Ed Noonan's Trans-Continental Bicycle Tour Packing List
All links checked and updated 6/2000.
Bicycle (as equipped-including racks and empty panniers) 35.3 lbs:
|
| Item | Lbs | Comment | |
| Specialized Sub-Six Pro® helmet | 0.4 | ultra-light weight (replace every 2 yrs) | |
| 3 water bottles | 0.3 | I use 2 Nalgene® water bottles & a prepackaged bottle of Gatorade® as appropriate | |
| 4 cargo straps | 0.0 | more stable than bungee cords | |
| 1 spare tire (700x37) | 1.0 | Continental Conti® Top Touring--remote areas only; used mine at Havre, Montana | |
| 3 spare tubes | 1.0 | in 7,000 miles, had 4 flats on road & 1 in camp (broke stem while pumping) | |
| safety flag | 0.3 | essential safety gear | |
| Topeak Combi Master Blaster® air pump | 0.7 | built like a floor pump | |
| NiteRider Cyclops® headlight (15w ) | 2.0 | as necessary--reduced weight by 2 lbs with hobbyist NICad batteries rather than "D" cells |
| tool bag |
|
pliers, pedal wrench,schrader adapter, crescent wrench, allen wrenches, screwdriver, pressure guage | |
| other |
|
chain tool (essential), spoke wrench (essential), 8 extra spokes, 2 extra cables, chain links (& Shimano connector), bolts/nuts, tire repair kit, electricians tape & aircraft tape, (more durable), wipes, nylon ties, chain lube (Pedro's), electric wire (forgot), goop (skipped), rag (skipped), Halt dog repellant (skipped--use dog bisquits), extra velcro patches, insect repellant, Victorinox Swiss Army knife, spare seat bolt | |
| lock/chain |
|
| 4" non-stick stainless pan |
|
This pan was too small. In the future, I'd use an 8-10" non-stick stainless steel fry pan | |
| Sierra wood stove |
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| fuel (NONE) |
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| matches |
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| scrub sponge |
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| OR Lexan® knife/fork/spoons |
|
I recommend OR. I tried to use cheap plastic tableware, but it broke. | |
| coffee | skipped | ||
| oil | skipped | ||
| candy, PowerBars®, snacks |
|
buy as needed | |
| food |
|
buy as needed |
| first aid kit |
|
scissors, tape, gause, first aid cream, bandages, cough drops, antacid | |
| wallet |
|
credit cards, drivers license, money, 2 blank checks, emergency info, health ins card, birth certificate or passport (for Canada), voters registration, address book, travelers checks, discount cards (AARP, AAA, AYH, etc)--I forgot them for AK-MI | |
| glasses |
|
Oakley sun glasses blue & clear lenses (need 2 pairs), prescription reading glasses | |
| maps |
|
I used about 5 lbs of Universal and Adventure Cycling maps, but only a few at a time; mailed them home periodically after use |
| Shimano SPD® bike shoes |
|
cleated shoes; worn all day every day-not weighed | |
| 3 pairs CoolMax® undershorts |
|
from Campmor catalog & Patagonia brand | |
| 3 pr. gel padded touring gloves |
|
I prefer Trek or Pearl Izumi | |
| 3 pr. CoolMax socks |
|
Trek, Cannondale & Pearl Izumi | |
| 3 Voler jerseys |
|
available only thru bike clubs (I used TCBA jerseys) | |
| 3 bike shorts |
|
prefer 8+ panel Voler , Pearl Izumi or Cannondale | |
| 3-6 Trek CoolMax sweatbands |
|
hard to find and they vanish in the dryer | |
| Voler windbreaker |
|
available only thru bike clubs (I used TCBA jacket); used daily most of trip | |
| Bellwether rain jacket |
|
doesn't breathe, but none seem to | |
| Bellwether rain pants |
|
seldon used; would skip but for cold weather | |
| Bellwether tights |
|
seldon used; would skip but for cold weather | |
| Pearl Izumi leg warmers |
|
used often | |
| Columbia fleece jacket |
|
fleece is essential for cold weather, especially around camp | |
| Specialized full-finger gloves |
|
seldom used, but necessary for cold weather | |
| North Face "Thermal Dynamics" insulated shirt |
|
light weight, but warm | |
| neoprene booties |
|
needed for really cold weather but I forgot mine (borrowed Tim's in Yukon) | |
| Wigwam Ultimax® sox |
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| don't bother with: |
|
seat rain cover, helmet cover, ear cover, polypro long john pants |
| Moonstone T shirt |
|
black (never appears dirty), dries quickly | |
| long sleeve TCBA shirt |
|
only for cold weather | |
| LL Bean Primaloft® vest |
|
snythetic down; great for cold weather; great pillow | |
| Teva sandals |
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lighter than tennies, but still haven't decided whether I need them | |
| Columbia Supplex® shorts |
|
used as swim suit, pj's, shorts--wear at laundromat | |
| CoolMax® underwear |
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1 extra brief & socks | |
| handkerchief |
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| don't bother with: |
|
tennis shoes, swim suit, long pants (use bike tights) |
| Tent: North Face Tadpole® |
|
rainfly, ground cloth, stakes | |
| Sleeping bag: Marmot |
|
compression bag & OR dry bag | |
| ThermaRest® sleeping pad |
|
backpacker version | |
| flashlight: Maglite AAA |
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| spare tent stakes |
| shower pack |
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soap dish, soap, shampoo--Head & Shoulders® 2 oz., tooth brush, tooth paste 1 oz., hair brush, Vaseline® petroleum jelly (for rashes), sun screen (SPF 50 for sports), lip balm (SPF 15-30) | |
| toilet paper |
|
part roll | |
| Cascade Designs Pack® towel |
|
| misc. stuff |
|
extra Hefty OneZip® zip-lock bags, swiss army knife, nylon rope (25-50' 1/8 inch), safety pins, sewing kit (small airline or hotel kit), highlighter for maps, pen, 4 clothes pins, paperback book (optional), small notebook (optional) | |
| prescription medication |
|
all regular and special purpose (allergies) medication | |
| don't bother with: |
|
clock radio, water treatment tablets, flourescent light for use in tent |
| Apple Macintosh® PowerBook 5300c |
|
with VST MO-230 drive; floppy disk drive omitted | |
| BTI power supply | 0.2 | ||
| OR water resistant bag |
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| Motorola MicroTac® cellular phone |
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not sure about taking on future rides | |
| Sony microcassette recorder |
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used often every day to record fleeting impressions and bright ideas | |
| Casio QV-30 digital camera |
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took about 15 digital photos per day | |
| serial cable |
|
for Casio | |
| Global Village Platinum Pro® PC card modem |
|
excellent 28,800 bps modem | |
| 6' RJ11 cable |
|
for telephone connections; lines are not always available | |
| 4 MO disks |
|
for VST MO-230 drive | |
| 6' extension cord |
|
needed for AC to Casio, PowerBook, battery charger | |
| batteries & charger |
|
12 NICad AA batteries and charger | |
| PowerLine Sun Catcher - Professional Solar panel |
|
plan to take on future trips |
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© Ed Noonan 1996-2000