What to pack on an extended trip like this is always a compromise…
Weight v function v space v comfort - plus being away for four seasons and utilising a variety of accommodation types - tent, hotels, AirB&B and Warm Showers - influences decision making. Reducing weight has obvious benefits when cycling uphill but also excess baggage on flights is extremely expensive - as we found out! Also transferring heavy panniers into accommodation, buses and trains can be a pain.
This is our current gear list with some reflections. Let us know what you think or ask any questions via our contact page.
Bikes
Leigh
2019 Surly Bridge Club with 27.5” wheels from our friends at Omafiets in Sydney
Ergon GS2 grips and Odyssey flat pedals
24/36 chainring and 11-40 cassette. For you bike nerds that is a range of 19 to 92 gear inches which get a big tick from Leigh
Salsa low rider front racks. Very stable over bumpy ground and the low centre of gravity provides stability and control. They take up less room when packing the bike too.
Topeak rear rack. The rear rack lacks a lower horizontal piece that the elastic strap could utilise when tying extra gear down
Brookes B17 leather seat. Very comfy
Mirror
Peter
2017 Surly Ogre with 27.5” wheels
Surly Moloko handlebars with Ergon GS2 grips.
26/36/48 chainring and 11-36 cassette giving a range of 21-128 gear inches which covers everything needed for this type of touring. Hardly used the large chain ring.
Topeak rear rack
Brookes B17 leather seat
Mirror (broken and replaced). I have never used mirrors until this trip and would tour without them now. Great for keeping an eye on upcoming traffic and how close your partner is.
Shimano PD-EH500 with improved grip which have been great in the rain and mud whilst wearing hiking boots.
Both
Schwable 2.0” Mondial touring tyres with presta valves and tubes. Low rolling resistance on the road and grippy enough on gravel
Luggage
Both
Panniers: Ortleib Classic Back Rollers and Front Rollers. Very durable and waterproof. Easy to put on and take off.
Folding light weight back packs by Sea to Summit. Ideal for groceries and walking around towns. Leigh’s pack and Peter’s pack
Leigh
Ortlieb handle bar. Waterproof, great size, easy to put on and take off the bike. Used as a handbag on planes and buses.
Peter
Originally a Surly Porteur House bag sitting on a Surly TV Tray. These were swapped out for an Ortleib handlebar bag - reduced weight, improved functionality and waterproof and a total savings of about 2.5kg. See review below.
Riding clothes
Leigh
Depending on the temperature, a combination of …
Hiking shoes shoes by Ahnu. Waterproof, great on and off the bike
Merino wool Foot Soldiers socks by Ground Effects
Rendezvous padded shorts liners by Ground Effects
3/4 length Connection commuter pants by Ice Breaker
Merino T-shirts x 3 by Ice Breaker
Merino 200 weight long sleeve by Ice Breaker
Merino Crush Pants by Ice Breaker - so good! Wear ‘off bike’ as well
Merino Sports bra by Ice Breaker
Baked Alaska wool cycling top by Ground Effects
Gloves - Cuore
Merino tank top by Ice Breaker
Wet weather
Crosspoint waterproof wool crew socks by ShowersPass
Crosspoint waterproof knit wool gloves by ShowersPass
Women’s Refuge Jacket by ShowersPass - So good!
Waterproof long pants by Patagonia
Peter
Hiking shoes by Merrell. Not waterproof - to be replaced
woollen socks by Ground Effects.
padded underwear by Cuore. Great
Mont cargo shorts. Peter loves them, lightweight, fast drying and durable. Four pockets are handy on planes, trains and hiking.
woollen T-shirt by Macpac. He prefers the Ice Breaker shirt
Ground Effects Baked Alaska wool cycling top
Bamboo and cotton long sleeved collared shirt. To protect from the sun. Lightweight and fast drying
Cycling cap by Cuore
Medium weight gloves by Cuore
Winter weight gloves
Woollen buff x2
Wet weather
Crosspoint Waterproof Wool Crew Socks by ShowersPass
Crosspoint Waterproof Knit Wool Gloves by ShowersPass
Gortex Jacket by Macpac. Recently recoated with waterproof spray
Gortex long over pants by Outdoor Research
Off bike clothes
Leigh
Merino skirt - yanni
Trousers by Sportscraft
Merino 200 mid weight 3Q leggings by Ice Breaker
Merino hoodie - Ice breaker
Merino long sleeve light weight by Ice Breaker
Merino 260 long sleeve by Ice Breaker
Down puffer jacket by Macpac
Sandals by Birkenstock
Peter
Long cargo pants by Mont
Cargo shorts by Mont
Merino T-shirts by Ice Breaker
Woollen collared shirt by Ice Breaker. Peter’s ‘going out’ shirt and sun shirt
Sandals by Birkenstock
Short finger woollen gloves
Light weight casual shoes
Down jacket by Macpac
Light weight down vest by Mont-bell
Merino long johns by Ground Effects
Merino socks
Cooking
stove Dragonfly by MSR. We chose this as it can simmer as well as fast boil and is adaptable to multiple liquid fuels.
saucepan set by MSR - 2 litre & 1.5 litre with lid
frying pan. Non-stick by Sea to Summit
pocket knife, wooden spoon, cutlery, peeler, collapsable bowls, measuring spoons and a few other bits and pieces. We like to cook.
