Originally Posted by
Cougrrcj
I was never a racer, but I did do a 'tour' on my old '75 Fuji - from Cleveland to Milwaukee/Madison and back in 1980. 10 riding days to go almost 1000 miles. Just the cheap Pletscher rear rack holding a duffle bag containing two changes of clothes other than what I was wearing. NO tent or sleeping bag - I slept on whatever padding I could find (usually scrap cardboard), and under the stars or any shelter I could find. It also had a small seatbag containing tools and spare tube/patch kit.
That reminded me that when I suggested cowboy camping, I didn't mention that in the middle of the country much of the camping I have done was in little town parks that often had a picnic pavillion or a pagoda that provided shelter from the rain if needed. I have never gone without a sleeping bag or sleeping pad on a tour though, although I did hitchhike across the country that way 50 years ago.