Packing List
 

**I have resurrected this thread because I've just finished updating my packing list again**


http://www.machka.net/ (scroll down to the Packing List link on the left sidebar)
http://www.machka.net/articles/packinglist.htm

Before anyone faints, or gasps in horror, at the quantity of it all ... I don't always carry that much. But the potential is there that I might want some/most of that on any given ride, especially randonnees and tours ... and especially tours which include randonnees.

I'm debating about doing a version that tells me where to put all that stuff on my bicycle.

For example ...
Pannier 1 - bedding & kitchen stuff
Pannier 2 - clothing & toiletries
Carradice - tools, rain jacket, sandals
Handlebar Bag - medical, personal & technology


Do any of you have your packing lists online? They would be a good reference for others, and I might want to have a look over them to see if I'm missing anything. :D

Kow-a-bonga ! ~ nice list.....
1. Easy to read
2. Nice full spectrum (completely understand that never would you take all of this on any one trip).
I do not have mine on-line.... if includes the kitchen sink spread out over 8 pages and is broken out into a matrix of supported/non-supported + length of tour (one day, two day, weeks). Another dimension I used to include was if I had a ride partner (as we all know that has bearing on how much we can pack). That made it all too complex - anyway, most people don't like riding with me cause I like stopping too much to look into too many things along the way.
I have used the list for so long that it has grown to include WHERE I pack everything on the bike and on me, as well. Additionally, I have a section that tells me what to do and in what sequence when I pull into a motel (need to add what to do upon arrival at a campsite) cause I am so spent, typically, at that point the last thing I can do is think.
I know that your list holds some great ideas for me.... is it printout-able (i.e., in one piece) ?

Machka - how much does your rig typically weigh? Bike, Paniers, gear etc.?

Just curious...do you typically use panniers or have you used a trailer? pros/cons on the subject?

Thanks much

whoa! i know you said that you don't bring all of that, but does even the majority of it fit into just those two front panniers and the one rear bag?

it looks like a great packing list!

Thanks :)

I've added a pdf link to the bottom of that page which you should be able to print, provided you've got the Acrobat reader to open pdfs.

Actually ... yes. Well ... I had a handlebar bag too. :D I created that list when I got back from Australia last year ... based on what I took with me to Australia. I think I've added one or two things to the list since that trip, but not much.

A lot of that stuff is really quite small. I buy the trial-sized versions of stuff from pharmacies etc. ... and try to get the smallest version of everything I can find. For example, the sewing kit I mention there is a tiny little plastic "envelope" about 2"x2" and virtually flat which contains a card with thread wrapped around it, a couple of needles, and maybe one or two other things. Because it is so flat and compact, it takes up next to no room at all. A lot of my stuff is like that.

I ride with panniers. You can see my setup in the photos at the bottom of that packing list.

The bicycle weighs 27 lbs.
All my luggage together weighs about 40 lbs.
For a total of about 67 lbs.

I divided the 40 lbs worth of luggage approx. like:
-- each pannier:12 lbs
-- carradice: 13 lbs
-- handlebar bag: 3 lbs

That puts about 33% of the weight in the back, and about 67% of the weight in the front.


I do a lot of airplane, train, and bus travel when I tour ... in the middle of the tours, to get from one area I want to see to another quickly. I think that if I were to use a trailer it would just be more hassle than I want to deal with. Also, when I stay in hostels, they have, on occasion, been somewhat reluctant to put my bicycle somewhere safe and out of the elements. I imagine that if I had a trailer they'd be twice as reluctant. I'm quite happy with the panniers.

Thanks for posting your list Machka--it's very readable formatwise -John

How many of you bring the tools to, and know how to, change a spoke on the drive side?

I thought caradice was a brand, maybe you could break out what kind of bag it is?

I managed to leave out a whole row, I don't take anything in the Technology row, except that my computer has a clock function.

Good list to check against!

As for changing spokes, I haven't had to, and I haven't nailed down the new freewheel tools yet. I could do it with my old ones. I did carry spokes, and there is a way of getting them in without their being either carbon, or taking the freewheel off, but I don't remember it, If it can be done I can figure it out when the time comes. I'm also looking into nexus and Rohloff, though without a lot of passion, as yet.

