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Old 09-12-07 | 07:34 AM
  #49  
valygrl
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 8,546
Likes: 5
From: Boulder, CO
jbpence, somehow i feel invested in seeing you off to a great tour... i don't know why! I read your journal. Your attitude sounds great, you are going to have the ride of your life. Just remember that all this WILL get settled down in the first few days. DO give yourself permission to ride very short days for the first week, you have plenty of time once you get going, and you will probably need to futz around with your junk a bit the first few days.

Side to side balance is crucial for front panniers - they should be within about 1/2 pound of each other. It doesn't matter very much at all in the rear ones.

I read your list, here are my comments, feel free to ignore all of them, and no need to comment back through the list - just giving you my thoughts. The questions I ask in the list are for you to answer for yourself, not for me to hear the answers. By the way, your list is very very similar to mine.

2 tubes not 3
what is the adj. wrench for?
1 patch kit
no der. cable, your bike is new, keep the brake cable
why a chain tool and a multi tool w/ chain breaker? ditch the breaker
your spare tire should be a folder if possible
too much chain - 2 links is fine
you don't need windproof pants and rain pants - pick one.

2 bibs not 3, hand wash every night in camp, dry strapped to back of rack during the next day, laundromat once a week or when convenient, most RV parks have laundry facilities

why 2 long sleeve jerseys? or is that a listing mistake?
2 hawaian shirts? or is that a listing mistake?

ADD (yes ADD) a very lightWEIGHT but warm piece of camp clothing (sweater or jacket or fleece), so you can leave your sleeping bag. I carry a very lightweight down jacket, and stuff it in with my sleeping bag. I don't see anything like that on your list.

I bet you don't need the basketball shorts.

why the foil blanket?
why 2 lighters?
definitely don't need fuel funnel
only take a couple ziplocks, you can always use baggies from grocery stores (either the carry bags or snag them from the veggie section)
knife?
where's your peanut butter? (kidding)
only carry ONE emergency dinner, and buy dinners along the way every day.

don't forget
TOWEL - medium camp towel for shower
sunscreen
bug stuff
advil
toothbrush/paste
ipod, phone, chargers
sunglasses
TAKE YOUR CAMERA
wallet, house key
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