Touring Equipment

Been lots of discussion on small pumps in here, there's a 'mini pump' thread that's active too.

topeak road morph looks perfect, will get one of those.

I have a lezyne road drive. worked well for me so far!

I'm going to be riding around France for a few days with a group of friends in April, it's all of our first times doing anything like that. We'll be camping the whole way. We've got a rough idea of what to pack but can anyone list everything they'd take and things that might be worth leaving?

Should have mentioned, we'll probably be away for around a week.

https://www.lfgss.com/thread31811-33.html#post3676260

I'd probably leave the toaster next time. I only like toast with spread/butter, and it's not that easy to take butter touring.

Oh, I didn't have the toaster on that list. nm.

Touring with friends, epic win.

(not my photo).

I'd probably leave the toaster next time.

And maybe ditch half the stuff that pretty much make you a mobile mechanic.

Eyeliner?

Touring with friends, epic win.

(not my photo).

So. Much. Ortlieb. makes me weak at the knees.

Here's the list what I brought on a 1 month trip through 7 European countries. The list is quite detailed as it's part of a huge write up I'm (Very slowly) making for the Boast Post Thread. Hope it's of any use. Personal favorites on the list are: Microtowel, merino base layer, salt.

''Me and my bike just before the test ride''

The bike
Planet X SL Pro Carbon
Shimano 105 5603 Triple groupset 9sp 12-27 Casette
Reynolds Attack wheelset
Michelin Endurance Pro 25c tires
Prologo Scratch Pro Ti 1.4 Saddle
Look Keo Easy pedals

Garmin Edge 500 on stem
Garmin Edge 800 on bars
Front light
500ml & 7500ml bottle in carbon PX cages
Topeak Micro Rocket AL pump

The handlebar bag Ortlieb Ultimate 5 Compact
Smartphone
Photo camera with GPS function, great for touring!
Wallet with cards and cash
Small notebook & pen
Arm & leg warmers
Warm gloves
Keys

The frame bag Revelate Designs Tangle Frame Bag size Large
Terra Nova Laser Comp 1 tent & 14 glass fiber pegs in the big compartment
The rest in the smaller compartment:
2 spare tubes
2 sets Lezyne patches
Tire levers
Rimtape
Spare spokes
Park Tool internal spoke nipple wrench
2 Missing links
Squirt Lube
Allen keys
Screw driver +
Multi tool
Tiny piece of rag
Roll of sandwich bags
Zip ties
Electrical tape
Mini pliers
Kabrus alarm padlock
£1 Lock of PX

The rucksack strapped to saddle & post Osprey Talon 22
Exped AirMat Basic 7.5
Vaude Piekan Light sleeping bag
Pair of Teva shoes
Lightweight nylon zip-off trousers
Cotton t-shirt
Swimming shorts
2 Boxer shorts
Pair socks
Flip flops
Ray Ban shades
Micro towel
Tiny light shaver for head
Sandwichbag1: Toothbrush sawed in half, toothpaste, bar soap(inside other bag), wash cloth, sudocrem, Assos chamois creme, tiny bottle of Assos washing liquid
Sandwichbag2: Needle & thread, betadine cream, plasters
Sandwichbag3: Chargers for phone, GPS devices and camera battery
Sandwichbag4: 2 tiny candles & pack of matches
Spork
Army knife
Sawed off camping spatula
Tiny camping stove
2 lightweight pots (tousers went in one and microtowel in the other)
Salt
Passport
Spare tent cord used to hang my laundry
Few clothespins
Bin bag
6 Cans of snus

Me
Assos bibs
Icebreaker Merino undershirt
Jersey which I received when participaring in a charity event
Cheap summer gloves
Cheap short socks
Bont Vaypor shoes
Helmet
Photochromatic cycling glasses
Gore Bike Wear windstopper jacket in jersey pocket

Length of France end of August:

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]

Thanks, that's really helpful, is there anything on that list you'd leave behind next time or anything not on there you wish you'd taken?

Edit:the last two posts in particular.

Yeah, I say besides each item x

So you do! Should have finished reading before I posted.

1 months, 3,000km cycle tour in the summer (September).

