On this topic, but not a reply to OP, here's my packing list. Anyone care to critique or add comments? I put my comments and thoughts in brackets next to each item.
I leave in 3 weeks, enough time to order/obtain anything else needed.
Duration of tour: ~4.5 weeks
Approx length of tour: ~1,300km (covering around 60-80km per day on average with a couple of non-riding rest days each week).
Destination: Western Europe, exact areas unconfirmed. Possibly eastern/southern region of France, western/central Germany, Belgium and Netherlands.
Season: Late summer / early autumn.
Expected weather: Mild conditions, mostly sunny days around 20-25°C, evenings around 10-15°C. Potential for a few rainy days over the month.
Clothing:
2x Ground Effect 'Zip Tie' long sleeve cycling jerseys (super lightweight and fast drying synthetic) [ ]
1x Short and/or long sleeve thick merino wool jersey (Might not take both of these though; they are heavy, bulky and too warm if it is above 10-15 degrees) [ ]
1x Swim shorts (ultra lightweight and quick dry) [ ]
1x Cotton t-shirt (for off the bike wear) and/or 1x Lightweight long sleeve cotton t-shirt (off the bike, out on the town or cooler nights) [ ]
1x Cycling smart trousers (black; Rapha design - can be used on/off bike, a bit heavy and bulky though.. consider alternative options) [ ]
2x Civvies (dark coloured baggy shorts, can be worn off the bike as well) [ ]
2x Padded underlayers (1x merino, 1x synthetic) [ ]
2x 150gsm merino wool boxer briefs [ ]
2x Thin synthetic socks (black DeFeet Levitator) [ ]
1x Medium thickness merino socks (charcoal DeFeet Woolie Boolie 2 - 4" cuff) [ ]
1x 150gsm (charcoal) and/or 190gsm (grey marl) merino wool long sleeve base layer top (probably only need one of these) [ ]
1x Ronhill 'trackster' pants (as an extra layer on cold days) [ ]
1x Rain jacket (Showers Pass Elite 2.0) [ ]
1x Rain pants (Ground Effect Helter Skelter 3/4 pants) [ ]
1x Full finger cycling gloves [ ]
1x Buff multipurpose headband and/or 1x Cycle cap [ ]
1x Sanuk 'sidewalk surfers' (enclosed sandals) [ ]
1x Shimano MT71 SPD MTB shoes (with a waterproof GoreTex lining and a Vibram sole) [ ]
1x Mesh stuff sack for dirty clothes (3-4L capacity) [ ]
Personal Items & Toiletries (front bar bag for valuables; rear 20L pannier bag for everything else)
Passports, credit cards, ID etc (packed in small zip-lock bag) [ ]
Info package in plastic sleeve (explanation letter in French and German, maps/route plans, travel insurance certificate etc) [ ]
Sunglasses (plus soft & hard case) [ ]
Spectacles (plus soft & hard case) [ ]
LifeVenture trek microfiber towel (large) [ ]
Basic medikit (in medium zip-lock bag) [ ]
Toiletries bag or medium zip-lock bag [ ]
Toothpaste (smaller tube) [ ]
Toothbrush + floss [ ]
Contact lens fluid (120ml size) & contact lenses with cases (new and spare pair) [ ]
Aloe skin moisturiser/repair cream (put in a small 120ml container) [ ]
Chamois cream (put in a small 50ml container) [ ]
SPF30+ sun cream (120ml) [ ]
Papaw ointment & SPF 30+ lip balm [ ]
Tropical strength insect repellent (135ml) [ ]
Muscle heat gel (put in a 50ml container) [ ]
Camp Gear (to be stored in other 20L rear pannier bag, cooking gear in front 12.5L pannier bag, & tent on the rack top):
Tent (3-season, 2 person Tarptent Scarp 2 with cross poles and tyvek ground sheet cut to size of footprint) [ ]
Montbell Super Spiral Down Hugger #3 sleeping bag (plus water resistant stuff sack) [ ]
Silk sleeping bag liner [ ]
Exped UL Synmat 7 air mattress [ ]
Exped Air pillow [ ]
Trangia 27-8 UL/HA stove/cookwear set (plus 500-1000ml of methylated spirits and a lighter/matches; to be purchased over there) [ ]
Insulated travel mug [ ]
Titanium spork [ ]
Concentrated dish washing detergent (put in a smaller 15-50ml container) [ ]
