Touring is very individual. Some people want to tour in a monastic style with hair shirts and hair shorts going for days at a time without bathing and eating whatever road kill they can scrape off the pavement...prairie dog jerky seasoned with asphalt is considered a delicacy in eastern Colorado

Others want more creature comforts. Going with a handlebar bag, a single pannier and a dry sack is probably not most people's cup of tea (which you can't really enjoy if you are traveling with a handlebar bag, a single pannier and a dry sack). Go with your own level of comfort off the bike and decide on what you want to carry on the bike.

Many, so far, has been telling you that you only need on set of bicycling clothes for a week's worth of riding. It depends on how often you want to do laundry and how you feel about riding in wet shorts. Even in Utah (very low humidity compared to Georgia), padded shorts may not dry completely overnight. It depends on how much water you get out of them when you wash them and on the overnight weather. Nothing worse than leaving the shorts out to dry overnight and then have it rain on them. If they are your only pair, you'll have a soggy butt in the morning...Ick!

For a week long tour...or any tour for that matter...I carry more sets of bicycle clothes than only 2 or 1. Carrying 1 or 2 sets means you'll have to do laundry every day or every other day. How much washing do you really want to do?

On your list above, about the only thing I'd say to ditch is the shower cap, and the reflective vest. The other vest may not be necessary or should be replaced with a wind jacket.

I think what people are missing on the underwear question is that you are a woman (I think).

If you don't have mountain bike style shoes for riding, you should consider them. They aren't half bad for walking and they work well on the bike.

Here's where you can lose a little bit. The fleece jacket and the thermals can go. Use your bike tights and long sleeve jersey in combination with either your rain jacket and/or a wind jacket for insulation. Your rain pants can do double duty as wind pants to keep you warm(ish). The capris are okay but a pair of light pants with zip-off legs would have more utility. They give you a pair of shorts when it is warm, a pair of long pants when it cool and can be worn over tights and under the rain pants in the cold mornings.

Instead of sneakers, bring a pair of sandals. You can use them with or without socks.

If you are going solo, one pot will do. If you are riding with someone, share equipment...and food. No need for everyone to carry their own stove, pots and utensils.

For a week's tour, you may want to consider a butane stove if you haven't already. The work very well at the altitude you are going to and they are light and easy to use. Alcohol stoves are an option but they are slow and not terribly efficient...especially up here (Utah is close to Denver's altitude).

Ditch the Platypus bags and get a Camelbak. It does the same thing...hold water...but it is closer at hand and easier to use. You'll be riding in high desert and, trust me, you'll need lots of water. Much more...and much more often...then you think. A Camelbak can tote water while in camp too.

Ditch the butter knife and get a good single blade pocket knife (not a multitool, you don't need that). It can spread peanut butter just fine, cut up vegetables and other food, as well as about a thousand other uses.

The collapsible bowl can do double duty so leave the plate at home or get some Orikaso plates. They really do work as cutting boards and are very light.



Get light rope or even parachute cord if you haven't already.

I'm not sure what the 'mat and pad' are. A Big Agnes Insulated Aircore pad offers 2.5" of comfort and is very light and compact. Not too expensive either and it weight 24 oz.

A good lightweight tent and sleeping bag should be something you consider for the future...it does save a lot of weight.

Cut this down a lot. This kit is comprehensive enough and weighs in at a svelte 2.5 oz. You aren't need an emergency room, just enough to get you there I'd add a feminine pad to help stop major bleeding (a tip I picked up from a first aid instructor), otherwise you can improvise most any thing you might need (another reason to carry a good sharp knife)

Ditch the deodorant and, as has been suggested, use lotion with sunscreen in it. I can understand the lotion, however, Utah is dry and you might want something. I'm used to scaly and cracked skin...I'm not really happy with humidity until the skin around my fingers bleed...but you might not be.

One place to save a little weight is to ditch the baby wipes (on open package will be a dry package out here) and get foaming towelettes. Oil of Olay and others make dry towelettes to which you add water and they foam up. They cleanse well and can be used in the shower or anywhere you have water.

Just be flexible, make stuff do double duty and don't envy what other people do, or do not carry. Touring isn't about how far or how short or how hard or how easy or how much suffering or how little suffering you do. It's about the trip. Enjoy it.