Touring tips from KBers?

[Maha]

Watch out for trucks hurtling around corners at you & stick well to the left of your lane, while doing right hand corners!!!!!!!!!!

Concour.....theres alot of Logging going on North of Tolaga.
But to see only two or three trucks (nothing else) between Napier and Wairoa was unreal!

[buellbabe]

Yep what everyone else said!
Especially carrying basic bike fixin' tools and puncture repair kit...FYI, I carry tools when I'm touring and other peoples bikes ALWAYS need help at some point.
I figure its a matter of 'sods law' now. Carry tools and my bike is sweet, leave them behind and you can bet I would need them LOL!

Also agree with leaving half the clothes you think you need behind... You will most likely wear the same tshirt every day while riding, all ya need is something to change into at the end of the day...

And when packing yr gear take your time, think about what you are gonna want to access during the day, its a bitch if you have to do a complete unpack on the side of the road just to get to one object LOL.

I know it probably sounds anal but even tho I take the same stuff with me every time I still make a list and check stuff off...oh yeah don't forget yr ph and camera chargers...

[kevfromcoro]

pack all your clothes in your bag, then go back through and throw half of them out, i guarantee you wont use half of them.

+ 1..travel light..shit i have carted .around the place and never used.

just take the beer esentials.............

[sunhuntin]

pack all your clothes in your bag, then go back through and throw half of them out, i guarantee you wont use half of them.

agreed. aside from the obvious like socks, i stay in what im wearing on the day i leave. i also take thermals.
CAMERA! you will regret not having it. and batteries as well.

[MarkH]

just take the beer esentials.............

beer is too heavy and takes too much space - find taverns along the way instead.

[Wingnut]

pack all your clothes in your bag, then go back through and throw half of them out, i guarantee you wont use half of them.

I agree. Couldn't believe how little I ended up using over a 5 day period.

[Oakie]

If you're using a pack on a pack rack, put a large plastic bag on the bottom of the pack on the inside. If it rains there will be a waterproof cover for your pack but it will probably only cover the top and sides. The plastic bag on the bottom will protect your contents from water thrown up by the rear wheel. Water is sneaky. Trust me on this.