Bike touring on a budget

Matt Derrick · May 20, 2013

Hey everyone, I've done a few bike tours in the past but it's been a few years now and I want to get back into it. I was lucky enough to have an awesome bike each time, but now I'm on a far more limited budget.

What I'm wondering is if anyone here has any suggestions for road bikes that are cheap or reasonably priced that would work well for bike touring.

I'm also interested in cheap / good trailers or anything like that.

Also, anyone have any suggestions for saving money on a cross country tour?

wizehop · May 20, 2013

A buddy of mine recently did this, bike and trailer. Hes not an STPer but I'll get him to drop you a line. Whats the best email address to reach you?

ByronMc · May 20, 2013

Find a 80's steel lugged frame,made ONLY IN JAPAN ! Parts are way easier to find,get good tires & tire liners,for the no flat ride !

Matt Derrick · May 20, 2013

wizehop said:
A buddy of mine recently did this, bike and trailer. Hes not an STPer but I'll get him to drop you a line. Whats the best email address to reach you?

thanks man! feedback@squattheplanet.com!

ByronMc said:
Find a 80's steel lugged frame,made ONLY IN JAPAN ! Parts are way easier to find,get good tires & tire liners,for the no flat ride !

hell yeah, tire liners are wonderful.

Dmac · May 20, 2013

what happened to the boat thing matt? a very good bike trailer is a bob "yak". it only has one tire and tracks right behind your bike. so if your bike goes through so will the trailer. they are a bit more expensive but well worth it. wallmart has some decent ones for around 100$. but they are 2 wheeled and are wider than the bike.

Matt Derrick · May 20, 2013

dmac66 said:
what happened to the boat thing matt? a very good bike trailer is a bob "yak". it only has one tire and tracks right behind your bike. so if your bike goes through so will the trailer. they are a bit more expensive but well worth it. wallmart has some decent ones for around 100$. but they are 2 wheeled and are wider than the bike.

It's still going on, and there are some very big plans for the winter (a boat punk gathering in Puerto Rico) but it's hot as hell down here right and I need to take a break. I'm rejoining the project in the fall.

Tude · May 21, 2013

The urge to tour is strong in this girl!! Have front/back panniers and equipment (brother and I share it - he's done a few cross country meanders) and clothing is all set ---- bike I need. Sold my one bike that I would use and my roadie is light weight and great but not for some tough riding --- need another cross bike with a fresh set of gaterskin tires. I will be keeping up with your exploits on this as I need a bike and of course savings --- and look for a meet up - I can be off for a couple weeks - but probably not till after the first of the year - or way in the Fall of this year.

Just had some friends do a week tour with REI (so they had SAG/back up for that one) in Death Valley - loved it so much they took off from the tour and sailed out on their own for another week. I haz the lust!

Matt Derrick · May 21, 2013

Tude said:
The urge to tour is strong in this girl!! Have front/back panniers and equipment (brother and I share it - he's done a few cross country meanders) and clothing is all set ---- bike I need. Sold my one bike that I would use and my roadie is light weight and great but not for some tough riding --- need another cross bike with a fresh set of gaterskin tires. I will be keeping up with your exploits on this as I need a bike and of course savings --- and look for a meet up - I can be off for a couple weeks - but probably not till after the first of the year - or way in the Fall of this year.

Just had some friends do a week tour with REI (so they had SAG/back up for that one) in Death Valley - loved it so much they took off from the tour and sailed out on their own for another week. I haz the lust!

HA, that's awesome, I feel the same way. What area of the country are you in, or think you will be at that time?

I barely have anything besides my basic travel gear, and zero cash, so it's going to take me a minute to get together some money to buy the bike stuff I need, so keep in touch and let's work something out!

Also, where do you want to travel to?

Tude · May 21, 2013

I'm in upstate NY - but can get anywhere to head out just have to package up the bike and stuff. And I have to say I have more places I DON'T want to travel through lately - freak the weather!!! I guess look at weather pattern and race through there! Have to think on where to go actually. Do like more than just a flat ride, but don't want to deal with nosebleeder mtns either.

Matt Derrick · May 21, 2013

Tude said:
I'm in upstate NY - but can get anywhere to head out just have to package up the bike and stuff. And I have to say I have more places I DON'T want to travel through lately - freak the weather!!! I guess look at weather pattern and race through there! Have to think on where to go actually. Do like more than just a flat ride, but don't want to deal with nosebleeder mtns either.

yeah, id like to create some kind of tour with the maximum amount of natural wonders to visit and awesome weird abandoned places to see. i use the site www.atlasobscura.com a LOT when researching destinations, you should check it out and see if there's anything you like!

MFB · May 21, 2013

If you plan on going cross country food will be a major expenditure (unless you can dumpster and steal enough calories).
If you have your route planned, a good way to save money is to gather up all your food up front, make up suppy boxes, and mail them out General Delivery in flat rate boxes to Post Offices along the way. Pick them up as you go and it'll save you a good bit on food and time.

