WHAT I PACKED for a 7-Day Bicycle Tour | Solo, Self-Supported Bicycle Touring

I just revisited this vlog from 10 months ago. As I rewatched you showed a small extra tarp you carry. Good Idea and it has many uses. I keep mine on top of my pack to get to fast. In camp It can become A porch for your tent on an all-day rain. On the road an emergency shelter if caught in a storm to wrap yourself in. Or to cover your bike while going into a store. I put mine over the bike and clip the front and back corners of the tarp together through the wheels with a small carabiner. Out of sight, out of mind. Out on the open prairie at a rest stop, tie it one side to the standing bike and create a sun shelter. Any item in your pannier with only one use, Leave at home.

Wow..looks heavy but you need it and can handle it 💪

THANKS

I like your snack bags. What are they?

where was this tour?

I would suggest Rapalfly or 100% pure DEET. There is nothing better for keeping the flys away.

You are awesome, thank you 😊

Hi! Another very useful video! I wonder, how do you manage to leave your fully loaded bike unattended while you are taking care of other duties like shopping or visiting an interesting sight?

Very informative video, thank you, lovely bike too. How are you finding the Mondial tyres. what size are they? many thanks

you carry aload of junk and should learn to pack better - tent poles go along the rear rack

Good equipment review. For safety I would recommend that you lower your handle bar pack. It will lower your bikes center of gravity making the bike more stable and also improve steering in an emergency. I personally carry one days supply of food and one or two high dense energy fast to prep meals emergency meals. I like to stop in towns and villages along the way to pick up fresh food for the day. Something to consider if you want to lighten your load is follow this moto: Every item you put on the bike has to serve two or more purposes. ONE Example, my bike light is my tent light. The lighter the load the more stable the bike. If space and weight are not a concern, bring what makes you feel , safe and comfortable. Depending on the type of trip I usually travel at the low end with 25 lb 11.3kg and at the high end with 35lb - 15.8kg

Great video and very helpful - thanks! I’m really curious: How much weight is being carried in all these bags? How heavy is your bike with everything loaded? Can you pick up the bike if you needed to place it over a path gate or fallen tree/obstacle or would you need to unload the panniers first to hoist up the bike? I have around 39-42 pounds of stuff I’m proposing on carrying and it just feels so heavy when loaded on my bike’s back panniers and top rack. Have you thought of using a bike trailer instead of the weight of everything being directly on the bike?

Hi there,
Thank you for your Videos. Inspiring. Quick question. I see you have water filter, etc... when you are camping, are you going to campground or you find places along the way. Any suggestions?

I'm tired just thinking about the weight on the bike. It's all good on level or downhill but uphill....oh no! I need an ebike lol

Kudos for bringing a first aid kit!!!!
So many people carry tools for bike repair but no items for self repair

Great video. Thank you. Interresting and fun to see what you bring. After some years of touring I decided (due to not exactly loving long uphill) to cut back and carry as little and light as possible, and not more than front-, rear- and handlebar bags. It found it easier to prioritize than first expected. Now hills are not so steep....;-)).... Thx again for sharing, and ride safe.

Very interesting, thank you. How many days food supply do you carry between long trips and how do you find a suitable place for camping if a camping site or a Motel is not close by? Many thanks and pleasant trips

Amazing video and nice setup!! I’m new to bike touring and am collecting gears for my very first solo bike tour. This helps me a lot. Thanks for sharing!!

Hi Agnieszka. Your video is really good. I just do the list of gear before my upcoming bike tour and your video is helpful. Greetings from Poland

What lock are you using? Maybe you mentioned this before?

You carry so much! Loads o' gear! Some nice items there. I like the top frame snack bags - Mmmm :) For my washing system, I try to find campsites with a sink, but failing that I use a disposable plastic bag. The bag can be used for washing dishes, and doubles as a clothes washing machine too. I originally bought a plastic collapsible bowl, but on reflection I thought it was too heavy. In addition I have a three-section pole, a tarp line, and pegs for drying clothes and my towel. That way I can keep on top of smelling sweet(ish) - my main priority being a daily pair of clean shorts... My heaviest luxury item is my camera, but some things are none negotiable eh.
I notice this video is dated September 2021, so I'm guessing you have refined your gear even more by now?

How much weight are you carrying ? What kind of tent r u using ? Thanks for taking ur time to make this video...

Wow, I'm exhausted just watching that..I'm going to have to do some thinking before I set off for a first night. Thanks.

Great video

My items? Collapsible bucket (such as yourself for laundry, bathing, and dishes), kitchen utensil tote (has mini kitchen utensils, oil, cutting knife, spices, etc), small sized cutting board, stove and compact cooking pots, and cups, foldable/collapsible camp chair in its' own pouch), small sized lunch tote for my dog (her water, food, toys, leashes), a couple of small clothing cubes, a smaller cube for toiletries, 2p tent with footprint, compact sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, Klymit sleeping pad, compact inflatable pillow, electronic organizer, travel wallet, sunglasses, lip balm, two compact first aid pouches, multi tool, outdoor knife, compact flashlight, compact tent light, foldable/collapsible cutlery, some food, bug spray(???; may change to mosquito compact repellent shield), bike tools, spare parts, screws, bolts, etc., in rear trunk bag, snacks, two 64oz water containers, portable and compact air compressor (for those flat tires and saving on exuding too much energy when using a bicycle pump), mini solar charger (to charge phone or other small electronic devices), light weight can opener, if going on longer than a 1 week tour I also stash a foldable clothes line, and clothes pins ( to hang and dry my clothes after washing). I also have a portable/collapsible toilet (made out of heavy duty plastic that when put together forms into a sitting chair which comes with bio waste bags to place into it, weight: 2.0lbs). Total weight of cargo? Around 55lbs (this includes water weight).

