Originally Posted by
dogontour
On my tour last fall I had an offer to help me pare down my weight by a guy who carries only a handlebar bag, a single rear pannier and a small dry bag on the rear rack. He did inspire me to leave my sneakers behind before setting out but that was the only thing I left and I really regretted that. The whole week I rode with him, I didn't take him up on the offer, mostly becasue I was embarrassed about bringing SOO much stuff, but especially my extensive first aid kit. I really wish I would have had him go through my stuff so at least could have benefitted from his experience and knowledge.
If I am able to pare down the weight I am having to ship to UT for a possible 8-10 day bike tour this fall, I may be able to afford to go. So I'm looking for help. I know I took too much with me last year so I know it's possible to pare down but I feel attached to everything I took so I need help....
Tiff,
You mention having trouble letting go of things because you are attached. This (the psychological aspect, the feeling or habit of this kind of attachment) is an important area for making some changes. Why not pay some attention here as well? Learn to be different about it. Just experiment. Try something different. Boldly go where you've never gone before, on the psychological side of it. Practice letting go....
Find a way (or several ways) around this habit of being attached to unnecessary things. There are some great alternatives.
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Eight or ten days is not an eternity.... You can live without a lot of those things for longer stretches than that.
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Lose the cooking business. It means a lot of unnecessary weight and time and trouble.
Use tighter-fitting clothing wherever possible. It's less bulky and lighter and more efficient.
Ditch the toothbrush. Use a corner of a small microfiber towel instead. It works great, and the microfiber towel has a lot of other uses as well.
Take half a small, travel-size tube of toothpaste, or a little baking soda in a miniature plastic bag.
Take one pair of excellent lightweight shoes or other footwear.
Think about how you can go for a day without a lot of this stuff. You can go for two, you can go for three. It isn't that different.