My Gear

What does one pile on a bike for a 3-month journey? 

The answer: A lot, and as little as you can!

The picture is of my touring bike on a 2-week bike trip in British Columbia, CAN in 2010.  For those unfamiliar, those blue bags attached to the bike are “panniers”.  A close look will reveal other bags and even a pair of shoes latched to the gear.  This is called “self-supported”. Meaning, one carries all the own gear.

Below is a list of items I will be carrying with me, they will of course be modified as the big day nears. After the completion of the trip I will report back and let you know what I mailed home, what I ditched on the trip (recycled or gave away), and what I picked up.

Bike–  My “steed” is a Surly “Long Haul Trucker” with custom wood fenders (one does want a bit of charm).  It weighs about 32 lbs “naked”. Why so heavy? It has a steel frame with heavy-duty rims which are needed to carry all that weight.  There are 27 gears (mountain bike gearing) so one can climb up those mountain passes and live to tell the tale.  The bike, panniers, and racks together weigh about 41 pounds and I haven’t even filled them yet!

Saddle- I love my saddles. That is plural as I have 2 Selle Anatomica saddles. One on my road bike and one on my Surly. They are a little pricey but can one really put a price tag on a “happy bum”. http://www.selleanatomica.com/products/titanico/

Panniers– Ortlieb waterproof. Love ‘um! They don’t make these royal blue ones any more so I’m glad I got them when I did.

Tent:  I bought a new tent in 2013, a Big Agnes Fishhook ul1. (ultra-light, one person).  I had 2 tents, a Eureka Spitfire 1 (for one person), and an REI 2-person. They are both fine tents. That said, I decided early on that I would not be bringing a 2-person tent; it is too heavy (weight is always relative), and my Spitfire, while under 2 lbs, was a bit too small for a 3 month journey.  I bought the Fishhook and tested it out on a 4 day tour in Oregon and it was perfect. I sound a bit like Goldie-Locks, it was “just right”.

The Sleeping Bag–  I kept my money on this one and am using my 1.5 lb Ledger bag 20 degrees.

Mattress– I love my Exped 9 mattress, it is soooo warm and comfy. However, it is a bit time-consuming to blow up and a bit too long for my new tent. It fits, but I want to enjoy my “spacious” quarters. After an extensive internet search I settled on a Klymit Static V mattress and was impressed by its 2.5 inch thickness, 72 inch length, a weight of only 12 oz. Packed, it the size of a large water bottle. I didn’t purchase their insulated option, I think this one will be fine for spring/summer. I can use it under or even in my sleeping bag on a cold night.

Camping Chair– It’s a tough decision. Most campgrounds have tables and cycling hostels have beds and chairs so the decision to bring a camp chair will probably come down to a last-minute decision. Last year I bought a very light camp chair the REI Flex Lite weighing in at 1 lb 12 oz. On my last tour in Oregon I found I used it most days and nights. It assembles quickly so it is not troublesome to bring it out along the side of the road, and in a campsite, it is more comfortable than sitting on a hard wood picnic table.

Cooking Gear–  My stove is a Primus Trail stove that I simply attach to propane. Nothing fancy. I recently purchased a stove shield to protect from wind (I’m thinking Kansas!). I only use 2 cooking pots. One 6-inch aluminum fry pan and a small pot with a lid. After many short and long tours, two pots are adequate. I also have a small kettle (GSI brand, weight, 6oz) for boiling water for morning coffee and washing dishes.

Dishes & Utensils: I really like my Fozzil snap together dishes http://www.fozzils.com/index.html
They are ultralight weight and easy to pack. I will also bring my titanium spork and knife and one sharp folding knife for cutting.

Clothes- I tend to struggle in this area. I either bring too much or too little. For this trip, I am concentrating on layers. Every piece of clothing must have multiple purposes, if not, it stays home.
My current list includes:
1 Rain jacket (breathable fabric)
1 Rain pant (breathable fabric)
1 Wind vest
1 Bolero (light weight  sun sleeves by Terry)
2 Cycling shorts
2 Jerseys (sleeveless)
2 Shirts for around camp after showering
1 Short for around camp after showering
1 Sandals to wear around camp
3 Socks (2 cycling/ 1 for sleeping, Smartwool)
2 sports bras
1 underwear
1 long tights (merlino blend) for sleeping and to wear over cycling shorts on a cold morning.
1 long sleeve shirt (merlino blend for sleeping and to wear over jersey on a cold morning)
1 Swimsuit
1 Bath towel (light-weight)
1 Hand towel (light-weight) (drying dishes and multiple uses)
1 baseball cap (to cover “helmet hair)
Arm warmers

On the bike
Helmet (Giro Aeon)
Cycling shoes (Pearl Izumi mountain bike shoes)
2 Cycling gloves (short and long for cold weather)
Toe covers (for cold weather)
Sunglasses
1 Headband for sweat
Road ID (a must for anyone  http://roadid.com  )

Bike Gear
Pump
Cable Lock (light weight, as a deterent. Of course a loaded touring bike is an inherent determent)
Tire patch kit
Spoke tool
2 Extra tubes
2 Bike lights (head and tail)
Multi-tool
Tire levers
Chain lube

Electronics
Netbook+ charger+mini mouse
Goal Zero solar panel /Extra batteries (to charge phone, lights, etc)
http://www.goalzero.com/p/12/nomad-13-solar-panel/23:2/
Cell phone + charger
Camera + charger
Waterproof/protective netbook case

Other-
 1 Tent Light (Snow Peak Mini Hozuki)
Small First-Aid kit
Folding fabric bucket for washing
1 tube of chamois cream
2 tubes Lidocaine (prescription from doctor, great for sore private parts and insect bites)

Herbs and Supplement
Tumeric/Curcumins
Pycnogenol
Digestive Enzymes
Lact-Aid (so I can enjoy an ice cream or two, or three)
Probiotics
Collagen

 

…to be updated