Too Light

While we at NRBC are all for rationally lightening the load to better one's bike-packing enjoyment, we do feel this can be carried too far.

Signs that you may have carried the lightening to excessive extremes include rationalizations along the lines of:

• "I'll carry a cell phone, instead of tools and repair parts." (No!)
• "I'll stay in hotels, and not need to carry a tent and sleeping bag." (No!)
• "I'll eat in restaurants, and not bring cooking gear." (No!)
• "I won't ride in the rain, so I can leave my rain gear at home." (No!)
• "I won't ride in the cold, so I won't need cold weather gear." (No!)
• "My wife will follow me in the car, so I don't need to carry anything except our TDF two-way radios." (No!)

The above examples are not self-supported touring efforts.

The chaps in England who wrote about "ultralight bicycle camping" way back in 1906 used 12 LB Kits, as noted in Horace Kephart's book Camping and Woodcraft. These keen cyclists were masters of the Utralight Touring, carrying a minimalist tent, sleeping and cooking gear in a small lightweight bundle that was easily packed and carried across great distances with reasonable comfort.

Now, Credit card touring is nothing new. It was done before credit cards were invented, by Thomas Stevens. But proper ultra-light touring, to our minds, is exemplified by leaving the salad fork at home, and packing the tube tent.

Our international cycle-touring, and ultra-light extremist, friend Igor, in the Republic of Slovenia advocates no stove and no cooking/eating utensils. He freely admits the weight savings decreases off-bike comfort and have no proven benefits, but his obsession is interesting. We rather like our way of doing things, and we try to make up for carrying less utensils by packing an extra fifth of brandy, a jar of olive tapenade and an assortment of fine cheeses.

Yet, Igor's slides & photos are awesome!

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

  North Road Bicycle Imports
  P.O. Box 840
  166 Courthouse Square
  Yanceyville NC  27379

  milesawhelen@mac.com or cyclestore@aol.com

  Local:
  919-828-8999
  or Toll free Nationwide 800-321-5511