An Adventure Called Bicycling: Bicycle Touring Packing List: IN REVIEW

Back in May, before my bicycle tour across the country-- this is the list I came up with. Here are my {thoughts in retrospect.}

TOPS

2 sports bras {could bring just one, plus a swim suit to wear while doing laundry}
a synthetic shirt {SENT HOME. Replaced with a long sleeve SPF shirt which worked great to circulate air and keep me cool. Eventually cut the sleeves off when it got humid.}
a thin wool shirt (cool even in hot weather) {fantastic. Would do this again, but with Smartwool or IceBreaker instead of Patagonia. The Patagonia shirt-- surprisingly-- fell apart.}
a WWR jersey {brought it to publicize my sponsor. Would ride w/o a jersey next time.}
..kinda tempted to bring a tank top, too. You know-- for the tan. {If I brought it, I definitely sent it home.}
arm skins (SPF protection and COOLS you off rather than keep you warm) {These things actually do kinda work.. but didn't need 'em once I had my SPF shirt, which was more appealing to wear anyway, as it was billowy.}
arm warmers {I wear arm armers a lot in everyday riding, I don't think I used them very often during the tour, though. Debatable. Depends on other clothing items.}
long sleeve wool jersey, medium weight {Worked great, though could substitute with medium weight short sleeve + arm warmers.}
wind jacket {Brought a bright yellow, convertable kind. Used it a lot and draped it over my load on the rear rack for increased visibility.}
rain jacket {YUP.}

BOTTOMS

3 pairs of underwear {Yup.}
two pairs of cycling shorts {Yup.}
gym shorts {Yup.}
synthetic knickers {Did I really bring these? I think I ended up bringing long pants. Better choice. Or some convertables.}
knee warmers {Yup. Sent 'em home once it got hot though, of course.}
50/50 wool/poly long john/tights {Nights can be surprisingly cold! Would bring again.}
Probably not rain pants.. but MAYBE some quick-drying MUSA pants. {I don't think I brought rain pants.. }

HANDS

shortie bike gloves {YES.}
and.. a windproof? a liner AND windproof? {I brought some really basic long fingered gloves. Worked most of the time, except when wet AND descending. Will go with wool next time and a Gore Tex shell.}

HEAD

helmet. duh. {Yes.}
cycling cap-- keeps rain out of eyes {Or a helmet with a visor.}
beanie-- keeps whole body warm and a back up for a wet cycling cap {YES.}
visor > I love this visor in hot sunny weather, so it's coming! {Haha, gave it to my touring buddy when I bought a cowboy hat! Really great for cooling off when you're in a desolate stretch with no shade.}
sunglasses, with a light and dark lens set {Oh definitely yes. Love my Rudy Projects.}

FEET

2 thin short cycling socks, hot weather
1 thin tall wool socks, cool weather
1 thicker tall wool socks, cold weather and post-rain ride {Yes on all the socks. Sent the warm ones home once it got hot.}
cycling shoes {YES. I like it better to have a performance cycling shoe that's more efficient, then to take those shoes OFF at the end of the day and cool them off in something else. I don't like the one-shoe-for-both thing. Not for me.}
booties {YES.}
Keen sandals {Replaced them with flip flops. Will replace with Crocs for next tour. Keen's were too heavy and unnecessary. We didn't do any more walking than we needed to.}

COOKING

STOVE

MSR Whisperlite
Fuel bottle
Matches
{Yes to all. Also bring lighter as back up to matches. Even if they're "waterproof."}

COOKWARE

1 pot, 1 pan {Ended up with 2 pots, happy with that.}
Spatula {Yes.}
Wooden spoon {Ended up with a folding spoon.}
Cutting knife ..and a mini-knife sharpener (I'm a snob. And I like safety.) {Didn't bring the sharpener. :) }
Spices {At one point, we had a LOT of spices. Then we narrowed it down to what we could use most often. Only carried a few: salt, pepper, garlic, cinnamon, and one or two others.}
Hand-sanitizer {Oh, yes.}

EATINGWARE

Mug/bowl {My mug/bowl was one mug nestled inside another, which was handy. Plus it has measuring marks.}
Frisbee/plate/cutting board {Used a real thin-type cutting board after questioning the food-gradeness of the frisbee.}
Fork/spoon {Read: fork and spoon.}

CLEANING

1/2 sponge
Camping Suds {Yup.}

WATER

Iodine {Yes, good for back up! Used it once, though we ended up finding water anyway.}
2 small bladders (for when our water bottles aren't enough) {YES. Takes no space and no weight, it's just a no-brainier.}

ETC.

