BigAura

Actually re-reading my post, my point wasn't clear. Receiving mail-drops is what I'm talking about. I myself and many others have mailed stuff home. Buying things on the road is also not what I'm talking about, everyone does that on a long-tour.

Jonathan Hanson 

This is my Thorn Nomad on a recent trip through Israel. Sort of medium-heavy I'd say—I had a roomy Hilleberg tent, but the weather was mild enough for a very light sleeping bag. I carried a Lumix GX8 camera system and a 13-inch Macbook Pro, a solar panel and a lithium-ion power pack.

I didn't have any trouble with rack bolts, even in the Negev. I do use blue Locktite.

BigAura

Mailing stuff home is not what I'm talking about. I realize my point wasn't clear. I was saying mailing stuff home is common place, and done by many but RECEIVING regular mail-drops is something I've never done, nor met anyone on the road who does.

Have you received mail-drops on a bicycle tour?

My point was: receiving regular mail-drops is another one of those things that people imagine to be cool, but is rarely used by practitioners. I realize people do this on thru-hikes but bicycle touring is a different thing.

Squeezebox

You're right about not the same as backpacking, buying as needed, or sending home. Your point was clear enough.
Yes I did receive a package on tour. I got a pair of tires from home. I was in Europe with 27" tires before the days of 700mm tires in the US. It was much better deciding a place to be in a week rather than sitting around for a special order from a LBS.
I'm thinking it's mostly for weather issues. Sleeping bag, clothes for colder weather, that you just can't get from Xmart. I'm not gonna bring 20* clothes in Aug that I won't need till Nov. is the example I'm thinking of. Possibly ordering from Rei and picking up at a particular store. But those tend to be in large cities. There are options.
Definitely for multi month tours only. No need to plan the pick up location or time more than a few days ahead of time.
Not for regular mail drops, but maybe for once a season, not once a month.
If you're out of the country consider shipping to the Embassy. They will hold a package for you.

saddlesores

have you ever actually been to a us embassy?
no, they will not hold packages for you.
they will do very little in fact, which can
be summed up in two words: jack and poop.

very strictful in the past couple, ummm.....decades.
no laptops, no cellphones, no bags or baggage.
will no longer hold a cell phone at the guard desk.
kinda sucks if you're a citizen trying to get citizen
stuff done.

most won't even allow you in without an appointment.
no, you can't call to make an appointment the day
before just to pick up some mail.
gotta book a slot online, 2-3 weeks in advance.
then maybe someone will see you.
in 3 weeks, between 9:45 and 10:00 am.

better stick to the katy.

Snuts

My pail.
It can be used for many things. Washing clothes, Securing electronics and or food when held up in the rain for a day (before conceding to a motel room) Hanging your food in a tree (have not done this yet). But, best of all and mostly used as a camp chair.
I dropped it 10 days into my long trek. It fit well over my big mattress, which I have since replaced with air. Might keep an eye out for yet another one for this year. I'm a firm believer in recycling (re-purposing). The last photo I took as I left that bike in Edmonton (sisters) to continue to the Pacific, this year(?). The frame bag is my new grocery bag. I toured with my beloved urban saddle bag as my grocery bag last year. I love it so much commuting around town I wanted it at the other end of my tour last year.

I don't think I would mail anything home (clothes). Donate to the local thrift store if I felt it wasn't worth it's weight to carry. Anything I feel I need on tour I purchase. Example, my rear Panniers and Brooks saddle. Souvenir's from Winnipeg leaving my old ones with a friend, the saddle flew home with me to continue our life together, ha-ha.
With all that I have built another bike. Thinking of going east this year. Canada's 150th birthday, Ottawa(?), then to the Atlantic.
I'm hooked.



-Snuts-

Squeezebox

I got that info from my brother-in-law who has worked in African embassies for 15 yrs or so.
I have no personal experience.
I guess his mileage varies.

Snuts I've mentioned before my 1.5 oz 10 L foldup bucket from Rei. You might check it out.

shipwreck

Mail drops are possible, but they can be a huge pain in the ass. It works best on established routes where the post office actually knows what a "general Delivery" is. Since all of my trips are through areas that seldom see anyone over the age of fourteen on a bicycle, thats rare. And never assume that a large post office knows, or once you show them the rules on the website that they can find it. Even if you called that PO before hand to make sure they knew and were told no problem. I had to stop at a goodwill and found some wool sweaters, and a big box store for gloves, socks and a fleece liner bag to augment my 45f light bag. Eventually my extra cooler weather clothes were returned home.