Sleeping
tent Mutha Hubba NX 3 person by MSR
tent footprint by MSR
Leigh
sleeping bag - Women’s Trek by Sea to Summit. 650+ loft. Still cosy at 0 degrees Celsius.
silk sleeping bag liner by Sea to Summit. Also useful as many AirB&Bs and lodges do not provide top sheets, just duvets.
inflatable pillow by Sea to Summit. Light weigh and compact
inflatable air mattress by Sea to Summit. Comfort Light Insulated. Comfortable with good insulation.
Peter
sleeping bag - Men’s Trek by Sea to Summit. 650+ loft. Still cosy at 0 degrees Celsius.
cotton sleeping bag liner by Sea to Summit
inflatable pillow by Sea to Summit.
inflatable air mattress by Nemo. Tensor insulated, regular mummy. Small, lightweight with good insulation on those 0 degree C nights.
Tools
small ratchet socket set by Giant. A little heavy but great to have a torque wrench.
tube patches
3 tyre levers
pedal spanner
Allen keys
Brookes saddle spanner
Leatherman
rag
wet lube
pump
valve core removal tool
Spares
one spare tube between us
spare brake pads
assorted cable ties
electrical tape
Other Gear
Apple MacBook Pro 13”
toiletries
first aid kit
paint, sketch book - Leigh
sketch book - Peter
diaries
Leigh
Apple iPad
Apple 8+ phone with data card. Used for photography, navigation, calls , texts and internet
front light by Meteor 200 lumens. USB rechargeable. Not bright enough for the tunnels and battery does not last very long. Replaced with 500 lumen Light and Motion headlight.
rear light by Comet-X. Not bright enough during the day in traffic. To be replaced.
pPhone holder and waterproof cover by Quad Lock. Solid as …
D-lock
Hiplock Z Lok Combo. Very effective light weight lock for low security situations (like ducking into a bakery) or locking helmet.
Dogsbody bike bag by Ground Effects. Handy to pack bikes on some trains that do not allow bikes to roll on. We packed our bikes in cardboard boxes to fly to Europe but will just use these to fly home, plus some bubble wrap and padding to strategic areas like derailleurs.
Peter
Apple iPad
Apple 8+ phone with data card
front light by Serfas e-lume 900. Great brightness - 900 lumen, waterproof, rechargeable and useful as a torch around camp
rear light by Serfas UTL-6 35 lumens
phone holder with waterproof cover by Quad Lock
D-lock
Garmin Edge 1000 for recording and navigation. Easy to use. Battery lasts all day.
Dogsbody bike bag by Ground Effects
Our favourite stuff
Leigh
water proof shoes
silk sleeping bag liner … until she left it in an AirB&B (it has been mailed home)
woollen tracksuit pants
Brookes saddle
Peter
velcro straps to use as a hand brake on trains and when parked on slopes
folding back packs for groceries and hiking
woollen leg warmers
bike bags - we could not have travelled on some trains without them
Stuff we have sent home or donated to others
solar powered lantern. Set home - not used.
cutting board - why did we bring two?
Surly TV tray
Surly Porteur Bag
headlight - Leigh
a few kitchen items
Stuff we have bought on tour
Ortleib handlebar bag - Peter
new head light - Leigh
Christmas decoration for Leigh’s bike. And lost :-(
pump to replace a broken one
a second D-lock (we had a bike stolen a few years ago in London)
spare brake pads
replacement sleeping bag liner for Leigh’s that was left behind en route
replacement back pack for Peter
Reviews
Positives: Large size and expandable with a shoulder strap for carrying the bag off the bike. Two small front pockets are handy. Great size bag for airline carry on luggage. Like all Surly products it is well built and durable.
Negatives: Outer is not waterproof. It does come with drawstring waterproof liner bags for the main compartment and each pocket but I find these draw strings cumbersome. In addition the main bag has a long draw string that is also cumbersome. Time consuming to put on and take off the bike. Shoulder straps do not stay secured but slide up.
Value for money: low
Recommendation: shop around
Dogsbody bike bag by Ground Effects
Use: To easily pack bikes for transfer onto trains and planes
Positives: Light weight, strong material. Easy to carry with shoulder strap or handles. Internal pocket for pedals. Just remove the pedals, front wheel and front axle, turn handlebars 90 degree - no need to undo them. We use velcro straps to tie the front wheel, rack and frame together. This helps protect everything - just one
Negatives: The need to carry it all tour - no bid deal really (it is about A4 paper size and a few cm think when folded).
Comment: Peter was hesitant at first to try this. We have always boxed bikes for plane travel, including the flight to Europe. Once here though we ditched the boxes and have used the bags to board some trains - it depends on the train. Some, particularly the slow regional trains, we have been able to roll on and roll off. Others there is no other option but to bag the bikes. No bag, no ticket, simple. So … when we head home we will use the bike bags, maybe with some bubble wrap - much easier to get into vehicles and to manoeuvre around the airport.
Recommendation: Highly recommended for train and plane travel.