[DwarvenChef]

I'm gearing up to start bicycle touring. While I have a basic shave set for standard travel, I don't know if it would work so well for the bike. Has anyone here taken their set up on a bike ride ??

I was thinking of using ether the DD Dwarf or the DD Styledge as they are small and light weight.

So many items needed leave me to wonder if I'm going to far trying to shave on a week trek... but you never know if you need to shave for some reason.

[kevint]

Hey Chef, what happened; car broken... DUI? I apologize for my attempt at humor.

when cycling where do you stay overnight? is it city life, back road rural, wilderness?

I worked on my system for wilderness travel quite a bit. it's not that I really needed it along the way and I still haven't worked out every kink to my satisfaction.

but i'm more interested to hear how you do it and what you carry

[DwarvenChef]

At the moment I'm still a newbee feeling my way along. I've come to the conclusion that I need to find an old bike that has very simple systems on it. As long as it's sturdy and frigging tall enough for me I'll be raiding the family ranch to see if there are any usable frames rotting out there

As for my shave kit. As well aa the razors listed above. I'll be using a paddle strop, hope to find one of the ones Tony Miller was working on with a compartment in it Soap/lather may end up as what ever soap is brought with us. I'll have to test it later so see if it will work. Not much else is figured out yet.

[bpave777]

Oh nice! I just got back from a week long trip through Marin, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Napa counties. We did about 350 miles in 5 days. I was *very* tempted to bring along a razor. We camped each night at various campsites. Each one had a good bathroom, with hot/cold running water, and good enough light during the day that it would have been very easy to shave in any of them.

I would say that it's totally doable. Although the shared bathrooms would scare me because of the foot traffic during the summer months. All you need is a bunch of kids to come running in. However, some of the sites had private bathrooms.

The plus side of waiting, for me, was the thick beard I got to chop through when I got back.

[DwarvenChef]

Cool I want to do the same thing before we leave for Fresno in the fall next year.

[kevint]

Hi guys, yep I meant a more complete picture, food, facilities, etc. It can take a fair amount of one's fuel supply to dedicate to hot water. My adventures in discovery of an adequate cold shave method were not very successful, though to be fair I was also working out my honing methods as well. Sometime I will revisit the issue.

[Roadie]

For a travel razor I think classicshaving has a actual travel razor in their vintage section. I duno if you wanted to buy a new razor for travel but you might give it a look.

[Agamemnon]

DD Dwarf,small cushion strop hone (Gem), bar of Ivory and a collapsible wash basin. There you go.

[jnich67]

For soap, you can try some of the shave sticks. I really like the DR Harris Arlington shave stick. Its small enough to pack easily and the packaging is robust enough to keep from getting soap all over your stuff. The more "old fashioned" shave sticks are even smaller.

Jordan

[freebird]

if you really wanted hot lather, you could go for something like this to heat your water, and use as a coffee maker. We picked one up at a local flea market and have yet to test it out, but have seen them used on a tv program.

[BFMC AJ]

Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

At the moment I'm still a newbee feeling my way along. I've come to the conclusion that I need to find an old bike that has very simple systems on it. As long as it's sturdy and frigging tall enough for me I'll be raiding the family ranch to see if there are any usable frames rotting out there

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.

Total cost of rebuild was just under $1000 and it turned out to be a really sweet ride!
-AJ

[hoglahoo]

a mug, a cream sample, and a razor!

[Bill S]

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.

[Agamemnon]

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.

[wopmanfixit]

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.

[kevint]

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.

[Agamemnon]

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.

[kevint]

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.

[Agamemnon]

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.