How much stuff can you carry on two bikes? After finishing the trip and hearing guffaws and chortles from our new TransAmerica friends (more on that in a later entry), we decided that there is an opportunity to reduce our gear list before we embark on the Adventure Cycling Association Lewis & Clark Route next year, but what you see below is what we took. All told, it was about 90 pounds.

Weights
• Mr. Grumby’s bags and 3 full water bottles – 50 pounds
• Mrs. Grumby’s bags & water bottles – 40 pounds
• Including the weight of the steel frame Surlys and our clothed bodies,           we propelled about 440 pounds over the course of our 230-mile ride. 

Clothing, Shelter, and Food
Mrs. Grumby’s Clothes:
• Keen Newport sandals & Crocs
• 2 pair no-show socks, 2 pair warm wool socks, 2 undies, 2 sports bras, & 1 regular bra
• Bike shorts – 2 pair, 1 pair running shorts, 1 pair pants (with roll-up snap)
• 3 short-sleeve shirts, 2 long sleeve shirts
• 1 windbreaker-type jacket, solar sleeves, warming sleeves
• Fleece: hat, vest, neck gaiter; plus glove liners and buff
• Rain gear: jacket, pants, gloves
• Helmet (with sun brim), bike gloves, & sun hat
Mr. Grumby’s Clothes
• Keen Newport sandals & Waldies sandals
• 1 pair low socks, 2 pair warm wool socks, 2 undershorts
• 2 pair bike shorts, 1 pair shorts, 1 pair pants
• 2 cotton t-shirts, 1 capilene t-shirt short-sleeve shirts, 2 button-down short sleeve shirt
• 1 capilene/wool long-sleeve shirt, 1 long-sleeve button shirt, 1 fleece pullover
• 1 windbreaker-type jacket, solar sleeves
• Down vest, hat, buff, & liner gloves
• Rain gear: jacket
• Helmet, bike gloves, sun hat, & surgical cap (sun protection under helmet)

Shelter, Beds, & Nighttime Stuff

• MSR Hubba Hubba tent
• SilTarp
• Thermarest NeoAir Trekker mattresses
• Two 3-season down sleeping bags
• 2 Cocoon silk sleeping bag liners
• Pacific Outdoor Equipment inflatable pillows
• Head lamps
Kitchen & Food
• 2 fuel canisters (one 16oz and one 8oz)
• JetBoil stove, trigger lighter, & 2L pot
• Folding bucket
• 2 mugs & 2 stainless steel pint cups
• 2 one-quart ZipLoc storage containers (double use – storage & bowls)
• 10 sandwich size ziploc bags for storage
• Plastic utensils & 1 steak knife
• Can opener
• Small cutting board
• Coffee cone & filters
• Sea salt, cinnamon, & tajin
• Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds, scrubbing sponge & small shamwow
• Empty bottle for soapy water
• Empty bottle for rinse water
Food & Water for 2 Days (an example from the first couple of days)
• 6 full water bottles (16-20oz/ea)
• Extra water storage: 2L Nalgene, three bladders with 5L total capacity, & 6L dromedary
• Water filter and steripen
• Breakfast: coffee and oatmeal with nuts & dried fruit
• Lunch: peanut butter sandwiches, apples, & carrots
• Snacks: granola bars & cookies
• Nuun hydration tablets
• Dinner: couscous, lentils, & veggies – with a salami & parmesan cheese
Toiletries, Personal Hygiene, First Aid, & Misc.
• 2 Camp towels & 7 bandanas-
• Dr. Bronner’s castile soap
• Folding “kitchen sink” for soaking/washing clothes
• Moisturizing lotion, Sunscreen & lip balm
• Toothbrushes & toothpaste
• Chamois butter (saddle sore prevention)
• Nail clippers, tweezers, small scissors
• Mrs. G’s bag o’ vanity: shampoo, conditioner, small mirror, earrings, ponytail holders, brush/comb
• First aid kit: bandages, antibiotic ointment, pain relief, saline eye wash, duct tape, etc.
• Misc: mosquito repellent (Kite & Deet) & head nets
• Straps, bungee cords, rope, and carabiners
• Gerber multi-tool
• Bike lights – 2 front and 3 rear
Electronics
• 2 mobile phones (for photos & emergency calls), plus one old phone for GPS
• Battery pack
• 2 Kindles & Mr. G’s iPod
• 2 power cords for re-charging
Bike Repair Stuff
• Frame pump
• Tire levers, patch kit, & spare tubes
• Fiberfix spoke
• Bike-specific multi-tool (various allen wrenches)

As we ramp up for our May 2018 departure date we will be reviewing this list a lot, paring down and adjusting as needed  

Heart

5

Comment

0

Link

Log in to comment or reply