N_C

Don't think I can eliminate any more then I have. This is for a 1 to 2 day tour. Tell me what you think please. The items that are listed as part of the BIKE catagorie are items I carry everytime I ride, touring or not, except the 16" tube.

BIKE: VISION R40 RECUMBENT
CAMEL BAK M.U.L.E. W/100 OZ BLADDER
DRINKING TUBE CLIP
BIKE COMPUTER
16" TUBE
20" TUBE
26" TUBE
MULTI-TOOL
CO2 "GUN"
C02 CARTRIDGES
AIR PRESSURE GAUGE
HEADLIGHT
TAIL LIGHT
HALT PEPPER SPRAY
EMERGENCY CHAIN LINK
PATCH KIT
FIRST AID KIT
BOTTLE OF MED.
BICYCLE GUARDIAN ANGLE PIN

TRAILER: B.O.B. YAK
DRY SAK
"X" BUNGEE CORD
FLAG
EXTRA RETAINING PIN

CAMPING GEAR: TENT KIT: RAIN FLY
TENT
STAKES
SHOCK CORD 4-WAY 1 PIECE POLE
BED ROLL KIT: CONVOLUTED CAMP PAD
LIGHTWEIGHT SLEEPING BAG
PILLOW
ESSENTIALS KIT: CAMP CLOCK
PLASTIC SPOON
SMALL THERMOMETER/COMPASS
SMALL CAMP KNIFE
CAMPING REPAIR KIT: TENT TAPE


STREET CLOTHS: SANDALS
PAIR OF SWIM TRUNKS
RAYON SHIRT

CYCLING CLOTHS: HELMET
SHOES
PAIR OFSHORTS
JERSEYS
GLOVES
BANDANNAS
2 PAIR CYCLING SOCKS
2 HEADBANDS
HELMET MIRROR
EYE GLASSES/SUN GLASSES RETAINER


TOILETRIES: BUGS SPRAY ***
SOAP/SHAMPOO COMBO ***
TRAVEL TOOTH BRUSH
TOOTH PASTE ***
LISTERINE POCKET PAK STRIPS ***
DEODORANT ***
GOLD BOND FOOT POWDER ***
EYE GLASS CLEANER ***
SUNBLOCK ***
BABY WIPES ***
Q-TIPS ***
OLD SPICE REFRESHER CLOTHS ***
TRAVEL JOHN'S *****
CAMP TOWEL
TOILETRIES BAG

OTHER ITEMS: EYE GLASSES
SUN GLASSES ****
EYE GLASS CASE
SUN GLASSES CASE ****
COTTON FLOUR SACK TOWEL
DIRTY LAUNDRY BAG
JOURNAL ***
INK PEN ***
5' X 7' TARP
BUNGEE CORDS
FLOOR PUMP
BOOK TO READ


So are there any more items I should leave behind to lighten up the load?

bentbaggerlen

N_C,
Why bring the CO2 gun and the floor pump? Sure the CO2 is fast and easy, but its a one shot deal. The pump never runs out of air. Just get a good frame pump.

JimboTrek

ELIMINATE THE FOLLOWING...

FLOOR PUMP - bringing the CO2s? dump the pump! OR spare some air and sport the pumper instead of CO2s
HALT PEPPER SPRAY - unless you keep this right on the bike, or dogs really dig humping your legs... you prolly don't need it!
PILLOW - fold up your extra clothes...rest head
CAMP CLOCK - wear a watch! or wake up to nature!
SMALL THERMOMETER/COMPASS - get lost easy? bring a good map instead
JERSEYS - only need 1 jersey...take the one with beer logo
1 HEADBANDS - holy pig sweat!....only need 1 headband
EYE GLASS CLEANER - just wipe with your jersey, just not your "arse" with your jerysey...haha
Q-TIPS - is it possible you can skip the ear-cleaning for 2 days?
OLD SPICE REFRESHER CLOTHS - plan on dating the local wildlife?... you already have soap & towel!
TRAVEL JOHN'S - is this a portable urinal thingy? unless you have a bladder problem...leak yer lizard in latrine or da woods!
COTTON FLOUR SACK TOWEL - you have a towel already! you said..."flour sack" huhh
EYE GLASS CASE - need this?... nah
DIRTY LAUNDRY BAG - use a plastic bag, or eliminate
JOURNAL - can't you friggin' remember what you did yesterday?
BOOK TO READ - damn, if you have the energy to read...you didn't ride far or hard enough!

OK, choose between journal OR book, i'll bet you won't use both!
If you were doing a longer tour, some of these items might be back on your list, but...

You are only touring for 1 or 2 days!!! Excuse my sarcasm...I can't live without it !

N_C

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JimboTrek
[B]

ELIMINATE THE FOLLOWING...
FLOOR PUMP - bringing the CO2s? dump the pump! OR spare some air and sport the pumper instead of CO2s

N_C
The CO2's are used in case I have a flat, and as I carry them every time I ride its no big deal to have them on a tour. The floor pump is for airing up my tires before each day's ride. Frame pumps have proven to be to inadequate.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JimboTrek
[B]
HALT PEPPER SPRAY - unless you keep this right on the bike, or dogs really dig humping your legs... you prolly don't need it!

