Size and weight are very important on a self-contained tour, so I’m constantly asking myself whether I really need an item, and seek to make items have multiple uses. For example, the tie-down straps for my sleeping bag will double as a belt for my long pants. Here is the list, likely more than you want to know. Feel free to skip it.
| Packing List for April 2017 Bike Trip | ||
| Roderick | Notes | |
| Clothes | ||
| Helmet | 1 | |
| Sunglasses or goggles | 1 | |
| Reading glasses | 1 | |
| Cycling shoes | 1 | |
| Cycling shorts | 1 | |
| Jacket | 1 | |
| Gloves | 1 | |
| T-shirt | 2 | |
| Jersey | 1 long sleeve | |
| Underwear | 1 | |
| Cycling socks | 3 | |
| Long pants | 1 | |
| Button shirt | 1 | |
| Sweat pants | 1 | |
| Kung-Fu shoes | 1 pair | |
| Shelter | ||
| Sleeping bag | 1 | |
| Tent | 1 | |
| Ensolite sleeping pad | 1 | |
| Groundcloth (tarp) | 1 | 5×7 Harbor Freight free item |
| Inflatable pillow | 2 | |
| rope | ||
| Technology | ||
| Cell Phone | LG tracfone | |
| Charger for above | micro USB cable | |
| GPS | Alcatel smart tracfone | |
| Charger for above | micro USB cable | |
| Netbook | 1 | |
| Charger for above | 1 | |
| Camera | HP 12 MP | |
| SD cards for camera | 2 | |
| Charger for above | n/a | |
| Flash memory reader | 1 | |
| Tripod | 1 | |
| USB memory stick | 4 GB | |
| AA batteries | 2 | plus 2 in camera |
| AA/AAA charger | 1 | |
| 2032 battery | 2 | |
| 386 battery | 2 | |
| Portable phone charger | 1 | |
| Wall USB charger | 2 | so can charge both phones |
| grounding adapter | 1 | |
| Software | ||
| PocketBible | 1 | |
| Gimp | ||
| OpenOffice | ||
| Zoundry Raven | ||
| SYNC Zoundry to Netbook | ||
| Documents | ||
| Wallet | 1 | |
| Passport | 1 | |
| Driver’s License | ||
| Credit or Debit card | ||
| Important contacts printed out and laminated | ||
| Adventure Cycling ID | ||
| Car Insurance card | ||
| Medical Insurance card | ||
| Costco card | ||
| AARP card | ||
| Map printouts, off-route | ||
| Dialup numbers | ||
| Contents of wallet list | ||
| Business cards (bike2017 url) | 200 | |
| Iron on urls | 3 | |
| activation card for smartphone | 1 | |
| Bike Accessories and Tools | ||
| Handlebar bag | 1 | |
| Rear Rack | 1 | |
| Rear Panniers | 1 set | |
| Pump, Compact | 1 | |
| Water Bottle Cages | 2 | |
| Water Bottles | 2 | |
| Rear View Mirror | 1 | |
| Cyclometer | 1 | |
| New Tires before going | 2 | |
| Clip-on LED flasher | 1 | |
| Deraileur cable | 1 | |
| Brake cable | no (non-essential) | |
| Spare tube | 2 | |
| Tire Liners (Mr. Tuffy) | 1 set | |
| Extra spokes | check | |
| Tire boot | 1 | |
| Small bolt (for water bottle, rack, etc) | 1 | |
| Leatherman tool | 1 | |
| Patch kit | 1 | |
| Universal Bike Tool | 1 | |
| Allen wrenches | no | |
| Presta/Schrader adapter | 1 | |
| Tire Irons | 1 | |
| Crescent Wrench | 1 | |
| Chain Tool | 1 | |
| Spoke wrench | 1 | |
| Freewheel tool | 1 | to replace spokes |
| Brake wrench | 1 | nothing worse than scraping brake |
| Duck tape | ||
| Heat Shrink Tubing | 2 | |
| Medicine and Toiletries | ||
| Albuterol inhaler | 1 | |
| Insect Repellent | no | get later as needed |
| Sunscreen | 1 | |
| First Aid Kit | 1 | |
| Ibuprofen | ||
| Campho Phenique | ||
| Cotton swabs | ||
| Toothbrush | ||
| Toothpaste | ||
| Dental Floss | ||