Smaller post offices have such sporadic hours, and has been said locks you into a route(not usually a problem for me, but for some it can be). Sometimes its difficult to just find one thats open to mail stuff home, which I often do when I find a used book store along a road and buy fifteen pounds of books that I then have to carry for a couple of days, for example

The only time it really makes sense is when I am incorporating a visit to friends into a trip. I mail non cycling clothes to them, and mail them home again when I leave.

Came back to edit that not ALL of my trips are off established cycling routes. I have ridden the Katy nine times, eight of them using it as part of a longer trip.

Squeezebox

I have deleted my rude responses to Saddlesores, It was wrong of me to lower myself to his level of abusive posts. My apology to those of you who had time to read them.
Saddlesores owes me a big time apology.
For those who wish to know, my brother-in-law has been in the state dept. for 15 yrs or so, mostly Africa. He has a higher up position. He obviously needs to know embassy policy. And recently he did tell me that the US embassy would hold packages for US citizens in foreign countries. That is the current policy. No guesses. no assumptions. Real knowledge.


I certainly believe shipwrecks story. Maybe call ahead to an LBS a week ahead of you and ask if they would hold a package for you? Just a thought. Glad this does not happen often, it is a PITA for sure. I can see why someone might chose to chuck the idea and just carry all their stuff.

Doug64

If this was possible, which is unlikely, there is only one U.S. embassy in a foreign country. However, there are usually several consulates. They are all located in large cities. Have you ever tried locating an embassy, or anything in a large foreign city? Locating it via of google is the easy part; riding to it can be a real time consuming challenge.

We saw these in front of the embassy, and thought they would make a neat rain cover for our saddles during wet nights in camp. However, it was a challenge just to get through the front door to ask someone if those seat covers were available. No, they were not. We accidentally rode by our embassy while exploring and waiting out the weekend in Copenhagen for the bike shops to open on Monday. I needed to replace a damaged rear brake assembly on my wife's bike. She claimed that just the front brake was good enough for a bare bike. BTW—it was a v-brake

IMO even if this was an option, it is not a good one.




This is taken from one of the State Department's websites: https://exchanges.state.gov/us/keeping-touch

"Receiving Mail
If you will be abroad for an extended period, you may want to arrange for the delivery of your mail. Some banks and international credit card companies handle mail for customers at their overseas branches. In addition, post offices in many countries will hold mail for travelers under their General Delivery (Poste Restante) services. U.S. Embassies and Consulates do not handle private mail. Check with the embassy of your destination country to see if that will be possible there. A listing of foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S. is available on the Department of State’s website. Foreign embassy and consulate contact information can also be found on the Country Specific Information for each country."

Squeezebox

Real on the ground knowledge says it is possible. My brother-in-law has no reason to lie to me about this.
You point about the difficulty is well made. Glad it doesn't need to happen often. But once every 3 month or more? Might be worth the trouble.

Did you write/ email Denmark's embassy asking for a couple of seat covers? They just might send them to you. Very cool items.

Never ever call me a liar. That's not directed at you personally. Sorry if I come across terse at this time.

shipwreck

https://www.dxdelivery.com/support-a...bassy-service/
This does not address whether or not you can send anything to an Embassy, but it even if you could, it sounds like a bigger hassle than carrying it with you.

It would be interesting to see a link to instructions on mailing yourself packages to an embassy, much less retrieving it. Just like a "picture or it didnt happen", asserting something is true because of something your brother in law says holds no water without some form of proof.

saddlesores

seriously? anybody can mail a package to be held
at any us embassy in the world? ridiculous!

package would be refused, but if it somehow made
it into the embassy, once staff realized it was not
for embassy personnel, grounds would be evacuated
and bomb squad would remove the suspicious package
for controlled detonation.

can not believe senior embassy personnel are telling
you civilians can mail personal packages to embassy
to hold for delivery.

but if so, peter principle in action.

back to touring, m'kay?

tyrion

You should write "This is not a bomb" on the package so that doesn't happen.

Doug64

I'd ask your brother-in -law to recheck his information.

https://www.wwu.edu/bfa/Risk_Mgmt/do...Help(5-13).pdf
"WHAT CONSULAR OFFICERS CANNOT DO
Consular officers cannot act as travel agents, banks, lawyers, investigators, or law enforcement officers.
Please do not expect them to find you employment, get you residence or driving permits, act as
interpreters, search for missing luggage, handle your mail or messages*, or settle disputes with hotel
managers. They can, however, tell you how to get help on these and other matters.
*If you need to pick up mail or messages while traveling, some banks and international credit card
companies handle mail for customers at their overseas branches. General Delivery (Poste Restante)
services at post offices in most countries will hold mail for you."

