed or forgotten equipment Prepare and plan. Make sure all your gear is tripworthy and have contingency plans for vulnerable gear like tires. Note the bike shops near your route in case of emergency. Forgotten equipment is less critical, since you can always pick something on the road, but it can cause unwanted delays. Make a list and check it 30 or 40 times.
Too ambitious a route It's incredibly easy to overestimate your ability or underestimate the route. Be reasonable; don't try to see or do everything in one trip, and leave some breathing space in your itinerary - you'll appreciate it later.
Underestimating the effect of the added weight of equipment Twenty or thirty pounds may not seem like a big difference wheeling around the neighborhood on a test ride. But eight or ten hours a day, day after day, up hills, will wear on your legs and knees and could end up shortening your trip. Be aware that you will feel the difference, and plan accordingly. Where you carry the weight makes a difference, too - a heavily loaded handlebar bag will produce road shimmy, poor balance and rough handling. Use front and rear panniers.
Not planning walking time in your trip Your body needs not only rest during a tour, but "cross training" to use different muscles and stretch out the ones you've been using all day. An hour or so of walking over the course of a day is a great way to keep your riding muscles happy.
Not listening to your body Only racers need machismo. Touring is for the long haul, and your body will tell you when you need to tweak your routine. Don't try to do too much and don't ignore little problems - if you do, they'll turn into big ones.
Not eating and drinking right There is a great temptation on tour to drink too little and eat the wrong stuff. Getting dehydrated is the greatest danger, and this can stop you in your tracks and send you home early. But eating "right" is important, too. On the road, your body needs carbs, not fats and protien (which require a lot of energy to digest) - many riders eliminate meat entirely while they tour. But there's no universal diet - it varies from person to person and with the type of touring you're doing. If you're doing 40 miles a day on a supported tour with stops at good restaurants, fine food will be an important part of the experience. But if you're going all out on the road, watch what you eat. You can get helpful hints from others on-line, and eventually you'll learn just what your body wants from you in the way of nutrients on the road.
© 2010 | 2011 Bob Beach
