Packing – PM Cycle Touring

Updated Lightweight Packing List for Bicycle Touring Couples

Now that we have a few tours under our belt, and our last tour was in a place where the temperatures were a bit cooler (New Zealand), our packing list needed to be updated. Here’s what we’re taking with us for our upcoming ACA Sierra Cascades tour. Total weight is everything but the bikes and racks.

Category	Name	Pieces	Discussion	Grams	Pounds
Total				27 kg	59.5
Camping				4471	9.85
Tent	Big Anges Copper Spur UL2 tent	Tent	Nice tent, fits two normal sized people snuggly, two doors, two vestibules.	450
	Rain fly	Rain fly	Could have went with UL3 for another 500 grams, but don’t see need?	510
	Overall Bag	Overall Bag	Left behind stake bag 11g	25
	Ground Cover	Ground Cover		175
	GC Bag	GC Bag		11
	8 Stakes	8 Stakes		89
	Emg Splint	Emg Splint		10
	Poles	Poles		440
	Pole Bag	Pole Bag		13
Sleeping Bag	ZPacks 20F 900 Fill Down w/ Draft Tube	Sleeping Bag	Evaluating durability, so light it is unbelievable. Regular girth is snug on me and I am skinny.	600
	ZPacks 0F	Sleeping Bag	Smaller bag, but lower temperature rating.	595
	w/Draft Tube	Sleeping Bag	Smaller bag, but lower temperature rating.	595
Stuff Sacks for Bags	Sea to Summit UL Dry Sack 8L	Roll up dry sack		56
	Sea to Summit UL Dry Sack 8L	Roll up dry sack	Found that the version of these bags with compression straps weren’t really needed because we had plenty of space and the straps added 100 grams.	30
Sleeping Bag Liner	Cocoon Silk Mummy Liner	Liner	Keeps sleeping bags cleaner, works as lightweight cover on hot nights, adds warmth if needed on cold nights	115
	Cocoon Silk Mummy Liner	Liner		115
Sleeping Pad	Exped SynMat Duo	Pad for two	Lightweight & insulated; schnozzle bag makes inflating a breeze. Two independent inflation points so you can both sleep comfortably.	797

Pump	Exped	Schnozzle Pump Bag	Store the sleeping pad and pillows inside the bag. The bag can inflate both sides of the sleeping pad in about 3 bags of air.	58
Pillows	Exped M Air Pillow	M Air Pillow		72

	M Air Pillow	M Air Pillow		72
Headlamp	Black Diamond	Headlamp	weight includes 4 Lithium AAA batteries. Much brighter than previous headlamps.	100
		Headlamp		100
Bug Netting	Ben’s Invisinet	mosquito protection		19
Bug Netting	Ben’s Invisinet	mosquito protection		19

Eating				3074	6.77
Stove	Soto Windmaster		stove + bag	73
Stove	Trangia Alcohol burner			110
Stove	Trangia Gas burner		+ bag	194
Pots & Pans	Trangia	Pots, pans, and handle		858
Orange Bag	Trangia			27
Bowls	Sea to Summit Delta Bowl	Bowl		87
2 Spoons & Forks	REI Plastic			37
Measuring Spoon	MSR Fold-able		Useful for measuring/scooping	30
Stirring Spoon	GSR		Long handle.	17
Can Opener	John Wayne Style		+carabiner for storage	129
Dish washing Towel	Small Camp Towel			22
Dish Drying Towel	REI travel towel		Fluffy drying towel	57
Kitchen Sink	Sea to Summit 5L	Sink	Makes dishwashing/peoplewashing easier when facilities are lacking	135
		Bag		35
Dish washing Sponge	Scotch-Brite Stay Clean Scrubbers	Sponge	Great easy to clean sponge	7
Fuel	Primus 230g	Gas Can		375
Bear Can	Bearikade Weekender		store all of our food in here don’t have to worry about critters, nor bears on future rides.	881

Hygiene				1109	2.4
Shovel	Montbell Scoop		if nature calls, while in nature	39
Toilet Paper	Tiny Travel Roll			30
Towel	Travel Towel	Grey		113
	Travel Towel	Green		142
	Turban	Green	Helps dry long hair.	73
Wilderness Wash	Citronella	Body Wash		110
	No Smell	Other Wash		110
Shower Shoes	Airwalk (Pam)	Flip Flops		138
	Cushe (Matt)	Flip Flops		192
Toothbrush	Crest Spin Brush	Toothbrush	Luxury choice to have battery operated toothbrush. Weight includes batteries.	100
		Extra Head		0
Toiletry Bag	Eagle Creek	Lightweight		42
Fingernail Clippers	Generic			20

