TA 4 all the piccys but i see its all big ally panniers..... how about 2 side vario panniers then??
we just came back from a weekend trip to central swiss (had a nice time except for having to stop on an off camber and tipping the bike over
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anyway we took some clothes/ shoes 4 the evening and some wash stuff etc and didnt have a lot of space left... will have to think carefully if its a longer trip - and we stayed in ahotel.
a waterproof bag in the rear rack may be the may i think.
OK
I spent two months away on a 1200 GS, with vario panniers (no top box) and three weeks away with on a Blackbird with no panniers at all. OK, I was solo but it could have been done two up, just as well.
Here is how to do it:
Clothes. You are probaly not going to meet royalty, so forget umpteen changes and loads of shoes. On the bike I now use cycling t-shirts or long sleeve gear. They dry in seconds. Pricey, sometimes, but they work and last a long time.
Get clothes that can double up. A fleece you can wear in the evening or if it's cold, on your bike. A lightweight rain top, similar.
Buy street clothes that do not need ironing / do not crease. OK, they sometimes cost a few quid more but they work. M & S and other High Street shops are attacking the market, so there are deals out there. Roll them, if possible, do not fold. Eagle Creek bags are not cheap, but they make a great job of packing stuff, keeping it small but organised. I have had mine for over 10 years, still as good as new.
There is a huge range of quite decent clothing available that looks good enough for most occasions. Trousers that zip apart into shorts etc. I usually assume on that I MIGHT have to appear in front of the police or in a court, whilst away....or (more likely) sit in a restaurant with other, civilised, people. Sleeveless, singlet, cotton vests are NEVER attractive on a bloke, nor is a grubby T-shirt advertising I of M TT 1977 (WHEN IT MIGHT HAVE FITTED). Nor, more importantly, do they dry quickly when washed.
Wash stuff while you are away and hang it to dry. Most modern non-crease / non-iron fabrics will dry before you can hang them out. Most decent towns have a laundrette, or use a basin and soap concentrate. 30 minutes later, job done. Or use a service wash for a couple of quid, whilst you see the town or enjoy lunch. Many hotels and campsites, even cheap ones, have a laundry service or washing machines. Or beg the use of the owner’s wash tub......it’s all part of the fun.
Deck shoes are great. Smart enough for most restaurants and reasonably tough / squash flat.
Tent. You do not need a massive one. If it’s lashing down, keep all your gear in the panniers, where it will keep dry. The chief problem with a tent is often the length of the poles, when packed. Buy / fabricate your own poles, using the kits that are available in most camping and outdoor shops. Six inch nails, just a few, to go into hard ground; chuck the useless cheap tent pegs away.
Airbed. Cheap blow-up mattresses often pack up smaller than a mat. They can puncture, though. Get a cheap repair kit or use gaffa tape. If the rip is really bad, buy another in the myriad of Continental supermarkets.
Sleeping bag. If you are camping in summer, you do not need a four seasons, north col of Everest, 24,000 feet up, bag. Get one that packs up small. It may be expensive but worth every penny. A silk liner works wonders. If you are really worried, a Gortex bivvy bag.
Cooking. How much do you plan on doing, really? Two Pocket rockets will do. Eat in a restaurant or cafe, it’s really not expensive most of the time. Lunch? Supermarket, bread rolls, knife, cheese, ham, tomatoes, fruit, whatever. Get a small chopping board, not least it saves cut hands. Use food twice. For example, I sometimes used to fry some sausages in the evening, then have two cold with a bit of salad and bread for lunch. Boil in the bag rice, in the evening, a bit left over, chop up a pepper into tiny cubes, shove it in a zip bag or Tupperware....rice salad, in a second. Hard boil an egg.
Electrical stuff. We live in a charger world. But they are often different and all bulky. Look for an I-go or one of the other gizzmo chargers. Money very well spent.
Look at a few bicycling or mountaineering sites. These fellows (nutters many of them) know what they are doing.....
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, foldout table, picknik rug type thing and 2/3 man tent.
