velo2000

Hi all. I'm preparing for my first self-supported tour and I would appreciate feedback on my gear list from you more experienced bike tourists. I'm riding from Denver to Alaska and back. I'll be leaving in late June or early July and plan to be on the road for about 3 to 3.5 months. I plan to camp as much as I can, but will stay in hostels or motels on occasion if I want to. I'll be riding my old mountain bike which is currently my commuter bike. Most of the components will be fairly new (1.5 years old or newer).

I'm hoping to take a weekend test trip or two this Spring to fine tune my packing list, but if you notice anything I'm missing or something I'm planning to bring which I can do without, let me know. Thanks! - Alan

Bike: Notes in italics
1995 Trek 970 frame
Surly 1x1 fork
Deore crankset
LX cassette
Sram 951 chain
Deore rear derailleur
LX front derailleur
Nashbar Trekking Handlebar
Fizik handlebar gel and tape
Trek stem original stem
Deore rapidfire shifters
Avid Shorty 6 Brakes
Shimano canti brake levers
computer w/ cadence
Mirrycle mirror
Trek seatpost original seatpost
Brooks B17 Saddle
Truant Designs waterproof seat cover https://www.truantdesigns.com/
Tubus "Cargo" rear rack
Jandd Low front rack
Bike Packer Plus rear panniers
Sport Packer Plus front panniers
Jandd waterproof handlebar bag
XT hubs, 36 hole
Mavic 719 rims, DT DB spokes
SKS Fenders
Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires (26x1.35)
cable lock
bottle cages
rear flasher light
Wellgo WPD-95B pedals (like Shimano 324)
kickstand (decided not to get one)

Clothes:
2 Pair Cycling Shorts maybe 3?
3 cycling jerseys and/or coolmax or smartwool t-shirts?
nylon swim shorts
midweight long sleeve undershirt smartwool
midweight fleece tights
1 pair pants nylon, zip off legs, bug proof?
boxers 2 pair?
3 pair smartwool cycling socks
1 pair heavier socks ?
1 pair hytrel socks and/or neoprene cycling shoe covers?
REI rain jacket
REI rain pants
cycling gloves
full-finger gloves ?
Headsweats glove covers thin & packable but wind & water resistant
balaclava
waterproof helmet cover (shower cap)
helmet
sunglasses
watch NTB?
Lake MX 165 mtn bike shoes
Chacos sandals
mosquito head net
hat

Camp:
Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 tent w/ footprint
REI Downtime +15 down sleeping bag w/ compression bag
1 Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Sleep Pad
inflatable pillow
Trangia mini stove
cooking pot & stand & windscreen & lighter
fuel bottle
plastic measuring cup doubles as mug in camp
polycarbonate spork
food bag to hang from animals NTB? (or hang a pannier?)
clothesline
MSR DromLite - 6 Liter NTB
MSR sweetwater filter NTB new filter cartridge
sani-wipes or hand sanitizer liquid
quick dry camp towel & sponge
head lamp
trowel & TP

Tools:
leatherman type tool
hex wrench set
small crescent wrench or maybe just a combo 8 & 10 mm wrench
Stein mini cassette tool
flat kit: patches, levers, spare tubes, tire boot
chain tool & spare links NTB: spare sram masterlinks
spoke tool
spare spokes
kevlar spoke
zip ties, elec tape, thin wire, chain lube, rag
Topeak Mtn Morph pump
presta tire gauge ?

Misc/toiletries:
first aid kit
toothbrush
toothpaste
Deodorant
Soap biodegradable camp soap
razor ?
bug repellent
Sunscreen
chamois butter
Passport ?
ID
Book
Maps or GPS instead?
ATM/Debit Card
Credit Card

Electronics:
digital camera w/ spare memory card, battery & charger
mini tripod
mem card reader / usb cable
PDA or small laptop? NTB?
GPS receiver ?
mp3 player & mini speakers NTB
solar charger NTB?

Abbreviation Key:
NTB = Need To Buy
NTB? = Not sure if I'll buy it
? = Not sure if I'll bring it

Sorry if this is hard to read. The forums don't do tables. Here's a better version. And thanks to forum member eric von zipper. I used his gear list as a starting point for mine.

Cyclesafe

You'll need bear spray and a folding spare tire.

Bring one set of spare clothes and plan to wash out what you wear every afternoon when you arrive in camp.