Survival				1086	2.4
Space Blanket / Tarp / Picinic Blanket	Space	Tarp/EMG Blanket	terrific all around tarp, used on side of roads, picnic benchs. Can act as emergency blanket if needed. Very versitale	345
Water Storage	Nalgene	96oz Cantene	going through arid areas, up to 90 miles between services, empty they weigh almost nothing	80
	Nalgene	96oz Cantene		80
Bug Lotion	3M	Ultrathon Lotion	Excellent bug repellent, does contain DEET	70
Pepper Spray	Fox Labs 2oz Spray	Bottle	Best pepper spray on the market.	145
	2oz	Bottle		145
Filter	Hydrapak Filter Bottle		Collapsable filter bottle.	56
	Purification Tablets		Iodine tablets for emergencies.	0
First aid kit	Assorted			135
Emergency Tape	Tenacious Tape		Terrific repair tape, have used on rain pants and toiletry bag holds very well	30

Bike Stuff				5515	12.2
Panniers	Axiom LaSalle 45	Rear Pannier	Have lasted two tours, work well	855
		Rain Cover		75
	Axiom LaSalle 45	Rear Pannier		855
		Rain Cover		75
	Randonnee Aero 60	Rear Pannier	New/waterproof	885
	Randonnee Aero 60	Rear Pannier		885
	Axiom Cartier	Front Pannier		775
	Axiom Cartier	Front Pannier		775
Repair Stuff	Fiber Fix Spoke	Kevlar Spoke	Just in case can replace a spoke	16
	Fiber Fix Spoke	Kevlar Spoke		16
Bike Care	Tri Flow	Lubricant		68
	RavX Retractable Cable	Lock	Extremely lightweight deterrent	50
ACA Maps				185

Luxury				575	1.27
		USB Cord		17
Battery Backup	Anker	Bar		242
USB Cords	Startech	6″ USB A to Mini B	These weigh in a few grams less then other cables	12
		1′ USB A to Micro B	Yes I am obsessing over every gram	17
		1′ USB A to Micro B	Yes I am obsessing over every gram	17
		Misc Micro B		17
		Misc Micro B		13
Headlight for Bike	Diablo Exposure	Light	1000 lumen’s 🙂	109
		Helmet Mount		10
		USB Cord	proprietary 🙁	25
Reusable Shopping Bag	Chico Bag	Bag	included carabiner to clip to pannier, folds in to small pouch on its self to store small	41
Clothes Line	REI		Easier than string	55

Matt’s Clothing				5132	11.3
Rain Jacket	Showers Pass Event	Event Jacket	w/hood	472
Rain Pants	Sierra Designs	Pants	Cheap rain pants also used in cold weather to keep wind off legs	377
Bike Shorts	AeroDesign			210
Bike Shorts	AeroDesign			210
Cycling Base Layer	Showers Pass	Top		176
Bike Shirt	Ibex	Neo Long Sleeve Wool		260
	Ibex	Indie Short Sleeve Wool		190
	Giro			179
Cycling Base Layer	Assos	Long Sleeve		215
Cycling Tights	Castelli		Windproof pants	198
Down Jacket	Patagonia			361
Leg Warmers	D			117
Leg Warmers	Pearl Izumi			130
Arm Warmers	Cutter			65
Sun Sleeves	Novara		great for keeping sun off the arms	45
Cycling Vest	Garneau		High Visibility	126
Cycling Shoes	Pearl Izumi		MTB shoes	805
Shoe Covers	GoreTex			176
Cycling Gloves	Pearl Izumi	Full Finger	for most days	68
	Showers Pass	Insulated Full Finger	for cold days	142
Camp Pants	REI			360
Camp Shirt	Smartwool	Long sleeve	wool is great for not smelling, breathes well	161
Camp Underwear	Exofficio		2 pairs	172
Stuff Sack	Sea to Summit Event Bags	Roll up dry sack	not compression type bags with straps, they are 100+ grams heavier	50
Down Vest	Marmot	Zeus		268
thermal underwear	Icebreaker		wool	147
Balaclava	Pearl Izumi		Full Face protection	51
Beanie	Zpacks			30
Bathing Suit				190
Socks	Castelli	2 Pairs		54
	Showers Pass	1 Pair		67
	Swiftwick	1 Pair		49

