I started planning for this trip about 5 years ago as retirement prospects became more of a reality.  I needed a capable bike since my old road and mountain bikes were not suitable to bike touring.  I bought a Surly Long Haul Disc Trucker, a popular touring bike road tested by many.  It’s a heavy bike weighing in at about 37 pounds with my racks and fenders, a beast compared to a svelte 15 lb road bike.  The frame is steel not aluminum or carbon, partly to stand up to the abuse and also to give a somewhat softer ride.  The components are stock build circa 2015 so typical Shimano, Tecktro, Avid, and Continental gear with the following additions:

• Racks: 
  • Front: Tubus Cosmo
  • Rear Tubus Nova
• Fenders:  Velo Orange Hammered alloy
• Pedals: Shimano A530, SPD one side, platform the other so I can ride clipped in, or not. I like being able to clip out of one pedal and ride the platform when in stop and go situations
• Saddle: Brooks B17, classic leather saddle. Has taken a long time to break in but gets more comfortable with each ride. This was an update this year.

I see a wide range of gear selection when reading other peoples trip journals. Some prefer to only stay in hotels or Warm Showers accommodations which aside from the increased comfort factor substantially reduces your gear requirements.  Others camp and carry everything they could possibly ever use.  I’m certainly far from minimalist but I could carry more. I plan on camping most days so I opted for more comfortable camping gear which adds some bulk and weight. 

I’m carrying my gear in front and rear panniers with my tent and a couple other items strapped to the back rack.  I have a rack bag but didn’t bring it thinking it would just encourage me to carry too much gear.

I know I’m carrying about twice the clothes I need.  Many follow the “wear one wash one” routine with an additional set of off bike clothes and maybe one or two cold weather items but I’m leaning more towards less regular hand washing with weekly laundry. We’ll see if I regret this decision. I’m also unsure about the weather. How wet will it be? How cold, especially in the mountains in June? I’m not all decked out like a typical cyclist.  I see no reason to dress like a spandex warrior, this is not the Tour de France.  I’m wearing t-shirts of the performance variety (not cotton) and regular or mountain bike shorts.  Bike tourers look crazy enough as it is, no need to look like a freak when entering local businesses. 

My bags and gear together weight about forty pounds but consider the bags alone are 8 pounds.  Combined with my bike I’m lugging around about 85 pounds without food or water so figure somewhere around 100 pounds fully loaded.

My Gear list

Shirts

• Riding t-shirts: 3, not taking any typical cycling shirts, just active wear t-shirts 
• Riding button down: a mountain bike variety. Can double as a town shirt

Shorts/pants

• Riding shorts: 3
• Long convertible pants: 1, my only long pants

Socks and underwear

• Socks: 4 ankle length Smartwool running socks
• Underwear: 4 briefs, Exofficio, awesome for hot weather or travel, light and dry quickly
• Padded liners: 3

Shoes

• Cycling shoes: Shimano Torbal SPD mountain bike shoes
• Off bike shoes: old running shoes
• Sandals: Birkenstocks, Arizona EVA: For showers or other wet conditions

Wet or cold weather

• Rain jacket: North Face shell, I ditched the rain pants, too much space for little value.  Keep my upper body dry and warm and I should be fine for wet days which should be few and not cold. If really bad I’ll just take a rest day
• Leg and arm warmers: I’m not brining any long sleeves other than a lightweight hoody and a sweatshirt.  I have no long riding pants but I could use the convertible pants if needed. The warmers should be all I need for cold mornings, add the hoody and/or sweatshirt if super cold
• Shoe covers: mostly for rain or a little warmth if necessary
• Lightweight Hoody: good for cool starts
• Hooded sweatshirt: most likely just for mornings and evenings around camp

Camping

• Tent, Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2: Two person really means on person with a little extra room.  I could save some weight and space with just a UL1 but the size/weight savings isn’t all that much
• Sleeping bag, 30 degree Feathered Friends with Sea to Summit compression sack
• Sleeping bag liner/sheet: protects the bag and adds some warmth, good alone for warm nights
• Sleeping pad, Nemo tensor: A couple inches thick, surprisingly comfortable
• Pillows: Two for added comfort and selection.  Aeros is super small and light
  • Sea to Summit Aeros
  • Nemo Fillo
• Camp stove, MSR Windburner 1L: Really just for boiling water for coffee, oatmeal, rice, or heating up canned/packaged food
• Fuel canister

