General Bike Touring Gearlist

For a PDF version of the list without the explanations, click here.

GENERAL - We bring most of this stuff for every Bigboots Adventure.

• First aid kit
  
• Whistle
  
• Duct tape - just a small emergency wad
  
• Army knife
  
• Maps
  
• Compass
  
• Altimeter
  
• Toilet paper
  
• Sunscreen
  
• Water bladders or water bottles - For biketouring, Joce has a water bladder set-up on her bike. Frank normally carries a bottle
  
• Headlamps
  
• Camera
  
• Charged batteries for camera - important to list this! :)
  
• Shades
  
• Plastic bag for garbage - particularly if you're wild-camping
  
• Contacts - for Frank, so he can wear sunglasses
  
• Hanky - preferable to kleenex for us, but we don't mind washing at the end of the day
• Matches or flint
  
• Compeed
  
• Passports
• Buffband - Joce uses this for everything...a hat, a scarf, a headband, etc
  
• Disinfectant gel - for those "nature calls" out in the middle of nowhere or for small scrapes
• Palm ™ - Type that uses household batteries. For writing trip reports, beer diaries, keeping addresses for postcards, carrying electronic books, etc.
• Batteries 4 Palm
• Money belt
• Fake wallet - A tip we found in the MEC forum. If you're travelling in an area where the crime rate is relatively high, bring a wallet with useless plastic cards and some small bills. You can hand this over when asked.
  

Toiletries

• Razor - just the head
• Shave cream - Sometimes Frank carries a small can of this.
  
• Floss - also useful as a clothesline or thread for repairs
• Toothpaste
  
• Toothbrush
  
• Moisturizer - Joce just brings nighttime moisturizer and wears sunscreen during the day
  
• Deoderant
  
• Dice game
  
• Earplugs - great for sleeping in hostels or huts
  
• Towel - we bring a camp towel that measures about 30cm x 10 cm. Note that this won't hide anything. Unless you use it like a fig leaf.
  
• Shower gel
• Stop itch cream
• Tiger balm
  
  CAMPING
  
  
• Tent
  
• Thermarests - Frank has a full-size and Joce carries a 3/4. Both are lightweight models.
  
• Stove
  
• Fuel bottle
  
• Fuel - we just use petrol from the petrol station.
  
• Pot
  
• Plastic bowls
  
• Spoons
• Bio soap
• Dish scrubbers
  
• Tarp
  
• Sleeping bags - we have bags for 10°C and bags for -12°C.
  
• Mosquito net - if we know we'll be in a buggy area
  
• Tea lights - for after sunset dinners with no campfires
  
• Travel pillow - Joce can't sleep without having her head raised a bit. Travel pillows (those blow up ones) do the trick
• Emergency food: Quinoa, bouillon cubes, gummi

  BIKE TOURING GEAR

• Bike - we now have Bike Friday New World Tourists as our main touring bikes. In the past, we used to ride mountain bikes with semi-slick tires. Our bikes are equipped with front and back pannier racks and mirrors.
  
• Helmet - Always
  
• Bike gloves
  
• Bike Footgear - Joce has cages so she just wears sneakers. Frank has bike sandals
  
• Bike tools
  
• Handlebar bag
  
• Panniers - Frank carries water-proof Globetrotters while Joce still uses his stinky, old, rotting ones that she needs to line with plastic bags so things don't get wet.
  
• Bungees - great for carrying extra stuff
• Speed-o-meter
  
• Bike lock (we currently carry a U-lock each and one thin cable lock. The cable lock is just to bind the two bikes together. It acts as a bit of a hindrance to would-be thieves)
  
• Keys for lock - don't forget these. Voice of experience

CLOTHES

• Waterproof clothes bag - for Joce, since her panniers are old and rotting
• Bike shorts - We normally carry two each. Joce also brings bike short-liners...basically bike underwear that can be worn under normal shorts)
• Bike shirts - normally 2 each
  
• Bike socks - Joce needs this, about 2-3 pairs. Frank rides barefoot in his sandals unless it rains. Then he uses his Sealskinz Goretex socks
  
• Long-sleeve bike shirt - Joce opts for arm-warmers instead
  
• Wind vest - Frank brings this. Joce doesn't.
  
• Lightweight Goretex pants - both of us have side zips on our pants for venting.
  
• Rain jackets - We decided to go lightweight instead of heavy Goretex. Frank wears a jacket made of E-Vent material and Joce's jacket is nylon with a polyurethane coating. Both jackets have pit-zips and the length of the jackets provide butt protection from splashes
  
• Lycra tights - Great for cold, rainy bike days
  
• Warm Socks - for camp and for city sight-seeing
  
• Underwear - We don't any under our bike shorts. This is just for camp and the city. 2-3 pairs is enough.
  
• Sports bra - for Joce, obviously. She'll normally have 2 and wash one every other day. Hey, we didn't say you'd smell pretty at the end of each day.
• Wrap skirt - for Joce to throw over her shorts.
  
• Bathing cap - polypro, not one of those rubber ones. These fit nicely under helmets and offer extra warmth on cold, rainy days.
  
• Warm hat - in case of a sudden chill.
  
• Knee brace - Frank has knee problems so he'll sometimes wear this. The warmth of the brace is sometimes enough to keep aches away.
  
  COLD WEATHER - We'll bring this stuff for early spring/late autumn tours
  
  
• Undershirt
  
• Fleece shirt or jacket - if it's chilly enough, this is nice to have on you
  
• Fleece gloves
  
• Waterproof Overmitts - Lobster claws work the best. Unfortunately, there aren't any that are Joce-sized
  
• Face mask - for surprise snowstorms.
  
• Down jacket - Useful for breaks on mountain passes and camping. Joce will bring this only in times when extreme conditions are likely
  
• Fleece pants - for chilly nights
  
• Sweater / down vest - for chilly nights
  
• City wear - if you're going to be biking through some big cities, it might make sense for you to bring a nice lightweight top and nice lightweight bottoms that would be acceptable to wear into a nice restaurant, museums or churches. We like to have clothes on us that can double for on-the-road and city wear. There are loads of companies that make outdoor clothing that are lightweight, functional AND look great in any setting. Patagonia is one of our favourite companies for this. Definitely worth the investment.
• Umbrella - if you'll be in the city and don't want to wear a bright yellow bike jacket with reflective tape.
• Light weight backpack - to keep guide books, umbrellas and stuff while sightseeing.
• Tevas
  
• PJs - This is the only item of clothing where Joce will allow herself to wear cotton*. Because it feels sooooo good at the end of the day to cuddle up in cotton after a full day in lycra shorts. She brings lightweight, cotton drawstring pyjama pants and a lightweight T-shirt.

*Why not cotton? Cotton is great for comfort and, on hot days, it's a nice material to have on your skin. But, it really shouldn't be used for a major outdoor activity. Cotton, when it gets wet, loses its insulating properties. It also takes longer to dry than synthetic fabrics. So, in cold weather, cotton would make you an easy victim for hypothermia. Even if it's not wet outside it can be dangerous because your sweat wouldn't dissipate. This would leave you with wet sweat on your skin that would start to cool to the ambient temperature. And besides, when it's really hot out, who wants "wet-cotton-T-shirt-back"? Bottom line: don't play in cotton.