Pam Clothing				6067	13.4
Underwear	Exofficio		Travel underwear. Durable, washes and dries easily. To be worn off the bike. 3 pairs.	78
Camp Bra	Victoria’s Secret			94
Camp Shirt	Ibex wool		Long Sleeve	143
Camp Pants	REI		Long pants, convertible to shorts	352
Boy Shorts	Stoic		Wool Underwear	83
Base Layer	Under Armor		Bottom	187
Camp Socks	Wigwam		Wool	75
Down Jacket	Big Agnes			324
Down Vest	Isis			309
Bathing Suit	generic			129
Cycling base layer	Showers Pass		Top	154
Heavy cycling shirt	Assos Cycling		Cycling heavy layer-top	206
Sports Bra	Victoria’s Secret		Front enclosure makes for easy removal at the end of a tiring day	145
Sports Bra	Victoria’s Secret		Different style	156
Jersey	Ibex		Wool S/S jersey	164
Jersey	Garneau		S/S jersey	116
Bike Shorts	AeroDesign			217
Bike Shorts	AeroDesign			212
Bike Shorts	AeroDesign			200
Socks	Smartwool			30
Socks	Smartwool			33
Socks	Ibex			28
Socks	Swiftwick			38
Cycling Wind Pants	Sugoi		Heavy, but necessary for me, I like them better than leg warmers.	449
Bike shoes	Shimano		MTB shoes	745
Balaclava	Pearl Izumi		Full Face coverage	50
Earwarmer	phd			27
Riding Beanie	Showers Pass		Also use as camp beanie	69
Glove Liner	Showers Pass			30
Outer Glove	Showers Pass			118
Arm Warmers	Cutter			66
SunSleeves	Novara			42
Rain Jacket	Showers Pass		Elite 2.0	458
Rain Pants	Showers Pass		Refuge	346
Shoe Covers	Gore Tex			194

We’ve worked really hard to get these numbers as low as we can. I’m sure there’s still some places where we could shave off ounces, but we’re both pretty comfortable that we’re not carrying any extra unnecessary weight this time around.

3 Ways to Consolidate Your Gear on Tour

Thinking of going on a bicycle tour? Each time we go, we find new ways to streamline our gear list. Here are three tips for how to multiply the uses of your gear on your next tour.

Turn a water bottle into a lantern. This works with the clear water bottles. Simply fill your water bottle at least halfway with water, turn your flashlight or headlight on, and shine the light into the side of the bottle. This improvised lantern provides a surprising amount of light, without the added weight of an actual lantern.

Use an emergency blanket as your tent footprint. Emergency blankets are really handy. They’re lightweight, and help reflect your body heat back toward your body in an emergency. Save weight by leaving your tent’s footprint at home (or don’t even bother to purchase one, since most tents these days don’t have one included). The blanket might even prove to be more puncture-proof than the footprint, which will save your air pad, as well. Bonus! We love this one.

Use hair elastics to keep your air pad/mattress rolled up. We found an easy way to keep our air pads tidy is to use hair elastics. This gives me the benefit of having a few extras on the trip, as I have a tendency to lose my hair bands at some point on tour. Sure, you could use rubber bands, but I can’t use rubber bands in my hair.

Bonus: Have you heard of Tenacious Tape? Great for fixing everything from tents to rain gear, this is a must-have on tour.

Sometimes if you step a little bit outside the box, you can save weight and energy on your tour. What are some inventive weight-saving ideas you’ve had? Let us know in the comments below! Also, check out our post on reducing your gear weight on tour for some more ideas.

Exped Air Pillow M Review

Pillows can be considered a luxury for short tours, but for more than a night or two you probably want something to lay your head on. At 3 ounces the Exped Air Pillow M is lightweight (also available in a 2 ounce Ultralight version). Because it is an inflatable pillow it packs down extremely small, smaller than a can of soda.

The pillow has two valves similar to all other Exped products. One for inflation which has a flap to prevent air leaking out between breaths and the other to allow for deflation. Both of these have a hole approximately the size of a quarter to allow for rapid inflation and deflation.

