We are, however, missing some kit.
Like all of the kit. Except the bikes, clothing, a small back packing stove, and an interest in camping off of our bicycles.
We cannot wait!
This year, all we are planning on purchasing are things like dishes, back pack sleeping bags, something to sleep on, and some panniers. We shall be relying on our friendly neighbourhood outfitters (and anyone willing to chime in here with some actual experience) on what a good sleeping bag would be for bicycle touring. A tent we will rent from the afore mentioned outfitters for the times we need it. This will allow us a chance to try a few out before plunking down what is likely to be a fair chunk of change on a tent. Tent advice from the experienced is also accepted. Chime in if you wish!
The part that I am actively thinking about now though are the panniers.
My wife is riding an Optima Orca recumbent which looks like this:
I have a trunk bag made by Arkel already which fits perfectly on the top of the rack. I think it is this one, the trailrider. It is pretty big for a trunk bag, and is broken into two compartments with two side pockets which are perfect for a toolkit. The bag comes with a rain cover.
Interestingly, Optima built the rack on this bicycle with extra bags in mind. Besides the normal, 60L touring type bags made for a diamond frame bicycle mounted high on the back of the rack, there are tabs to attach low-rider front racks to the underside of the rack below where the rider sits. Perfect. An extra 20 or 30 L of storage should we need it. Don't know if we will, but it is nice to see that this is an option should we decide it is necessary. Mostly what it means is that this bicycle can carry as many bags as a conventional diamond frame touring bicycle can when bags are mounted front and back.
So, we have the option to put on standard bags, or, we could put a pair of these Arkel bags. They are made for recumbents and would likely fit and balance better. Also, they come with external tubes for thermarests. Nice. Worth investing in perhaps although in truth, I know nothing about balancing things on a recumbent since I don't ride the bike. It is my wife's bike, and I don't ride it. A bonus for us is that Arkel is a Canadian company and at $400, they are reasonably affordable. I am not sure if extra bags could be mounted on the front part of the rack with this bag design. It may not matter if they cannot since these things are pretty big.
It looks like the trunk bag we have will fit on the bicycle with these recumbent specific bags and if it doesn't, a tent can be carried on top of the rack between the panniers.
For my bike, I was thinking of either the modular Axiom stuff I have referred to before or perhaps some of the Arkel bags. We have some in stock at the shop and I can attest to how well made they are. The mounting mechanism is fantastic and looks very very solid. The ones which appeal to me are the GT-54's. They are plenty big, and have a significant number of external attachments, including pouches and a thermarest tube. These would go on the back of the bicycle. Cost compared to the Axiom stuff is a wash since the tubes and extra stuff that the Arkel bags come with are an extra cost item with the Axiom equipment. Since I want the extra anyways it comes down to which would suit better. I think the Arkel would.
For the front, I was thinking something like the GT-18 pannier from Arkel. These come as single units and run somewhere around $145 each. I need a pair of new commuter bags since my old ones have gotten a bit chewed up over the last decade or so I have been using them and have been relegated to winter use only. Getting these first and using them for hauling stuff back and forth to work is likely a good way to go.
And lastly, a high quality waterproof handlebar bag is on my list. Being a photographer, and one who shoots with a micro mirrorless system, a solid handlebar bag is all I would need to tote about good quality camera gear on a bicycle adventure. The small Arkel handlebar bag looks like it would work fine. Domke makes camera inserts that I could use to pad the lenses and camera body, or I could just pack them with wash clothes... The bag appears big enough for extra batteries and chargers for them and cell phones. Good deal.
Anyway, this is the ruminating thus far. What to do and how far to get into this will depend on how much we commit to taking trips on the bicycles. Right now, from the warmth and security of home, it seems a great idea. We will have to ride together lots, and perhaps do some "credit card" tripping, before plunking down the cash for a full on touring set up.
In the mean time, it is fun to ride together and just hang out on two wheels. Something we both miss, and have not been able to do for way too long.
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