Touring - Essential items for a 2K Tour through the USA

Ok,

I'm ordering everything I need for a 2,000 Km tour through Canada and the States.
I'm picking the stuff up on arrival in VC,BC
Its my first tour so I want to make sure I'm not forgetting anything important!

This is my list!

Surly 56cm LHT
Front/rear rack
ortlieb waterproof panniers front and rear
Orlieb handlebar bag
helmet
fenders
lights front and rear
kryptonite lock and cable lock
Brooks saddle
spare inner tube
spare spokes
Bike Tools? (I don't know which I will need/which are essential)
mini pump
1 man tent
sleeping bag
Sleeping bag liner
Sleeping matt
multi fuel stove heating thingy
aluminium wind shield
saucepan
bowl
knife/fork/spoon
kindle

What am I missing?

Cable ties, tire boot, Gorilla tape, small multi tool with needle nose pliers, peanut butter and Snicker bars. You'll be good to go.

Oh, fly the British flag. We like limeys.

Cable ties, tire boot, Gorilla tape, small multi tool with needle nose pliers, peanut butter and Snicker bars. You'll be good to go.

Oh, fly the British flag. We like limeys.

:thumb:
http://www.bikeforums.net/webkit-fake-url://1B9DB05A-CCCE-4A18-A878-E32762133C17/uk-flag-3.jpg

Cable ties, tire boot, Gorilla tape, small multi tool with needle nose pliers, peanut butter and Snicker bars. You'll be good to go.

Oh, fly the British flag. We like limeys.

Whats a Tire Boot?

You plan to buy all of this in canada once you arrive? While that is certainly doable, I am not sure I would be comfortable leaving for a 2000km tour with gear that is unfamiliar.

Whats a Tire Boot?

It is for placing inside of a tire (tyre) that has a cut in the sidewall so that the tube does not bulge out of the cut. It's usually a small plastic card that comes in some park tools patch kits. Some people use a dollar or other random things.

2x spare inner tubes.
traditional patch kit.
mug

Whats a Tire Boot?

http://www.outsideoutfitters.com/p-3798-park-tool-emergency-tire-boot-kit.aspx

The odds of a blow out are tiny. But so is the tire boot (http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-TB-2-Emergency-Tire/dp/B000YBGJRS). Peace of mind. The Gorilla tape would probably do the job. We used both on one tire once. Tape to reinforce the boot. The guy rode that tire for 3 days.

2x spare inner tubes.
traditional patch kit.

One tube is fine as long as you have a patch kit. Total blow outs of two tubes is extremely unlikely, when running touring tires. If one blows you buy another when you pass a shop.

Ok,

I'm ordering everything I need for a 2,000 Km tour through Canada and the States.
I'm picking the stuff up on arrival in VC,BC
Its my first tour so I want to make sure I'm not forgetting anything important!

This is my list!

Surly 56cm LHT
Front/rear rack
ortlieb waterproof panniers front and rear
Orlieb handlebar bag
helmet
fenders
lights front and rear
kryptonite lock and cable lock
Brooks saddle
spare inner tube
spare spokes
Bike Tools? (I don't know which I will need/which are essential)
mini pump
1 man tent
sleeping bag
Sleeping bag liner
Sleeping matt
multi fuel stove heating thingy
aluminium wind shield
saucepan
bowl
knife/fork/spoon
kindle

What am I missing?


Beer

Beer

Actually what you meant to say was.... okay yeah beer. And cash to buy more beer :)

Looks like you'll be making a trip to MEC before your tour starts. Best outdoors stores I've ever been too for high quality gear. Affordable too.....

EDIT: Don't forget to drink our whiskey too.

There are a few things on your list I would not call essential. I just managed a 7000+ km tour without a Kindle, for instance, nor did I carry front panniers or handlebar bag, stove or cook kit.

I would add some spare clothing suitable for your climate and elevations--hat and gloves and raingear, for instance. Carry containers for extra water, maybe water purification if you anticipate that kind of terrain and camping. I carry some toilet paper, a small first aid kit, a toothbrush etc, something to hang food with in bear country, sunscreen and bug repellent. If you carry spare spokes, you'll need a spoke wrench. A chain tool comes in handy, as does a cassette tool. A bicycle multitool and tire levers should round out the basic tool kit.

If at all possible, I would buy and break in the Brooks saddle at home before leaving on the tour. A Kryptonite lock should not be necessary if you are staying out of the inner cities (bike thieves know how to break them in a few seconds, anyway) and are heavy.

Cable ties are nylon zip-ties, right? Those are very handy. Also a vote for 50 feet of nylon line and the first aid kit. And ibruprofen or aspirin tablets. And a few large plastic garbage bags, and maybe a dozen of those gallon-sized slide-lock plastic food storage bags.

What are you riding now?

Mosquito repellent.
Corkscrew
Flashlight/headlamp, unless you can use your bike light

What are you going to prepare (e.g., cut, slice) food on and with? A Lexan plate can double as a cutting board.

I look should do it, you really can't leave a loaded bike locked anywhere where there are sticky fingers anyway, so that cuts down on theft.

MEC now sells a good range of tools, so you can probably get what you need there. What you need for your bike are: Road morph pump, or similar mini floor pump, patches, quick stick. Then you need every tool that fits any part of your bike that you are able to fix. Multi tools are pointless if the half the weight and cost is for someone else's bike. On a few of the bigger things like BB tools, you are not going to want to carry that stuff, and just hope all is well when you set out. For that kind of trip you need the bike to be overhauled by someone who knows touring or other heavy use activities. Everything needs to be tightened for real, and the wheels need to be hand finished.