Technology

• Laptop: M1 MacBook Pro, Certainly adds weight and likely unnecessary for most but I want to keep up with my photos in Lightroom and greatly prefer typing on a keyboard rather than phone for journal updates
• Camera: Olympus EM1 MK2 with 12-40mm lens, I like photography but I’m limiting myself to just this lens.
• Jobby Tripod: My “selfie stick”
• Phone: iPhone XS
• AirPods: I won’t use these when riding but I will listen to books, podcasts and music in the morning and evening. My kindle didn’t make the final cut since I can listen to audiobooks instead
• Watch: Apple Watch, mostly for heart rate data
• Apple AirTag: Maybe I shouldn’t state this publicly but I stashed one on my bike so in the event it gets stolen I have a chance at tracking it down.
• Power strip, for more efficient charging. With phone, camera, computer and lights I have a lot to charge
• Extension cord: 15’, a suggestion from another trip journal.  May sound excessive but often allows for charing overnight inside your tent
• Portable charger: 20000mAh
• ACA maps: because technology often fails
• Power strip/surge protector: by Poweriver, my favorite piece of travel gear has always been a small power strip, allows for charging multiple devices from a singe outlet plus some protection from surges
• Charging cables and supplies
• Navigation iPhone app: Bicycle Route Navigator app by Adventure Cycling, these are my digital maps and how I expect to do most of my on bike navigation
• Cycle computer: Cateye Padrone, typical speed, mileage, etc
• Cadence Sensor: Wahoo, linked bluetooth to my phone
• Cyclemeter iPhone app: Great app to track GPS, heart rate, cadence, speed, elevation and other data.

Health and Safety

• Repair kit: tools, extra bike bolts, tape, 5’ bailing wire, other stuff
  • Leatherman multitool
  • Crankbrothers bike multitool
  • chain lube
• First aid kit, usual first aide supplies
• Chamois butt’r: avoid saddle sores
• Sun block
• Bug juice
• Dual Eyeglasses, sunglass and yellow lens, with bifocal reading, allows me to easily ready my phone and bike computer while riding
• Rear flashing light: Cygo hotshot pro, I have 2 so one is always charged. I plan to keep this on all the time. A single charge last 24 hours of continuous use.
• Front light: Cygo Metro pro 1,100 lumen
• Lock: I know cable locks offer practically zero security for a determined thief but I’m just looking to thwart crimes of opportunity
• Identification: RoadID bracelet. Like a medical ID bracelet with contact information and how to find out more information about insurance, etc
• High Visibility Vest: I may not wear this all the time but certainly in congested areas or narrow roads. I think me rear flashing light should be very visible.
• Toiletry bag: usual stuff

Food (to start)

• Breakfast: starting with a week supply of oatmeal
• Lunch: tortillas, nutella, almond butter
• Dinner: Hope to eat most dinners out but carrying 2 dinners of cooked rice and packaged beans or dal so I can just combine and heat on the stove
• Snacks: trail mix, nuts, bars
• Water: 3 bottles on the bike and a 3L dromedary bag if services are far apart

Bags

• Front: Ortlieb Front Roller Classic, these will hold my clothes and wet/cold weather gear
• Rear: Ortlieb Back Roller Classic, camping gear, food, and everything else
• Handlebar: Ortlieb Ultimate 6 Classic, mostly for easy camera access, glasses, wallet and other small items

Miscellaneous

• Paracord: 25’, laundry line, hanging food from animals or tying stuff down
• Towel, Rainleaf microfiber. I hate these towels but the are lightweight and dry fast
• Inflatable seat cushion, Lightspeed: For sitting on the ground or added comfort for picnic tables
• Camp light, Goal Zero Crushlight, solar/USB charge: weighs nothing and takes up little space