Really well thought out system & contents. I'm sure you were quite comfortable.

Wonderful video... did I notice correctly that you don't have a cooker on your tour? Normally I have... what I don't need is bear spray in central Europe but else pretty much the same list...

As I watched this video, one thought kept running through my head.......Do these bags have a bottom?

I loved this video! It is a good example of how the right way to bicycle tour is decided by the individual based upon his or her personal tastes and preferences. For many, too much attention is focused on weight. Bicycle tourists are not backpackers where every ounce or gram is set upon our shoulders, we have the luxury of letting our bikes bear the weight. The ideal for cyclists is to find that elusive balance between weight and comfort. I could easily tour with a lighter load, but I'd be sacrificing the level of comfort which keeps my tour interesting instead of becoming drudgery.

Fantastic content! Thank you for taking the time to share. 🥰 The arkel brand bags are not cheap but they seem to be an excellent investment!

That's one very lucky saddle.

Very well thought out. Did you do a lot of research, or has your kit evolved over time? I very much like your video.

Nice video. I have a question about your cook system. Are you using the Trangia burner and alcohol in your Trangia Storm Cooker or are you using another type of burner and fuel?

That comes in handy for my next ride :)

I have the same panniers/handle bar bag and Trangia Stove. Same Ariel racks . Wish the front one had a shelf for a light items like sleeping pad. My bike is a Trek 520 with a Brooks saddle. Also flat pedals.

Hello, Thank you for sharing. Was wondering what are those shorts you're wearing? They look great for touring in.

Wonderful video

Great video. It was helpful - I like your sink. From my experience, I'd recommend putting your honey bottle in a zip-lock. I've had leakage before - air pressure change I think. Do you have a seat cover for your Brooks saddle for when it rains at night? Again, I enjoyed your video - and I just subscribed.

Don't try to put bike on scale 😂 ,if it weighs anything like mine then the scale will cry and put out 100101 errors lol

Thank you for sharing, your system obviously works well for you - but - tent poles in one pannier, tent in the other? Candy and First Aid kit in the bottom of rear pannier? should really be in your handlebar bag where you can access either quickly. Food in the front, sink in the rear? Ride safe, and thanks again.

I like your system and gear. Very nicely illustrated and explained.

You are amazing human being.
There may be hope for us after all.
Go safe,
Thank you

Hi, there --- Thank you very much for your video. I quite enjoyed it, though I would have loved to have seen the array of gear splayed out on the grass for each bag. Your bags, types of gear choices, etc. are similar to mine. I have the large Arkel handlebar bag and the same Tailrider trunk bag. But I run the non-waterproof Arkel Grand Touring panniers because I love the compartmentalization of them with their various pouches, pockets, tent pole holder, etc. I'm not a fan of roll-top bags where one has to fish through a bag to find gear. But no doubt you've got it pretty well systematized. For me, I simply put essential items such as clothing and electronics in dry bags inside the panniers. A bit more added weight, 'tis true, but...The Grand Touring panniers are fabulous because even the large compartments zip fully open to reveal contents, and they have external mesh pockets for air drying clothing, buckle-down straps everywhere, a removable fanny pack, etc.

One word of judicious advice...especially since you're a woman presumably sometimes if not regularly traveling alone... I would move the bear spray and the knife at least up to the snack bags, and put the snacks in the handlebar bag, for in an emergency a weapon is only as good as it is handy and typically in such situations one lacks a key luxury: time. If a bear is charging you, I'm afraid you'll never reach that spray where it is, and, yes, bears have been known to chase down bicycles, so they're not simply a camp hazard. Besides, you might have just stopped somewhere or arrived at camp and not yet unpacked and Mama Bear is there to greet you. In fact, in addition to a readily-accessible large can of bear spray, I have a smaller one attached with Velcro to my handlebars so that I can tear it off and instantly deploy it. Might not stop a bear, but could deter it and certainly would stop a dog or a weirdo. Just subscribed. Thanks again!

Nice setup! I usually find myself sitting on a stump or ledge, instead of a nice camping chair😅 but if the weight is no issue then sure!

Less is more

Great video, doing nc 500 over 7 days in june 2022.This set up looks good to me for my trip. Thank you for the video.

this is next level !

For dogs I use pepper spray ps not all dogs bad but some wow ,

Looks a lot like my bike, good bike better than mine ,I put way to many miles on mine ,trek 520 ,40 miles a day full load daily ride ,7 years yup my bike is screaming retirement lol

I have the Arkel rear 45's for my fatbike. Heavy, but I bring a packraft often. Also in winter it's nice to have volume. Using the Rollpacker 25 too. I would rather suffer on hills than travel superlight.

When you were emptying the rear pannier, it reminded me of that Mary Poppins film when she is unpacking her bag in front of the children.