I'd be interested if you can find any government site that shows the U. S. embassies will handle private mail and packages. There are a number of travel sites and government sites that says the will not.

BigAura

Here's my current list for long touring, on & off road, back-country, temperatures down into the teens (F). Also set for bears, bugs, sun, & swimming.

I have knocked off a few pounds since my Alaska trip with changes to tent, sleeping bag & pad.

BICYCLE
LHT Deluxe & schwalbes,fenders,racks,cages (33 lbs) 528.0

SHELTER
big agnes fly creek UL2 w/ stuff sacks (3.8L) & repair splint 42.3
54 gallon garbage bag bike cover 1.8
ground tarp (shrink-wrap) 2.0

SLEEP
mountain equipment zero 300 w/ stuffsack 30.1
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm sleeping pad w/ stuffsack 16.0
fleece pillowcase 2.5
foam sit pad 1.4

PANNIERS
ortlieb front panniers pair (1526 ci / 25 liters) 47.2
ortlieb rear panniers pair (2441 ci / 40 liters) 57.0

BIKE ACCESSORIES
morph pump 7.3
spare tube 26" 5.7
small cable bike lock 14.9

TOOLS
crank bros multi-tool 6.1
electrical tape 0.7
duct tape 0.8
tie wrap 0.5
tube patch kit 0.4
kevlar repair spoke 0.5
needle nose pilers & cutter (blue) 2.2
2 steel tire irons 1.5
schrader adapter 0.2
S&S spanner wrench 1.4
chain checker 1.3
lube 2oz 2.0
proofide 1.8

SAFETY
first aid kit 3.5
rope 33ft 1.6
take-a-look mirror 0.3
citi bike helmet 10.9
biner 5mm mini 0.2
princeton tec headlamp w/ batteries 3.3
defense spray 1.0
bearvault BV500 40.7

RAIN/SUN/BUGS
sunglasses 0.9
sun screen 1.4
bug repellent 1.8
frogg toggs - top 5.6
frogg toggs - bottoms 4.0
mosquito net 0.7

HYGENE
toothbrush/toothpaste/floss 1.6
razor 1.2
toiletpaper 1.7
body pack towel 3.2
tweezer 0.4
dr. bonners (4oz) 5.3
nail clipper 1.6

KITCHEN
lighter 0.4
Ti cutlery set 1.6
two generic bicycle water bottles 0.9
snowpeak litemax ti stove w/ 0.3oz case 2.3
snowpeak ti mug 700 (no cover) 3.3
snowpeak ti mug cover 1.1
jetboil 1.5L pot w/ covers 12.0
platypus big zip 70oz w/ quick connector 2.7
water purifier & cleaner kit 7.0

WARMTH
patagonia down sweater vest 7.1
patagonia down sweater jacket 12.3
under armour cap 1.5
icebreaker fleece top 14.2
icebreaker pants 12.9
icebreaker 260 top 11.2
patagonia merino leggings 9.2
black suede palm gloves 3.9
balaclava 1.4

CLOTHES
keen mountain sandals w/ cleats 40.5
wool short socks 4.0
under armour hi-viz T 4.0
under armour black T 4.0
endura baggy shorts w/ belt 14.9
nishiki padded shorts x 2 9.8
plaid bathing suit 5.5

STUFF SACKS
black sea-to-summit (sm) - hygene 0.6
sea to summit - ultrasil daypack 2.6

WATER/FOOD/FUEL/BATTERY
2 liters water 70.0
2 day food 80.0
canister fuel-full large MSR 12.6

ELECTRONICS
iPhone in lifeproof case 6.0
iphone earbuds & lifeproof connector 0.6
iphone AC to USB adapter 0.8
iphone apple cable 0.8
15600mAh Li battery 9.9
long white USB to usb cable 1.3

PERSONAL
credit cards (debit/credit) 0.6
id cards (driver license/passcard) 0.4
credit card wallet 1.3
eyeglasses 1.0
bifocal sunglasses case 2.2
lens cloth 0.3


TOTAL WEIGHT 77.8

MY WEIGHT 165.0

GRAND TOTAL 242.8

BIKE WEIGHT 33.0
`
WEIGHT CARRIED BY BIKE 209.8

WEIGHT FOR GEAR + SUPPLIES 44.8

SUPPLIES WEIGHT 10.2

GEAR WEIGHT 34.7

BASE WEIGHT (excludes base wear) 29.3

BIKE & GEAR 67.7

BIKE & BASE 62.3

*individual items in ounces & totals in pounds

Snuts

My kind of humor!

-Snuts-

BigAura

L134 

Great list!!

Rowan

The real questeion for me is... what the hell is everyone expecting to receive in packages sent from home?

