Touring - Leaving soon... check over my list??

All, Ill be leaving in a few days for my journey. I start in northern NJ, go west into PA, then up through NY to canada around east and end up in Northern Vermont at a music festival. (Phish) The show is august 13,14,15 and it looks like ill be leaving monday (in 2 days) So ive got all my stuff ready to go, perhaps read over my list and any comments are appreciated..!!
here goes

--Bike--
My Lemond Poprad got 28 38 48 rings & an 11-32 cassette. Front and rear racks, nashbar panniers f&r. fenders, Panaracer Pasela TG's 32mm on a 36 spoke ritchey wheelset. NO heel rub on bags, inches to spare!! The front fender and my feet are another story though. I'll adapt. Small handlebar bag (with a dinosaur on it. . its a small tubular one for a kids bike... but its a Jandd! : ) custom padded grips, front and rear led lights, computer. 2 large waterbottles. (plus a 32oz nalgene in the bags)

--Sleeping--
-Kelty Crestone 1 tent.. (best vestibule on a small namebrand cheap tent)
-3/4 length 1.5" thermarest pad that gets wrapped up with my
2 polar fleee blankets and my
cotton sheet (bag liner) and goes into my
OR waterproof kayaker bag.
-chunk'o yellow foam pillow.
-fatty socks for sleeping in.

--Wearing--
-4 pairs of cycling socks.
-2 pairs of cycling shorts.
-synthetic long johnnies for sleeping/cold mornings.
-synthetic tops; long sleeve, normal sleeve, no sleeve.
-another tanktop for riding in.
-bathing suit.
-pair of normal shorts and boxers stowed away for the festival.
-my riding shoes.
-pair of flip flops.
-campmor raincape.
-mesh mosquito headnet.
-sunglasses.
-Helmet.

--documentation/recreation--
-digicam, charger.
-sketchpad, pen, sharpie.
-tape recorder, 3 tapes.
-tiny radio; am, fm, weather, tv bands.

--camper stuff--
-small firesticks.
-bic lighter.
-strike anywhere matches in a waterproof case.
-bowl.
-spork.
-knife.
-minimaglite.
-32oz Nalgene bottle.
-camper liquid soap.
-washcloth.
-sunblock.
-bug spray.
-big mesh bag for drying stuff out.
-antibacterail wipes travel pack.
-shampoo/conditioner trial size.
-first aid kit with big big gauzepads, advil, scalpel (jk!)
-contacts/solution.

--Macgyver stuff--
-crank bros multitool.
-patch kit.
-2 tubes.
-leatherman. (chinaman)
-fiberfix spoke.
-pocket duct tape.
-poly twine.
-2 large black zip ties.

I think thats it...
I have 2.5 and 1 gallon ziplocks for all this "in pannier" stuff.
I plan on eating along the way and stowing simple food for riding time and at night. I have a 3 day run to get to my sisters house and check that everything is Okay, and then I head north to wander into NY, Canada and then Vermont. My route is as unplanned as it could possibly be at this time (getting my maps today) and I really plan on keeping the route 100% flexible. I think I have ample time. .

Anyone with riding experience in western/northern NY state, canada, vermont area?? How about crossing into Canada? I'll be bringing my passport.. Any packing advise?

thanks for looking it over and any words of advise!! Ill post a pic of the bike before I leave!

~Steve

yeah.. toothpaste/toothbrush TP.. got those too : )
~S

Vermont's Route 100 btw Killington & Waterbury is a must ride... stop at Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury for a tour and free samples! Smuggler's Notch and Stowe is nice also.

Have you taken a trial run all loaded up???? I would suggest you do so.
Then come home and get rid of about 1/2 of what your taking. Take ONLY the
bare essentials, forget anything that your taking for "comfort" Did you include
a chain tool? Have you considered how you will handle dogs? pepper spray?
They are a real issue. We toured with a trailer and when you get out there
in the hills of Tennessee...every ounce counts! Have fun and be safe! GBY!