To inflate it we use our Schnozzle Bag which takes about 15 seconds to completely fill the pillow. If you elect to fill it manually it takes between 4 and 6 breaths. Inflation pressure can be tweaked by keeping the inflate valve cover open and pressing on the flap to release small amounts of air. Deflation is nearly instant due to the large opening uncovered when you open the deflate cap.

The Pillow is constructed of polyester; this material feels somewhat like a very fine tightly woven nylon material. It doesn’t stick to skin like plastic, but Matt prefers wrapping his down vest around it for increased comfort; Pam prefers to just sleep on it bare. There are two small loops of extra material designed to allow you to use some clips to hold the pillow in place, however we never utilized them.

Overall we were very pleased with these pillows and used them for our entire Southern Tier tour. There were no problems on the tour and they continue to work well; we plan to continue to use them for all our future tours. We highly recommend this pillow.

Name	EXPED Air Pillow M
Weight	Pillow: 75 grams Packsack: 5 grams
Packed Dimensions	5 in x 2 in
Deflated Dimensions	38 cm x 27 cm
Inflated Dimensions	38 cm x 27 cm x 11 cm
Approximate Cost	MSRP: $39.00
Other Similar Products	EXPED Air Pillow UL

Disclaimer: This review contains my personal opinions. I have not received any compensation for this review. This review is for informational purposes only.

Ultralight Bicycle Touring – Part Two

In my previous article I discussed some ideas for reducing your weight and embarking on the ultralight bicycle touring lifestyle. This time I am going to talk about some specific pieces of equipment that weren’t mentioned in the last article. As always our current personal tour packing list is available for you to reference.

Dry Sacks: These are terrific for keeping your clothes dry and organized. You will probably even see the compression version of these with straps for really cranking down the size. However you need to be aware of the weight penalty of these compression straps; I found that each bag weighed 100grams more than a lightweight, roll-tight dry sack. Additionally, with the compression sacks you may be inclined to take more clothing and thus more weight. For ultra-light it may be beneficial to actually have less room, which will force you to take less clothes. With Pam and me carrying 4 sacks, getting rid of the compression dry sacks saved almost a pound of weight!

Sleeping Bags: When shopping for a sleeping bag keep weight in mind, as weight can vary from 1 to 7 pounds. The lightest weight bags will be more expensive, but remember that you have to pay for the food to fill the calorie requirement of pushing the weight of the bag around the world. Thus, it may pay for itself to get a lighter weight bag. Once you get the bag make sure you care for it properly and it should last you for many years.

Camp Stoves: This is one area that you don’t necessarily have to spend an arm and a leg for some improvements. If you search the internet for a soda can alcohol stove you will find the cheapest lightest stove that you can use. If the soda can stove is a little too adventurous for your taste take a look the gas stoves which screw directly on to the top of a canister or don’t have much structure to them. Some examples are this generic stove top or if you prefer a name brand the MSR Whisperlite is a popular option. Carrying around a giant Coleman stove is just silly with all the options available these days.

Tent: Very similar to sleeping bags, the cheapest will not be the lightest. For less than $200 you can get the Kelty Grand Mesa 2 Backpacking 2 Person Tent which weighs in at ~5lbs. If you can spend a bit more we use the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 2 Person Tent (2014) which weighs in at ~3lbs but has 2 doors and vestibules which is very nice for partners. Be mindful that a light weight tent will be more fragile that a heavy tent, but we have had no problems using the same tent for multiple tours.

By reducing the weight on our bicycles we have more energy during the day and put less stress on our bodies. If you are at all like us you probably aren’t doing your training rides fully loaded. In fact, before our most recent tour we didn’t even do a fully loaded ride until right before we left. When you strap 40lbs of gear on your bicycle and try going up those hills it may come as a rude awakening how much effort it takes to keep going. At some point you may decide that ultralight is the way to go. If you have any tips or questions, leave them in the comments below.

Ultralight Bicycle Touring – Part One

Touring is blissfully simple: you hop on your bicycle and pedal from where you are to some new place. Life doesn’t get more straightforward. However, I often see people struggling with way too much gear on their bikes. In fact, for my first tour I suffered myself. I inappropriately carried heavy books, a pasta strainer, an extra Camelback, and a few more things which I had to send back home.

Since that first tour I have become a believer in ultralight bicycle touring. With modern technology and modern industry there are now extremely lightweight products that perform with enough durability for use on even the longest of tours. On our last 2,500 mile tour of the Southern Tier my wife and I managed to pack 41lbs of gear between the two of us including the weight of the panniers (click here for our packing list). When planning to shed weight there are a few high return areas: unneeded equipment, sleeping bags, camp stove, and tent, as well as substituting single-use items with multiple-use items.

