Bike Touring Gear

Getting ready for an extended tour can be both exciting and stressful.  You’re about to embark on a big, challenging adventure and don’t want to load your bike down with too much weight, but you also don’t want to be left stranded on the side of the road or suffer at a camp site because you forgot to pack something important. 

I just finished an 8-day, 400-mile trek around Quebec and took the opportunity to document my current touring gear collection, which has been refined over a decade of trips.

Tour Type

Exactly what you’ll need to carry depends on the circumstances of the tour.  The major factors are:

• Length of Tour  (Days and Miles)
• Sleeping Plans  (Some Camping or All Lodging)
• Season and Weather
• Rural or Urban Nature of Route
• Comfort and Dining Expectations

The equipment I’ll describe is for a moderate-length (1-2 weeks), warm-weather tour that includes some camping along a route with remote areas.  You can adjust based on differences in your tour.

Checklist

A printed checklist can be really helpful to ensure you don’t forget anything.  Click on this image to open a PDF version of my checklist.  Send us an email  if you’d like the original Excel spreadsheet so you can modify it.

Bike Setup

Your bike will need some accessories to carry gear and deal with long stretches with bad weather, darkness or limited water.  This could include:

• Rear Rack (essential – I like the Bontrager BackRack Deluxe because it’s affordable, has lower pannier rails, and has a rear light mounting plate)
• Front Rack (optional – allows front panniers for more storage and better weight distribution)
• Fenders (because rain happens)
• Bottle Cages (at least two)
• Bell (to warn pedestrians, other cyclists, and animals that you are approaching)
• Front and Rear Light Mounts

 

Storage

You need to carry stuff.  These days, a lot of adventurous cyclists are riding fat-tired bikes and carrying minimalist gear in a style described as “bikepacking”, with strap-on handlebar and frame bags, and big saddle-mounted packs.  I’m sure it works fine, but I’m more of a traditionalist.  Racks and panniers are a bit heavier and they limit your ability to travel on rough trails, but in most other ways, they are more practical.  They provide better gear access and more storage space, maintain a lower center of gravity, and are easier to install and remove.

Whatever you choose, everything should be waterproof.  Some models include rain covers.  Others are made with waterproof materials and closures.  Buy the best bags you can afford.  I’m a big fan of Ortlieb products.  In my opinion, they perfectly balance functionality, durability, and price.  My panniers have been on many tours and still look new.  They attach/detach quickly and are completely waterproof without needing accessory covers.  Arkel, Vaude, Topeak, and others also make high quality bags. 

Storage options include:

• Rear Panniers (essential – I use Ortlieb Back Roller Classics)
• Front Panniers (optional – I use Ortlieb Front Roller Plus)
• Rack Trunk (optional – I use a Trek Interchange Waterproof Trunk which is no longer available – Ortlieb and Ibera make good options with a quick-release mounts.  You may also want to use the rack top to strap down a tent or sleeping pad)
• Handlebar Bag (optional, but very convenient – great place to store essentials – phone/camera/passport – so you can easily access them while riding and remove them with the bag when you leave the bike.  Better models also provide waterproof map cases.  I just upgraded from an older Cannondale model to an Ortlieb Ultimate 6)

Bike Accessories

You’ll need a few key accessories:

• Water Bottles
• Headlight & Tail Light (even if you don’t plan to ride in the dark, it can happen unexpectedly)
• Light chargers (if you are using rechargeable models)
• Light batteries (if you are using AA/AAA models)
• Helmet light mount (if that’s your preference)
• Lock (I carry a cable lock because I rarely leave the bike for long – a U-lock might be a better choice on some tours)
• Mirror (seeing behind is invaluable on the road)
• Pepper Spray (mostly for dogs, but who knows when it may be needed)

Bike Maintenance and Supplies

Modern bikes and components are remarkably durable, but it’s still important to have some basic repair skills and carry some tools and parts.