For gear I'd spend spend some time on some bike tour forums, probably losts of good affordable schtuff available. I've got alotta dope hiking gear for cheap from various backpacker forums.

Matt Derrick · May 21, 2013

MFB said:
If you plan on going cross country food will be a major expenditure (unless you can dumpster and steal enough calories).
If you have your route planned, a good way to save money is to gather up all your food up front, make up suppy boxes, and mail them out General Delivery in flat rate boxes to Post Offices along the way. Pick them up as you go and it'll save you a good bit on food and time.

For gear I'd spend spend some time on some bike tour forums, probably losts of good affordable schtuff available. I've got alotta dope hiking gear for cheap from various backpacker forums.

Thanks for the tip about the general delivery thing, I know they do that for hiking the AT and whatnot, but it hadn't occurred to me to do it on a bike tour, that's some good advice!

MFB · May 21, 2013

Yip, that's what I did on the PCT in 2011, and have since implemented it into my regular travels. Its actually kinda fun chasing down suppy boxes in 1 stop light towns.

*A good scam to get good travel food on the cheap-I called up Wise Foods (dehydrated food pouches, like Mountain house but more nutritious.) You'll talk to the sales rep Doug, tell him youre thinking of doing a bulk purchase for your trip but you want a 7 day bucket to make sure you like the food.
-He'll mail out a DISCOUNTED 7 day bucket (you can make these buckets last 2 weeks if you ration). Figure out when the delivery will get to your place, make sure you're not there.
-Fed Ex will leave it at your doorstep without a signature. Grab that bucket, wait a few days and call up Doug telling him that you haven't got your bucket yet and your wondering were it is.
-He'll tell you it was delivered, and you ask where, when, etc, etc.
Mention that you don't live in the best of areas and that it's a possibility that someone swiped it from your doorstep/yard while you were at work.
-He'll check with Fed Ex and Fed Ex will call you for a report, they literally just ask for the adress to double check that the driver didnt fuck up.
-Doug will then send you another food bucket free of charge plus I got $25 bucks toward my next purchase.
The food pouches are light and super convienent for travel.

Matt Derrick · May 21, 2013

MFB said:
Yip, that's what I did on the PCT in 2011, and have since implemented it into my regular travels. Its actually kinda fun chasing down suppy boxes in 1 stop light towns.

*A good scam to get good travel food on the cheap-I called up Wise Foods (dehydrated food pouches, like Mountain house but more nutritious.) You'll talk to the sales rep Doug, tell him youre thinking of doing a bulk purchase for your trip but you want a 7 day bucket to make sure you like the food.
-He'll mail out a DISCOUNTED 7 day bucket (you can make these buckets last 2 weeks if you ration). Figure out when the delivery will get to your place, make sure you're not there.
-Fed Ex will leave it at your doorstep without a signature. Grab that bucket, wait a few days and call up Doug telling him that you haven't got your bucket yet and your wondering were it is.
-He'll tell you it was delivered, and you ask where, when, etc, etc.
Mention that you don't live in the best of areas and that it's a possibility that someone swiped it from your doorstep/yard while you were at work.
-He'll check with Fed Ex and Fed Ex will call you for a report, they literally just ask for the adress to double check that the driver didnt fuck up.
-Doug will then send you another food bucket free of charge plus I got $25 bucks toward my next purchase.
The food pouches are light and super convienent for travel.

Fuck yeah, that's even better! Thanks!!!

Justin Case · Apr 1, 2015

Here is the trailer iam building diving the whole thing except for the bolts. used a bed frame for the angle iron wheels from 20in bmx and wiring electric from a ride on tractor battery. the plans also include a substitution list. looked at a few hundred designs and thought this was best for me. If you plan on much off roading then you would be better with the single wheel bob mentioned earlier, fuktons of plans on net for those but they all require welding and that means i would have to buy gas tank and new hole cutter drill bit and naah im not going to spend. plus Iam carrying more weight so i can load up on dived food to last between cities (already stockpiled pounds of dehydrated fruits from winter diving)
Hope this is helpful... http://www.crimsonhalo.com/design/

here is the blueprint set ...

and here is a great article on deciding which is best for you and tons of links to plans and shit.
https://we.riseup.net/diy/build-a-bike-trailer
I have about three directories worth of things on this subject from repair to diy gear making to videos on repair and more much more , do not know whether to post here or upload to the downloads section or what you can use let me know and i will hook ya up

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Bike touring on a budget

Matt Derrick

Retired Wanderer

wizehop

Chasing the Darkness

ByronMc

Well-known member

Matt Derrick

Retired Wanderer

Dmac

Well-known member

Matt Derrick

Retired Wanderer

Tude

Sometimes traveler is traveling.

Matt Derrick

Retired Wanderer

Tude

Sometimes traveler is traveling.

Matt Derrick

Retired Wanderer

MFB

Well-known member

Matt Derrick

Retired Wanderer

MFB

Well-known member

Matt Derrick

Retired Wanderer

Justin Case

I'm a d-bag and got banned.

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