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When I built my touring bike it was more for winter training than long distance riding. But I found an old Trek 520 frame from the early 80's made of steel. Then put some Dura Ace components on with bar-end shifters and a Brooks saddle. Those saddles have to be beaten up pretty good to break them in but there really is nothing better for touring.Quote:
Originally Posted by DwarvenChef
Total cost of rebuild was just under $1000 and it turned out to be a really sweet ride!
-AJ
a mug, a cream sample, and a razor!
I would suggest that you pick up an old Schick injector (bakelite/plastic handle). They are cheap on the Bay, tiny, and provide a great shave (almost on par with a straight). You could load it with a blade, shave every day if you want and have almost no weight/bulk to deal with. Pair it with a shave stick and you should be in good shape.
Blasphemous, I know, but I really like the shave from the injectors. Safety razor development could have stopped there, in my opinion. If a straight is a must, I would take a Feather.
If you're interested in building your own bike then check out A Carbon Fiber Recumbent Bicycle You Build From Plans I'd like to one day build one myself when I, someday, have the work space available. I figure that if it were modified for under seat steering and set up to hold panniers or to pull a trailer then it might make a good long distance touring bike.
You might try a "kelly Kettle" for your hot water. They burn whatever is at hand, twigs, paper, leaves. A friend of mine has one and says he loves it. you can see them here Kelly Kettle Company - Kelly Kettles Volcano Kettle for Car Camping Survival Kit Wilderness Scouts Gear , and I've seen them on ebay.
That's a cool stove, as a suggestion for car camping I bet it's heavy, never seen it before though.
I am addicted to alcohol stoves.
Can't go wrong with alcohol stoves as they have few/ no moving parts and alcohol fuel is widely available. I have a couple of heavy duty Swedish military stove/mess kit combinations that work well. The only downside is they don't have any way to regulate the flame. Trangia from Sweden makes similar stove sets in several sizes that look to be high quality. If you want to go with iso- propane then I'd go with the Jetboil stove. It's compact and boils water fast. Everything, including the optional coffee press and frying pan conversion, will fit inside the cooking cup.
There is no regulation, as such they are primarily water boilers. I have one little titanium gizmo, and 3 others made from soda cans- I almost bought a swiss army and almost bought a trangia. I think the soda cans may out perform them(?) and they are lighter weight.( i do have a small trangia kettle that i would trade for any other). Sometimes I carry a few esbit tablets or a few lumps of charcoal. :)
Esbit stoves are good for heating enough water for a cup of coffee or tea and maybe enough water for freeze dried backpacker meals but not much else. Their main advantage is they're lightweight and compact. I'm going to look into those Kelly Kettles though.