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Big Ride Equipment & Packing List

I spent a lot of time choosing equipment.  But it paid off, and I had very few mechanical problems.  I would only have made a few changes.  I spent a lot of time asking the advice of the touring pro's on the touring@cyclery.com mailing list.  I would highly recommend this list for anyone getting into touring. Click here for more info.

T-700 Most importantly I took my Cannondale T-700 touring bicycle, purchased specifically for this trip.  The bike performable admirably.  Other than the right pedal trying to come apart, I had no mechanical problems.  And I don't baby my bicycles. I bunny-hopped it over railroad tracks, plowed through gravel and rode over the bumpiest roads. It never failed me.  I accidentally hit some large potholes, very hard (while daydreaming) without any rim damage.  And, I had zero flats, that's right zero!  The stock Conti Top Touring tires provided excellent traction in all conditions.  I love this bike.

Here is a large list of almost everything I brought.

Note: This list is not applicable for people who are doing self-contained touring, it is geared toward a sagged ride. Also, if you are unfamiliar with any terms please see Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary for help.

The Need for Ride Scale is for things you really NEED for the Ride. Like a bicycle is a HIGH need, where as a Camping Chair is a LOW need.
The Lance Rating is my personal feeling of the items usefulness.  Like you Don't NEED a bike lock, but it comes in Handy.

I tried to keep the scale consistent, but I'm sure there are some inconsistencies and typos

Bicycling Gear | Camping Gear | Clothing Stuff | Personal Items | And Don't Forget | Things I Forgot

Bicycling Gear:
Need For Ride The Lance Rating Item What I brought / Comment
High High Bicycle 1998 Cannondale T-700 touring bicycle. See notes at bottom.
High High Pump Topeak ComboMasterBlaster Pump - awesome, highly recommended
High High Helmet Bell -   Just get a good fitting helmet, and make sure to train with it, so you can get use to it / break it in.
Low Medium 2 Panniers Rei Computer Panniers - I usually rode with one pannier on during the day to put stuff.   Munchies, sunscreen camera.   However you can just use a small handlebar bag, and a camel pack with a pocket to put stuff.
Low Medium Locks 1 U-Lock & Heavy Cable, 1 small padlock & light Cable - I needed the U-lock for when I stayed in D.C. I didn't carry it with me when I rode. However I did carry the tiny padlock and long light cable.   They don't weigh much, and it serves as a theft deterrent when you go inside to eat or shop
Medium High Patch Kit If you bring one, you won't need it, but if you don't you will.
High High Spare Tubes I brought 3, didn't use them, but see 'Patch Kit' for more info.
Medium High Water Bottles I brought 3, You could use a camel pack (several riders did) which are Convenient, but I don't like wearing things on my back when it's hot out.
Low Medium Tail Light Not necessary if you don't ride at night, see journal....
Medium High Tools You should carry the basics (allens, screw drivers, tire levers), and the extras come in handy (chain breaker, hyper cracker, etc, etc.)
Low Medium Head Light Not necessary if you don't ride at night, see journal....
Low Low Bungy Cords to strap things to the rack.
Medium High Handlebar Bag/ Map Holder REI map/handlebar bag - Convenient for a small camera, sunscreen, Cliff bars and daily route maps

Camping Gear
Need For Ride The Lance Rating Item What I brought / Comment
High High Tent Kelty Doomolight 2 man tent, An good inexpensive ($100) tent.   Stayed water proof.   However, it would be too heavy for a self contained trip.
Medium High Ground Cloth Cheap blue tarp - Your tent will last longer with a good ground cloth, remember don't let it stick out from under the tent!!
High High Sleeping Bag Northface Miniret.   I was very happy with this bag, very warm for summer.
Low High Sleep Sheet Get a Queen size sheet, fold it, and sew the bottom and 1/2 way up the side.   For summer camping, it beats a sleeping bag during the early evening, but you can still crawl your sleeping bag when it gets too cold
Low High Sleep Pad ThermaRest - Extra Long (I'm tall) and thick.   It is a sag supported ride so might as well be comfy.
Low High Pillow Normal Pillow - Again a luxury, you can use a cotton bag w/ clean clothes in it (assuming you have clean clothes)
Low High Chair Aluminum Camping Chair - Yep, another luxury, but it's nice to have a chair to sit and read in.
High High Duffel Bag Big Eagle Creek - Better to use two small bags that one big one.   I was happy with the eagle creek.
Low High Rope Needed for Laundry line, tent tie down, etc.
Medium High Pocket Knife Swiss, handy for cutting stuff.
Low Medium Duct Tape You never know when you might need it.
Medium High Headlamp / Flashlight I purchases a little Petzel head lamp.   VERY handy in the tent, or finding your way to the bathroom at night.   ( I drank about 2 gallons a day, and so usually had to get up in the middle of the night)
Low High Mesh Sweater Bags Use to store Clean clothes, ~$3 at Wal-Mart.   Very easy just to look in the bag and find what you need.

