zoltani

In a week I'll be heading out to cycle the northern California coast from Crescent City to San Francisco. This is something I've been wanting to do for awhile, and finally it is here. It will also serve as a shake down ride for my longer trip this summer. I don't usually use packing lists, but figured I would make one up so I don't forget anything. This list will be for the Nor Cal trip and also my trip from Eugene, OR to Pueblo, CO (June 1st to August 1st). Let me know if you notice something missing, or have any ideas on things I should add or take away from the list.

kuan

You got a lot of clothes, way too much for summer IMO, and you forgot a little bit of oil for cooking.

zoltani

OK about the clothes, but I am expecting cold weather on the coast, with rain possible. Does that make a difference? I will probably cut out some of the cold weather clothes on the summer trip.

Do you have any recommendation about how to carry oil? What kind of container?

kuan

I just got a bunch of these. The oil would just go in one of the larger ones.

https://www.rei.com/product/402139

If it were me I would take just 2 pairs padded shorts, 2 shirts or jerseys, ditch the long sleeved jersey, ditch the wool sweater, ditch the long underwear, leave the rain pants, pack arm and leg warmers if you really think you might get cold.

Add duct tape. Get it from the camping store in small rolls.

zoltani

HAhaha, well I guess you don't know that living in california makes you a total wuss! Now 50 degrees is cold as hell to me. There are days when I do recreational rides when I need a long sleeve shirt. Case in point was last weekend. It was really hot up in the mountains on the SF peninsula, but as soon as I got to the coast it was windy and cold (to me anyway). I'm expecting highs in the lower to mid 50s most days. Yeah, I know it's not that cold, but for me I'll be needing my long sleeves.

I will throw out the cotton shorts because I forgot that my hiking pants zip off into shorts. And I need to get some duct tape too. Is there any merit in carrying electrical tape? i see it on a lot of packing lists....

kuan

Ya know, it would help if you just cut and pasted the whole list here for people to, er, "critique." Don't know about electrical tape, but I'm sure someone will have a good reason to carry some.

prathmann

I agree about the clothes - you certainly have far more than I've used on tours down the coast. I don't use much oil for cooking but do have one of the little plastic bottles (found at all outdoor stores) filled with it - also one with dishwashing detergent (don't get them mixed up). I usually carry a razor (or at least a blade). A pair of shoes is also handy when riding.

Other things that I'd dispense with are:

tent footprint (my tents all seem to last at least 20 years with no floor failures despite never using a ground cloth)

tarp

rope - except for a thin clothesline

extra bungees and bungee net (I have one bungee for use with on the go purchases - more can usually be found along the roadside if necessary)

multi-tool and swiss army knife - I take one or the other but not both

one good headlamp should serve also as a front bike light and in place of a lantern

reflective triangles - with all the reflectors on the bike/panniers/helmet and rear light it already looks like a X-mas tree from behind (are you planning on extended night riding? If so then my opinion would change)

Are you going to go through enough AA/AAA cells to make carrying a charger worthwhile? You can pick up extra cells easily along the way.

I prefer to carry a small GPS in place of the bike computer since it has maps and data on stores/restaurants/lodging/etc. along the way (incl. phone numbers). The GPS also automatically keeps track of where each picture was taken along the way (recent example at:
https://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=184410 )

John Nelson

As you can see, everybody wants to reduce your packing list. You have too many redundant things, e.g., headlamp and lantern, footprint and tarp, sweater and fleece shirt, gerber and knife, matches and lighter, etc. Also, when it comes to preparing for the cold, you only need enough clothes so that you are comfortable if you put on absolutely all the clothes you brought at the same time (including on and off bike clothing). You don't need anything else. And you don't need more than two of anything.

Cyclesafe

I would suggest that in doubt, take something, but if you don't seem to be using it mail it home. What people take is another one of those personal preference things. People get really adamant about certain choices forgetting that every person has different standards of cleanliness, minimum comfort levels, tolerance of risk, etc.

I tend towards comfort and low risk so I take two thermorests, a two-person tent, a tool kit that will tide me over foreseeble breakdowns, and a first aid kit for anything short of requiring professional assistance. I believe that unsupported touring should be, well, unsupported.

You'll need a dry bag for your sleeping bag. Your tent should be separate and kept out of your panniers because often it will be wet. Put it on your rack.

As already mentioned you're taking too much clothing. Try to make clothing work for more than one purpose.

One useful trick is to bring a large plastic bag to use as a wash basin for your clothes. If they're not dry in the morning (bring synthetics rather than cotton) then you can drape them over your bike as you ride.

dogontour

I think more along the lines of cyclesafe. My first aid kit is quite complete & I take two thermarest pads and a pillow because I can't sleep otherwise. As far as the clothes go, if you run cold, I think you should take whatever you need to be comfortable. It can be 115 degrees out and I wouldn't be as miserable as I would be if I were too cold...I just don't take the cold well. In the winter, I regularly shiver in my sleep and have to pile on more clothes in a heated house so I always take more cold weather clothes than I think I'll need and wouldn't feel comfortable leaving them behind. But having said that, a few extra pounds of gear doesn't really mean anything to me. I tow a 25 lb. trailer, my 60 lb. dog and some gear for her and of course the gear for me. I don't even notice a few extra pounds after all that.

Tiff

zoltani

I can't get rid of the bungee cord & net, they're what hold my dry bag with my sleeping bag and tent to the top of the rack.

The wool sweater will go, and I will probably replace with a poly long sleeve shirt that can be used off bike and on bike if cold. It's smaller and lighter than the wool anyway. That means I can get rid of the long sleeve jersey too.

Maybe I should have mentioned that I normally tour with my wife, although the coast trip is solo. I put all the stuff I normally take on the list wen we both tour because I want to carry it to make sure I can, and I can purge anything that is too much before our extended tour in a month.

That is why there is a lantern AND a headlamp for example, for us both. The multi-tool and swiss army knife is similar. We both use them often at the same time (like when cutting veggies and such). The multi-tool has pliers and scissors on it, and honestly that is the only reason I am taking along on the coast trip. Also, it is a PIA to cut veggies and other food with, the swiss army knife is better for that, plus it has a corkscrew which the multi-tool lacks. Since the pliers on the multi-tool come in handy for repairs and tent stakes I feel like I would like to have it. I guess I could replace it with just a set of pliers in the tool bag, but it may weigh about the same.

The "rope" on the list is a very thin cord for laundry and such.

I only use one soap, and that is the Dr. Bronners. It can be used for everything, dishes, shower, shampoo, I have even heard of people brushing their teeth with it, but I don't think I will try that one

Good point about the bike light, I will leave the front one at home and use the headlamp if necessary.

Charger is coming because I hate buying batteries.

A GPS would be a nice thing to have, but unnecessary for this trip, plus I don't want to drop the cash fro it now. The bike computer and paper maps take up less space and are lighter anyway.

Thanks for your help, I already see some improvements to make, and I am sure once I start putting everything in the panniers more stuff will get consolidated and purged. Ideally I want to be carrying everything that I will pack for the extended trip so that I can decide what needs to go or what needs to be added.

HA, I was just thinking that I have always been an over packer when it comes to clothes. On a backpacking trip my GF was making fun of me for taking two pairs of pants while se was only bringing one. She was really glad I had that extra pair of pants for her to wear after she fell into the river soaking hers.

Cyclesafe

You have a wife and a GF? And I thought most male tourers were grey-beard curmudgeon introverts....