Unneeded Equipment: First and foremost lay out all of your items and ask yourself if you need each one. The chances are good that there are several things you think will be useful but after consideration you may change your mind. Remember that you will have to carry these items for hundreds (or thousands) of miles. A few common offenders are:

Hammers for tent stakes
- Trust me. There will almost always be a rock or tree branch that you can use to drive your stakes into the ground. If nothing is available at the campsite you can always tie a string from the tent to a bicycle. If you’re in a campground, a fellow camper will probably let you borrow his.
Excessive amounts of clothing
- Not only does excess clothing add weight to your total, it adds bulk to the packs. You can easily get by with 2-3 pairs of shorts and shirts for an extended tour. Rinse in the sink or shower as needed, and hang in a mesh bag off the panniers while riding to dry. There’s a fine line to walk in this area. See our packing list for specifics on what we like to bring.
Lanterns or extra-large flashlights
- A simple head lamp placed next to a clear plastic water bottle creates an excellent camp light. The head lamp will be light weight and usually satisfies any laws for riding at night. If you are counting grams lithium batteries will be lighter and perform better in cold temperatures.

Multiple Uses: Analyze your equipment that you may be able to get two (or three) uses out of. For example our stove has a plastic insert to prevent the non-stick coating from getting scratched. That insert makes for a handy bowl to eat out of: no need to carry an extra one. Our cycling rain jackets work as camp jackets and wind breakers. Much of our clothing can be used either on or off the bike.

Finally, remember that fancy/expensive is not always the lightest weight nor the most functional. In the next article I will dive in to some specific pieces of equipment that I have found substantial weight savings, including dry sacks, sleeping bags, and tents. If you have any ultra-light bicycle touring tips or tricks let me know in the comments below.

What to Pack: Clothing

As with everything related to cycle touring, careful planning beforehand can payoff big time. This is especially true when it comes to clothing. Weather prediction is a tricky thing, and having the appropriate clothing for any weather situation is difficult. But, with a few guidelines, you can make the right decision and pack your panniers with the right amount of clothing.

The key is to pack only what you need and not a thing more. As I look over my gear list for my last two tours (check them out here and here), I notice a theme. Many items have multiple uses. Versatility is the name of the game.

Tops. Cycling jerseys come in a variety of sleeve lengths. Sleeveless, short-sleeve, long-sleeve, three-quarter sleeve. The most versatile is short sleeves in combination with arm warmers. However, I’m starting to find long-sleeved jerseys to be the best for me, as it cuts down on the amount of sunscreen I have to apply. Plus, if it’s really cold, I put my armwarmers on under my jersey, and then with my rain jacket as an over-layer, I have 3 layers on my arms and I’m very comfortable. I usually bring one short-sleeved jersey along as well. If the jersey is made of a material such as wool, it can go a few days before starting to smell funky. I like to at least air my jersey out from the day, using a clothesline (such as this one) or just draping it over the tent. Unless it rains or is overly humid, it dries overnight. Another great thing about wool is that it lends very well to hand washing, which can be great in areas where you are away from a washing machine.

Bottoms. Cycling shorts also come in a variety of lengths, from super short shorts to long leggings, and everything in between. The most versatile would be shorts, in combination with leg warmers. I’ve found that two pairs of bicycle shorts are all I need on a tour. I wash the pair I wore that day, let it dry overnight, and wear the other pair the next day. I generally wash the shorts in the shower with me at night, making sure to get all the soap out. You can even wear the shorts multiple days in a row if required, just make sure the shorts are dry completely, because wet shorts can rub you the wrong way. I also like to bring a pair of rain pants, which act as a windbreaker layer as well.

Undergarments. The other essentials would be underwear, bras, and socks. I don’t wear underwear while I ride, because of the rubbing and chafing that can happen. I bring 2 pairs of easily washable travel underwear (like these), 2 sports bras, 1 regular bra (which I recommend for every woman. Sports bras can be so restrictive, and having an actual bra can make you feel more human at the end of a long day’s ride.), 3 pairs of riding socks, and one pair of camp socks.

Rain gear. Invest in a good set of waterproof outer layers. For more on what makes raingear great, see this post.