If you're travelling the Alaska Highway there's enough traffic in the summer to bail you out, but if you're on the Robert Campbell Highway rots of ruck.

valygrl

Utility Knife (for cooking)
Fleece or down jacket for hanging around camp when it's cold.
One more mid-weight long-sleeve shirt to wear in camp when the one you rode in all day is wet.
Definitely bring full finger warm/waterproof gloves.
I really like leg and arm warmers, and a cycling vest. gives you a lot of options with not very much weight.
No pillow - use a stuff sack filled with clothes
Helmet cover = plastic grocery bag
Personally, i would not bring a gps or a pda/laptop, but rather map and compass, paper journal, and cell phone.
I also use headphones (w/Ipod) not speakers - lighter, no battery issues, no sound pollution for other campers.
My experience w/solar chargers is they don't work well enough to warrant the expense/bother. instead get a spare battery pack or AA battery accessory thing.
You do need the passport.

Have a great trip, it sounds wonderful.

eric von zipper

I've done a little revision to my list. Finishing up my thesis this weekend to turn in on Monday and then I'll get around to posting the new one.

+1 w/valygrl and her suggestions.

velo2000

Thanks for the feedback so far.

Bear spray: I'm hoping that the chances I'll actually need bear spray will be VERY slim. And I hear you can't carry it across the Canadian border. I'll keep food/toiletries away from my camp and use caution when I do any hiking.

I'm planning to ride the Yellowhead and Cassiar Highways before taking the Alaska Highway towards Fairbanks.

Good suggestion about a down jacket to wear in camp. I'll look around for one that will compress and pack easily.

I want speakers to listen to music while on the bike. I refuse to use headphones while biking. I doubt I'll listen to music in camp much. I recently ordered these speakers from Nashbar (still need to get an ipod).

A plastic grocery bag as a helmet cover? Man, that's even more ghetto than a shower cap. I'll keep that in mind if I lose my shower cap though.

Hobartlemagne 

Duct Tape and a Towel

Cyclesafe

You heard wrong. We declared our bear spray when we entered Canada by saying it was bear spray, not people spray. Since there was nothing on the container to indicate it was a weapon that can be used against people, it is allowed for import. Customs info:

https://www.westcanadatours.com/trave...el_custom.html

The Cassiar can get lonely and you can plan on seeing dozens of black bears and the occassional grizzley. Do not approach, do not make eye contact, and wait (from a distance) for them to go into the woods. In the early summer they are grazing on the dandelions that grow on the side of the road.

I never used my sreay, but I pulled it out plenty of times. Take bear precautions seriously.

The Figment

I read that list twice to make sure I did not miss it ....Chain Lube!!

cyccommute 

I understand that each person carries stuff that they need to make them comfortable. I carry stuff for coffee that I use every morning. I carry more cooking stuff than most people would because I like to cook. I write letters on paper (pretty heavy stuff actually) because I like the feel of pen on paper and it helps me think about what I'm writing. I carry way too many tools, too.

That said, think about what you want to do and how you want to do it. You have a lot of electronics that are expensive and rather delicate. They require constant recharging to keep them working. Do you really want to do that? You will worry when you get them wet or if you drop them. You'll worry even more if you crash. You'll worry that someone might steal them. It's a lot of aggravation.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't...or can't ...carry this stuff. Just think about if you want to really haul it along.

Hope this helps.

Lolly Pop

I love reading these lists -- such an education!

Speaking of electronics, what about a small dry bag for your electronic stuff?

velo2000

cyclesafe: thanks for the clarification. It sounds like bear spray might be allowed across the border after all. Another report of this same info: https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/p...e_id=4681&v=1X

Figment: chain lube is on there, read the tools section carefully. Boeshield T9 is my lube of choice, we'll see how it does on a tour.

Lolly Pop: dry bag? Why, all my bags will be dry! I've got Ortlieb panniers and I ordered a waterproof handlebar bag from Jandd. I'm hoping this handlebar bag will work for keeping my camera, mp3 player (and PDA if I bring one) dry and conveniently within reach. Or did you mean something like this: https://www.rei.com/product/752383. That might be handy so I can still take photos in the rain. I want to be fully prepared for a lot of rain.

cyccommute: thanks for the great suggestions! I think you're right about getting sick of washing clothes every night. I'll probably bring at least 3 sets of cycling clothes. I'll also try the method of washing clothes in a ziplock bag in my panniers all day to minimize labor. I'll let the bumps of the road agitate the dirt out. Oh, and my list says "book", not "books". I may be crazy, but I won't be carrying a library.

valygrl: I think you're right about the pillow. I ordered a silk sleeping bag liner which happens to have a pillow sleeve to stuff clothes in. I also might use my water bladder for additional pillow padding.