Hi,
I agree with Arnie, too much stuff. However, I'd add a paperback to the list. Light reading, even something trashy, is a must. Lose the rain cape, your bike shop should carry 3M rain jackets. They only cost $30, weigh almost nothing, and work well. You should do an overnighter as a shakedown cruise. You need to know what works, what doesn't, and it will give you a better idea
about what you want to leave behind.

Your gearing may still be too high, i don't know how steep your route is. i'm running a 26x34 low gear.

leave home:
pillow, use clothes inside the sleeping bag stuff sack, put a shirt on the outside of the bag
2 pairs cycling socks is enough, wash all your cycling clothes in a sink overnight, dry on the bike during the day
firesticks
nalgene - if you need another water bottle, buy a bottle of water

add:
tire levers (if not on your multi tool)
a couple of small hose clamps - good for fixing racks, tent poles
more zip ties... you can never have enough zip ties
chain lube, rag
tiny amount of grease (for pedals, bolts)
tiny locktite
couple spare bolts for your rack
couple space chain links, a pin
one spare brake pad
one spare cleat for clipless pedals
wallet, w/ health insurance card, ID, passport
list of phone numbers/addresses - family, friends, bank, passport number, D/L #
book

i don't know your multi tool, make sure it has (or bring separate):
1) chain breaker
2) pedal wrench, if you're shipping your bike back & packing it yourself
3) 4mm allen key is long enough to reach your break-lever bolts (if you have road levers)

HAVE FUN!!!

I like to take a few spokes, esp rear drive side. If you have a common wheel setup, a local bike shop may have them, but not always. Kevlar replacement spokes are a good option.

Jimbo thanks for the Vermont rt100 tip, Ill see if I can get on that..

Yes I have gone on a trial ride with more weight than I will ever be carrying.. it went OK.. My gearing still may be a bit high! hmm yeah I found this out already. oh well !

chaintool, got it on the multi..
extra small assortient of bolts and nuts plus locktite, got all that in a little case.
pillow, need my pillow, it weighs almost nothing.. going to be going slow and comfortable.. thats my plan at least. I dont want to be looking for stuff to make a pillow out of when its raining and I am tired.
tire levers got em..
small paperback, got it (2)

I was thinking about pepper spray.. shooting water at dogs, does that work?? i can pick some up on the way at a hunting store I know of.
The first leg of the trip ends up 3 days later at my sisters house. I can evaluate my setup when I get there and leave stuff or get stuff.

thank you all.

~Steve

The vital missing part is a corkscrew! Modern multitools are wonderful apart from this one glaring omission and nothing beats good wine on tour.

Have fun

Steve -- consider

SUBTRACTING:
* one polar fleece blanket (nights unlikely get below 50). Sleep in the liner directly atop
the ThermaRest mattress.
* matches (new butane lighter is enough)
* knife (use the one on your Leatherman)
* insect spray (see below)
* the radio and the book Thrust yourself 24/7 into the new and unfamiliar; don't allow
yourself these crutches to fall back on. Don't equate idle time with boredom;
boredom is not Time's fault. Savor this adventure as it comes.

ADDING
* spare brake and derailleur cable
* Halt/pepper spray (dogs, plus you'll be camping in bear country). Illegal in Canada.
* pump & pressure gauge (assume you forgot to list those)
* lock & cable (for the festival if nothing else)
* 50-ft cord for hoisting food (those bears again)
* 100% DEET with a Q-tip (just dot it here and there--no need to cover 100%.) Compact.
* extra set of camera batteries. Charging mid-day eats up road time.
* extra camera memory

A comment on your chosen route: I love auto traveling in Canada, but from my admittedly-incomplete observation of southern Ontario, the shoulders often aren't as generous as you might like. Some backroads I've ridden have gravel shoulders. Also, the Canadian route over Lake Ontario looks pretty populated. You might consider going through NY instead. There's a bikeway from Niagara Falls to Palmyra (east of Rochester), and then you're pretty much in the country after that. The Adirondacks are easy mountains to ride, and are quite bike friendly. You could cross into VT at several points.