Camp clothes. I recommend bringing a pair of pants and a long-sleeved shirt to wear about camp. I prefer pants that unzip down to shorts, because this adds to the versatility.

Miscellaneous. Other recommendations are a beanie (to keep your head warm in camp), a pair of walking shoes (so you can enjoy exploring camps and towns), and a down vest.

By getting pieces that have multiple uses, you can cut down on the amount of clothing you bring with you on tour, and still be ready for anything Mother Nature can throw at you.

Lightweight Packing List for Bicycle Touring Couples

Before we left on our 2,500 miles ride along the Southern Tier I knew that I wanted to pack as light as possible. Thanks to the recent ultralight craze in backpacking there is a ton of gear available now for the tourist looking to lower the weight on their bicycle. We managed to get to 40lbs total for the two of us.

I consider it a huge victory that for two people going on a self supported tour we were able to get our weight down so far, and the 40lbs includes the weight of the panniers! When divided up my wife carried roughly 17 pounds of gear and I carried the remaining 23 pounds. We also were able to tour with only rear panniers, which allowed for removing my front rack saving another 3 pounds.

If you are looking to see the bare minimum that you need to get you and a partner along the Southern Tier with temperatures ranging from 15-102F in the late fall months this is the list. The only item that I know we could save more weight on is Pam’s sleeping bag, if we trade her bag for a bag similar to mine we will be at about 38 pounds of gear. Not sure how much more ultra-light you can go before losing your self sufficiency.

Category	Name	Pieces	Discussion	Grams	Pounds
Total				18574	40.95

Camping				5290	11.66
Tent	Big Anges Copper Spur UL2 tent	Tent	Nice tent, fits two normal sized people snuggly, two doors, two vestibules.	450
	Rain fly	Rain fly	Could have went with UL3 for another 500 grams, but don’t see need?	510
	Overall Bag	Overall Bag	Left behind stake bag 11g	25
	Ground Cover	Ground Cover		175
	GC Bag	GC Bag		11
	8 Stakes	8 Stakes		89
	Emg Splint	Emg Splint		10
	Poles	Poles		440
	Pole Bag	Pole Bag		13
Sleeping Bag	ZPacks 20F 900 Fill Down w/ Draft Tube	Sleeping Bag	Evaluating durability, so light it is unbelivable. Regular girth is snug on me and I am skinny	600
	Marmot Teton 15F 600 Fill Down	Sleeping Bag	Purchased before we were investigating ultra light.	1515
Stuff Sacks for Bags	Sea to Summit UL Dry Sack 13L	Roll up dry sack		42
	Sea to Summit UL Dry Sack 20L	Roll up dry sack	Found that the version of these bags with compression straps weren’t really needed because we had plenty of space and the straps added 100 grams.	58
Sleeping Bag Liner	Cocoon Silk Mummy Liner	Liner	Keeps sleeping bags cleaner, works as lightwieght cover on hot nights, adds warmth if needed on cold nights	115
	Cocoon Silk Mummy Liner	Liner		115
Sleeping Pad	Exped SynMat UL 7 M	Pad	Lightweight, insulated, schnoozle bag makes inflating a breeze	458
	Exped SynMat UL 7 S	Pad		396
Pump	Exped	Schnoozle Pump Bag	store the 2 sleeping pads and pillows inside the bag. The bag can inflate both sleeping pads in about 3 bags of air.	58
Pillows	Exped M Air Pillow	M Air Pillow		72

	M Air Pillow	M Air Pillow		72
Headlamp	Black Diamond	Headlamp	weight doesn’t include batteries	33
		Headlamp		33

Eating			6.08 lbs	2557	5.64
Stove	Primus EtaPower	entire stove, minus included bag which was heavy!	Previously had ETApackLITE which weighed 682 grams, but only was 1 liter. Love the ETA stoves for the fuel efficiency, stability, newest version can be used with multi-fuel kit.	940
Bowls	Sea to Summit Delta Bowl	Bowl		87
2 Spoons & Forks	REI Plastic			37
Measuring Spoon	MSR? Fold-able		Useful for measuring/scooping	30
				0
Can Opener	John Wayne Style			8
Dish washing Towel	Small Camp Towel			22
Kitchen Sink	Sea to Summit 5L	Sink	Makes dishwashing/peoplewashing easier when facilities are lacking	135
		Bag		35
Dish washing Sponge	Scotch-Brite Stay Clean Scrubbers	Sponge	Great easy to clean sponge	7
Fuel	Primus 230g	Gas Can		375
Bear Can	Bearikade Weekender		store all of our food in here don’t have to worry about critters, nor bears on future rides.	881

