So what do you bring with you on an expedition level tour than you would not bring on an average tour of say 2 weeks or so in the US or Europe? Just in case stuff?

I wouldn't bring expedition gear to tour the US or Europe ... unless maybe you're talking about the state of Alaska???

What do you bring?

more water and a filter, more food, a stove, spare tire. Not much else.

Spare everything, I guess.

With no definition of "expedition," this thread makes little sense. And I bring a stove on just about every tour, "average" or not. How much water I carry on any given day depends on availability, which can be sparse some days on any tour. Same with food. And just when did food and water become "gear"? And is there a difference betwen average food and water and expedition class food and water?

If you're gonna carry a week's worth of food it will probably be different than 1 day of food.

It's not about the length of the trip. It's about the area one is touring in.

For me the cut off is a few days. Any longer and I can't carry enough laundry and have to factor stops for washing.
In the USA or Europe, this isn't an issue, but it could be in the 3rd world.

Then there's contingency planning. Where bike shops are all over, and logistics good, I can get by with minimal backup for problems I may encounter along the way. However, replacing a broken part may not be so easy in the Bush.

In the end, I'd probably pack lighter for a 2 month trip in some places than a one week trip in others.

I wouldn't bring anything more, but pretty much everything would be of much higher quality. Clothing, shelter, packs and bike would all be different and way more expensive than my average setup now.

I definitely pack lighter for long trips than I do for short ones, given equal conditions.

I think expedition gear is more orange and twice as expensive.

+1

I, and most, define food & water as supplies.

Expedition gear US/Europe why? Riding Alaska or Scandinavia in winter? Trans Arizona trail bike-packing.

If your are -really- that concerned just KISS your bike to where everything is availability at the local walmart.

Fixed that for you.

If your going to Mongolia, don't forget a phrase book; but then maybe your'e fluent in Mongolian.

What is an expedition? How long? What season and how many seasons? As far as bikes/gear is concerned, there are some eastern European countries where a guy need to be pretty self-sufficient . What is expedition gear?

There are many rides that are multi-month regardless of the location.

Laundry facilities can be an issue in Europe. The best place to find laundry facilities are the bigger campgrounds.

Defining your question would probably get you more meaningful responses.

I've seen FTFY used several times, but I can't really put it into context using the Urban Dictionary definition.

Espresso maker, just in case I want a cup. I don't at home but who knows? Condoms, battery operated fan, folding chair, extra thermarest, large PVC potato gun, umbrella, phrase books, film camera with variety of lenses, Ipod, bluetooth speakers and a solar panel to power them, large terry cloth towel, toothbrush, washcloth, soap, tin of biscuits, flask, compass, map, ball of string, gnat spray, wet-weather gear, space suit etc., etc.

And a Long Haul Trucker. Don't own one now, but for carrying all that its really the only choice.

A long haul trucker is a necessity if going expedition touring . . . .

Gin and lots of ice.

Yep, that's what I used on my trip to the Arctic Ocean.


Extra gear --> bear canister

Definitely a steel bike for expeditions. Aluminum is fine for short tours, but for expeditions you need a steel frame.

The OP is a big fan of Surly Long Haul Truckers. No doubt he is very happy to realize that the answer to his thread is bring a Surly LHT and your favorite beverage.

Yep. If your tour is a nicely groomed rail-trail or credit-card tour of bed-and-breakfasts, aluminum is fine. Unsupported full-on expeditions best to go with steel, IMO.

Post a photo of each of your setups ... your average gear setup and your expedition setup. Let us see the difference.

In all seriousness I don't actually believe this to be the case. would love to have an older cannondale tourer. As of now I use a 1990 cannondale crit bike for light summer tours and find it pretty comfortable on long days, even with 25mm tires. And if I ever do any off road my old Gary Fischer kia tia would be the one I take. As long as it doesn't have thru axles aluminum should be ok.
but the main road tourers I grab are steel.