/out/ - Outdoors » Thread #105267

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Anonymous Fri 03 May 2013 14:11:27 No.105267 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By: >>105434

So my overweight 66 year old father has decided to tour all of Maryland this June. On a bike. He has never done anything like this before. He thinks all he needs is cash. I want to put together a kit
for him to carry in his saddle bag. I'm thinking:
>paracord (50ft x2)
> tarp(8'x10')
>iodine tabs
>steel canteen
>filter straw
>basic first aid kit
>fire kit
>some pouched/bagged food
>flare gun
>crank-dynamo radio
He always carries a razor-sharp folder & smart phone + spare battery
Any suggestions? Thnx in advance.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 May 2013 14:37:32 No.105285 Report

Quoted By:

Depends on how you want to bike tour?

If he wants to spend the cash then hotels would eliminate the need to carry anything besides a snack and water.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 May 2013 14:37:33 No.105286 Report

Quoted By: >>105304

>Too much paracord
>Tarp is a bad idea if he's never done it before. At that age, he should have the cash for a nice, light 1-person tent.
>flare gun and radio are probably overkill
>include a repair kit for the bike and make sure he knows how to fix stuff
>he'll need a good sleeping bag and inflatable sleeping pad
>fuel stove if it's too wet to start a fire without experience
>aluminum pot
>bear spray
>headlight
>glow sticks
>get him good luggage racks for both wheels and bike bags. An additional frame bag like in your pic is good too, if you can find one.
>Brooks leather saddle. This is probably the most important single piece of gear.
>GPS
>also include food that doesn't need to be cooked, get enough energy-rich stuff like trail mix and chocolate.

This is all assuming he plans to sleep outside. Which, frankly, is pretty ambitious for a 66-year old guy with no experience. If he plans to stay at motels, etc. he won't need as much shelter and cooking stuff, of course.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 May 2013 14:40:34 No.105288 Report

Quoted By: >>105291

>He thinks all he needs is cash.

So he's going credit card touring?
In that case all he needs is some basic emergency Stuff and tools/spare parts for his bike.
You already get the idea though I think a flare gun is overkill.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 May 2013 14:42:17 No.105291 Report

Quoted By:

>>105288
>credit card

People still use those? lol

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO loirevalley-biking-tours.jpg, 19KiB, 310x177

Anonymous Fri 03 May 2013 14:50:29 No.105297 Report

Quoted By:

Cash, credit card, rain gear, extra quick-dry clothes that can be washed out in the hotel sink or laundry. Spare tire or tube, puncture kit, pump, bike-specific multi-tool. I know someone who toured France this way, very minimal gear, stayed at hotels or hostels every night, ate out every meal. You want enough pack space to carry food you pick up at stores along the way, so you can have a picnic lunch.

>overweight, 66 years old
I'd suggest a training regime first, maybe try a 10 mile ride, then 15, then 20, etc. I knew people in good shape in their 60s-70s who could handle century rides, 100 miles on a day. Make sure the bike is in good shape, too. Find the best mechanic in town and have it gone over.

A lot depends on the chosen route, how much civilization is on the way, how often he can stop for the night. Sounds like a fun idea.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 May 2013 15:01:45 No.105304 Report

Quoted By: >>105308

>>105286
>At that age, he should have the cash for a nice, light 1-person tent
He does but he cannot fathom why he'd need one.
>flare gun // probably overkill
His route has him threading all through Baltimore. I want to lend him my Kennesaw insert just in case.
>include a repair kit for the bike and make sure he knows how to fix stuff
He has one.
>bear spray
Good idea for Western md.
>GPS
His phone has one but it's not great.(I have the same phone) Any
suggestions?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 May 2013 15:07:32 No.105308 Report

Quoted By:

>>105304
The Garmin eTrex 10 is a good compromise of functionality and price IMO. Bonus points for ipx7 standard, AA batteries, worldwide maps included (not exact enough for car navigation, but good enough for outdoors).

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 May 2013 17:35:33 No.105375 Report

Quoted By:

I guess he also needs some bike essentials?
>multitool
>hex key set
>spare inner tube
>hand pump
>tire repair kit

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 May 2013 18:06:14 No.105399 Report

Quoted By: >>105411

Semi OT: how cheap can a European cycling your be? Are there places to camp every night? How viable is stealth camping?

In North America you could go anywhere and steal camp (no payment) absolutely every night no problem.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 May 2013 18:21:16 No.105411 Report

Quoted By:

>>105399
Stealth camping is very viable, but you have to keep some problems in mind:
>choosing your campsite: If you hide well enough, you won't usually be found, especially if you pitch your tent after dark and remove it before breakfast. But if you do get caught, people react more harshly in hidden remote locations than close to a trail.
>Making a fire is illegal in many places and can get you in serious trouble, especially in Spain and Portugal where wildfires are a major concern and often started by organised criminals to remove environmental limitations to their development and building projects.
>water is undrinkable almost everywhere in central Europe, because you'll never find a stream that doesn't have high nitrate concentrations (which can't be filtered out or removed chemically). On the other hand, there's lots of public wells (not shown on maps) and cemetaries usually have a water source (shown on all maps).
If you do decide to sleep in a campground, you can expect to pay 3-5€ per person and tent in most areas.
Processed food is more expensive than in America, but many foods are also cheaper. Eating locally pays off.
Quality of bike lanes varies wildly, and is best in Netherlands and worst (non-existant + evil drivers) in Spain.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 May 2013 18:28:49 No.105420 Report

Quoted By: >>105421 >>105422

They make a contraption that charges you cell phone/GPS from the friction of the bike tire. I don't know how well they work, but its seems like a great concept.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 May 2013 18:29:50 No.105421 Report

Quoted By:

>>105420
Your*

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 May 2013 18:30:05 No.105422 Report

Quoted By:

>>105420
They work perfectly, and if you get a hub dynamo, you won't even feel the increased friction.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 May 2013 18:53:06 No.105434 Report

Quoted By:

>>105267
>>paracord (50ft x2)
>> tarp(8'x10')
>>iodine tabs
>>steel canteen
>>filter straw
>>fire kit
>>flare gun
>>crank-dynamo radio
None of that shit is usefull on a bike tour trough Maryland. You could as well pack some bricks in the saddlebag.

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