One thing I do carry in my tiny tool kit is a pair of rubber gloves. On tour there often isn't a good place to clean a thick coat of grease off ones hands if a lot of chain work is indicated. And rubber gloves can be adapted to a lot of other uses, like field dressing road kill. and don't weigh much.

Yo. And unfortunately, I've kept in practice :( With a freewheel, yet.

-- Mark

The Carradice bag is a Nelson Longflap.

I included rubber gloves under the medical column because I use them for both bicycle repairs, and I've got them to use in case of an injury.

But as for getting the grease off your hands, try baby wipes. They work GREAT!!

Nice list. Quite a bit of redundancy, but you did say you don't necessarily take it all...

BTW, I use a freeware program called Backpacking Gear Weight Calculator to manage packing lists. The nice thing about the program is you can create a master list of equipment along with the weight of everything, then select the items you plan to take. the program calculates all the weights for you. works great for backpacking, bikepacking, bike touring, etc. I used to keep everything in spreadsheets, but this little program makes it very convenient to create and manage a packing list.

I carry a modified spoke -- cut off the head and bend it into a z-shape. This installs without removing the freewheel/cassette and from experience I am confident it will last 1000km. Some people file the edges off the head all around but leave a bit on the far side, again so it will install from the inside of the hub. Don't forget to bring a nipple with the spoke, and a spoke wrench.

i made my own gadget to replace the drive side spokes ... my drive side spoke replacement enabling gadget

works good and is easy to carry ... oh, my entire tool kit that i carry on tour is photographed on this page [excepting tyre levers and patches etc] ...

here is packing list

or as a printable webpage or as a printable word document

your list on your webpage is well set out, looks good

I've only done one tour, and that was with a group and support; because I'm absolutely ignorant about real touring, my question may be elementary: is that weight distribution typical? That is, what does all that weight up front do to your steering and front end stability? My intuitive thought would be to pack the back. By the way, Machka, it took me a moment to realize who "Charlene" is!

Remember that most of the riders weight is on the rear, so splitting your gear with more to the front tends to even things out a bit. In my expereince loading the front has hepled handling. Loading only the rear, as I used to do for commutes / utility made the bike fairly unstable...

I'm interested in learning more about your modified spoke method. Does your "z" change the spoke length? Do you make up the "z" and then cut the spoke to length and thread it? Do you try out the fit of your made-up spoke to be sure it's going to work?

I believe the recommended weight distribution is 60% in front and 40% in back. I did try to get as close to that as possible ... stuffing whatever I could into my carradice (nelson long flap) on my rear rack, but I usually ended up with a bit more of the weight in front.

Yes, it does affect the handling ... it makes the bicycle so much more stable. :) If you've never ridden with a bicycle with that amount of weight in the front before, it will take a ride or two to get used to it ... and things like standing out of the saddle on climbs takes some practice, but once you get used to it, when you ride without all that weight ... the bicycle feels really twitchy. There were only two places on my Australian tour where I had difficulties with the load in front ... one was on a particularly steep descent ... I felt like the rear wheel was coming up off the ground!! It probably wasn't, but that was the feeling I had. The other time was crossing the bridge in Hobart. That bridge is long, and the wind was just howling off the ocean - a crosswind. With that much bulk in front, blocking the wind, I was thrown all over the place. I ended up walking across the bridge because I couldn't control the bicycle.

If you look at the photos of my tour of Wales, I had the bulk of the weight on the back of the bicycle because I didn't know any better then (that was my first loaded tour), and it just didn't feel right ... especially on climbs!

That's one thing I don't carry ... yet. But wouldn't the fiberfix spoke work as a temporary fix?

Fyi-Printed out like a charm. Thanks.

I tote 2 FiberFix Spokes - available from AdventureCycling, item no. BT-820 at $9.00 per for that some-day eventual need.

Great list Machka! Well done for uploading it and sharing it. :)

I don't have one but the man here with the gorgeous vintage Specialized has a great one on his site:

Self-contained Touring Equipment and Packing List

I hope you don't mind me linking it, Ted! I stumbled upon it earlier this week googling a photo of a Surly Nice Front Rack!

Machka,
I noticed a radio on the list. what radio do you recommend?

Great info on your site!

Thanks