I did plan to go on a bike trip to Japan this year, but unfortunately COVID has put a hold on it, so I have decided to delay the trip until next year. I have done a couple of bike trips there previously, and had a fantastic time, but there is always more to see. So, I am going to set off on another trip in 2022, this time traveling via the less commonly visited areas by tourists.

The plan is to ride from the southern tip of Japan (Sata Misaki) to the northern tip (Soya Misaki), over a period 6-12 weeks. During the middle of the year, I am a flexible on the duration of the trip and the dates, but I would prefer to do the trip some time between June and October, to avoid the cold temperatures.

With regards to daily distance and speed, I was thinking of averaging around 100km (60mi) a day, at about 22km/h (14mph), but all this is also negotiable.

Most nights on the trip will be spent camping, with a hotel stay every now and then.

A bit about me, I'm 30, Australian. Speak a bit of Japanese. I am pretty easy going. Know my way around a bicycle very well.

If you?re interested let me know, we can chat a bit more, since it would be great to have some company on the trip, to share in a few laughs and the adventure.

With all this talk of COVID vaccines in the news, I?m planning a tour across Japan. I have done a couple of bike trips there previously, and had a fantastic time, but there is always more to see, and more people to meet. So, I am going to set off on another end to end trip of Japan in 2021, this time traveling via the areas that I haven?t yet been to 😊. Currently the trip will be two of us, myself and another bloke. It would be great to find a 3rd to come along with us, for some more laughs and conversations.

The plan is to travel from the southern tip of Japan (Sata Misaki) to the northern tip (Soya Misaki), over a period 8-12 weeks. Starting on the 30th of May 2021, and finishing up no later than the 21st of August.

Riding on average 80-120km (50-75mi) a day, at about 20-25km/h (13-15mph), all depending on duration of the trip (8-12 weeks)

Given the trip covers the period of the Olympics, it might be a good chance to watch an event or two.

A bit about me, I'm 30, Australian. Speak a bit of Japanese. I am pretty easy going. Know my way around a bicycle pretty well.

If you?re interested let me know, we can chat a bit more, and discuss the details.

Rinko? We don't have any plans for train travel, but still.

If you're not going on a train, then I would worry about Rinko, its just a special way of packing bicycles in Japan, involving removing both wheels, pedals, turn handlebars, and fixing them all together. Its not worth the hasle.

A friend and I will be bicycle touring in Japan for the month of October (fly into Tokyo, probably ride over to Fuji and back? He's making it up as he goes).

Do you know what their, eh, policy is about using hammocks? I'd much rather use my hammock tent if it won't be an issue.
Also, do you know of any rules or regulations that are unique to Japan? The word on the street is that bicycle bells are required.

I have toured in Japan a few times now, and spent in total about 2 years in Japan, so I know all about the rules/laws.

Camping anywhere in Japan except for designated camping sites that you normal need to pay for is illegal in Japan. However, if you camp somewhere that won’t annoy anybody nobody will care, not even the police. River banks and local parks (after the kids have gone to bed) are good places. You might be able to use a hammock, but it will severely restrict the places where you can set up camp.

Laws in Japan that are enforced:
You don’t need a helmet unless you’re under 12 years’ old.
You can’t ride drunk.
At night you must have a front light and a rear reflector.

Laws in Japan that are not enforced:
You must have a bell.
You are not allowed to ride on the sidewalk, unless there is a sign saying you can but they are rare.
Your bicycle must be register with your local prefecture.

Also if you are going to take the train, they are very stricked about your bike being packed “Rinko”

Hope this all helps, have fun, and try Katsudon.

I know its planning a bit far ahead, but that's my style. I am planning an end to end tour of Japan (Cape Sata to Cape Soya) over 10 weeks (26th Aug 17 – 4th Nov 17). These dates are so that the weather won’t be too hot in the south or too cold in the north and it won’t be in the high rain fall months either.

About me:
I'm 26, Australian (don't hold that against me). Speak/Read enough Japanese to get by and have a pretty decent conversation.

I have been to Japan a number of times, and ridden in Japan before from Cape Soya in Hokkaido to Nagano just NW of Tokyo. I pack fairly lightly, and although speed isn’t really a factor, I intend to average 15km/h (10mph) when on the bike. I’m also pretty good amateur bicycle mechanic, I can fix just about any problem.

I should also say, that during the tour I plan to camp and stay in hotels/guesthouses, since food is so cheap in Japan, I don’t plan on cooking any meals.

For the trip I will be taking a new touring bike build, built with a 2017 Kona Sutra frameset, SON28 Dynamo hub, 700c wheel build and, Shimano XT T8000 groupset.

