2013-08-22 - London to St Tropez Audax

Cycling Clothes

Craft Active Waist Shorts x2
[INDENT]great, i'm a pole so bibs never fit.[/INDENT]
Odlo Asphalt SS Jersey x2
[INDENT]super jersey in every way, feels and fits great.[/INDENT]
De Rosa Summer Socks x2
[INDENT]socks, yeah?[/INDENT]
Rapha Country LS Jersey
[INDENT]so glad i went with this instead of a baselayer (pockets!), spent much more time in it than i expected, don't forget mornings are cool even in summer.[/INDENT]
Rapha Rain Jacket
[INDENT]last minute purchase, thank god, any sort of long distance riding you must take a proper rain jacket and not a windbreaker/ 'water resistant' one.[/INDENT]
Specialized Sport Touring SPD Shoes
[INDENT]i wouldn't do this distance in SPDs again, my left toe is still 80% numb.[/INDENT]
Specialized BG Gel Mitts
[INDENT]awesome, huge fan of these, better than giro lx or santini summer gloves over long distances.[/INDENT]
LFGSS Summer Cap
[INDENT]reppin'.[/INDENT]
Quecha Anti-UV Cap
[INDENT]never used as lost on 2nd day, it would have been good at times, but i managed without.[/INDENT]

Non-Cycling Clothes

Uniqlo Linen Blend SS Shirt
[INDENT]simple as, smart enough for practically anywhere off the bike when combined with the rapha jersey, plus light and compact.[/INDENT]
Altura Metro Baggy 3/4 Shorts
[INDENT]very versatile and relatively slim fitting, on bike rolled up with the option of covering the knee off the bike.[/INDENT]
Pants
[INDENT]nuff said.[/INDENT]
Travel Towel
[INDENT]only ended up camping one night, so this was actually pretty useless once staying at BnB's, essential if camping though.[/INDENT]

Bike Specific Equipment

Garmin Edge 800
[INDENT]met a cyclist with the 810, he was not happy with his device, while mine performed flawlessly, if a bit slowly.[/INDENT]
Inner Tube x2
[INDENT]nuff said.[/INDENT]
Folding Tyre
[INDENT]never used a patch kit, but if you have time to look for cycle shops (and are near some) fuck taking a spare tyre.[/INDENT]
Lezyne Road Drive Large
[INDENT]bigger is always better, this was a solid, compact alternative for taping to downtube.[/INDENT]
6mm Hex Key/ 4mm Hex Key/ Atomic22 Mini Ratchet and bits/ Tyre Levers
[INDENT]i can dismantle everything (can't remove brake pads or change cogs) with four tiny tools, awesome, triple check you have what you need.[/INDENT]
Cree Q5/ Cateye TL135
[INDENT]did the job but it's always worth getting better lights, the cree wasn't enough for night riding on unlit roads, which i had to do on day 2... not fun.[/INDENT]
Electrical Tape & Cable Ties
[INDENT]huge hassle savers.[/INDENT]

Non-Bike Specific Equipment

Camera
[INDENT]nuff said.[/INDENT]
Mobile
[INDENT]if you can, take a smartphone and make sure you don't break it (use it while moving), i regretted taking a featurephone.[/INDENT]
Headphones and iPod Shuffle
[INDENT]open ear headphones let you hear what's around you, big advocate of these when cycling, the ipod shuffle stops you fannying around choosing things; podcasts are your friend.[/INDENT]
Batteries AA x8
[INDENT]huge overkill if not in the middle of nowhere, especially if new batteries in lights before departure.[/INDENT]
TeckNet Power Bank iEP387 7000mAh
[INDENT]three charges of the garmin in it and able to charge ipod simeltaneously, plus i think it can do most smartphones.[/INDENT]
Exspect EX875 Triple USB Travel Charger
[INDENT]perfect companion to the tecknet.[/INDENT]
Micro+Mini USB & iPod Shuffle Cables
[INDENT]charged everything... but my phone, almost ran out of juice, which would have f-ed me.[/INDENT]

Camping

Hammock & Tarp
[INDENT]this was a truly awful idea, camped one night and almost froze, was cramping all night, hardly slept, never for longer than an hour, fuck hammocks, take a tent and sleeping bag.[/INDENT]

Toiletries

Toothbrush/ paste
[INDENT]nuff said.[/INDENT]
Wet Wipes
[INDENT]be kind to your behind.[/INDENT]
Chamois Cream
[INDENT]lost at the end of day 3/7 and was fearful, rolled dry 8 hours a day for 4 days without problem, miles > cream.[/INDENT]
Sudocream
[INDENT]never used, but i would say worth it.[/INDENT]
Nivea with Tea Tree Oil
[INDENT]for face and feet, highly recommend.[/INDENT]
Bag Balm
[INDENT]applied every night, preventative medicine is the best form.[/INDENT]
P20 Sunscreen
[INDENT]worked a treat for me.[/INDENT]
Anti-Bacterial Moisturiser
[INDENT]apply to hands before applying other creams to other bits.[/INDENT]
Painkillers
[INDENT]despite vast amounts of pain i never used any, non-prescription ones never really work.[/INDENT]
Plaster
[INDENT]worth taking, even though i never used.[/INDENT]
Energy Bars
[INDENT]don't bother having more than a few ahead of time, buy stuff as you go.[/INDENT]

What I Wished I Had

Overshoes
[INDENT]mine are cheap bulky neoprene ones, so i left them, buy some good ones and take them if there is any chance of rain.[/INDENT]
Clothes Wash
[INDENT]bought some on the road, needed even if staying in hotels.[/INDENT]
Scissors
[INDENT]tiny nail scissors would have met my needs.[/INDENT]