I won't drone on about each individual piece of equipment that we will be using for this trip, but rather provide a general overview of what we will be using. 

Bikes

Caleb and I will be using gravel-oriented bikes to traverse the IHSMBR, I on my trusty Novara Mazama and Caleb on his timeless Miyata 1000. I will be carrying my equipment using a variety of bikepacking bags, while Caleb will be rocking a more traditional 2 pannier setup.

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Now, in telling friends and coworkers about our plans, several have remarked "Wait, won't you need mountain bikes to do the Idaho Hot Springs Mountain Bike Route?" And my short answer to their question is "I don't think so." Based on countless blogs that I have read, riders have shared that the route is completely doable on gravel bikes (i.e., a bike with tires wider than ~32mm). While suspension and wider tires can make washboarded roads and singletrack trails more enjoyable, the general consensus is that the route is still doable on bikes akin to our own. To compensate for our lack of suspension, we have each fitted the widest tires that our bike frames can fit. Caleb will be running 35mm Specialized Armadillos while I will be running 45mm Schwalbe Marathon E-Plus tires. We also aim to carry as little weight as possible in order to minimize the stress places on our bikes and our bodies.

Other miscellaneous cycling gear that we will be hauling include: spare tubes (2 each), patches, tire irons, and a hand pump; a Crank Brothers Multitool; and chain lube and a rag.  

Camping Gear

• 2 person tent
• Sleeping bag and pad
• Headlamp
• Bear spray and rope for food hangs
• Toiletries:
  • Dr. Bronner’s multiuse soap
  • Toothpaste and toothbrush
  • Sunscreen
  • Chamois cream
  • Bug spray
  • Toilet paper

• Cooking:
  • Whisperlite, fuel, lighter
  • Spork and bowl
  • Mug for hot drinks
  • Food (lots of oatmeal, pasta, nuts, and other calorie-dense foods)

Clothing

Last but not least is the topic of clothing. We will likely see all forms of weather on this trip, and must therefore be prepared for whatever Mother Nature has in store for us. We each plan on bringing the following:

• Convertible zipper pants (extremely stylish)
• Cycling shirt
• Padded bike shorts
• Long-sleeved camp shirt
• Long underwear tights
• Fleece
• Rain jacket
• 1 pair synthetic underwear
• Padded gloves
• Sandals and cycling shoes
• 2 pairs of wool socks (1 short, 1 long)
• Beanie

That about wraps it up. There are certainly miscellaneous items that we are missing, but we will find that out as we make our way into the mountains.