GEAR: Not Your Standard Equipment List

Let's start with the bike itself. It's a stock 2013 Surly Long Haul Trucker. It has new tires. It is comfortable, reliable, sturdy, and fun to ride. It seems fashionable to give one's bike a name. I usually do not follow fashion, and it seems strange to me, but I think my bike DESERVES a name. Yesterday, I looked long and hard at it. I studied its shape and color, its strengths and weaknesses, its personality. Everything considered, I narrowed it down to three possible names.

1) The Reckless Mr. Bing Bong

2) Capitalist Pig Dog

3) Jim

Today, I made the final decision. I chose option #1. However, I liked #3 so much that I will relegate that name to my tent. Yes, Jim the Tent.

Like any true gearhead, I wanted to bring everything--EVERY THING--I had. I practiced packing up needs, wants, AND luxuries in an assortment of panniers, stuff sacks, dry bags, trash bags, and suitcases. I figured a bike tourist can never be too prepared.

Everything I could want--right there on my bike. I took it out on the road.

During a practice ride I felt a bit unsteady and determined I should scale back a little.

After the test drive, I put my backpacker's sensibilities into play and eliminated all of the luxuries and most of the wants. The items I WILL be packing mostly involve the ability to keep warm and dry: A very good tent and sleeping bag, a foam pad, rain gear, and clothing. Extras include a lightweight stove and fuel canister, one pan, a cup, a lighter, some spare tubes, a pump, some basic tools . . . OH FORGET IT! It's most of the same stuff everybody brings. Suffice to say, I'm just keeping it minimal, lightweight and small.

Perhaps I should move on to a list of some common items which are NOT going to be loaded onto The Reckless Mr. Bing Bong: Fenders (road spray will not harm me.) Kickstand (I will lay the bike down.) Front panniers (I won't need them with my minimalist load.) Shaving crap (a bike tour is a great time to try out a beard.) Camera (I'm a terrible photographer and I don't like disrupting my momentum for pictures, therefore my cellphone will be fine for taking just enough photos to further my narrative.) Rear-view mirror (I can look over my left shoulder.) Extra food (there will be convenience stores or grocery stores ever 10-20 miles for that purpose.) Computers (I love stopping at public libraries for updating my blog. Also, it doesn't bother me if I don't know my EXACT mileage for the day, my average speed, my elevation gain, etc.)

Now, I've already admitted that I am America's most naïve bike tourist, so chances are pretty good that I will break down and buy one or more of those things somewhere along the way. I wonder which one it will be?? Probably the shaving crap.

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