If you’re interested let me know and we can chat a bit more.

Width of bag please. Any leg rub standing pedaling up hills?

5cm all sides. No idea if it causes leg rub out of the saddle I haven't tried. Be careful with width don't by the bottom bracket, due to the inner chain ring being bigger that a MTBs, it can cause rub when the chain shifts between the chain rings, although my set up doesn't have this issue, a couple of mill wider and it would be an issue.

What brand is the frame?

ICAN bikes frame

Looks very good
What bike is that? Looks pretty sweet.
Did you already test the bags, how did they perform?

Its  just a bike I built myself the bags work quite well, I also use a Revelate Designs Viscacha with it as well

I know its planning a bit far ahead, but I have to plan far ahead because of my work. I am planning an end to end tour of Japan (Cape Soya to Cape Sata) over about 8 weeks. The dates below are not set in stone, but around these dates, since the weather won’t be too hot in the south or too cold in the north and it won’t in the high rain fall months.

-Possible dates(give or take a week):
26 Aug - 22 Oct 17
27 May - 23 July 17

About me:
I'm 25, Australian (don't hold that against me). My Japanese ability is at an Intermediate level. I am pretty easy going, fun and a bit of a larrikin, but not too crazy.

I have been to Japan a number of times, and I have ridden in Japan before from Cape Soya in Hokkaido, to Nagano just NW of Tokyo. I'm very fit & pack pretty lightly, so I would like to maintain a comfortable 20km/h. I can also fix just about any problem with bicycles on the road side.

I should also say, that during the tour I plan to utilise a couple of relatives places, stealth camping, and maybe every 3-5 days some cheap accommodation. Since food is so cheap in Japan, I don’t plan on cooking any meals.

I haven't decided on which bike I will be taking Yet, I have built up a custom full carbon fibre, Ultegra Di2, hydraulic disc braked, touring bike, with bikepacking bags.

But more likely I will buy myself a new 2017 Kona Sutra when they come on sale, and ride that in a bike packing setup.

If you’re interested let me know and we can chat a bit more.

I have spent the whole day making my first set of bike bags.

1. Frame bag, I still have to waterproof the seams. I hold a bunch of random things along with my tent poles
2. Behind seat post bag. Holds 2 tyre levers, multi tool, patch kit, and chain rag.
3. Inside saddle pouch, this bag sits ontop of the saddle rails but under the leather. It hold my toothbrush, toothpaste, liquid soap, and disinfectant cream.

To complete the set I have ordered a Revelate Viscacha and a top tube bag.
The bike is almost finished as well, I just need to cut a few bolts a bit shorter, and order a out front Garmin mount, along with a Di2 Junction bot mount

I was also going to make bags for my 2015 Kona Sutra as well, but when I was sizing up my frame for the frame bag, I found a ripple/bulge in my steel down tube, most likely caused by a serious accident I had on the bike 8 months ago, I just hadn't noticed it until know, so the bike sadly is getting stripped down and thrown out.

I have finished making my top tube bag, frame bag, B17 bag (under the leather but above the rails), and rear triangle bag. I have heaps of material left over, so I was thinking instead of buying a seat bag like the Pika or Viscacha. I can use the left over material and make a dry bag harness. Currently I have a 20L dry bag, although I only need 12L of storage so I will roll down the dry bag a fair bit, and it weights 2.3kg (5lbs) when filled with my gear. It will have to be attached to a carbon seat post, with a B17 saddle, with 8in of saddle rails to wheel clearance.

I don't really know how to go about making this so any help or advice would be great, and patterns or plans would also be quite helpful. I want to try to maximise the space at the seat post end of the bag/harness, I don't want to make a really long one, as I am concerned about levering force on my carbon seat post.

Also is 2.3kg (5lbs) to much for a saddle bag?

I have a few questions about it.

How well does the railwing work to allow quick and easy loading and unloading of the bag, compared to, a bag like the Revelate Viscacha or Pika?

I am going to buy a new seat bag, I am looking into the Revelate Design range.

Pika, upto 12L
Viscacha & Terrapin upto 14L

I would rather the 14L bags, as I could pack the bag lower and fatter, so I would not have to have it as long and swinging about as much. But it says it needs 9.5 inch between the seat rails and the top of the tyre, but I have only got 8.5 in, can any one comment on if I would be able to get away with only 8.5in clearance, I am running fenders and its only 8.5 in-between the rails and the fenders.

