Wednesday, June 24

Touring at 34lbs

Did a quick overnighter (about 140 miles) in about 24 hours this last weekend. For kicks I decided to try getting all my touring gear on my newest toy, my Salsa Campeon.

The trick was doing it with no racks as the Salsa has absolutely no braze-ons.

Not only was it a success but when I threw it on the scale the whole thing came in at about 34lbs.

For a touring bike it's wicked fast and climbs like the devil.

It's a whole new level of freedom.

This could get very addictive.

34lb touring setup

the ever changing gear list (annotated)

updated post for first Salsa Campeon (ultra-lightweight) overnighter
updated Sunday, 6/21/09

Less stuff, more freedom.

*please note there may be a few missed items or miss-types, the gear list is everchanging.

the bike
Salsa Campeon 62cm (2006/07)
Shimano Ultegra (full groupo, including hubs 2001/2003?)
Velocity deep V front / Mavic Open Pro rear rim
Continental Gatorskin tires 700x25mm
Specialized Ribcages (2)
Ideale saddle (1970s / 80s)
Planet Bike ultra bright LED blinky (2 AAA)


handlebars
wireless computer
Brunton ball compass
south central michigan map (rolled up in plastic map holder)
dry bag (1L Sea-to-Summit for electronics wrapped around stem)
park headband (not enough wicking capability)
bedroll (contents below)


bedroll (handlebar bag)
OR Aurora Bivy
MSR tent footprint
Lafuma 600 45+ synthetic bag
Exped Airmat 7.5
Frog Toggs Dri Ducks rain jacket
two packs ramen noodle
6 aluminum needle stakes
first aid kit
25 ft para cord (around first aid kit)
camp towel
cook kit (more below)


Epic designs stem bag
cell phone
wallet
battery pack for headlamp (4 rechargeable AA)
Browning hat clip light
Bag Balm in tiny tin


Jandd top tube bag
4 spare rechargeable AA (for headlamp)
sunscreen
spare ziplocks (2 for cell phone/wallet)
24oz of denatured alchohol
Topeak Road Morph tire pump
electrolyte / vitamin c water supplement (3-4 packets)
2 spare pens
micro Leatherman + P-38 can opener + keyS
spare tubes (two)
Park multi tool w/ chain tool
Park heavy duty tire lever
generic lightweight tire lever
spare cleat and screws
tiny tube of chain oil
skin so soft (small tube, trying as alt to deet 100)


5L Sea-to-summit dry bag (behind seat)
convertible backpacking pants
smartwool socks
boxer shorts
cotton t-shirt



cook kit
kit bag w/ drawstring
1 quart aluminum pot
1/2 quart aluminum pot
aluminum lid

These contain:
- DIY aluminum windscreen
- citronella / emergency candle
- Trangia alcohol stove
- Sea-to-summit aluminum spoon
- salt
- sugar
- olive oil (small tube)
- waterproof matches
- cheap lighter
- tube Campmor biodegradable camp soap
- instant coffee
- instant grits (2 packs)
- hot pad
- green pad


Wearing

136 lumen / 6 volt / 4AA / River Rock headlamp (on helmet)
Louis Garneu helmet
bike shirt
multi-panel bike shorts
smart wool socks
Lake 165 bike shoes

3 comments:

Alastair said...

Less stuff, more freedom: a good maxim for life!

Michael Meiser said...

Thanks Alastair!

Indeed it is a great maxim for life.

It's definitely a retort to the car payments and the morgages and everything else people collect.

Even if only mentally and financially you carry all that stuff on your back as well when you go off on adventure... which is why most people never go off on an adventure... they just take text book vacations.

It is btw a maxim I got from the design world. It's absolutely elemental to modern design. Less is more.

I find it fascinating working with bikes and in the bike world daily that spending more doesn't make things simpler and more durable.

I'd much rather have the Shimano Tiagra or 105 groupo on my touring bike then the Ultegra or DuraAce. While it's not always the case spending more just means it costs more to replace it when it does break or become lost.

Right now I'm ultralightweight touring with a 100+ year old alchohol stove. Not only is there nothing to break or loose on it, but if I lost it I could make one out of a pop can in a few minutes. Alchohol too can be purchased at any hardware store, or in a pinch alchohol can be purchased for cheap in the first aid section of any grocery store as it's a common antiseptic. Not what you'd use for altitude or winter, but perfect for summer travel.

Michael Meiser said...

a couple corrections...

"...spending more just means it costs more to replace it when it does break or become lost."

Or becomes stolen because expensive things tend to become targets.

Point #2:

"Right now I'm ultralightweight touring with a 100+ year old alchohol stove."

make that "stove design"... my stove isn't actually 100+ years old. :)

However my aluminum pots are nearly 20 years old.

Take that titanium. :)