thanks for the list I really appreciate it.

thank you very much

Considering food and definitely taking tools spare tubes and chain because I seem to have a bad luck thing where my chains always jam up, the last one hadn't been oiled for awhile so there is that.

But thanks to all of the great advice I think that I'll have a great time,thanks again.

I like one of those soft packs that fold up when not in use.

A GPS unit isn't mandatory, but it's extremely useful. That said, it can be replaced by an app on a smartphone. There are several that can store maps and tracks offline. I use MyTrails (about $3), but there are others just as good.
In general, a smartphone is one of the most useful things you can bring. Phone, internet, camera, music, GPS, all in one small device. If you keep a blog, the PackJournal app allows you to type your journals, save them offline, and upload them later, and the website shows you where you wrote them and took your photos, even if you were offline at the time. Only needs one charger, and you can probably find a waterproof case, which isn't true for most other electronics.

I second Dr. Bronner's soap. Liquids are heavy. This gets you down to one, and it's concentrated, so you don't need to bring much. You can even use it as toothpaste (not pleasant, but it works). In bear country, using the unscented one as toothpaste is a great idea.

The importance of a waterproof/breathable jacket and waterproof panniers/bags can hardly be overstated. Even if you don't expect rain, waterproof/breathable jackets are among the best things for cold weather.

Other than that:
Tent
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Spare tube, cables, patch kit, tire boot
Good multi-tool
Sunscreen
Toothbrush

I'd just replace it before you left. No reason a chain should go bad in four weeks.

As to a spare, if you have a chain tool, you can repair the old one to get you to a replacement.

And another one, for the bike. Triflow. The small squeeze bottle. Put it in a ziplock bag. The stuff flows incredibly well! For chains, derailleurs, brakes and everything else that moves. Yes, there are better lubricants for each purpose, but Triflow does to all, quite well. (And while your drivetrain will go to filthy black - hence the hence the Bronners - Triflow is not a gunk magnet.) Just remember to shake well before application otherwise you are just using a very light oil that evaporates off. I re-shake mid-way for chain lubes.

Ben

Not entirely; that's only one of the reasons you're wrong.

Care to enlighten me?

And don't forget to take a nice suit; don't want to look like a weirdo in church.

Shirt and shoes.

Yeppo, though I learnt the hard way to make sure it has a sealed liner, think standing in Narita airport saying "ooooo, something stinks" then realsing it's your cooler.

[MENTION=345426]thepetester[/MENTION] Dude, if your chains jam up like that something is wrong for sure. Either your derailleurs are misadjusted, or your chain needs cleaning and lubing. Probably both. Serious and comprehensive chain cleaning and care will enhance your enjoyment of the ride. I consider it a daily chore before I ride.

As far as the absolute necessary gear to take, I am still learning myself, so I can't truly comment on that. Aside from the basic necessities (tent/sleeping bag/water/etc), I'll be carrying my iPhone and a Garmin inReach Explorer on my Tour Divide trip next June.

Yeah im in a very dry dusty place so both of my last bikes were as such,I mean I DO lube my rides accordingly but it must be a combo of the type of dust and the type of lube being just exactly wrong,I just bought a used mtb for town cruising which was lubed enough but the deraillure snapped off so the chain must have stuck somewhere,this stuff here is like red powdery dust that turns solid when compressed,thanks though.

Did we ever determine what type of touring this was?

Otherwise seems a pretty ridiculous list to try to compile. I mean, why consider a tent a necessity when you are credit card touring? Why a cook stove when you are eating in cafes? Why knobby tires if you are touring on pavement? Or does the OP just want a list of every conceivable piece of kit a cyclist could possibly imagine and call it all necessity?

Towel and copy of HHGTTG (newly revised edition of course).

The mountaineering approach is the Ten Essentials. Many of which are not needed if you are still sort of participating in civilization.

New Ten Essentials - A System Approach

If you are going for bike journey you definitely need to have your bike, then money, first aid kit your proper riding gear then cloths, sunglasses. My brother was planning to go for a bike journey with his friends that time my father asked him to view online for the stuffs he should carry. He checked it out and found that sunglasses are an important part because while riding eyes get contact with dust and sunlight due to which eyes might get infected. So he did take his sunglass with him.

The will.

all you ever need:

1. P38
2. bowie knife
3. condom

(not necessarily in that order)

We'll never agree. I don't wear sunglasses. I don't even own an Ipad or laptop. I'm not much into photography. I must have bicycle shoes and slip on shoes. Where are you going? What time of year? Camping? Your list on the very same trip will be different than mine.
Short trips, like weekends, are great for figuring out what you want, need, and don't want.
A GPS in a remote area without smart phone service might be wise.
The big question is the difference between what you want and what you need.

Smartphone GPSs work fine without cell service - you just need an app to download/store the maps into the smartphone. Not as battery efficient as regular GPS, but I only turn my GPS/radios on to spot check location anyways.

Even google maps app for phones allows you to download offline maps so no service necessary. Agree however that phones seem to eat battery faster than a regular GPS.

ABSOLUTE necessities?I posted to this thread, Good touring clothes!

Hey, you forgot the peanut M&Ms. 😁

I've used Bronner's for decades, good stuff. OTOH 3rd week of the no-soap thing & haven't stunk despite recent warm weather & skin feels a bit better. Of course it's good to have something to wash away poison ivy, plain water would probably just spread the urushiol oil around.

GPS isn't an absolute necessity but can be a big help when lost.

Water is the #1 absolute necessity, 2-L plastic water/soda bottles are light & almost free, good for getting thru some remoter stretches.