One of the questions that we were asked in our “Over to You” blog was about kit; what we have with us, what’s been treasured, what’s worked well and what hasn’t been useful or lasted. I’ve already done a pretty full geek out on “Our Bikes” so this was just going to be a list of things that we carry with us on those bikes. Sarah’s convinced me that if I did that, I’d be (once again) creating the world’s most boring blog post. So at the end of this blog (and a few comments during) we’ve included some thoughts on kit which has been treasured, lasted well or has been ditched.
There’s quite a bit of detail below – but I’m hopeful this will be useful for Sarah and I in years to come, but also provide some information on kit as a thank you to the many people that we’ve learnt from and studied along the way! We’re travelling as a duo, which opens up some efficiency (oh the romance) in what we pack… double the people doesn’t double all the gear! We’ve also tried to find the right balance (for us) on being lightweight for easy cycling vs comfort for such a long adventure. We’ve also had the challenge of packing for several different climates and seasons – we’ve slept and cycled in wet, sub-zero conditions. But we’ve also slept (and cycled!) in 100% humidity with hot days and equally hot nights. It’s also worth noting we’ve sent things back and bought things where needed, so this list has changed a bit. It’s up to date for cycling in Canada in early Spring (so some hot days and cold nights).
In the interests of time – I won’t include every brand or model of each bit of kit, and I definitely won’t be linking to them. I’ll let you Google that!
Matt
On his person:
Smartwool Merino Cycling Socks, Smartwool ankle socks (double layered!)
Giro Rumble VR MTB Shoes (these have been brilliant for being clipped in whilst cycling, but good enough to wear all day including a bit of off the bike walking)
Prescription Sunglasses
POC Ventral Air SPIN helmet
Icebreaker Merino T-Shirt
Kohn Merino Long Sleeve
Alpkit Strada Shorts (phone and wallet hopefully in his pockets)
Giro Cycling Mitts
Frame mounted:
2 x 1.0L SiS Water Bottles
1 x 0.7L Flask (good for hot drinks and cold)
Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 GPS Unit
Cateye Volt 1700 Front Light
Cateye Omni 5 Rear Light
Topeak Peakini II Bike Pump
1 x Inner tube strapped to the frame
Framebag (Alpkit Stingray – custom made)
This is a bit of a man drawer… easy to throw stuff in! Typically it has:
Warm things to hand: Merino neck buff/gaiter, long fingered gloves and a merino skull cap (which I can wear under my helmet if it’s chilly)
Krypton Chainlock and a cable (pretty heavy, but really good)
Bike Multitool (Crankbrothers M17)
Sun cream – SPF50
Swiss Army Knife – The best gift ever from my big brother when I was a teenager!
Snacks – Often bananas or cereal bars
Bike oil – Usually 50ml of dry lube, to stop the chain attracting dirt but wears out quickly
Glasses case (containing his other glasses)
Front Fork Bags (2×5.8L Ortlieb Fork-Pack)
Left – Mountain Equipment Helium 400 Sleeping Bag (Long)
Right – Mountain Equipment Helium 400 Sleeping Bag (Women’s Regular)
Rear Pannier Bags (2x20L Ortlieb Back Roller Classic)
Left Pannier (We use Alpkit Medium Packing Cubes to organise our things)
Cube 1 – Waterproofs: Endura MT500 II Waterproof Jacket, Endura GV500 Waterproof Trousers
Cube 2 – Footwear: Havaiana Sandals, Merrell Vapor Glove Luna Lightweight Trainers, 1 x Evening socks
Cube 3 – Non-Cycling Costume: Alpkit Woodsmoke Shirt, Icebreaker Merino T-Shirt, 1xBoxers, Lightweight REI hiking trousers
Internal Zip Pocket: USB Charging Cables, Small Battery Pack, Jabra Elite 7 Active In-Ear Headphones, Fast-Charge USB Plug (bought a new one in each country), Petzl Bindi USB Rechargeable Headtorch
Wash Bag: Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Nail Clippers, Earplugs, Shower Gel, Antifungal Cream, Antibacterial Cream, REI lightweight towel/flannel
Loose: iPad, Kindle, Mont Bell ClimaMesh Plus Jacket (windproof and warm-ish layer),
Right Pannier
Cube 1 – Food Bag: Airtight container for ground coffee, Curry powder, Emergency meal for two (typically a bag of rice or pre-mix risotto), Stolen sachets of tea, sugar and hot chocolate, Pre-mix flavoured porridge sachets. Plus some food for probably the next 24 hours – see our “food blog” for what that usually entails, but is likely lots of porridge, bananas and bagels!