Clothing Stuff
Need For Ride The Lance Rating Item What I brought / Comment
High High Cycling Shorts I brought 3.   4 would have been better because I'm lazy about doing laundry every day.   Make sure you get some "butt time" in the shorts before you go, so you can discover any possible problems with fit or stitching.
High High Cycling Jerseys I had extremely butt ugly CoolMax jerseys I got on clearance for $10, plus a couple of nicer ones.
High High Bicycling Shoes Make sure you break them in.   Also "touring" or "Mountain Biking" styles tend to be more comfortable.
Medium High Arm Warmers 1 pair Perl Zumi - I wore mine almost every day, so I didn't have to wear so much sun screen.   Very helpful for layering during snow fall.
Medium High Leg Warmers 1 pair Perl Zumi - keeps the knees warm in the mornings.
High High Gloves 2 Paris of Cycling Gloves (one actually motorcycle summer gloves used for cold mornings)
High High Sun Glasses I brought 2 pair, one for back up
High High Bandana Good for helping absorb sweat, and keeping you scalp from getting a sunburn in a helmet vent pattern. (It can happen even if you aren't bald).
High High Wind Breaker $12 on clearance.   Love this Performance brand windbreaker.
High High Rain Suit I took an REI Pant and Jacket set.   Worked very well.   The idea of rain gear on the trip like this, is NOT to keep you 100% dry, it is too keep you comfortable.   Also use it to layer when it gets really cold out!
High High Socks 4 cotton 1 Wool + purchased 2 more wool during the ride.   Wool is awesome, if it gets wet, it still can maintain heat.   Remember it's not to stay dry in the rain, its to stay warm.   Just think of it as swimming.
Low High Hats I brought 2.   One for around camp, and a stocking cap for sleeping/cold weather riding.
High High T-shirts To wear at camp
Low Medium Tank Top Ok for camp, and to try to get rid of the "biker tan lines"
Medium High Camp Shorts I brought 2, one would have been enough
Low High Swim Suit The hot springs in the Rockies, to the YMCA in south Dakota, very handy to have.
High High Underwear 4 Boxers - Don't wear them while cycling.   Very nice to change into after a shower.
Medium Medium Pants 1 Pair, handy for mosquito country, or if you felt like taking someone out to dinner.
Medium Medium Belt To hold up said pants
Low Medium Polo/Button Down To go with pants,   Make sure all clothing matches each other, because you will forget to check when you get dressed in the evenings, (believe me I know)
High High Sandals Tevas.   Nothing beats getting out of your cycling shoes at the end of the day
Low Medium Normal Shoes pair of Nikes Came in handing for basketball

Personal Items
Need For Ride The Lance Rating Item What I brought / Comment
Low Low Travel Clock I usually couldn't find my clock in the morning anyway (I just used my bicycle computer), plus the sun and the sound of 500 zippers woke me up just fine.
Low Low Harmonica I didn't play it that much,   However one guy brought bag pipes (no kidding!) and played often.   We started liking it, and day wasn't complete without a round of Amazing Grace
Low Low Maps I brought maps, but never used them because I was on vacation.   However a few others brought big maps, and tracked their progress on it.
Low High Pictures I brought pictures of family and friends to share with my new family and friends.
Low Medium Fanny Pack Nice for the day's of, or to haul stuff on the bike if you don't have a pannier.
Medium High Reading Glasses
Low Medium Books I don't recommend bringing a lot of books, they get destroyed in your bag, and you can always pick up more as you ride.   Also, I didn't have a lot of time to read because I liked socializing more.
Low Low Walkman Sent mine home.   Again, if I wanted to escape, I could read, or just go take a nap, but it was always more fun to socialize.
Medium Medium Batteries Don't bring too many, you can always buy fresh ones on the road
Low Medium Games Toys Frisbee, Chess Set, Poker Cards.   I brought it all.   I played a fair amount of Chess ( "I WILL beat Richard from New York one day!!"), and a few card games.
High High Journal YOU MUST BRING A JOURNAL!!! I tried to write in every day, but sometimes had to play catch up.
High High Camera YOU MUST BRING A CAMERA,   and take LOTS of pictures, especially of people, people and people.   See discussion on hints for future riders.