N_C
I do carry it on the bike, it clips to the stem to be exact.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JimboTrek
[B]
PILLOW - fold up your extra clothes...rest head

N_C
Tried this does not work, is not comfortable, need pillow or I wake up with bad headache and very stiff neck.

JimboTrek

ok...N_C sounds like you want and need all your stuff! Disregard everything I said.... just trying to help (and have fun!) But after your trip, list all the things you didn't use. You can't cut weight without elminating anything... I learned this the hard way too! Still learning...

Where you biking?

hayneda

hayneda

NC,

Dump the CO2 crap and floor pump-take a frame pump. It's light and never runs out of air.

Dump the air pressure gauge--use your thumb.

Dump the emergency chain link--you can always shorten you chain and just stay out of the big/big combination until you come to the next town with a bike shop.

First aid kit--most are crap. Overhaul yours to make sure you have what you need.

Dump the BOB flag--I riden many times with trailers and never used a flag. I've always gotten plenty noticed and usually more space. Plus, in addition to weight, they have a ton of aero drag!

Tent--make sure you don't take all the stakes to came with it but just the number you need--you can purchase a replacement in any Walmart.

Dump the pillow--stuff extra clothes into your sleeping bag or tent stuff sack.

Dump the tent repair kit--available at WallyMo or use duct tape.

Camp clock, what the hell would you need that for anyway? If you must have an alarm, take a lightweight digital watch like a timex triathalon.

Dump the street sandals--ride in SPD sandals. They are all that I ever take touring nowadays. They're great off bike too.

Deodorant and toothpaste--use arm & hamner baking powder for both.

Cotton sack towel--whatever for? You already have a camp towel.

Dump the dirty laundry bag--use a mesh bag for your clothes with dirty at one end, clean the other. Or, two mesh bags if you must. You're not gonna be sweet smelling most of the time anyway.

Dump the tarp--good quality modern tents don't need a ground cloth.

Dump the bungies in favor a straps. Bungies never hold well since they can stretch. You see staps on backpacks for conpression and stabilization, not bungies.

Add zip ties and duct tape. A few zip ties and a foot of duct tape can fix nearly anything long enough to get you to the next bike shop or Walmart.

Also, err on the side of too little bike clothes than too many. You can always pick up another fleece top at WallyMo.

Good luck,
Dave

Triker

I think one to two days hardly qualifies as a "tour." What sort of mileage are you going to ride?

threadend

made the list, checked it twice.

Is there anything I forgot to include?

Change of touring plans.

You might want to check some of these threads for good information on what to take when bicycle touring.

pokey

It's futile. He does not really want to know.

pokey

You forgot the inflatable doll.Make sure it's industrial heavy duty,xxx rated. That way you can ditch the air mattress and pillow.

juciluci

John... you have posted this on many forums... since you are now saying its a one or two day tour.. why not backpack it and take only what is necessary.. plan ahead to where your stops are and if its overnight just camp out under the stars.. its beautiful. you are going in august and you are having your wife and dog sag for you.. the trip you mentioned was about 40 miles a day.. is this still true.. if so.. just eliminate most of that stuff.. keep the camelback and be grundgy for a night.
will do you good.
p.s. string, a paperclip and cornmeal make great fishin tools..
so you don't have to worry about dinner.

RWTD

I suggest you take all the gear you think you need load it in the trailer and take it for a test ride.If you are comfortable pulling the weight go for it as more weight will be more challenging.However if you are uncomfortable you have many excellant suggestions on where to look to cut weight.By the way with all this focusing on gear lists I hope your not under focusing on training to be in condition to pull the gear.

pokey

It's all a scam.It will never happen.There is no training.The only focus is on the next half dozen triple whoppers.Really, what does it take to go on a 2 day supported trip?

N_C

funny you should mention this. before i even read this i got everything together that i'm taking, and loaded it on the trailer. just to see if it would all fit the way i anticipated. it does. the dry sak looks very full, but only because i have the convoluted camp pad in it.

i have yet to weigh the fully loaded trailer. hope to do that soon but need to take it to some place that has a pallet scale, (father in-laws company has one). I dont expect it to weigh more then 25 pounds and at least half of that is the trailer and dry sak, there is nothing to be done about how much they weigh.

i have also typed up a training schedule to follow. basically it amount to starting out with the trailer empty, adding weight as i go along. then after about 8 weeks doing a century with the trailer fully loaded. this is to all be done before my first weekend tour.

i've cut out everything i am going to eliminate and everything i am going to take. i'm done asking for suggestions, as i feel ive received all the help i can from here. thank you all for the advice, some of which i used, some i didnt.

after my first weekend tour if there are items that i find out i did not need then i will remove those from the list.

BTW not using a tent and not taking a shower is out of the question for me. maybe for some it is acceptable but not me.

again thanks.

RWTD

I agree its a good idea to train using some weight as I do this and find it very helpful.Also I don't know where you are in your training but I found it helpful to build up a base of rides of at least half the milage of my tour milage so that such rides became second nature . After my first tour gave me confidence I could ride big miles and my fitness/endurance levels improved I gradually but steadily increased my training milages from there .

