What goes in those weird bags (panniers) that get strapped onto the bicycle? And, why would anyone want to pedal a bicycle for endlessly long hours just to have to set up camp, cook on a little stove, wear smelly clothes, be cold, and then get up and do it all over again the next day? Who in their right mind would want to strap on 60 pounds of gear and pedal up a mountain? Have you gone mad! Yep, it’s crazy fun!

The Gear

When I set out on bike-packing mission, or a long tour, the gear I take is the same. It doesn’t matter if my trip is a s24o, three days, or five months long. I take the same basic supplies. This list is an almost completely exhausted list, it gets trimmed down to fit the occasion.

Shelter and Sleeping Arrangements for One

Tent: REI Half-Dome two person tent.

Sleeping Bag: Marmot Pinnacle 15 degree.

Sleeping Bag Liner: Sea to Summit 15 degree light weight (this preserves the bag knocking up the temperature rating of the bag minus 15 degrees) liner. This essentially makes the Pinnacle a zero degree bag.

Sleeping Pad: I double up. I use a Z-Lite closed foam pad under my NeoAir Trekker inflatable pad. This set-up gives me ultimate comfort with less heat loss due to convection from the ground below. Not only that… during the days if I need to sit somewhere and want to keep my ass dry, or up off the ground, the Z-Lite gives me a seat.

Tarps: On long trips I carry two five by seven tarps. One is a ground cloth for my tent, the other is for whatever needs to be covered. Me on a rainy day; or perhaps, Black Magic if the night looks wet?

The items listed above all fit in the right rear pannier, called, the bedroom.

Survival Gear, i.e. cookware and etcetera.

Stove: MSR Dragonfly Stove, I like to cook real food. The dragonfly offers me the ability to do so. I do have a Primus Yellowstone canister stove that I use on ultra-light missions. However, canister cooking has it’s downfalls that make me less likely to use the Primus. The Yellowstone (for $20.00 you cannot go wrong) will fit into my back pocket though, and only has two parts.

Cookware: GSI Dualist pot, it is my cook everything pot. It’s the only pot I carry. Inside my pot I put a measuring cup, a bowl with which houses a few items, two lighters and matches, and pot-holder, and a rag.

MSR Miniworks EX water-filter: No self-respecting outdoorsman would go out without one. Simple, easy to use, clean, and field maintain.

Eating Utensil: Light-My-Fire spork, it’s titanium and has a serrated edge to cut with. Spatulas, mini sponge, camp-soap, and hand sanitizer.

MSR Pack-towels: Two full size, and one face cloth size. The face cloth size stays in my handlebar bag.

Magnesium Flint Stick.

Multitool: I carry the Leatherman Wave.

Various pieces of bike gear: Spoke-wrench, nuts, bolts, wire, etc..

Knife: A belt knife generally used for cooking, and a Benchmade that stays on my person (Rule #9).

Parachute Cord: I carry with me 50 feet of parachute cord, and clothesline for my kit to hang-dry.

Laundry soap: it’s generally carried unless I know I will be adventuring out into the wilderness.

MSR Dragonfly field repair kit: and a spare windscreen.

Heavy Duty tinfoil wrapped up in square sheet.

Camelback: 2 liter. I also carry a water bottle for the water filter, and two bicycle water bottles, and if I know I’m going without water resupply for a long while to no access of available water to filter; I bring along a gallon jug.

Toiletries.

The above listed fits into my left rear pannier, called the kitchen. Well everything except the Camelback, and that of course is worn on my person.

The Art of Dressing

Pants: One-hundred percent merino wool pantaloons, only one.

Shorts x2: The shorts have to be moisture wicking, quick drying, and water resistant.

Socks x3: Wool, wool, wool.

Sweater: Again, it’s got to be wool. Wool keeps eighty percent of its insulating value when soaking wet, and it doesn’t stink.

Shirts x3: Moisture wicking high-tech, and light weight.

Thermal Underwear: seasonal of course.

Flip-flops for the shower

Shoes: Cycling shoes that have the cleat built into the shoe, and they need to have some flexibility for hiking purposes. Light weight and quick drying is a must.

Some seasoned tourists may call this kit overkill, but hey, that’s my style. Plus I don’t like to look, and smell, like an old worn out shoe.

The aforementioned kit fits inside the closet, the right front pannier.

The Pantry:

I can fit up to 5 day supply of food. I carry spices, snack bars, and beef jerky when climbing mountains. I also prepare a home-made trail mix complete with dark chocolate. I always carry 2 freeze-dried dinners as emergency food.

The pantry is the left front pannier.

Upgrade to the list this year: MSR Hubba single-person tent, and maybe the gear shield.