cyccommute 

I meant you need to carry books...more then one. I usually carry two or even three books depending on how remote the tour is. I find I can burn through one a night, unless it's War and Peace...then it takes a couple of nights And I still end up buying more books along the way.

velo2000

OH, I see what you're saying. I tend to use a book to put myself to sleep at night. I'm not sure how much I'll read while touring. If I read through them too quickly, I'll stock up before I get to the less populous areas of British Columbia.

bccycleguy

I'd forget about the Leatherman, just take the tools you need for YOUR bike. Standardize the nuts and bolts you use to reduce the number of tools. Carburetor wrenches are fine for small bolts (i.e. those on your fenders) and they weight next to nothing.

nun

As you are on a MTB I assume you have some nice low gears, what are your ratios?

Regarding equipment my approach is "less is more as long as you have enough", so I'm going to suggets you reduce your load. You're taking some Smartwool stuff and you can wear that for a few days without washing it.

You have a lot of shorts

Look at getting something like a Montbell Thermolite rather than a fleece as it packs small and is light.

See if you can lighten the camping equipment. There are pounds to be saved in the tent, pad, sleeping bag and cooking equipment.

velo2000

nun: rear cluster is 11-34, crankset is 22-32-44. There's a Montbell store up in Boulder. I was planning to go up there and look at their down and synthetic jackets and vests (maybe they'll have a sale rack ). Glad to hear you think they have good gear. I think I'll be ok with my camping gear as is. If I go any lighter I'm afraid I'll be sacrificing comfort. On a three month trip, comfort will be more important than saving another couple pounds (I hope).

bccycleguy: my leatherman tool (mine is actually made by Gerber) will be my: knife, pliers, screwdrivers (phillips & standard), file, mini saw, can opener & wire cutter. If I was only going to be gone for a few weeks, I'd probably take a smaller pocket knife. But I think I'll be using it quite a bit. I guess we'll see if I ship it home after the first month.

velo2000

Gear update: I bought a critical piece of equipment last night. A $.99 shower cap from Walgreen's. It's pale yellow so it kinda matches my yellow rain jacket. It squishes down to about the size of a D cell battery, but it completely covers my helmet (even with the sun visor in place). It'll probably look goofy when I'm wearing it, but now I can be waterproof from head to toe.

Now I just need to find some free time to tear down my bike and install the new parts I got recently: wheels, cluster, front derailler, brakes, front rack, handlebar bag, bottle cages. It'll be like having a new bike.

Bacciagalupe

Traveler's checks.

Stuff sacks to stay organized.

Wicking base layers (instead of "undershirts")

BIBS! Not shorts.

Trash bags, to line your panniers / bags.

seeker333

Here's a tip. Take some paper and pencil on tour. After dinner, when all your gear is spread out, look around for the stuff that's still in a pile unused. Log all these items. Repeat every night. At end of tour, delete most frequently logged items from your next tour (possible exception-rainwear).

I sometimes overlook 2-3 unused items after a trip. Keep records, they're helpful.

dbg

Extra chainring bolts They're tiny (my last tour, several bikes had their chainring bolts losen up. Some lost a few. Lose two and you're probably done riding.)

gregw

Overall I think your list is very good!

Many good equipment choices on that list. Cyccommute gave some good suggestions, though mostly personal preference. I definitely agree with more days worth of bike cloths, hand washing cloths every day sux!

My two stand out suggestions are a mesh bag that you strap to the top of your waterproof panniers to put wet and smelly items into. If you put wet and smelly things in those panniers, by the end of the day everything in them will be wet and smelly. lastly, get a pot cozy for your cook pot for things that need extended cooking time, your stove is fine.
Greg

Shiznaz

Hey velo2000, do you have any idea how much all your gear packed into your panniers weighs? I have created a very similar list to yours, and anally weighed every single item. It comes in at around 18kg total, but I could shave off another kilogram or so if need be, but I'm going to have to start cutting out things I like. I'm going to probably post that list early next week once I have collected a few more items and weighed them, so everyone can have at them and use my weights for planning should you have similar equipment

velo2000

I have yet to pack up all my gear into my panniers and weigh it on my bathroom scale, but I'm hoping it will be close to your 18kg (40 lbs) goal. I'm hoping to keep my gear under 50 pounds max (not counting food and water), but will be happy if it's less than that. I might end up packing some items other people would find extravagant, but I'll be touring for 3.5 months and am willing to carry a little more weight for added comfort or convenience.

Thanks for all the other feedback folks, I appreciate it!