Wool/delicates clothes detergent (put in a small-medium 50-120ml container) [ ]
25L Exped 'Cloudburst' backpack/dry bag [ ]
Ortlieb 5L folding bucket (for carrying & hand washing clothes, dishes, gathering water, washing vegetables etc) [ ]
Tubus 3-way elastic rack strap (to fasten tent bag to rear rack) [ ]
Electronics:
Olympus u1050SW waterproof camera (+ 1200mA spare battery, pouch & charger)
Compact multi-country power adapter/converter (in pouch) [ ]
Micro USB phone charger (with removeable cable) [ ]
Tools & Misc (categorised in zip-lock bags and stored in a front 12.5L pannier bag):
4-5m of light weight nylon string (for washing line etc; buy over there as needed) [ ]
Repair guides for essential tasks in plastic sleeve (e.g. spoke repair/replacement, wheel truing, front/rear derailleur adjustment)
Various sized cable-ties [ ]
Small roll of electrical tape (10m) [ ]
2x 10cm gaffa tape patches stuck on frame down tube for emergency use/patches [ ]
Green Oil 'ecological chain lube' (put into 15ml eye-drop container) [ ]
2x 15x15cm clean rags for cleaning and oiling chain [ ]
Basic tyre/tube repair kit (levers, patches, glue etc) [ ]
Spare tube (Presta valve with schrader>presta rim adapter) [ ]
Tent patch kit (one piece of each material is enough, store in a small zip lock bag) [ ]
Multi-tool (Topeak Mini 20 Pro; comes with variety of tools inc. chain tool and spoke wrenches; 151g) [ ]
2x Spare spokes (taped to spoke mount on non-drive side of chainstay) [ ]
Park Tool SW-40 3.2mm spoke wrench (maybe just use the multi tool instead) [ ]
Small adjustable spanner (or get specific size/s - check what you need) [ ]
Topeak Mountain Morph medi floor pump (250g) [ ]
Kryptonite Evolution Mini 7 U-lock (1000g) w/ KrytoFlex 4ft cable (300g) [ ]
I've got this list in Evernote, so I have been reviewing and updating it every few days as I do test packs and test/assess my gear.
I wanted to get a J.A. Stein Mini Cassette Lock as I am a bit concerned about breaking a spoke on the rear wheel, but it's been difficult to get hold of. I figured that since I am in a highly developed area of the world with many cyclists any repairs that might need to be done beyond my tool/skill set shouldn't be too difficult to arrange. Hence why I am not quite as loaded up as other tourers heading off to far more remote and desolate regions (e.g. Aushiker's '
Dreaming tour').
I've been looking at getting a Kindle or other eBook reader as I like to take time to relax and read a book while travelling. Not sure if I'll bother as one book will probably last me the month anyway. I am still trying to figure out my options for keeping my phone and other USB powered devices charged on the road. My phone only lasts a day with normal use, half that with Google maps and GPS navigation active. Nothing on the market seems to do the job properly though, it's all bulky, heavy and expensive.
This is also on the general list, but it is more of a 'to do' list than my pack list. The Tardis will be probably be left behind in Germany (I'll pick it up on my way home).
Bike Gear:
Vivente World Randonneur touring bicycle [ ]
- Clean and oil chain, inspect frame etc before leaving [ ]
- Proofide saddle before leaving (leave proofide at home) [ ]
- Detach and pack Mirrycle mirror and racks before packing [ ]
Ground Effect 'Tardis' bike bag [ ]* (or use a cardboard bike box)
Front and rear Tubus racks (Cosmo on rear and Nova low-rider on front) [ ]
- Test attachments; possibly remove for packing [ ]
- Ensure all bolts and suitable tools are packed, add spare 25mm bolts and washers [ ]
Ortlieb Back Roller Plus pannier bags (pair; 20L capacity each) [ ]
Ortlieb Front Roller Plus pannier bags (pair; 12.5L capacity each) [ ]
Ortlieb Ultimate 5 Plus large bar bag (plus Ortlieb map case accessory; 8.5L capacity) [ ]