Hygiene			2.37 lbs	1076	2.37
Shovel	Montbell Scoop		if nature calls, while in nature	39
Toilet Paper	Tiny Travel Roll			30
Towel	Travel Towel	Grey		113
	Travel Towel	Green		142
Wilderness Wash	Citronella	Body Wash		110
	No Smell	Other Wash		110
Shower Shoes	Crocs Pam	Flip Flops		175
	Matt (unknown)	Flip Flops		195
Toothbrush	Crest Spin Brush	Toothbrush	Luxury choice to have battery operated toothbrush	100
		Extra Head		0
Toiletry Bag	Eagle Creek	Lightweight		42
Fingernail Clippers	Generic			20

Survival				1087	2.4
Space Blanket / Tarp / Picinic Blanket	Space	Tarp/EMG Blanket	terrific all around tarp, used on side of roads, picnic benchs. Can act as emergency blanket if needed. Very versitale	345
Water Storage	Nalgene	96oz Cantene	going through arid areas, up to 90 miles between services, empty they weigh almost nothing	80
		96oz Cantene		80
Bug Lotion	3M	Ultrathon Lotion	Excellent bug repellent, does contain DEET	70
Pepper Spray	Fox Labs 4oz Spray	Bottle	Best pepper spray on the market.	145
		Bottle		145
Filter	Aquamira Filter		Fits inside water bottle that fits in cage	41
	Steripen	UV Water Sanitizer	For areas with unclean water, seems to happen a lot in national forest campgrounds	151
Emergency Tape	Tenacious Tape		Terrific repair tape, have used on rain pants and toleitry bag holds very well	30

Bike Stuff				3965	8.74
Panniers	Axiom LaSalle 45	Rear Pannier	Have lasted two tours, work well	855
		Rain Cover		75
	Axiom LaSalle 45	Rear Pannier		855
		Rain Cover		75
	Randonnee Aero 60	Rear Pannier	New/waterproof	885
	Randonnee Aero 60	Rear Pannier		885
Repair Stuff	Fiber Fix Spoke	Kevlar Spoke	Just in case can replace a spoke	16
	Fiber Fix Spoke	Kevlar Spoke		16
Bike Care	Tri Flow	Lubricant		68
	RavX Retractable Cable	Lock	Extremely lightweight deterrent	50
ACA Maps		41281		185

Luxury				584	1.29
Solar Charger	Bushnell MiniWrap	Charger	Flexible solar cell, with internal battery that charges. then you can charge devices later	96
		USB Cord		17
Battery Backup	Jackery	Bar	5600amp hours of extra battery power to charger electronics. plus two pieces of electrical tape to cover super bright lights that show charge status	155
USB Cords	Startech	6″ USB A to Mini B	These weigh in a few grams less then other cables	12
		1′ USB A to Micro B	Yes I am obsessing over every gram	17
		1′ USB A to Micro B	Yes I am obsessing over every gram	17
		Misc Micro B		17
		Misc Micro B		13
Headlight for Bike	Diablo Exposure	Light	1000 lumen’s 🙂	109
		Helmet Mount		10
		USB Cord	proprietary 🙁	25
Reusable Shopping Bag	Chico Bag	Bag	included carabiner to clip to pannier, folds in to small pouch on its self to store small	41
Clothes Line	REI		Easier then string	55


Clothing (Matt)				4215	9.29
Rain Jacket	Showers Pass Event	Event Jacket	Cheap rain pants also used in cold weather to keep wind off legs	490
Rain Pants	Sierra Designs	Pants	Cheap rain pants also used in cold weather to keep wind off legs	188
Bike Shorts	Pearl Izumi	PRO In-r-cool		155
		PRO In-r-cool		155
Bike Shirt	Giro	Neo Long Sleeve Wool		260
	Ibex	Indie Short Sleeve Wool		190
	Pearl Izumi	PRO In-r-cool		185
Leg Warmers				115
Arm Warmers				65
Sun Sleeves	Pearl Izumi	In-R-Cool	great for keeping sun off the arms	42
Cycling Shoes	Keen	Commuter 2	love the sandals, not the weight!	880
Shoe Covers	Specialized			75
Cycling Gloves		Half finger	for most days
	Hestra Czone Cycling Gloves	Insulated Full Finger	for cold days	117
Camp Pants	North Face			300
Camp Shirt	Icebreaker	Long sleeve	wool is great for not smelling, breathes well	185
Stuff Sack	Sea to Summit Event Bags	Roll up dry sack	not compression type bags with straps, they are 100+ grams heavier	75
Vest	Marmot	Zeus		268
thermal underwear				124
Ear Warmer	Pear Izumi			20
Beanie	Zpacks			30
Bathing Suit				200
Socks	SmartWool	3 Pairs		96

