Tip Request:

I keep losing things

What kinds of things are you losing? The best way I can think of is to simply not carry as many things, and the things you do carry stay in their kit unless they're being used. I do this with cosmetics (have a little $5 bag from wallmart), tools, clothing stuff sack, etc. The more you sprawl stuff out, the more likely you are to forget something. If you unpack your bags in the tent (other than the food pannier) then you have to pack everything back up before you can fold up the tent. If you lose something from the food pannier it's not as big of a deal. : P

The other thing is to have a handlebar bag if you don't already. Keep camera, wallet, cell phone, keys, sunscreen, lip balm... pretty much any essentials, and a few snacks thrown on top in there. If you need something, use it, and throw it right back in the bag. : )

I lost my virginity many years ago. I am just not sure what happened.



I believe juggleaddict got it right.

I will also say, become anal about zipping the zippers. I have been very close to losing thing when I stopped to check the zippers.

<------------------ Wooooooooo doggie! Read and clicked EVERY post on this thread!


OK first I'd like to thank users above that posted their suggestions. Many, many good suggestions to read! I especially liked; mounting spare spokes into the seatpost with a cork, and the suggestion on getting your .pdf files together and putting a copy in a Dropbox account. Brilliant!

Reading the threads I was bit surprised at the lack of use and advocation of an alcohol stove. Really? I love my homemade stove! And if I ever needed fuel, it wouldn't be hard to find in the smallest town I happen to be at. Look into this as possible alternative or as your "go to" stove. And yes, I got a MSR whisperlite.

Rear light; I have been user and advocate of the Superlight, but after losing who knows how many off the back of my seatbag, it was time for a change! Really like the Cygolite Hotshot. 2 watts of light and charges with a USB cable. The charge on it seems to be quite nice too. Sorry, I don't have really world specs on it, but can be tracked down. I really like being able to use it for daytime riding too!

Speaking of charging, having everything charge off of USB connections should be the next wave. Get a Plug-In AC Adapters USB. These adapters weigh practically nothing and have 2 or more plugs.

Some resources maybe needed in a pinch and I listed them below. This is mostly in California and should apply in other parts of the US.

Hot water - your chances are pretty good in finding hot water on tap at a laundromat.
Internet access - your nearest McDonald's! https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/services/free_wifi.html
How to find internet access - Digital Hotspotter found mine used on ebay. Weigh practically nothing and runs forever on 2 AAA batteries.
Small servings of butter, strawberry, honey, etc. The same McDonald's above. And no, I'm not a frequent visitor of Micky D's!

Lastly, I really like this suggestion and was never really mentioned in the thread. The closest I found was tape wrapped around a film canister or around some tile.

OK who doesn't use Duct Tape these days? I keep this as part of my everyday toolkit. Here's how I like to carry it.



This is about 10 feet wrapped around a spent store card. You can get these cards practically any supermarket or auto parts store out there. I got the red one just by giving a fake telephone number to "register" my account. No names or forms to fill out. I found it's easier to wrap this if you let the roll of tape hang 3 or 4 feet and then start wrapping.

Good luck and be safe out there!

That's a good idea! I wrap mine around my seat post (an idea I'm prtty sure I got somewhere in the touring forum), but I may have to try your way on the next tour.

The credit card duct tape above. I do something similar with a cut up old credit card and wrap heavy duty sewing thread around it for repairs. Works awesome, and never comes undone.

great idea for tape wrap!
thanks :-)

Sound advice, I'll be sure and keep that in mind.

DO NOT use wasp spray for self defense! It's a FEDERAL offense and you'll end up in civil court big time if there's any permanent injury. Stick with products that're designed and marketed as self defense items. If your use of them is legitimate you stand a much greater chance of not spending the night in the slammer whilst your bike and belongings disappear into some cop's garage! If you can get a concealed weapons permit that's the biggest convincer I know of when dealing with two legged dogs. Stay alert, stay safe.

Well, for some reason I didn't get the quote but you get the idea.

Show me anybody who ENJOYS it and I'll show you a VERY domestic person who's NOT going to be travelling about on a bike!

Don't use thread. Use dental floss instead. Much stronger and it has far more uses.

Why is it a Federal offense? Which law?

If you are buying Wasp spray for personal defense against people and animals, I think this is a poor decision. If on the other hand you have had issues with Wasps in the past...and this is what you have in hand to defend yourself...I don't think you would have any more legal issues using this vs. a mace, bear spray, baseball bat.......... There are some places where you can stand your ground and there are places where standing your ground is treated like you attacked someone.

