This is a work in progress. I am soliciting input from several folks who have done similar tours in the past. Everyone says they over pack and end up mailing a bunch of stuff home once they are on the road for a while. I expect this to be true for me as well.
Since the tour starts in the Pacific Northwest in June the weather could be cool/cold in the mornings and I plan to bring some long cycling tights and some warmer upper layers. As the tour moves east and the calendar advances into July, the cooler temperatures are less likely and I suspect I will send those items home (with Beth if she meets up with me in Wyoming!).
There are a few things I still need to resolve regarding Scooter. I need to evaluate the wheels and the tires and decide if they are “tough” enough to make the trip, and easy enough for the mechanics to work on should I need help truing them or replacing a spoke. I’ve heard that Specialized Armadillos tires are great for tours because they wear like iron. Although, I consider myself a careful rider and generally don’t have wheel/tire problems — I want to make sure I make a choice that will give me the best chance of sucess (with minimal hassle!).
As for Bike tools, Mike Munk suggests the following:
3,4,5,6 Allen wrenches
flat & phillips head screwdrivers (I think my bike light is the only thing with a screw)
wrenches to fit any bolts (not sure I have any bolts on my bike)
chain break tool (this is part of my 1000 in 1 tool)
spoke wrench (I need to figure out the whole spoke/truing thing)
2 spare tubes
1 patch kit, with “fresh” glue
tire irons and a tweezer
tire boot
Bike Tools and Gear:
- Several extra bladed spokes, spoke nipples and special spoke adjusting tools
- extra small allen bolts (for things like water bottle cages)
- Special seat post adapter to allow Scooter to be put into a bike stand vice
- Under-saddle and small handlebar bags
- Garmin bike computer & charging cable
- Heart rate monitor & watch
- Vetta bike computer
- bike / helmet rear view mirror
- chain lube / cleaner
- bike pump, co2 cartridges & dispenser
- tire irons & tweezer (per Mike Munk’s list above!)
- Topek 1,000 in 1 (ok, maybe a 20-in-1) tool (has chain-break tool)
- extra tubes (4) and 1 patch kit
- tire boot (per Leo Anderson design)
- Camelback water bottles (2-4)
- Route holder/front bag with notepad & pen
Yes, pen & paper are old fashioned, but appropriate for jotting down thing en route
else, perhaps a compact voice recorder but given my poor spelling, jotting down will be best. - lock and thin cable (only keeps honest people from doing something stupid in a weak moment…)
Riding Clothing:
- Helmet !!!
- under-helmet skull caps (2)
- sunglasses (1-2 pair)
- fingerless bike gloves (2 pair)
- SPD compatible, easy to walk in, bike shoes (1 pair)
- 3-4 short sleeve cycling 3-pocket jerseys
- 2 pair “Cool Wings” (to wear with the short sleeve jersey’s – for sun protection)
- 6 pair bike shorts
- lightweight nylon tights (I have an ancient pair I love but they keep falling down!!)
- vest
- wind/rain jacket & pants
- long wind/rain pants (should I go without?)
- “Golite” super-lightweight (4 oz) wind shirt
- 4-5 pair short, cycling socks
- ? leg and arm warmers ?
Cool weather Riding Clothing
- mid-weight long tights (1)
- “Golite” silk base-layer shirt (1)
- long-fingered gloves (Pearlizumi gloves with nylong “lobster claw” covers)
- “Turtle Fur” skull cap
- Toe covers – light weight or heavier ones?
Riding Food:
- Cytomax Performance (in pre-portioned baggies)
- Cytomax Recovery (in pre-portioned baggies)
- Shot Blocks
Off-Bike Clothing:
- 1 pair – Lightweight long pants
- 1 pair – day shorts
- 1 – long sleeve sun-protection shirt
- 2 – t-shirts
- 1 pair – sandals (Shimano bike)
- 1 pair sneakers (maybe)
- 2-3 pair underpants
- 3-4 bras
- 1 pair rag wool socks
(I usually wear these 365 days a year…gotta have some with me!) - swimsuit (for hot tubs or hotel pools on hot days)
Miscellaneous
- “Golite” day pack
- Sunblock
- Toiletries (toothbrush, paste, floss, shampoo, powder, deoderant, “citrus magic”, comb, razor, lotion)
- Camera – extra battery, extra memory cards, computer connection cable and download dongle
- Sunglasses (biking and non-biking pair)
- cell phone & USB and wall charger
- iPod with charger
- Laptop Computer with charger and internet cable
- thumbdrive