• Multi-tool (It should include hex keys and a chain tool – my Lezyne RAP-20 has been excellent)
• Tubes (at least two – I discovered a bad one on my last trip)
• Patch Kit (make sure the glue hasn’t dried out and you know how to make a good patch)
• Tire Levers
• A Pump or CO2 Cartridges (I prefer a pump and use Topeak frame pump)
• Chain Repair Link (make sure it’s correct for your chain)
• Chain Lube
• Brake Cable (on longer tours)
• Brake Pads (on longer tours)
• Q-tips and Tooth Picks (for various tasks)
• Duct Tape (I carry narrow Gorilla Tape)
• Cable Ties (small and medium sizes)
• Bungee Cords (small versions)
• Rags
• Latex Gloves (to keep your hands clean during repairs)
• Spare SPD cleats (on longer tours, if you wear SPD shoes – I’ve had screws come loose)
• Spare screws (M5 and M6 are the most common on a bike)
• Parts Container (I use a Lay’s Stax chip container – it works perfectly)

General Supplies

There are some essential items to pack:

• Mobile Phone
• Device Chargers and Cords
• Backup Battery
• Maps
• Passport
• Driver’s License
• Cash
• Credit Card
• Emergency Phone Numbers (in case you lose your phone, or it dies)
• Headlamp and Batteries
• Sunglasses
• Reading or Prescription Glasses

Other optional items are worth considering:

• Digital Camera & Batteries (especially if you want a good zoom lens)
• Earbuds
• Travel Guides (I get guidebooks from the library and photocopy the relevant pages.  It keeps the weight down and I can discard pages after I use them.)
• Rubber bands
• Zip Lock Bags (for dry storage of critical items)

Hygiene and First Aid

For the most part, these are the same items you would take on any car or plane trip:

• Toothbrush and Tooth Paste
• Soap and Shampoo
• Deodorant
• Pain Medicine
• Allergy Medicine
• Personal Prescription Medicines
• Antiseptic Wipes
• Bandages
• Sunscreen
• Insect Repellent
• Ear Plugs (for noisy hotels and campsites)
• Hearing Aid and Batteries (if you use them)
• Laundry Soap

Camping Gear

If you plan to camp, you’ll need some sleeping and cooking gear.  Backpacking models will keep the weight and size to a minimum.

Sleeping:

• Tent (Mine is an Easton Rimrock 1-person model – it fits inside my Ortlieb panniers and requires only 3 stakes in typical conditions)
• Ground Cloth
• Sleeping Pad (the Klymit Static V Luxe has changed my camping experience – I actually sleep through the night) 
• Sleeping Bag (mine is a Kelty Cosmic Down) 
• Inflatable Pillow (also by Klymit – it’s comfortable but packs small and light) 

Cooking:

• Stove & Fuel (forget about propane or alcohol – butane burns hot and the canisters are light and last a long time.  I bought my tiny burner on eBay for less than $10.  You can spend more for a JetBoil.)
• Cook Set (mine is an Ozark Trail steel/enamel set with plastic bowls, similar to the GSI Dualist.  The butane fuel cannister fits inside.)
• Plastic Mug
• Water Flasks
• Utensils
• Cutting Sheet & Knife
• Cord/Rope for Hanging Food

Other Camping Gear:

• Matches and/or Lighter
• Fire Starter Sticks
• Compression Storage Bags (mine are Outdoor Products)

Packed Size

This list may seem like a lot of items, but it actually fit in the panniers and on the bike without any problem:

Unused items

On this trip, there were a few things I didn’t use.  They’re shown in the photo below.  It might be possible to eliminate them in the future.  Of course…every trip is different.  Just because I didn’t use something this time doesn’t mean it won’t be critical on another tour.

Here is what I plan to eliminate next time:

• Digital Camera (my smart phone camera is adequate)
• Ear Buds
• Spare Sunglasses
• Bungee Cords
• Helmet Light and Mount
• Laundry Detergent (I did laundry in the hotel sink with soap)

Is there something I forgot?  Please leave a comment…

(Oops – too much spam, so I turned comments off.)