If there just happens to be a can of wasp spray handy when you are attacked and you employ it for self defense you'll most likely have no problem. HOWEVER, if a DA can make the case that you were carrying it specifically for self defense then you'll violate federal law, it SAYS SO RIGHT ON THE CAN! On top of that, wasp spray has been shown to be overrated as a self defense tool and regular pepper spray is suppior, as is a squirt bottle of ammonia that you took along in case of dog attack. YMMV

Staying at a hostel once and awhile can actually be rather profitable. Stay at the ones that give you unlimited breakfast (20 pieces of toast for breakfast anyone?), raid the free food pile and don't be afraid to raid the instant coffee/tea/jam/soap stashes to refill your own. Also good for 'borrowing' forks, spoons and frying pans.

Also try staying in campgrounds with a lot of expensive looking RV's and try to camp in close proximity to them. Make up some story about why you don't have any cold beer. The best targets are the 50+ year old couples in motorhomes. Never not got a beer yet LOL.

EDIT: Guess I'm the last poster so I might as well add this on. A tire iron/lever makes a great butter/peanut butter/Nuttela spreader.

Ok ok... When entering built up areas height is your aim, sleep on a toilet block roof, a bus stop roof anywhere above, you can throw your bags up there too and lock your bike just below so you wake up if anyone fiddles with it, 99.9% of the time u will get a full nights sleep unnoticed.... Anywhere with 24 hour security can be cool just approach security in a friendly type manner first...

i got some selleys "instant steel" from australia ive used as a temporary weld on a few occasions, you know it gets warm wheb u rub it in ur fingers, that stuff... Real handy

Dumpsters/skips/ rubbish.... From supermarket and dollar stores in western countries almost always has sone kind if perfectly good food in if u time it right (weekend nights especially)

In asia you always have temples and especially police stations in indonesia where great care will be taken of you.... The guy who said about old people in rv/ motorhomes.... SPOT ON, but ill add this, pull into those campsites and make convo with whoever, if ur not gettin good vibes move around the site until u find mr friendly and his wife (almost always the poorest looking rv/ motorhome) and theyll feed u n share whatever, dont waste time with snobs in the fancy ones...

Take a good supply of alcohol/ weed (bottle, hose, cone piece) if youre a smoker, as when wild camping its great to alter perception while out there....

SMILE, SHOW GOOD WILL, BE HUMBLE AND BE REALLY FRIENDLY, PEOPLE ON THE ROAD ARE AMAZING YOU WILL BE SPENDING MORE TIME IN PEOPLES HOUSES THAN YOUR TENT ONCE YOU LEARN THIS AND WHEN YOU MEET OTHER CYCLISTS/ TRAVELLERS YOU WILL REALISE THEIR EXPERIENCE OF EACH COUNTRY WAS NOTHING CLOSE TO YOURS!

If you have time, not rushing helps....


AND MOST IMPORTANT, IS TO HAVE TIME , DONT STICK ONLY TO YOUR PLAN, KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND......... THE LESS YOU SPEND, THE MORE YOU EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!! THATS THE NUMBER 1 RULE OF TOURING..... THE LESS YOU SPEND, THE MORE YOU EXPERIENCE!!!!

12 years on the road cycling and hitchhiking through about 50 countries, thats the main things i have to share i guess..... Plus, go home sometimes or you will become too much of a misfit

And yes mcdonalds is a great place to take a ****, despite never spending a penny on the food ive scarred a lot of their toilet bowls.... Thanks ronald

hang your food bag from a tree branch each and every night.
this keeps out rats, racoons, and ants... .. .
I hang mine at eye level, for easy use.

bear country is different

If you poop in the woods, it's good form to dig a hole for it.

Hot food or water and plastic do not go together
I just read several post about boiling water in freezer bags and plastic water bottles

BIG MISTAKE

Leaching - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
plastic is for cold food and water only! this is the best tip in here
the plastic ends up in your brain a little at a time. When your brain becomes plastic coated you are a zoombie

Are you referring to a down or synthetic sleeping bag?

Do you carry wire cutters to cut the spoke?

I cook the oatmeal at night before putting away my mess kit then store the cooked oatmeal in a sealed container for breakfast the next morning, cheap, easy and if hungry at night a good midnight snack.

This would also apply to soda bottles used to carry water to save weight. The sun liberates hormone disrupting possibly carcinogenic substances from certain plastics. In studies of rats given water out of BPA-free plastic vs. glass, the former live longer. I've read that all plastics can be hormone disrupting even if BPA-free.

Use your pump to massage your hamstrings and other leg muscles after long rides. I've been using a stick style roller after long rides, experimenting on one leg and not the other, and it very clearly makes a difference. No one wants to carry a bulky stick weighing several ounces so why not use your pump? You won't have the rolling action of a massage stick but you can still massage the muscle. Worth a try!

Dryer lint is another great, lightweight firestarter!