Originally Posted by
HendersonD
I am 62 and have done a lot of backpacking and tent camping over the years. I have done a good bit of riding but only one week long tour and it used hotels. As I mentioned in my first post I will be doing the Transamerica route next year starting in May, finishing in August and going east to west. One of the hardest things is deciding what clothing to bring since I will be traveling so many states and elevations. Having some extra room is handy. Leg and arm warmers, rain jacket/pants/shoe coverings, some type of warmer jacket or long sleeve layer, beanie are all under consideration.
It sounds like you have a good plan and can be flexible. It's easy to ship things home or get items drop-shipped to you along the way. There's General Delivery at many small POs, and many hotels and bike shops will hold packages for you if you're a customer.
I'm a veteran backpacker (Triple Crowner) and have crossed the US twice by bike. My current three-season backpacking base load is in the eight pound range, about twice that on the bike. Two panniers is a no-brainer with that load--it can go anywhere and you barely notice it. If you're estimating 30 pounds, I'd probably also want four panniers to start with. If that bothers you, start paring down.