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Useless Gear: Coming Home With What You Really Need

November 4, 2009 by Darren Alff

How you start a trip and how you finish are two completely different things.

At the beginning of a long distance bike tour, you have the urge to pack as much on your bike as you possibly can. But as time goes by and the miles/kilometers become more difficult, you quickly realize that some items you are using on almost a daily basis and others are only weighing you down.

The photo below shows every single item I carried with me to the finish of my recent 9-month bike tour through Europe (excluding my bicycle and tent). If you followed me from the beginning of that tour, you will have seen all the items I had with me at the start and read about how I mailed most of my snow gear home after Spring finally reared its head in early April (while I was in Austria).

The items shown below are noteworthy due to the fact that I carried them for an entire 9-months and therefore found them an essential part of my travels through Europe. Hopefully, by sharing this list of clothing, technology and gear with you, you will be better equipped to pack for your own bicycle touring adventure…. and most importantly, know which items to leave at home.

packingkit

The following is a list of items I used until the very end of my bike tour:

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6 Responses to “Useless Gear: Coming Home With What You Really Need”

  1. Jim on November 4th, 2009 12:28 pm

    I can even imagine touring without a handlebar bag, but it looks like you managed without one…but where did you keep all your valuables? And what did you use the duffel bag for? Do u pack the Lone Peak pannier on top of the rear rack? And did u have any room to spare in those Ortliebs or were u pretty much max capacity?

    I prefer sandals or Crocs, over the tennis shoes but that’s just me. But I understand the need for a 2nd pair of footwear. I use Diadora SPD cleated cycling shoes and the cleat is not fully recessed, thus they aren’t ideal for extensive walking off the bike. They can scrape floors and walking on gravel is annoying.

    Anyone have any recommendations for a SPD-type cycling shoe that is ideal for touring? Looking for something that has a fully recessed cleat, comfy for walking, and has velcro/straps (preferably) instead of laces?

  2. Jim on November 14th, 2009 12:39 am

    Oops…I meant to say: “I CANNOT even imagine touring without a handlebar bag”

  3. Peter Hubbard on November 20th, 2009 3:55 pm

    Hi Darren just wrote a post a bit ripping off your style
    http://peterhubbard.blogspot.com/2009/11/10-gadgets-for-bike-travel.html
    hope you don´t mind!!

    I am carrying a waist pack that I used to use for hill running. Its ace as I just step off the bike and I know all my valuables are on my person. and when ever I need a camera, wallet, ipod, spoon, pen, gloves etc they are all just there.

    Jim, have you tried the SPD sandals?

  4. Jim on November 20th, 2009 4:42 pm

    Never tried SPD sandals, but they look useful for summer touring. The only issue I have with them is just that…they’re limited for summer use, and in some places I’ve toured in can get cold or rainy anytime.

  5. 181 Free Articles About Bicycle Touring, World Travel And Lifestyle Design | Bicycle Touring Pro - Inspiration For A New Generation Of Bicycle Travelers on January 8th, 2010 7:01 pm

    [...] Useless Gear: Coming Home With What You Really Need [...]

  6. Michael English on February 2nd, 2010 3:31 pm

    Ant of you ever try using a solar battery foil recharger,it saves on batteries and some of them can even charge a cell phone i-pod ect.

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