things I took - The Empire State Trail - CycleBlaze

things I took

This list is very similar to last year's trip from New Orleans to Nashville, with just a few tweaks. The most prominent change is my cellphone holder. I bought a Peak Design case and mount.  It remains very firmly attached, but is amazingly easy to attach and remove. Another nice feature is that when I remove it from my bike, I grab the wallet accessory from my handlebar bag and magnetically attach to the back. It's much, much better than the QuadLock I'd been using. 

I listed the brand names more for my interest than anyone else's, so I can look back in a few years and see how outdated the items I'm taking will be.

BICYCLE   33.8 lbs

  • rear rack  (Tubus)  786 g  
  • rear panniers (Ortlieb)  752 g x 2 = 1504 g  
  • phone holder  (Peak Design)  82 g  
  • phone case (Peak Design)   47 g  
  • front rack (Bruce Gordon) 509 g  
  • front panniers (Ortlieb)   1160 g  
  • handlebar bag  (Ortlieb)  543 g  
  • water bottle cages (3)  
  • water bottles 85 g without water x 3 = 255 g  
  • tire pump (Topeak Road Morph)   207 g  
  • straps with buckles  (3) 62 g  - They're probably okay, but I don't completely trust bungee cords for the majority of my stuff. Straps don't tend to break, and last forever.
  • combination lock   424 g    
  • saddle cover (Brooks)  21 g
  • headlamp (SON Edelux II)  85 g
  • rear light (Toplight Flat S Senso)     108 g  

CAMPING

  •  tent + rain fly  (3-person Copper Spur)  1115 g
  • tent poles   560 g 
  • tent stakes   103 g 
  • footprint (aka ground cloth) for tent     228 g 
  • sleeping bag (Sidewinder) + compression bag (Event) = 1035 g 
  • sleeping pad  (Thermarest Base Camp)  1247 g 
  • blue cloth sleeping bag liner (also used as a sheet when sleeping on top of the bag on warm nights)    488 g 
  • inflatable pillow (Trekology)      100 g 
  • inflatable pillow (Nemo)    83 g 
  • headlamp with strap for forehead (Foxelli) + batteries     91 g 
  • picaridin insect repellent  186 g 
  • chair  (G4Free)      1270 g 
  • waterproof matches 18 g 

CLOTHING

  • cycling gloves   57 g 
  • cycling sandals  (Shimano)    980 g 
  • helmet  (Giro Register)    285 g 
  • cycling mirror (EVT)     110 g 
  • cycling jerseys:
    • Pearl Izumi 128 g 
    • Scott  (blue)  159 g 
    • RAGBRAI 176 g   
  • sunblock sleeves  43 g x 2 pair 86 g
  • cycling shorts:
    • Garneau Sensor 2 208 g 
    • Garneau Optimum 208 g 
    • Pearl Izumi   208 g   
    • mountain biking outer shorts  302 g 
  • flip-flops   468 g 
  • bandana   25 g 
  • long sleeve shirt (Club Ride Jersey)  237 g 
  • underwear:  ExOfficio  63 g 
  • socks:
    • smartwool crew socks 41 g x 2 = 82 g 
    • Bingham Cyclery (no relation) smartwool ankle socks 44 g 
    • Pearl Izumi ankle socks 29 g 
    • thick ankle socks 49 g 
  • T-shirts:
    • Retirement Plan  157 g 
    • Is This Heaven? No, It's Iowa  157 g 
  • overshorts (Zoic)    175 g 
  • short pajama pants 131 g 
  • rain jacket (Showers Pass)    431 g 
  • helmet rain cover  16 g 
  • windbreaker (REI)   108 g 
  • rain pants  (GoreTex)    283 g 
  • sunglasses + extra lens + case  92 g 
  • neoprene booties   121 g 
  • overshoes  (Gore Tex)   96 g 
  • full-fingered gloves (Garneau Ergo Air) 70 g 
  • merino head cover 19 g 
  • merino gaiter/neck cover 43 g 
  • merino upper base layer 232 g 
  • thick head cover  48 g 
  • merino base layer for legs 204 g 

TOOLS/SPARE PARTS 

  • patch kit 73 g 
  • spare tube 175 g 
  • emergency tire boot 17 g 
  • tire tool 26 g 
  • 25-in-1 tool  215 g 
  • needle nose pliers 122 g 
  • crescent wrench 125 g 
  • pedal wrench 60 g 
  • lubricant      125 g 
  • spoke wrench 16 g 
  • brake cables 72 g 
  • derailleur cable 28 g 
  • spare spokes:
    • front: 292 mm x 4 = 21 g 
    • rear drive: 286 mm x 4 = 21 g 
    • rear nondrive: 288 mm x 4 = 21 g 
  • Fiberfix spoke repair     26 g 
  • cleaning cloth 0 g 
  • degreaser/hand cleaner 77 g 
  • duct tape  9 g 
  • electrical tape  5 g 
  • chain tool  137 g 
  • handiwipes (handlebar bag) 54 g 
  • nuts and bolts  +  spare chain links 82 g 
  • saddle wrench 29 g 