I would like mev to chip in on this thread when he has a chance. At least he is on a really long adventure again, to add to his mighty list, and if there is anyone who would have an emergency shipment while on tour, it would be him and I suspect his total would be close to zero (the exception in this trip is his changeover bike).

Are you people shipping food to yourself? Medications (that I could understand, although there are issues in international movement of drugs)? Bike parts? Clothing? What?

Please tell me, because I cannot imagine needing anything except medications to be shipped ahead of me.

And yes, I admit that the majority of my touring has been in developed countries, but even so... the majority of posters on this list aren't going into the wilds of Africa or Asia.

Also, I have sent home stuff from France, the US and Canada and even in Australia because I wasn't using it. But that is entirely different to the above.

BigAura

Originally when I did my spreadsheet for myself I just used that first Total Weight number because that's what I wanted to know, which is: besides my naked self what is the weight of the stuff I'm bringing with me. But through the years of posting on here I see people posting all sorts of numbers so each time I just add a new formula to the spead-sheet. It's amazing to me how many different ways people view their tour-weight.

So now when someone asks, "How much do you carry on tour"?

I can answer accurately, "242.8 pounds!"

Happy Feet

I can't see needing anything mailed besides meds except perhaps a complete change from summer to winter gear (or vice versa) but that happens.. how often?
On my last trip I stopped at a thrift store in Carlyle Sk. and bought a $5 fleece jacket because cold weather was setting in. Far easier that trying to coordinate when I would be in a place and/or having to ride to where ever that place was during the hours it was open.

I find I probably fit in the bulky but not too heavy category. Most of my stuff is pretty good quality (or was 30 years ago) because I bought it for alpine climbing. However, that step from light weight to ultra light is an expensive one that I just don't feel necessary at this point in my life. Weight really isn't an issue for me as I am fully capable of pedaling what I have and travel pretty spartan when I want to. The only advantage would be the ability to compress UL gear into smaller packages. Yah that would be nice but not nice enough to spend big bucks on.

Doug64

Meds are something that I would not consider mailing ahead. While none of my medications are the "use or die" type, I carry them with me. What can a 3-month supply of meds weigh—a few ounces. I don't trust my well being to the postal service anywhere.

Rowen,
One of the times we shipped supplies ahead of us was on a 3-month tour in Europe. I knew I had to be in Paris on a certain date to get follow up work done on my eye for surgery I had prior to starting the trip. My retina doc arranged for an opthamologist that he knew in Paris to do the checkup and do any needed follow up work if necessary. This in itself was an interesting venture that forced us to spend 8 days in Paris that just happened to coincide with the finish of the last stage of the TDF. Anyway, my point is that I knew exactly when we were going to have to be there.

We had some maps, parts of guidebooks, and a few misc items like my wife's favorite powdered electrolyte replacement drink, shipped to a couple that we knew in Paris, and planned on riding with while we were there. It was probably a once in a life shipment, not something we are likely to do again.

The other time was when we rode across the U.S. We planned on riding U.S. Highway 20, the longest contiguous highway from coast to coast in the U.S., from Newport, Oregon to Boston, Massachusetts. My wife and I were still working so we were on a pretty tight schedule, and our route was pretty straight forward. We had a small box with some maps (pre-smartphone days), electrolyte powder (not easy to find), and some other small items. We shipped it to our first estimated pickup point, removed what we needed, Put maps and literature we wanted to save into the box and then mailed it 3 or 4 weeks ahead. This was repeated until supplies ran out and the box was full of things we wanted to save or didn't need and shipped home. We used post offices at the smallest towns along our route. Heck, at one post office we met 10% of the town's population when we met the Postmaster. Again this was a one of a kind event; we had to average 50 miles a day for 74 days, so it was easy to determine our timing. We did a little over that but it was pretty close. If anyone tries this, use the Postal Service's Flat Rate box. You can pack as much as you can fit in the box and it costs the same.

Neither time was it essential to the mission, just a little luxury.

Somewhere in Iowa.

gerryl

I have no idea what everything weights I just try to keep it "reasonable". This past summer I knew that I would be cycling in two very different climate zones, I started in cool damp Scotland and finished in hot Mediterranean France. When I arrived in Scotland I hardly had any warm weather clothes, no point in carrying stuff I wouldn't need for the first month of my ride. When I arrived in France I donated all the cold weather stuff, and bought hot weather clothes for the remainder of the trip. This works for me since I don't buy expensive cycling specific clothes, I just buy whatever looks like will do the job.

robow

Not sure what this pig weighed on that trip but it was stable and rode like a bus. Wish I still had it.