I got my first bikepacking bike and I'm looking at bags for trips that would probably be a maximum of 3 days without R&R.  I don't have any ultralight gear so I'm buying the biggest seat bag and handlebar bag that I can.  Here is what I have researched:

Seat bag: 17.5 L
Partial frame bag: 5.3 L
Handlebar bag: 20 L
Gas tank: 0.8 L
Two bottle cages

Total: 43 L (+5 if I buy an accessory handlebar bag)

Is that good? Decent? I know that's a manageable amount of space for a couple days backpacking, but I'm very new to this scene.  How much space do you guys usually take with you? Will I regret not buying a full frame bag?

Thanks!

My next trip is going to be on my road bike, 2 months long, in summer.

I plan to have the following storage:
Top tube bag, 1.5L
Seat pack, 12L
Partial frame bag, 4L
Rear triangle bag, 0.5L

Total 18L

I Pack fairly lightly for road trips, even long ones, it also helps to be going through summer so no bulky sleeping bags or clothes.

Good to know! I'm preparing for some bike touring in Japan (Tokyo-ish area, coincidentally) later this year. What's a good resource for that sort of information?

I am not sure if you can find this type of information on the web in English, I know about this type of stuff, because I spend a month or two in Japan every year.

Just an observation here, but you asked for advice on what to bring and then rejected every suggestion, much of it coming from some quite experienced travelers.

I'll echo the general sentiment that carrying an electric shaver to avoid minor discomfort seems like an odd choice when you are fine with the idea of dealing with untreated minor/medium injuries if they were to happen.

Anyway, it sounds like you have your setup dialed in for yourself, so good luck and safe travels.

right on brassy...

the original post now seems to be most about boast.

still waiting for the one before 334 to backup the claim of "I can navigate around the whole country with my eyes shut, standing on my head, and cycling backwards.."

pictures will help

 

Sorry if it seems that way, I didn't mean to sound like a cock, or shoot everyone's suggestions down, but I had put a lot of thought into my gear list from my previous experiences before posting it, I just had the mind set that I might be able to get an unique idea from someone about my gear that I would not have thought of. I do appreciate everyone's input though.

Go wider.   

My first framebag years ago was in that neighborhood for width.  It got shelved and a new wider one made very shortly there after.   I highly recommend 2.5 to 2.75 inches at a minimum.

In my frame bag I am having a large cut out for a 1L water bottle and cage on my seat tube, so the frame bags internal space will be pretty small regardless of and extra half an inch in width, in saying that though I will jump on the bike this evening and measure up the width to see if I can get away with having it wider without leg rub.

I have decided I will go with the width of my down tube, 2in (5cm)

Sweet - a friend and I are eyeballing some riding around Tokyo/Mt. Fuji in October. Very low key stuff though. What software are you using to lay out your route?

If you are using a Garmin GPS what I use will work, its called Garmin Base Camp.

Hello. First post here, though I've been reading the forums for some time. I need to update my shelter to accommodate bike travel and would appreciate any advice you can offer. My current tent is a holdover from my hiking days, and weighs just less than 8 pounds. I've tried cycling with it and it's more than I care to lug around. I've read a ton of stuff here and backpacking light, bikepacking.com etc and I think I've narrowed my preferences to:

Tent preferred to tarp. I'm in the Northeast. I like having a floor and doors to keep rain and critters away from me while I sleep
I would prefer something non-fiddly in terms of set up. Not a lot of guy wires and tiny bits to get lost
Long enough. I'm 6f2
Just me and the stuff I need to bring inside at night
3 season-ish. I'm less likely to be out in the woods in the height of summer; I prefer cool weather.
Something with good service life and reputation. I keep my stuff for a long time and take care of it; hence the 17 year old 8 lb tent!
Reasonable balance between weight/bulk and comfort and ease of pitching

I keep coming back to the Hilleberg Atko (3+lbs), Tarptent Moment (about 2.5lb) and Big Agnes Fly Creek (1.5 lb).  Im guessing the Atko is overkill for the occasional overnighter. I've found references, but no hard details, about quality control issues with the TT products. Nothing but good comments about the BA tents.

Am I looking in the right places? Is there something else I should be looking at or taking into consideration? If you have one of these tents, would you purchase it again?

My dilemma is that all but maybe the BA will need to be purchased online, so running down to REI to check it out is not really an option. So I'd like to choose wisely. Thank you.

Have a look into the Big Sky International Soul 1P, Its very light, a dual skin tent, free standing, low bulk, I'm 5'9" and I've got heaps of room to spare, its also relatively cheap for what it is. You can buy it in ultralight or just standard.