Trangia Bag: Trangia Tundra III-D Cooking Set (Pan x2, Frying Pan, Lid). Inside the smaller pan is an Alpkit Kraku Gas Stove Top, Washing up sponge, Washing up liquid, Collapsible pan handle, Spatula and Lighter
Internal Zip Pocket: Disposable daily contact lenses, Biro, Silicon sealant repair tube, Daily diary
Windproof Stove Screen
Loose: 0.5L propane screw-top gas bottle, Macpac down jacket, AeroPress Coffee Plunger, 2x SeaToSummit 1.1L collapsible bowls, 2x Titanium Mugs (with an Osprey Ultralight 18L Rucksack stuffed inside), Big Agnes Zoom UL Sleeping Pad (Wide/Long Version), Sleeping sheet (double duvet case chopped in half)
Dry-Bag strapped to top of Pannier Rack: Ortlieb Medium Weight 22L Dry Bag
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV Ultralight3 Tent – Bikepacking Edition
Copper Spur 3 Groundsheet (to protect the thin tent floor)
Turkish Airline Mini-Pillow (stolen as they were horrible to me and it’s light and comfy)
0.3L Alpkit Top Tube/Bento Bag:
Sinewave AC to DC Conversion Unit, to charge GPS Unit from my dynamo wheel hub, USB cable, Tub of sugar free chewing gum, Puncture repair kit, Shower cap to keep my Brooks leather saddle dry at night
Sarah
On her person (clothing swapped out with alternates in rear right pannier when needed)
Decathlon running socks, if cold double-layered with Smartwool Merino Running socks
Giro Rumble VR MTB Shoes
Prescription Sunglasses
Giro helmet
Icebreaker merino t-shirt
Icebreaker merino bra
Alpkit hiking shirt (if cool/very sunny)
DHB shorty padded cycling shorts
Giro Cycling Mitts
Garmin Forerunner watch
Spiral hair bobble
Greenstone heart necklace (Christmas present from Matt in NZ)
Frame Mounted:
2 x 0.75L SiS Water Bottles
1 x 0.5L Flask (good for hot drinks and cold)
Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 GPS Unit
Cateye Volt 100XC Front Light
Cateye Omni 5 Rear Light
1 x Inner tube strapped to the frame
Handlebar/Handbag: Ortlieb Ultimate Six Compact Free 2.7L Bag
This bag is super handy as it unclips easily from the mount and has a crossover strap so can be used on and off bike and even pairs well with little black dress for evening use!
Prescription glasses in case (to swap out with sunglasses)
Alpkit titanium cutlery set x2 to grab for lunch/snacks that can’t be eaten with fingers
Jabra Elite Earbuds (occasional podcast listening on quiet off-road trails, and at campsites)
Ibuprofen to help with some joint pain
Tissues
Burt’s Bees lipbalm
Sun cream SPF 50
Wallet with local currency, bank card, drivers licence, and some rogue bits of non-local currency which annoys Matt!
2 x passports (in plastic pockets purchased in Japan as they were starting to get dog-eared)
iPhone 13 mini
Front Fork Bags (2×5.8L Ortlieb Fork-Pack)
Right Bag
Wash bag: Toothbrush and toothpaste, tweezers, nail scissors, razor, face cream, cream to soothe psoriasis, shower gel, face wipes, ear plugs, spare hair bobble, MoonCup in pouch, eyeliner and mascara
First Aid Kit: Scissors, Rehydration sachets, Plasters, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Mini sewing kit, Compeed blister covers, Antihistamines, Fan, Codeine, Tylenol, Korean bottle of something that stings, Wound dressing wrap, Emergency filling pot, Latex gloves, Scalpel, Suture kit, Foil blanket, Steri-Strips
Montbell flannel
Petzl head torch
North Face long fingered gloves
Macpac merino blend warm hat
Body/wet wipes for no showering scenarios
Anker 20100mAh battery pack
Left Bag
Endura waterproof trousers – these are the only suitable women’s specific cycling waterproof trousers I could find and I HATE them. Uncomfortable due to poor fit and too bulky
Buff neck warmer
High-vis bib previously used for running at night (worn over other clothes when traffic busy)
Endura waterproof jacket
Rab lightweight soft shell jacket
Macpac down jacket (all of these items are handy for arriving at campsites when it’s easy to get cold quickly and if it starts raining en route)
Rear Pannier Bags (2×12.5L Ortlieb Sport Roller Classic)
Left Pannier
Alpkit drawstring stuff sack (small) x3:
1: 3x spare decathlon running socks, 7x M&S knickers, REI hiking socks, UniQlo heat-tech thin socks
2: Jewellery purchased by Matt for me en route – bangle from Thailand, silver necklaces from Turkey and Japan. Mini sewing kit, charger cable for watch, notebook and pencil, Sea to Summit washing line, small body moisturiser, UNO, MontBell trowel
3: Daily contact lenses, Hair wash stuff: Ethique curly specific shampoo and conditioner solid blocks in Alternative soap tins, BB curl gel product.
