Published in 1959 and mentions tarps, frame bags and the fact that you can't alter the weather, so you'd best just get on with it

Stu where did you find that book,just looked on Amazon 1 copy at £52.00

Mebbe Clare Balding could borrow it for another cycling series :D

Stu where did you find that book,just looked on Amazon 1 copy at £52.00

Amazon I think, wouldn't have paid a lot for it ... I tend to set myself a limit of £8 for any book otherwise I'd spend a fortune.

Funny you say nothing new..
I read a book a few years ago called 'Around the World on a Wheel' from 1896.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Round-World-Whe ... 0701126094 -

It was an ok read, but mainly it was an amazing journey, as they did it on single speed behemoths with full chain cases and mudguards. The bikes must have weighed a ton. They had leather frame bags, a revolver each and rode on some terrible roads. Beyond Europe it was mainly un-made roads, with lots of mud and rocks.
They had to shoot 2 rabid dogs, and had to threaten various Officials en-route with their guns to continue their journey. Riding along railway lines in America, as there weren't any roads across the west.

It took two years, and much to their friends dismay they all came back fine, without missing any arms or legs!

Well worth a read if you can find a copy, but alas I lent mine to someone and cant remember who.
Puts touring with modern technology into perspective.

One of the all time classics:

Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle
by Dervla Murphy

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/163921.Full_Tilt

(Note her kit list also includes a revolver - am starting to think I should include same for this weekend or risk being seriously under-equipped!)