Bike wear
Rapha touring short (credit card + cash in tiny pocket).
Rapha merino jersey (fucking amazing).
Gore bibs short (threw it away after Spain).
normal sock for riding.
Vans Authentic shoes (cycling and walking)

Off-bike wear
Merino baselayer.
Boxer short (I worn this when I went to a restaurant, no one bat an eyelit).
Thick woolly sock for sleeping

Saddle bag
1 man tent (poles are strapped inbetween the top tube and framebag).
Sleeping bag (0 degree, get cold at night but worth it)
Inflatable mattress.
Rapha softshell jacket (only see used for five days).
Medical bag (pill, bandage, cream, etc.)
European USB plug (france, spain and morocco use the same plug).
1x Inner tube.

Frame bag
Zip ties.
Convertor to power phone, camera, etc. from the dynamo.
2 camera (big and small).
Kindle.
Smartphone (using Google Maps' offline feature and the phone's GPS alongside map to plot as we ride).
Passport.
Lips balm.
Sun cream.
Pump.
Map (we buy and ditch them at every countries we go through).

On bike
Hope front light (attach to bike)
Bright rear like (ditto)
Tool is in red water bottle, (15mm spanner, allen keys, lots of patches, glue, Leatherman, etc.).
Bottle cage for 2lt water bottle.

**Thing I don't need to carry;
**Big camera (small one is perfect)
Softshell jacket - a cheap pocketable rain jacket would be smaller and cooler in Morocco, like the Castelli Squadra .
22t cog - never seen use, prefer to have a 20t freewheel.

**Thing I would change/add;
**Uniqlo Ultralight Down jacket, cheapest lightest down jacket that'll be useful with the zero degree sleeping bag, it work well in 400k+ audax.
Kindle for the Paperwhite one - backlit would be fucking useful when reading in a tent.

Sorry, was still constantly updating the list, but I think I got it licked, was lucky as it never rain until the last 3 days of the tour.

Cheers Ed. Can I just ask why you decided to ride in vans rather than clipless? Also, any advice from people who've toured in a group as to ideas for dividing/sharing kit would be appreciated.

I've been looking at this carradice bag support as a way of holding my restrap backpack in position whilst attached to my seatpost/saddle. Can anyone comment on how effective it might be for keeping out of the way of my legs whilst I'm cycling or suggest alternatives?

My previous plan was to use loads of straps and bungee cords.

biggest pain in the ass for me was having to strap bag with its myriad of bungees and straps on in the morning, and then also unclip in the evening, or, if needing to remove wheel etc as working on the bike is a huge pain in the ass otherwise. it takes a surprising amount of time, esp. if you are tired and hungry or just cold and wanting to get moving.

Basically, I should have taken my clip on/off panniers.

Cheers Ed. Can I just ask why you decided to ride in vans rather than clipless? Also, any advice from people who've toured in a group as to ideas for dividing/sharing kit would be appreciated.

Why not? I'm not racing, i can walk and cycles in Vans, and they're very comfortable to me.

The only exception is that I'd prefer to ride clipless on a fixed wheel bike on account of the descent, but for road bike, they're plentiful.

biggest pain in the ass for me was having to strap bag with its myriad of bungees and straps on in the morning, and then also unclip in the evening, or, if needing to remove wheel etc as working on the bike is a huge pain in the ass otherwise. it takes a surprising amount of time, esp. if you are tired and hungry or just cold and wanting to get moving.

Basically, I should have taken my clip on/off panniers.

Dedicated bike pack stuff take up a lots less longer than bodged up compressor.

Ed got pics of that setup? No bar bag eh? I found my bar bag very useful for stuff that I used on the road such as camera, phone, cash or a bottle of coke:

or breakfast...

Or some of that delicious fruit they sell next to the road in southern France

@ltc: The list I made did quite well. Maybe next time I would only use merino wool both on and off the bike and leave the cooking stuff behind. The last two weeks I didnt have any gas, but I didnt mind at all to live on cold stuff, loads of fruits and veggies and canned tuna in olive oil on baguette with pepper and salt. Good shit!
And if going to France I would bring an electricity adapter. They dont have normal plugs over there.
The shoe covers I was using werent water proof, or even properly water resistant. I recommend some very water repelent shoe covers to keep your shoes dry. You dont want to end up riding days in soggy shoes.
I would also consider purchasing an ereader. I love reading but you cant bring a stack of books for such a trip.

When riding in normal shoes, one doesn't need to bring a pair of off-bike shoes. This is a very personal question. I would hate to walk around in the same shoes I just been in for 7 hours on the bike and I also dont like riding the road bike with normal shoes.

When going with friends I guess common sense would get you far. Dont multi-bring stuff that you only need one of. This can go as far as soap and toothpaste, but I'd start with tools and looking for the possibility to share a tent etc.