Alpkit cube 1: Merrell lightweight/barefoot running shoes, Teva sandals (purchased in South Korea to replace Havaiana flip flops which wore out. I LOVE my Tevas, great for cycling in when hot, showering, walking and pair nicely with the little black dress for evenings out)
Mesh zip pocket: Kindle e-reader, the odd ‘flat’ souvenir – e.g. postcards
Toolbag: Derailler hanger for each bike, Spare chain link, Brooks saddle cream, Brooks saddle spanner, Various zip ties, DIY single speed conversion kit for rear derailleur failure, Tyre boots, Spare inner tube, Brake pads, Various size bolts and some nuts, Gear cable, Brake cable, Mini-cable cutters, Bit of gaffer tape and electric tape, Mini-pot of copper slip and grease, Spanner tool, Splint for tent pole breakages
Right Pannier
Cube 2: Icebreaker merino long-sleeve, Icebreaker merino t-shirt, UniQlo heattech long-sleeve, REI hiking trousers, decathlon t-shirt, Icebreaker merino bra, Rapha shorts (non padded), Endura short cycling shorts (padded), Lululemon leggings
Cube 3: Cotton sleeping bag liner, Alpkit inflatable pillow, Boden bikini, Patagonia little black dress (this is a major hit!), decathlon cotton vest for sleeping in, buff neck warmer used to put hair in at night (don’t ask)
Loose: Big Agnes wide/regular Q-core deluxe sleeping pad, Alpkit Soundbite mini speaker and lamp
Dry-Bag strapped to top of Pannier Rack: Ortlieb Medium Weight 22L Dry Bag
2x Helinox Zero Chair. So pleased we brought these – they’re light and not too bulky and elevate evenings camping hugely. No sitting on the floor for us!
Turkish airlines pillow/pillow case
Karrimor travel towel (used as an insulating layer under my sleeping pad more often than as a towel)
A few thoughts on our kit:
Kit has been critical to this trip. Having things which aren’t reliable is a pain – but expecting kit to work every day, when you use it every day, is unrealistic. Though we’ve not been crazy hardcore and cycled through all the ‘Stans and ‘Jans… we’ve pushed kit a lot!
We spent a lot for time researching stoves, and set off with an MSR Whisperlite Universal (you can put pretty much any flammable liquid in it, pressurise it, and then cook). It’s a decent bit of kit (people seem to love them or hate them) – but we’ve found screw-top gas in all 25 countries we’ve been to. So our ultralight screw-on stove has been perfect – instant flame, always burns clean and is a lot lighter and less bulky. If we were to cycle through Africa or South America, we’d need it – but we sent it back and haven’t regretted it once.
Our Big Agnes tent has been great. It’s the bikepack edition, which has a number of modifications. Some of these (helmet holders in the porch) are a bit silly, but the best item is the short pole system it uses. It makes for an incredibly light and compact bag when folded up. We also chose the tent as we have a side entrance and a side porch each, rather than one at each end or one in total. This trip has been intense, and having some sense of privacy and control (my side of the tent, my mess in the porch) aided by the tent has worked well. On paper, it’s a 3-person tent. I think that would be a little cosy, but I would strongly recommend people always go a size up for sharing a tent. The space is so nice for longer trips and when the weather turns.
Merino stuff has worked well – socks, bras, shirts… it’s all taken a beating from wind, sun, sweat and has remained relatively fragrant! Contrary to the thoughts of friends and family, it’s been quite easy to stay clean and odour free. Our mantra has been to keep ourselves clean, and the clothes stand a chance. It’s worked!
You may note that Sarah has more clothes with her than Matt, and certainly more underwear. This probably isn’t a surprise, but as a woman it has been important to have some semblance of looking ‘nice’ on the trip which has meant having a couple of luxuries, including the Patagonia little black dress!
Technology has made this trip so much easier, and a very different experience to some of the kind people we’ve stayed with in WarmShowers who may have toured round a few decades ago! Our iPhones allow us to share routes, share food/camping/sightseeing locations in a shared Google Maps list. We can find, compare and book hotels and motels. We can see on Strava where other cyclists often cycle using GPS heat maps, to work out where is safe. GoogleMaps Streetview is used every day to check what a trail looks like (where it crosses a road, so you can see up it) or what a road and its hard shoulder/busy-ness looks like. Komoot has been brilliant for route plotting in every country we’ve been in, with nearly all bike lanes and dedicated routes marked. And in each country we purchase an eSIM card, which allows us to use data on our phones (so we can WhatsApp home, or use Skype to call campsites and check they’re open etc).
A lot of our kit comes from AlpKit, a British brand which we’ve enjoyed using for a while now. We find their gear is a usually perfect mix of performance, cost and durability (and supply chain ethics!)
Some of you may be a bit alarmed by how everything has a certain place… it hasn’t always been this way, but getting organised has meant that unpacking and packing at campsites is far quicker. That certain bags can remain unopened if we’re staying inside. That all food and cooking stuff is in one bag. That things stay dry whilst we get the tent up and ready inside. That we know where things are when out and about (critical if it’s raining!) and that the bikes remain balanced.
And, one for a certain member of the family who will enjoy this if they’ve read this far, our ‘peak’ item inside a bag in a bag in a bag is our camp stove. Which sits in a tiny drawstring bag to protect it. Which goes in a drawstring bag of kitchen items (sponge, soap, etc), which goes in a saucepan, which goes in the saucepan bag to protect the non-stick frying pan that they rest in, which goes in the Trangia bag, which goes in my rear right pannier bag. Phew. (Anyone for a brew?)
Leave a Reply