My gear needs and wants change every trip.
First bike "tour" was on a single speed Western Flyer with a can opener a bed roll and a canteen, can't remember if we used Sterno or cooked on a camp fire. Things have progressed a bit since then....sort of. I acquire euipment by having a list of things I think I want, I wait for them to pop up on clearance sale or deep discount, when they show up I decide if I really need or want them. If so it gets purchased, if not, it goes to the end of the list. I probably have enough gear to outfit an expedition around the world.
Some of the things I have were bought for backpacking ( a good discipline to use for gear) some other were bought specifically for cycle touring. Others who knows.
To me touring is more a state of mind, the gear is secondary.
Aaron