ELECTRONICS

  • cell phone 301 g  
  • cell phone charging cable  6 foot  20 g 
  • cell phone charging cable  6 inch  9 g 
  • Aftershokz charging cable 12 g 
  • micro USB (Kindle) charging cable 14 g 
  • Aftershokz headphones 26 g 
  • earbuds 12 g 
  • Canon camera (no case)  660 g 
  • Canon charger  82 g 
  • Canon extra battery 37 g 
  • extra SD card  0 g 
  • power bank (Cinqred 20,000 mah)  417 g 
  • Apple watch 65 g 
  • Apple watch charging cable 19 g 
  • Kindle 298 g 
  • firewire USB adapter plug  30 g 
  • 1-port USB adapter plug  25 g   

HYGIENE/TOILETRIES

  • toothbrush   26 g 
  • toothbrush cover 10 g 
  • toothpaste  26 g 
  • dental floss  14 g 
  • Woolite detergent (4) 38 g 
  • Soak detergent(3) 20 g 
  • sunscreen 246 g 
  • sunscreen (handlebar bag) 32 g 
  • lipscreen  8 g 
  • soap = shampoo  35 g 
  • soap holder  24 g 
  • shaving cream  19 g    
  • toilet paper     45 g 
  • camp towel    47 g 
  • razor/blades 23 g 
  • hand held mirror  35 g 
  • skin lotion  15 g 
  • Handiwipes  (for handlebar bag) 490 g 
  • biodegradable handiwipes (bathing)  502 g 

MEDICAL  

oral meds:

  • cephalexin 500 mg, #6    13 g    
  • loperamide 2 mg, #6    4 g   
  • naproxen (+ canister)  13 g     
  • ondansetron 4 mg, #8   4 g   
  • diphenhydramine 10 g 
  • famotidine      12 g 
  • loratadine 12 g 

creams:

  • chamois butt’r packets #8 92 g 
  • miconazole antifungal cream  31 g 
  • antibacterial ointment (3)  5 g 
  • triamcinolone steroid cream   20 g 
  • vaseline  17 g 
  • zinc oxide   17 g 
  • first aid
    • hydrogen peroxide  (if you ever get blood on anything this will completely get rid of it; the H2O2 lyses the red blood cells and it's like magic)   173 g 
    • alcohol wipes (~10)   35 g 
    • Coban (1 roll)  21 g 
    • Ace bandage (1 roll)  47 g 
    • paper tape (1 roll)  4 g 
    • bandaids (enough)   17 g 
    • tweezers  12 g 
    • butterfly closures (2) 8 g 

MISCELLANEOUS

  • passport 35 g 
  • money   15 g 
  • paper notebook for journaling  51 g 
  • pen   5 g 
  • Swiss Army knife (small)  21 g 
  • extra ziploc bags  0 g 
  • hand sanitizer (handlebar bag)  39 g 
  • garbage bag (for dirty laundry) 54 g 
  • earplugs + case 5 g 
  • eye mask     15 g 
  • sewing kit  1 g 
  • playing cards  38 g - as mentioned in other journals, this is the only item I've taken with me on every single one of my trips
  • handlebar bag organizer  143 g 
  • heart rate monitor + chest strap + transmitter  93 g 
  • heart rate monitor batteries 11 g 
  • face masks N95  #4   20 g 
  • face masks KN94  #3 41 g 
  • lens cleaning fluid 42 g 
  • lens cloth  12 g 
  • right wrist splint 50 g 
  • left wrist splint 50 g 
  • click-stand 102 g 
  • Canon camera remote 10 g 
  • credit cards, driver’s license, insurance cards, National Parks pass, etc    1 g
  • COVID tests (5) 69 g 
  • coins 
  • sink stopper (to wash clothes in a sink without one)   5 g 
  • flask + liqueur 721 g 

COOKING

  • camp stove (Pocket Rocket)   82 g 
  • fuel canister 374 g 
  • pot/pan combination  (Primus)    272 g 
  • long spoon 19 g 
  • telescoping red cup (Sea to Summit)  42 g 

FOOD    (didn't weigh it this year, but it was heavy)

  • breakfast granola 
  • tortillas 815 g
  • individual peanut butter packets 
  • individual Nutella packets 
  • banana chips 
  • individual tuna packages 
  • individual mayo packets 
  • salt/pepper 
  • dehydrated meals 
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Comment on this entry Comment 3
Peter BrownThanks, your journal is a good read. The Champlain Valley leg of the Empire State Trail is on my to do list. It just amazes me how NY State can promote a route with no shoulder and blind curves.
Reply to this comment
1 year ago
Mark BinghamTo Peter BrownThanks for reading, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. I found it interesting that, coincidentally, we were reading each other's journals at the same time. I'm also enjoying reading about your travels through Florida and Vermont.
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1 year ago
Peter BrownBicycles passing in the night. Albany to Montreal is on my short list. I found that part of Canada very bike friendly and with Amtrak reinstated soon, I will be able to get home. I enjoy your writing and find the specifics of, gear, hotels and restaurants very helpful.
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1 year ago