And Don't Forget
Need For Ride The Lance Rating Item What I brought / Comment
Medium Medium Toiletry Bag
High High Sunscreen Bring a medium bottle you can always buy more on the road
High High Lip Balm A must
High Medium Shampoo You could just use soap.
High High Soap
High High Wash Cloth
High High Shaving Kit Great time for the guys to grow a beard, or for the ladies to get that 'European' Look (ewwww!)
High Medium Toothpaste / Toothbrush / Dental Floss
High Medium Cologne For those days off.
Medium High Q-Tips
Low Medium Back Brush For the hard to reach places
Medium High Pain Killer Some days you just hurt, especially in the beginning.
Low Medium Hair Clippers I gave a couple of buzz cuts.
Medium Medium Small First Aid Kit It's nice to have your own Band-Aids and ointment, instead of sponging off of others.
High High Fingernail Clippers You will be on the ride for 6 weeks
High High Tweezers
High High Ear Plugs People, snore and you will camp next to train tracks that get used throughout the WHOLE night long.

Things I Forgot
Need For Ride The Lance Rating Item When I wanted it.
Medium Medium Insect Repellent South Dakota Mosquitoes
High High More Cameras I used Fuji disposable cameras.  They take great photos, but I did not bring enough.
Low High Neopreme Gloves Cheap Neopreme fishing gloves, work GREAT when the weather is really nasty, but they don't breathe so you end up with wet warm hands, instead of wet cold hands.

Things that wore out/broke.
Item What Happened
Pedals Stock Cannondale 'CODA' Pedals suck, and they fell apart on me.  It's no fun finding a 9mm socket in the middle of nowhere.
My Bottle Cages All my bottle cages cracked at the welds.  I really like the weight and look of the Specialized E-cages I had, but I can't recommend them for a long trip.
General Worn Out items. Just noraml stuff that needed to be replaced at the end of the ride.  Chain, middle sprocket, handlebar tape.  My tires and brake pads are fine.

A Brief Discussion on Bicycles:

It doesn't really matter what type of bicycle you ride.  I saw every type on the Ride: Recumbents, Mountain Bikes, Tandems, Folding/Travel, Hybrids, Road Racing, Touring, Expensive, Cheap, etc., etc.

Sure it helps to have a 15 lb Carbon Fiber Answer Felt (there was one on the ride), but I knew a few riders who made it with 35 lb $175 mail order bicycles. The important thing is that you are Comfortable and Happy.

Now my bicycle was a Cannondale T-700. Which is a purpose built 'touring' bicycle.  I plan on using this bicycle for self-contained riding in the future,so it was a practical dissension.

Besides your actual bicycle (and having the bicycle fit properly) the most important pieces of equipment (in semi Order) are: SADDLE, cycling shorts, shoes/pedals, gloves/grips. Notice this is where your body actually touches the bicycle. So it better be darn comfy, because you will there 6 - 10 hours a day!!

Here is a list of Extra Do-Dads I put on my bicycle

  • LX Brakes - Swapped at time of purchase. Good Brakes
  • Esge Fenders - I love fenders. Some scoff at them for summer rider, but when it rained and others where getting sprayed in the face I was the one laughing.
  • Brooks Leather Saddle - A great Saddle, but I broke it in incorrectly, and it gave out during the ride. This was solely my fault and not the saddle's.
  • Terry Men's Saddle - Purchased latter in the ride, to give my prostrate some relief.
  • Blackburn Rack - A high quality rack. Overkill for this ride.
  • Cheapy Flag Pole - Purchased 2nd Day of Ride. Consider getting something goofy for your bike (horn, bell, squeak toy, etc.) you'll make friends faster. ;)
  • Sigma Sport Computer - Lost the first one, purchased another in New Ulm, MN
  • Specialized Seat Wedge - For caring tools and tube.
  • Specialized E-cages - Water bottle cages, I would not recommend these. All of mine cracked.
  • Richey Pedals - Original CODA Pedals failed. Purchased these in Kennewick, WA
  • Topeak Combo Master Blaster Pump - Awesome pump! Get IT! USE IT! LOVE IT!
ON the Ride Maintenance:
  • Replaced Brake Pads - due to getting clogged up with snow and dirt
  • Replaced Pedals
  • Trued up rear wheel once
  • Should have replace chain/lubed it more often. For those in the know, it was 7/32" past the 12" mark.

AND FINALLY I recommend a visit to Sheldon Brown's Web Site on bicycling.  Not a lot on latest racing news (which is good), but a lot of solid bicycling information.

Return to Big Ride Summary page.

Copyright © 1999,2000,2001,2002 Lance Scott Rushing