czn's bike odyssey

Wicked. Good luck, it'll be amazing.

thanks mark, I'm super psyched... I am so unfit at the moment and this is probably a really bad idea but I need some time to clear my head and I think this is a good way to do it... a bit of wild camping, some wild swimming, late summer... the scottish wilds. exciting!!

Do try and get a core level of fitness over the next month as it'll make it so much funner.

this sounds totally dreamy

yes sounds like an awesome way to spend an august

Is everyone taking a Cozen-style holiday? This place is dead!

Czn, please post pics of your bike and stuff!

sorry thread, I've been neglecting you!!! update: I have started up running again (only 3kms but it's a start) to try increase core fitness. was planning on using my current bike for the odyssey but have decided to take the plunge on a tourer. have been offered a dawes galaxy with panniers & converted to drop bars for just under £200, which looking on the web seems like a good deal. either way, it'll be good value cos I'll use it for commuting, gadding about etc eventually also

current plan has changed from going the cowal peninsula route; going to start by taking the train to mallaig and visiting the most remote pub in britain (inverie; accessible only by boat or a 16 mile hike); following that my bike trip will begin in earnest hopefully... though I've still to properly plot a route : )

haven't set eyes on the bike just yet but hopefully it's as gorgeous as this

http://oxford.gumtree.com/posting_images/27/23769827__1210621381__1__1-ee6d8679ef87d626e8479902cb4e2e07.__big__.jpg

need to fetch from home: tent, sleeping bag, waterproof trousers, touring map of scotland, torch, other such camping necessities.

great e-mail just received from the dudes I'm buying my bike from:

The Galaxy we have is an old bike and will not take the modern and preferable low rider front racks. If you can get all you need into rear panniers and a handlebar bag, which is possible, then it would be fine.
A converted hybrid will be more as more new bits are needed, including the front rack itself. It is possible to get clamp-on low riders, but they can twist into the wheel, which is very bad, which is why you need something with special fittings.
As for camping gear, Argos do a quite good one man tent for £50, the Scout shop does Vango sleeping bags and mats for less than some shops. These 3 items constitute the bulk of your kit, and will fit in a large rear pannier with room to spare, leaving the other one for clothes, cooking equipment etc.
The handlebar bag will hold maps, camera, phone, snacks etc.
the secret of successful cycle touring is not to take too much. These people you see with 4 panniers, big backs on the top of the rack and a trailer are silly.
If you are taking a bigger tent, then it can be split between members of the party and the poles strapped to the top tube of the bike.
I hope this helps. I take it you are new to all this?

Neil

I liked my super galaxy before it was nicked.

I like 4 pannier a lot it provides a bit more balance and it doesn't feel like you are going to topple backwards going up hill. A high rider front rack is not bad (I had one on the galaxy) and it enabled the storing of biscuits in the top of a front pannier for easy access in the saddle. It raises the weight a little. Your dude is OTM about not needing to pack too much, but I would rather spread the weight through 4 panniers than load it all on the back.