The idea is to design your bicycle touring equipment kit list so well that you don't even need to think about it when you go on your cycle trip. To begin with you will have to get used to being on the road and living out of your panniers but you should soon get used to it and good system going which allows you to concentrate on the experiences of traveling by bike without your equipment distracting you. It should not be a distraction or frustration.
As soon as Tom and I set ourselves the goal of doing a massive cycle trip, it became apparent that we would have to consider our equipment carefully. We would need the right clothing, bike equipment, camping and survival equipment for life on the road.
We are both essentially mountain bikers which is why the kit we decided to take leaned towards mountain biking rather than skinny-tyred road touring. The list here reflects that. In hindsight I would recommend tailoring your personal kit list to the type of touring you will be doing.
Kit list
Clothing:-
- Lycra shorts
- Long sleeved breathable base layer
- Short sleeved breathable base layer
- Sports-style shorts (for casual and over-the-top of lycra wearing) such as the Kona Stuff shorts.
- Pair of sturdy boots (can go for the Shimano Trans-Alp boot or perhaps a comfortable walking boot) – whatever is comfortable is best, but you will be living in them.
- Couple of pairs of cottons socks (we also had special breathable socks called 1000-mile socks which wicked the sweat away very well).
- A breathable fleece jumper / jacket from a reputable brand
- A waterproof jacket - cycling specific shaped is ideal
- Waterproof trousers (£7 from Aldi!)
- 1 pair of underwear - whatever is most comfortable although a thong might be more practical for washing
- 1 smart cotton shirt - perfect for cocktail parties and champagne receptions
- 1 pair of lightweight cotton trousers for loafing
- Gloves - I had fingerless for the summer from Decathlon but full finger gloves for the winter.
- Oakley sunglasses or equivalent high quality pair - sunglasses are an essential piece of kit and it's worth investing in a decent pair
- Helmet
- At least 1 Buff headwear item
Additional luxury items:-
- Pair of waterproof socks from Sealskin (not that waterproof but warm - they melt well in fires too)
Camping Equipment:-
- MSR Dragonfly stove (or Trangia multi-fuel) - will burn petrol, diesel, alcohol, meths, parafin, etc etc
- MSR Miniworks water filter
- Vaude Hogan Ultralight tent (weighing in at 1.4kg) - the pole break after a couple of years
- Mountain Equipment sleeping bag - I've got the -25 comfort one. Warmer sleeping bags are generally heavier.
- Silk sleeping bag liner - bought off ebay.
- Multi-tool (Gerber or Leatherman- although most of the tools now broken off the leatherman)
- First Aid Kit
- Czech ex-army pan set (from Ebay)
Additional luxury items:-
- Hunting knife (e.g. finnish hunting knife, british army knife)
- Spork / cutlery
Bike Fixing kit:-
- Alien Multi-tool
- Puncture repair kit
- Cassette tool
Additional Luxury items:-
- Mini adjustable spanner
- Bottom bracket tool
- Crank extractor tool
- Cone spanners
- Spare tube
Additional luxury items:-
- British army issue poncho
- British army issue bivvy bag
Bike:-
- Kona Explosif or Caldera Frame
- Sun Rhynolyte Rims on Shimano XT hubs with DT swiss butted stainless spokes
- Schwalbe Marathon XR 2.25 touring tyres
- Magura Odur touring forks
- Adjustable stem
- Yeti lock on grips
- Cheap pair of bar ends
- Shimano 8-speed rapidfire gear shifters
- Shimano XT front mechanism
- Shinano XTR rear mechanism
- Fibrax, Clarks, or Shimano XT gear cable inner and outer
- Magura Louise Brakes, levers and discs
- FSA X-Drive cranks
- Wellgo V12 copy flat-pedals
- SRAM 8-speed chain
- Shimano XT 8-speed cassette
- Bontrager seatpost (although Easton or Thomson preferred)
- Brooks Champion Flyer Saddle (became mis-shapened over time.)
- Tubus Logo rear pannier rack
- Carradice Super-C Panniers
- Extrawheel Voyager single-wheel trailer with Crosso panniers
- Chris King Nothreadset
Bike spares:
- 2 8-speed chains
I will be adding / editing this list and putting it as a page after a few weeks for reference purposes. Hope you find it useful and please contact me if you have any questions.
Bike Touring Equipment Basics.
When Tom and I started out on Ride Earth we were both essentially mountain bikers which is why the kit we eventually decided to take leaned towards mountain biking rather than skinny-tyred road touring.
As soon as we had set ourselves the goal of doing a massive trip, it became apparent that we would have to consider our equipment carefully.
We would need the right clothing, bike equipment, camping and survival equipment for life on the road.
Kit list
Clothing:-
Lycra shorts
Long sleeved breathable base layer
Short sleeved breathable base layer
Pair of sports-style shorts (for casual and over-the-top of lycra wearing)
Pair of sturdy boots (can go for the Shimano Trans-Alp boot or perhaps a comfortable walking boot) – whatever is comfortable is best, but remember you will be living in them.
Couple of pairs of cottons socks (we also had special breathable socks called 1000-mile socks which wicked the sweat away very well).
A fleece
A waterproof jacket
Waterproof trousers
1 pair of underwear
1 smart cotton shirt
1 pair of lightweight cotton trousers for loafing
Gloves
Oakley sunglasses or equivalent high quality pair
Helmet
At least 1 Buff headwear item
Additional luxury items:-
Pair of waterproof socks from Sealskin (not that waterproof but warm)
Camping Equipment:-
MSR Dragonfly stove (or Trangia multi-fuel)
MSR water filter
Vaude Hogan Ultralight tent
Mountain Equipment sleeping bag
Silk sleeping bag liner
Multi-tool (Gerber or Leatherman- although most of the tools now broken off the leatherman)
First Aid Kit
Additional luxury items:-
Hunting knife (e.g. finnish hunting knife, british army knife (http://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/482-British-Army-Knife/))
Bike Fixing kit:-
Alien Multi-tool
Puncture repair kit
Cassette tool
Additional Luxury items:-
Mini adjustable spanner
Bottom bracket tool
Crank extractor tool
Cone spanners
Spare tube
Additional luxury items:-
British army issue poncho
British army issue bivvy bag
Bike:-
Kona Explosif or Caldera Frame
Sun Rhynolyte Rims on Shimano XT hubs with DT swiss butted stainless spokes
Schwalbe Marathon XR 2.25 touring tyres
Magura Odur touring forks
Adjustable stem
Yeti lock on grips
Cheap pair of bar ends
Shimano 8-speed rapidfire gear shifters
Shimano XT front mechanism
Shinano XTR rear mechanism
Fibrax, Clarks, or Shimano XT gear cable inner and outer
Magura Louise Brakes, levers and discs
FSA X-Drive cranks
Wellgo V12 copy flat-pedals
SRAM 8-speed chain
Shimano XT 8-speed cassette
Bontrager seatpost (although Easton or Thomson preferred)
Brooks Champion Flyer Saddle (became mis-shapened over time.)
Tubus Logo rear pannier rack
Carradice Super-C Panniers
Extrawheel Voyager single-wheel trailer with Crosso panniers
Chris King Nothreadset
No comments:
Post a Comment