Touring - Tweek my Packing List

It's snowing here in Toronto. It's been the snowiest winter ever(?) and I'm getiing a bit tired of muching through the snow.

I'm leaving on April 20 to tour Netherlands and Germany. Since I'm stuck inside today, I've been writing my packing list. I've listed it below. Any ideas or additions?



Packing List

Technology


• Unlocked cell phone
• SIM card
• MP-3 player/radio
• Palm pilot, charger and qwerty
• Chargers adapters etc
• Digital camera
• Spare storage for digital/Palm
• Waterproof containers for above

Camping


• Hammock
• Quad fly
• Tent pegs
• Stove
• Fuel
• Matches
• Sauce pan and top
• Hammock light

Food


• Dry breakfast (cereal plus dried milk powder)
• Dry lunch/supper (dehydrated pouches)
• Banana
• Several eggs
• Press-type coffee mug
• Ground coffee
• Water
• Powdered milk
• Oil
• Spices/condiments

Bike


• Pump
• Spare tubes
• Bungees (not dollar store)
• Plastic bags
• Tool kit
• Repair kit

Clothing


• 1 bike shorts
• 3 socks* SML
• fleece top and bottom*
• convertible pants*
• convertible top*
• 2Xunderwear*
• outer top and bottom
• footwear

*wash and dry overnight
coated and waterproof or water-resistant

etc


• snake bite kit (bar)
• first aid kit
• English/local language dictionary

Currency/Plastic


• 1 Visa 1 MasterCard notify before leaving
• $100 in local currency in moneybelt
• bank Interac card

i would think about a couple different pairs of bike shorts.

passport, drivers license, plane tix, bike lock, rain jacket, riding gloves, warm gloves, booties, helmet, hat, 2 shorts, toiletries, prescription meds, towel, maps, chain lube, headlamp, rear blinkie, sleeping bag, thermarest (if needed w/ hammock), warm jacket for off the bike, book, sunscreen, chapstick, bug stuff, sunglasses, bike shoes, riding tights & warm top in case you want dry clothes to wear in camp after a rainy day.

for the waterproof container for the electronic toys, just one waterproof bag for all, don't get a bunch if little waterproof thingies.

leave out the snakebite kit, unless there is some particular reason to think it's going to be really snakey.

buy food and fuel & a lighter when you get there, those can all be a problem in the airport.

I personally vastly prefer nylon straps w/fastex buckles over bungee cords - more secure, less eye-poking-out-y.

oh panniers, you forgot panniers. and a bike maybe.

Lucky you!!!

:)

water bottles,
silverware, (sharp knife)

Duct tape! Zip ties!

I find it remarkable how little overlap there is between what you are bringing and what I would bring. Which just goes to show that other people's suggestions may be perfectly "N/A."

I would ditch almost all the "technology" stuff, except the cell phone. Odds are pretty good that your phone will in fact work in Europe, by the way..

If you're going for more than 2 weeks, I'd bring a spare tire, spare spokes, chain tool, a couple of spare chain links and/or master links.

It's highly unlikely that your clothing will dry out overnight, especially since you don't have a hair-dryer in your packing list. ;) 2 pr bike shorts, 2 bike shirts, 3 base layers, 2 long shirts.

Other stuff: At least $200 in traveler's checks; a book; maps.

I recommend you swing by Bruges and Damme in Belgium if you have the time....

i would think about a couple different pairs of bike shorts.

+1 on one of my early tours I had a "blow out" in the seat of my bike shorts...and no spare pair:o

Aaron:)

travellers checks are obsolete, use atm/visa card

Maybe I'm showing my age (50), but with my emergency repair stuff, I always include a cheapo pair of folding reading glasses - magnifies things enough that I can actually SEE that chain link repair I'm doing.

Click here (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/pics/crazyguyonabike/docs/00/00/13/85/large/mar08_snow.jpg?v=3) first.

That was yesterday, and I did miss a few obvious things like a passport, but I tend to travel light so convertible pants turn into shorts without having to find some place to change. It's the same with breakfast. I eat cereal before I break camp, so I pack shreddies (or any dry cereal) and whole powdered milk together in a small Glad container. Add water, shake well and there's a quick breakfast to tide me over until I make bacon and eggs up the road.

This thread is encuraging me to get the panniers up from the basement and see just what I do carry with me.

Traveler's checks aren't exactly "obsolete." I would not use them for day-to-day use, but are very handy as a backup since they can usually be refunded / replaced in 24 hours. Good luck getting a new ATM card mailed to you that fast. :D

If you can, I highly recommend training with loaded panniers prior to your trip.