Plastic bags {Ha-- we saved any useful looking plastic bags that we came across.}
Cord to hang food {YES. Not just for bears-- but for raccoons, too!}

CAMPING

TENT

2 person tent w/ fly & tarp ground cloth {My 2-person was more like a 1-person. We were gifted a 3-person tent with MAJOR ventilation when we were halfway across.}

SLEEPING

REI sleeping bag {20degree}, eVent compression sack {Yes.}
Thermarest or Ridgerest pad (undecided) {Went with Ridgerest foam pad for speed and it was comfy enough for me.}
Thermarest compressible pillow (YES, I'm BRINGING the pillow.) {And I'll bring it again!}
Cotton liner (an old bed sheet) (This is to keep my bag from getting stinky and also for those hot nights that a sleeping bag is just too much.) {Will buy a nice silk one next time. My sheet was haphazard and heavy.}

OTHER

Bandana {Used one as a pee rag. :) }
Tent patch kit {Never used it, but glad I had it! Useful for patching other things besides tents.}

TOOLS

BIKE TOOLS

3 tire levers, patch kit
Mini pump
Huge Alien multi tool that has EVERYTHING
[except] very miniature pliers
Lube, 1/2 blue rag, small bottle of degreaser
{Yes to all. Definitely USED those pliers. That's a kind of leverage that's hard to come by otherwise.}

OTHER TOOLS

Mini Leatherman {I think we used this, but we didn't really need it. We had other tools to replace it.}

SPARE PARTS etc.

Brake and derailleur cable
Spare tube, tire boot
Extra bolts for rack, shoes
Brake pads
Zip ties
Hoseclamp
AAA batteries for bike lights
{ADD: Spokes! and a Tire!}

OTHER

Curly combo lock {Yes, we brought one each, used them both to lock our bikes to each other and to something else. Often, though-- the bikes were unlocked. Really, I'd like to see someone just TRY and ride away on a fully loaded touring bike.}
Bungees {Yes, infinitely useful!}
Duct tape & electrical tape wound around a pencil {Yes. We nearly used it up!}

SAFETY

VISIBILITY

Reflective triangle {Definite YES.}
[Wind jacket is neon yellow]
Rear flashing light
Front light
{Yes & yes. Even if you don't plan to ride in the "dark," fog, rain, dusk and dawn are all low light conditions requiring lights for safety!}

SELF-DEFENSE

Pepper spray
{Yes. ADD: Dog spray! We never sprayed it (very nearly did a few times), but pulled it out often in Kentucky. Some dogs recognized the can and gesture and went high-tailing the other way!}

FIRST AID *all in mini-packets

MEDS: Pepto-bismol, midol, sting relief wipe, benadryl, ibuprofen, poison ivy wipe, eye drops, Neosporin
ROAD RASH: alocohol, iodine and saline wipes. Gauze pads and mini roll. Band aids.
HOT/COLD: Hand warmers, chemical ice pack, icy/hot patch {Ditched the last two.}
TOOLS: nail clippers and very pointy tweezers
BLISTERS: mole skin
{Used a fair number of this, would still bring all of it.}

PERSONAL

TOILETRIES

Travel towel (super thin, light, dries fast) {Yes, but I could bring a smaller one. Mine was full size! A luxury.}
Terry wash cloth
Toothbrush, toothpaste
Deodorant
Razor
'Feminine products' and a coffee bag to keep stinky ones in
Dr.Bronners for soap/shampoo
Butt'r chamois cream {YES! Although I would bring Belgium Budder, as it's Paraben Free.}
Bug spray
Sunblock, SPF chapstick
MAYBE a lotion bar {Don't think I brought this-- or I sure didn't use it!}
{Yes to the rest!}

DOCUMENTS

MAPS

Adventure Cycling TransAmerica Route maps

Driver's license
Medical and car insurance card
A card with my medical info written on it

MONEY

Debit card, credit card, checkbook, cash

POSTAGE

Stamps and addresses

{Yes to all. Plus a blank notepad for writing notes, addresses, scratching out math etc.}

TECH

CAMERA

Camera, 3 batteries, extra memory card, charger and a tiny thingy that plugs your memory card into a computer {the cord that plugs the camera to the computer would have been fine as opposed to the other plugger thingy. Although the plugger thingy worked without needing a charged battery!}
Add: Joby! My lil' bendable tri-pod. This enabled SO many self-timed photos!

CELL PHONE

Phone, charger -- I am NOT bringing a phone on this trip. I am letting my cell plan expire and will rely on my touring buddy's phone for emergencies. {I BROUGHT MY PHONE! Kept it off most of the time to conserve battery.}

LUXURY

BOOKS