"Use and Lose" - this was my favoured option for last year's 15 day jaunt to Spain. Old and scruffy socks, pants and t-shirts saved up over the year, discarded after use on the bike, cheapo replacements to be bought in Spain. What surprised me was the price of clothes in Spain; I think we've got spoilt by Tescos and the like selling really cheap clothes. When I had run out, a trip into Vic (a town, not a person) turned into a bit of a mission to find cheap clothes. At one point I thought I was going to have to pay 50 Euros for three pairs of boxers. Now I'm sure they were brilliant quality and, as explained by the shop assistant, something of a bargain as they were 20 Euros for just one pair. T-shirts were at least 15 Euros each, even at the supermarket.
Eventually common sense took over and we found a Poundland shop that sold skiddies for 2 Euros a pair and t-shirts for 3 Euros. Not great quality, but did the job.
Bike Kit - When I first went touring in Europe (1985, 19 yrs old, Yamaha XS400 DOHC) it involved taking the only bike kit I had, that also covered four-season riding in at home. I don't recall enjoying the tour any less, though we did get thoroughly soaked in rain riding down to Spain through France. So I do wonder if we sometimes make this more of a challenge than in needs to be. In 2000 I went on a tour with friends through Luxembourg and Germany where it was very hot, and rode in full two-piece leathers. It was hot, but we survived... So I think the lesson is that if you can afford the "right" kit, go for it. But if not, it's hardly a game-stopper.
For the last few years, the challenge of kit for June in Spain had been (a) variable weather in Spain and (b) the weather challenges on the way there, both in the UK and in France. In France you can be fairly sure it won't be properly cold, but in Spain last year the temperature in places in the North West was below 10 degrees and very wet. A few days later in Catalunya and it was a dependable 30 degrees and sunny.
So my preferred kit was:
- a Hein Gericke mesh jacket and trousers combo
- a very lightweight windproof and showerproof jacket liner that fits in a jacket pocket and is very quick and easy to put on. Ideal if it starts to get a bit chilly.
- a nylon liner from an Olympia jacket (long since thrown away) that is both warm and waterproof though not breathable
- a pair of waterproof over trousers to keep legs dry and warm if necessary
- two pairs of gloves - one very lightweight leather, one waterproof and warm
- wicking two piece underwear from Lidl (cheap but very effective, helping stay cool when it's hot and warm when it's cold)
That seemed to cover most eventualities.
The most important advice I would offer up is this: If you're considering whether it might be time to stop and put waterproof kit on, ALWAYS DO IT! You might waste five minutes putting it on and taking it off later when the sky has magically cleared, but if you don't put it on and it pisses down for even two minutes, you'll be cold and wet for at least a couple of hours and maybe the rest of the day.