Here's a few things I would add:

tire levers ;)
chain master links (SRAM)
spare nuts/bolts
cell phone + charger
pad/pen
maps

Multi tools are pointless if the half the weight and cost is for someone else's bike.

I agree with this concept but real world alternatives are not easy. On one tour I did remove unused components from my multi-tool and saved 1.5 ounces reducing it to 4.5 ounces. I tried to put together an individual toolkit which ended up weighing even more. I probably could have purchased some ultra-light individual items and further reduced it, but decided to go with the convenience of the multi-tool.

I'm echoing most of what andrewclaus said, but a little reinforcement can't hurt right?

I would definitely bring a water filter, steripen, or at the very least purification tabs. Tap water is safe to drink but there can be long stretches between towns and you don't want to just dip in to the river (giardia risk).

Also, bear spray and rope/carabiners to hang your food are pretty essential. Most campgrounds don't have bear lockers because they assume people have vehicles! Nothing ruins your trip more than having a bear eat all your food (I've had it happen). Also, squirrels, raccoons, and crows can do the same thing. Harder to keep it away from them though :)

Toilet paper is a very essential and frequently overlooked item. Ditto for any medication you might want. We're a civilized nation, but sometimes towns get sparse.

Where exactly are you planning to go? If you're going anywhere near the mountains (which is kind of unavoidable starting in Vancouver!), you'll probably want a warmer sleeping bag than you might think. I would go with at least a -7 rated mummy bag. This time of year it's already starting to dip down near freezing in the Rockies.

What are you riding now?
I don't have a bike! I'm diving in at the deep end :)

I'm echoing most of what andrewclaus said, but a little reinforcement can't hurt right?

I would definitely bring a water filter, steripen, or at the very least purification tabs. Tap water is safe to drink but there can be long stretches between towns and you don't want to just dip in to the river (giardia risk).

Also, bear spray and rope/carabiners to hang your food are pretty essential. Most campgrounds don't have bear lockers because they assume people have vehicles! Nothing ruins your trip more than having a bear eat all your food (I've had it happen). Also, squirrels, raccoons, and crows can do the same thing. Harder to keep it away from them though :)

Toilet paper is a very essential and frequently overlooked item. Ditto for any medication you might want. We're a civilized nation, but sometimes towns get sparse.

Where exactly are you planning to go? If you're going anywhere near the mountains (which is kind of unavoidable starting in Vancouver!), you'll probably want a warmer sleeping bag than you might think. I would go with at least a -7 rated mummy bag. This time of year it's already starting to dip down near freezing in the Rockies.

I'm going to depart Vancouver in May and head south along the pacific Coast. Unfortunately not going to see a huge amount of Canada. How far down am I going to have to consider bears for?

thanks for all the ideas

In many places along the coast you really need to worry about racoons, not bears.

In many places along the coast you really need to worry about racoons, not bears.
Ah, along the coast. In that case, you need to count on it raining, but not necessarily freezing.

I don't know much about bears along the coast, but racoons are jerks. At least they can't maul you (I don't think...).

What do people do about protecting food from racoons? The last time I was camping on the coast without a car, we didn't even think of it. It was fine, but I suppose we could have just gotten lucky.

I don't know much about bears along the coast, but racoons are jerks. At least they can't maul you (I don't think...).


Apparently you don't want to get between a raccoon mother and her young either

http://www.king5.com/news/Woman-attacked-by-raccoon-in-Lakewood--161961785.html

I don't have a bike! I'm diving in at the deep end :)

Have you biked regularly, even if you don't own one now? Or are you getting into this after a long layoff?

I'm going to depart Vancouver in May...

The single most important advice I can give is get your kit early and use it.

If you have until May to prepare, here are Essential items not mentioned....
Practice, practice, practice.
Practice with your whole kit on weekend and 3 day tours. This way you will find out what works for you.
Practice repairing your bike...Know how to fix a flat, fix a broken chain, adjust brake and gear cables
Practice with your tent sleeping bag, mat , stove. You must be familiar with and know how to use all your equipment... in the dark while it is raining.
Practice long (relatively long) bicycle rides. 30 to 50 miles with a loaded and an unloaded bike.
If you planned a ride on Saturday and it is raining, go for a ride. What are you going to do on tour if it is raining?

If you are in the UK, check out Thorn Cycles. http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/index.html
They build an awesome touring bike called the nomad. I think you can get it with 700 or 26" wheels. My choice would be 700 wheels for the Pacific Coast Highway.

Read about bicycle touring on the internet and in real books. Lots of wisdom to be gleaned from others experience. http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/?o=RrzKj

Most of all, have a good time dreaming and preparing and learning... It's all part of the experience.

Batteries for your lights. Perhaps a solar charger for your phone and Kindle. Tire "irons" to go with the patch kit.

Yeah, raccoons are a problem. Also, May can be a very wet month so good rainwear and a warm sleeping bag are essential.

What do people do about protecting food from racoons? The last time I was camping on the coast without a car, we didn't even think of it. It was fine, but I suppose we could have just gotten lucky.


Eat it. If there is any left over, I take it in my tent with me. You will hear a racoon long before it gets in your tent. And they are easy to shoo away.

I think the OP wants to avoid the hassle of transporting the bike to Portland.

I would buy some of the camping gear ahead of time, such as the lightweight tent, so you can practice setting it up.

Make a couple alcohol stoves out of 3 oz cat food cans and practice heating up a quart of water with them. They weigh 1 oz each and are very easy to make and pack. Maybe also make a modified "simmer Cat" stove, though a pot cozy does away with the need for that.