| Toothpick | 1 | |
| Razor | 1 | disposable |
| Towel | 1 | sham wow |
| Nail Clipper | 1 | |
| Toilet paper | 1 pk | a few tissues in ziploc |
| Comb | 1 | |
| Shampoo | 1 | |
| Antihistamine | ||
| Anti-itch lotion | 1 | |
| Vitamins | 1 | |
| tweezers | ||
| tinactin | ||
| Eating | ||
| Pot & Handle, Lid | 1 | |
| Empty 1 Gal water bottle | 1 | fill at pinnacles |
| Cup | 1 | |
| Stove | 1 | |
| Fuel Bottle | 1 | |
| Chopsticks | 1 | |
| Small plastic spatula | ||
| Lighter | 1 | |
| Can opener | no | use leatherman |
| Sponge or scouring pad | ||
| Powdered soap | ||
| Spoon | 1 | |
| Fork | 1 | |
| Instant Coffee | 1 | nescafe pre creamed |
| Freeze Dried Meals | 1 | |
| Salami | some for early | |
| bagels | 6 | dinner, break, lunch from pinnacles |
| energy bars | ||
| cookies | 1 bag | |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| Paper diary | Glyphguy notebook | |
| Pen | 2 | pilot G-2 |
| Sharpie | 1 | |
| piece of chalk | 1 | |
| Stamps | some postcard | |
| LED headlamp | 1 | |
| Maps | 7 adventure cycling | |
| Compass / Thermometer | 1 | |
| Snot rag | 1 | |
| Tie-down straps | 2 | doubles as belt |
| Tie-wraps | assorted | |
| Ziploc bags | some | |
| Clothespins | 2 | |
| Thin shopping bag | 1 | |
| Harmonica | 1 |
(Visited 83 times, 1 visit(s) today)
Gary Gan pointed me to your blog … GO!
Costco card? Really? With your weight restrictions? What can you get at Costco that doesn’t come Giganto Size or in many multiples?
No solar charger? Headlamp? Flashlight?
Don’t forget some QuikClot (or something similar) for your First Aid kit! (I needed some on a hike…good thing that I had it.)
Walt says “One toothpick?! Really?!! ONE?!!!” Lol!
A new camera if my existing one breaks on the road? I don’t know.
I’m posting this as a reflection after finishing the trip. The Costco card was useful. I never set foot inside a single Costco on the trip (Walmarts were common, though). However, the cheapest rent-a-car was through costcotravel.com at the end of the trip.
Right, no solar charger. If I was backpacking, that would have been a good idea. But I was never more than a day from a power outlet, and had my netbook which could be used to charge a phone in a pinch, plus a small external battery which would give me maybe 2/3 of a charge on a phone.
I did have a headlamp, but the fancy REI one went flaky. I got a $9.99 one at some general store along the way, and it worked on its original set of batteries for the whole trip. Also, my external phone charging battery had a tiny white LED, for use in a pinch (and I did use it). Last resort, just using one of the phones for lighting.
QuickClot? Never occurred to me. Direct pressure has always worked well for me, even for a big gash that later needed stitches. No bleeding on this trip though – beyond insect bites and rashes. I was super conservative with my riding, moving WAY over or waiting until it was absolutely safe.
I did pick up a single packaged toothpick at a restaurant on the way, and keep it in my pack. Never used it. I see the point, though – it’s really annoying having something stuck in your teeth, way back where it’s hard to get out. In a pinch, I could have whittled one from a piece of wood lying around. Let’s see, that Oleander bush there looks good… (KIDDING)