1. Places like MEC have Gear Swaps ... "Buy, sell, or swap your used outdoor gear – free of charge"
http://www.mec.ca/AST/ContentPrimary...y/GearSwap.jsp
Sometimes they have markets as well, where people can bring the stuff they don't want and try to sell it. I sold a headlight that way.
2. Many of us ease into the world of travel, camping, and cycling. I've been travelling since I was a baby, cycling since I was 6, and I don't remember when my first camping trip was ... I was maybe 6 or 7 years old. I've grown up with it all.
But nevertheless, when I started cycling avidly (on April 29, 1990 ... 23 years ago!), I had a department store road bicycle. And that's what I did my first short tours on. Several years later, I got into racing, and eventually got a racing bicycle, and then got into randonneuring, and eventually got a bicycle suited to that, which was also suited to touring. But by then, I was well into cycling and so I knew I'd use the bicycle.
As for camping, my ex-husband and I liked camping. We started with the basics, and gradually built up so that eventually we had quite an extensive setup. When I started doing cycling tours where I camped, I had a reasonable idea what would work, and just had to reduce it down to something I could carry on the bicycle.
Lots of trial and error.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again ......
a) It is highly unlikely that you'll get all the gear right the first time. It is highly unlikely that you'll ever get all the gear just right. Very likely there will always be changes you'll want to make. And what works for one person, might not work for another.
b) If you make a mistake with your gear, that's OK. It's not the end of the world, and will not ruin the trip. Most of us tour in areas with shops ... and it is a very good idea to tour in areas with shops for your first tour. If you decided not to bring a pillow because you were trying to travel light, and you have a couple bad nights ... then go buy a pillow. Not a big deal.
c) Cycletouring is not for everyone. It's not easy ... there are a lot of challenges and difficulties. You've got to be very flexible and adaptable, and willing to put up with some rough conditions ... even if you do opt to stay in hotels (which is a completely acceptable way to tour).
d) Therefore it is a good idea to do some short tours in relatively familiar areas to find out if cycletouring might be for you ... and to experiment with your equipment. And yes, borrow the equipment if you can.