Have a great time, however you do it!

Lew

Hi,
some people are readers, some are not. I am. I always have something kicking around waiting to be read. Usually several somethings. I can't imagine going on a trip without a good book.
In a month I'll be in a little town in Maine. A town most people in Maine have never heard of. I was there about ten years ago, on a bike.
I got into town, sore and tired, but midday. I showered, and ate, and had no desire whatsover to leave the airconditioned room and go back out into an afternoon that was both hot and humid. Even if it had been cool, I wanted to rest a while. So I pulled out a Micheal Chrichton book, and read the whole thing.

Steve -- consider

SUBTRACTING:
...
* the radio and the book Thrust yourself 24/7 into the new and unfamiliar; don't allow
yourself these crutches to fall back on. Don't equate idle time with boredom;
boredom is not Time's fault. Savor this adventure as it comes.

...
Have a great time, however you do it!
...
Lew

Lew, you rule. You must have the best tours ever. You really know how to appreciate life, not just roll past it. Thanks for taking the time to share your wisdom with all of us folks here on the electronic superhighway.... hope I see you out on the back roads some day.

Cheers,
Anna

Lew, you rule. You must have the best tours ever. You really know how to appreciate life, not just roll past it. Thanks for taking the time to share your wisdom with all of us folks here on the electronic superhighway.... hope I see you out on the back roads some day.

Cheers,
Anna

Thanks, Anna. I try! Sorry to say, I had to reach retirement age before some of that sunk in. BTW, I'm not at all anti-reading on bike tours, but I do think that picking up the town's newspaper is better than book cargo. That way, at least the next morning's breakfast gossip at the local cafe will make more sense.

Lew

I was thinking about pepper spray.. shooting water at dogs, does that work?? i can pick some up on the way at a hunting store I know of.

Think about how you're going to carry it and use it. Could you really pull pepper spray out from your pocket, aim it and fire accurately while riding along -- while ensuring that you don't get any of the fumes yourself?

Just something to think about.

thanks again guys.. Im off in 10 minutes.

As for a book.. I have a book Ive been saving for months for this trip, an Alan Watts that I haven't read having to do with Man and nature and Taoism. So this is coming along.

I may leave the second blanket, we'll see after a few days. . I can leave it at my sisters.

ride on..
~Steve

I was just thinking. Why not:

-- bring a book. Any one will do, depending on your literary tastes. That way you can avoid i) sleeping pills and/or ii) toilet paper. For weight reduction, tear out the pages you have read.

-- bring a spare tire? I'm not facetiously referring to the one around your waist that you will burn off ... I mean a spare 32 mm.

-- bring a small radio. Perhaps something AM-FM walkman-style. (Too much weight?)

-- if you bring a Leatherman, you will not need to bring dog spray, if you get my drift. (Kidding, kidding.)

-- vitamins? I.e., a multi.

I realize this is an old thread but I imagine it still gets read by newbies like me who are dreaming of "The Tour".

I just wanted to make a comment about the radio. If and when, I'm definately taking one.

I understand Meanderthal's comment about not hiding in music etc, but I think a radio is a safety thing. How many times have you started off on a clear, sunny morning and hit major rain before noon? How about Prairie Nasties like tornados and lightning? I think access to the local weather and news is a nescesity. What you heard at a coffeeshop at 7:00am may well no longer be accurate in several hours or fifty miles.

If a person has neck problems or difficulty sleeping, a familliar pillow isn't exactly a luxoury either.

Regarding Halt! or pepper spray, I've heard ordinary ammonia and water in a squirt gun or spray is a low cost, effective and legal deterrent. It also won't permanantly hurt the animal. A little brightly coloured plastic squirt gun, the kind you get as a party favour, ought to hold enough to give you a chance to escape.