HalfHearted

Am I missing something, here? Granted I haven't toured on a bike yet, and am just getting back into riding after a 20 year "break," but I've done a lot of backpacking and I just can't imagine needing a trailer for a two day tour!?

When I backpacked regularly I could easily put two-week's worth of gear and food in a pack, total weight around 45 pounds. Even if you're going "heavy" for a two day trip (i.e. carrying a tent and bag) I still can't imagine needing more than twenty to twenty-five pounds, tops. It seems like two days of gear would fit in panniers easily (with tent and bag strapped on top of rack). In fact, I don't think you'd even need front paniers, just rear panniers and maybe a quick-detach bar-bag for "possibles."

Given that, is using a trailer really wise for a two-day trip, even if you already have the trailer? That's a lot of completely useless weight that you still have to pedal up grades, additional rolling resistance from one or two extra wheels, and possibly additional aero-drag (the last might be a wash with the aero-drag of panniers).

Say for the sake of argument I needed twenty pounds of gear for a two-day trip. I can put that twenty pounds on the bike, or I can put that twenty pounds in a ten pound trailer behind the bike. Halfway up the first medium grade I think I'd be ready to chuck the trailer in the ditch and stuff my gear in panniers!

John

Devster

It seems like you may be overpacking a wee bit, but I guess I could be mistaken.

Dougmt

I'm not trying to be a jerk here... hope I don't come across as one but... I fail to see the need to "train" for the ride your planning. I'm WAY out of shape... 6'2" 270#'s I jumped on the bike day before yesterday and pumped out 48.9 miles. (averaged just over 12 MPH) over half of that was against a god awful headwind. I've now ridden a total of 71 miles in the last 4 months. LOL
I was a little tired but still had a GREAT time. How would I have "trained" for that?
What ever you decide to do and to bring on your two day ride HAVE FUN!!!! and enjoy the sights, but I think you may be making this more difficult than is necessary.

Doug

juciluci

you are not a jerk.. ..N_C goes by many names .. here and on other forums and has posted this list along with his long "5 day touring"list... apparently he is going to write a book about this tour.. something like "touring the west coast of iowa"
i know i live in Canada but i was sure iowa did not have a coastline... hey maybe they gave me the wrong atlas as a kid..
anywhooooooo.. these posts along with the current one on the love forum of bicycling.com which entails his forthcoming wish for gastric surgery to lose weight... well these posts have been going on for at least two years.. along with posts about his wife's illnesses.. advice on whether to use a shovel or snowblower for one inch snowfalls(he used the snowblower)...etc..
occasionally ppl will get fed up and say Johnny.. please post elsewhere.. and where most of us will try and respond with advice and kind words, as many of you do here.... there comes a time when Johnny decides to overload....... and when he does .. watch out.. i myself have been the recipient of death threats.. and he has a tendency to call women derogatory names.. and a few ppl here know it.. and have been recipients themselves.
this forum is great.. i am learning a lot about different aspects of cycling..and its helping me pick out my next bike..
i just can't stand ppl being trolls(sorry A.Troll) and trying to garner sympathy from honest ppl... he is just playing games... ask him honestly when he last rode his recumbent.
sorry Johnny but you really need to just ride the darn thing and forget packing lists.... go "train" now.
then maybe i will invite you to the hairshirt in june.. its 322kms.. by then you should be able to do it.. and you said you like niagara falls.

pokey

You just don't know this guy.He has to train to make a trip to the john.That's why he has so much stinky applesauce in his panties.

N_C

first of all panniers are not a option. i ride a recumbent so a trailer is the best if not the only option i have. yes you can put panniers on the rear but i'd rather not. and besides the trailer will serve other uses as well. like runs to the grocery store, etc.

second the training will be 2-fold. one being it will make me a stronger rider when i am not towing the trailer. it will be kind of like weight lifting while i ride. then when i'm not towing it i should be a better and faster rider. and 2 to help me train for touring rides and events.

its fine if there are those of you who do think the training is needed. thats cool you're entitled to your opinion and i thank you for sharing it with me. but i disagree with it in this case.

and as far as writing a book about any tour i do. yes i plan to do so. the title i had selected was part a figure of speach. Touring the West Coast of Iowa. no iowa is not on the coast. but it does have 3 rivers as natural borders. I live along the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers. the reason for the title i choose is because of the fact that iowa is bordered by the missouri river. so it is simply a figure of speech. sorry and tough luck if some people dont like it. maybe if some people had done a little geographical research they would realize that this may be the reason i selected such a title for a book.

Spinar00ni

HalfHearted

Not to bust your chops too severely, but if you're planning on writing a book you might want to practice using the "shift" key. Consider it training...

John

HalfHearted

Ahh, one of those. I guess it should have been obvious from the way he asked for advice and then refuted every suggestion at great length, explaining how it might be good advice for most people but just not for him. What's the point of asking advice or opinions if your mind is already made up, eh?

Well, I guess there's a bright side. If he's been planning a two day tour for two years and still hasn't gotten out of the driveway we'd be dead of age and boredom by the time he got done planning and training to carry out a death threat...

John