Clothing (Pam)			Pam didn’t geek out like i did on clothing and measure everything, leave comments below to encourage her to do this!	4015	8.85
MISC IN BAG				2515
MISC OUT OF BAG				1500

I hoped this helped you get some ideas for going lightweight on your next tour. Do you see anywhere we can improve, cut a few more grams from? Feel free to comment below!

Unpacking and putting together a boxed touring bike

For our first tour we flew from Los Angeles to Seattle and had our bicycles boxed up. We had never really thought about how to put the bicycles back together once we got there. I suppose we just assumed it would be super easy. Thankfully our host had a bicycle stand and some tools to help us get them back together, but it was close to being an unpleasant experience. In response to that here is our guide to taking a bicycle from boxed to ready to ride.

Review this before you leave for your tour and reference if needed during your tour:

Get your boxed bike and an open area to begin putting it together.
After removing your bicycle assess how dis-assembled it is. If you had a shop pack it up some equipment may still be attached compared to our walk through, or it may be further dis-assembled.
Remove any excess packing material
Attaching the rear derailleur
1. Shifting to the highest gear on the rear shifter should give you extra slack in the cable.
2. The chain does not need to be on the f ront cogs, it may be easier with it off allowing free movement of the derailleur.
3. There will be one large screw on the rear derailleur which screws into the frame. Additionally there will be a smaller screw which is perpendicular to the large screw (A in the picture). Make sure this screw ends up resting on the notch of the derailleur hanger (B in the picture). If you aren’t paying attention you may tighten the big screw and bend the smaller screw, so make sure you keep an eye on this while tightening the rear derailleur!
4. Once the rear derailleur is attached you can position the chain properly on the front and back cogs.
Positioning the stem
1. Prior to packing your bike you should use a metallic sharpie to mark the angle / position of your stem/handlebars
2. Rotate your fork so that it is facing the proper direction.
3. We find it best to have the fork or front wheel on the ground while working with the stem/fork, if you loosen the wrong part the entire fork may fall out if the bike is on a rack or has the fork unsupported.
4. If needed loosen the stem and position it so it is pointing in the proper direction, straight away from the bike. Tighten if needed so the stem is firmly attached to fork.
5. Loosen the handlebar mount portion of the stem.
6. Insert the handlebars and align the marks you made before you left to get the handlebars centered and at the proper angle.
7. Tighten all screws firmly.
Attaching the front wheel
1. If packed with a plastic spacer, simply remove the spacer. This may require applying gentle pressure to pull the fork a little apart.
2. Attach the front wheel as you normally would. You should be familiar with this because you will be needing to change flat tires while on the road.
Attaching the front caliper brakes
1. Locate the front brakes and the mounting hole in the front fork.
2. Slide the bolt through the mounting hole and thread the tightening piece from the other side. Use an Allen wrench to tighten, snug but not over tight.
Finishing Assembly
1. Check all cables to ensure they are in the proper mounting holes. As needed re-guide or re-position cables to their appropriate positions.
2. For the rear derailleur
  1. Ensure the cable routed properly along or through the frame from the handle bars to the derailleur.
  2. Thread the cable through the derailleur, but don’t tighten it just yet.
3. Attach your racks to the appropriate mounting points and ensure all screws are tight, including screws that remained installed during transit. You are about to embark on a tour and you don’t want your bike falling apart because you failed to check a screw tight.
4. Using a pedal wrench attach the pedals. One pedal is threaded “normal” (tighten by turning clockwise) the other pedal is threaded “backwards” (turn counterclockwise to tighten).
Adjust the rear derailleur
1. While this is a necessary part of putting your bike together we have included a separate guide. Look for a future post explaining how to do this!
Stand back and admire your completed bike. Now get out there and ride!

If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments, or if you noticed that I missed something tell me. I hope this helps people get a feel for taking a bicycle from boxed to ready to ride.