Going on a BIKE TOUR?! Here's what gear I pack!
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2023
- Are you planning on going on a bike tour and aren't really sure what gear you need to pack? In this video, I break down every piece of gear that I pack on my bike tours- from tents to toiletries, this video will get you on the right track and leave you feeling confident when you pack up and hit the road!
Bike: Surly Long Haul Trucker
Racks: Tubus Tara and Tubus Cargo Evo
Tires: Continental Tour
Fenders: Planet Bike Cascadia
Saddle: Terry Butterfly Century
Handlebars: Salsa Cowchippers with Brooks Microfiber Bar Tape
GPS: Garmin Edge 520
Pedals: Shimano GR500 Flats
Lights: Bontrager Ion Pro 1300 Lumens with Flare
Panniers: Ortlieb Free Front Rollers and Back Rollers
Handlebar Bag: Ortlieb Ultimate 6 Free
Tent: Marmot Tungsten 1P Ultralight
Sleeping Pad: Big Agnes Q Core SLX
Sleeping Bag: Feathered Friends Egret Nano 20
Stove: Pocket Rocket
Rain Jacket: Shower's Pass
Rain Pants: Pearl Izumi
Helmet: Bern
This is a (personally) well used and very cheap tip on how to keep your hands warm and dry in pouring rain and icy conditions. Buy a pair of over sized long sleeve Latex washing up gloves, the ones that reach close to your elbows. Wear them over your existing riding gloves to keep them dry and your hands warm. You can either wear them over the sleeves of your current rain coat, or better still put the washing up gloves on first over your normal riding gloves and long sleeve shirt (or jumper) which will cover close to your elbows then wear your rain coat over that. If the cuffs of your rain coat are elasticated wear your rain coat as you normally would but with the cuffs elastic tight around your wrists and the washing up gloves. Any rain water entering between your rain coat sleeves and washing up gloves will only penetrate a little way with the long sleeves of the washing up gloves keeping your shirt (or jumper) dry. The Latex gloves give a good non slip grip on your handle bars as well. Good to see you've invested in a rear vision mirror, very wise lady. Do you use a low cost effective kick stand or if you don't have something convenient to lean your bike against, (like your tree) or do you lay it down in the dirt as so many long distance riders do. A kick stand is convenience in its self and protects both your bike and your kit as well. In sandy or muddy conditions where a kick stand can sink down, get a metal (not plastic) screw on jar lid, say 100 to 150 mm diameter. With the thread side of the lid facing up, glue, or silicone a screw cap from a water bottle onto the centre of the larger lid. In soft conditions place the foot of the kick stand into the water bottle cap, so the kick stand foot won't slip off the large jar lid. The wide surface of the larger lid offers a wider bearing area that will prevent the kick stand from sinking into sand or muddy conditions. This set up weighs virtually nothing and can be stored under a panier flap I feel the same way about my kick stand as you do for your rear vision mirror (which I use as well. Never ride without one). All the very best in Health, Wealth and Happiness for your trip.👌✌👍👍
Great advice for the gloves- I will definitely have to try that!! And I actually don’t have a kickstand, but I once toured with someone who carried a click stand. Have you heard of those? It’s kind of like a tent pole- really long and has a cord that runs through the pieces. You put it together and it has a nook where you lean your bike on it via the top tube. I thought about getting one of those. I typically try not to lay my bike over on the ground, but try to lean it up against something…but it does get annoying. Thanks for your input and thanks for watching!! :)
For likely 40 + yrs. Euro tour bikes often utilize center stands, much like Vesper center supports. It set the bike upon a wide stable flip down support..leaving your gear bags easily approached. Some are lockable as well..I would go this route🎈Cheers
Great video. Some very good tips and items to consider. Thanks
Thank you!!
Thanks for sharing your set up! very thoughtful gear choices.
Thank you for watching!! :)
Awesome thank you just doing a little research and this was very helpful be safe out there and have fun.
Glad you found it helpful!!
Great video Aspen. I’ve used the Anker power banks for most of my tours with good success. I love the idea of the stretch sheet thing for the sleeping pad! I’ll have to do some research on that stretchy material you use. Looking forward to following your trip. I’ll be leaving CO in just over a week and heading to the PNW area for 4 weeks of Bikepacking/over landing before heading to Canada in mid July for a Bikepacking tour from Jasper down to Banff. Have a great tour!
Thank so much I going to do some camping and your tips are brilliant. Had a look at the Feathered friends, they have great products! Thanks again!
Glad to help!! Thank you so much for watching!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you so very much. What a great channel you’ve created. Super helpful for new tourers.
This made my day! Thank you for watching!!
Hello from Turkey. Thank you for this great video. Really enjoyed it.
Thank you so much for watching!!
Well organized and have fun and a lot of joy😊
Thank you!!
Great setup! You have so much experience already.
Thank you!!
Been checking out your vids; very nice stuff! Such a good positive energy. Exactly what you need on a bike tour! Did a ride through Slovenia with my daughters, amazing trip. Keep up the good work!
I bet Slovenia was beautiful! I still haven’t gotten my feet wet in international bike touring. Maybe one day! Thanks for checking out my channel!
Truly a great setup you have, thank you for sharing it. I too have a LHT with a Tubus racks, Brooks Flyer saddle and the Brooks Microfiber bar tape. You are so fortunate to have your father join you on your bike adventures. I look forward to the video (s) of your upcoming trip.
We basically have the same setup! I’m wanting to try the flyer saddle- I think I would like it. I got the Brooks saddle with the cutout and I wasn’t a fan of the cutout. I’m determined to find the right Brooks saddle. Thanks for watching!!
What a great presentation thank you so much
Thank you for watching!!
I have always wondered how people can do these almost-European vacations. Now I know how you, a teacher, can do it. Keep it up.
Haha yes!!! It’s the only way I can do it….haha!!
Nice set up and great video!
Thank you!!
Aspen, I just bought a Surly disc trucker so found your channel and have enjoyed your videos! I've done short tours (2-3 days or maybe 4-5 on all gravel) but aiming to start a phase f my life doing more. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
How exciting! You’re going to love your disc trucker! I plan to keep my LHT forever, but would love to have a Disc Trucker! I’m dying to get back out there- the tour we planned for last summer fell through. I see some short weekend trips in my future, though! Thanks for watching my videos!!!
Thank you!!! My son and I are planning our first long bike trip and this was so helpful. Much appreciated and I know how much time and effort these videos can make. This cleared up a lot of things for me. I hope your trip went well. -H
I’m so glad you found this helpful!!
This is by far the most helpful- comprehensive load out explanation in our history..well done Aspen🎈 Im with you in accord all the way.Your parents must be so crazy proud of you & you know- family's who bike 2gether, stick 2gether⛪ When the opportunity arises,bike England, Ireland- Scotland..I did twice, both in Sept-Oct- crazy beautiful🎐Both routes upon western counties.. My admiration, and praise Canyon from Monterey county🎐
Thank you so much for your kind comment!! I have been thinking that I need to expand my bike touring into Europe, now that I’m gaining more confidence. Hopefully I will make that happen one day. Thanks for watching!! :)
Much love to you and your family
Thank you!!
Very well done.
Thank you!
1000th subscriber here. Great video and great channel 👍🏼 keep up the good work
Yes!!!!!! Thank you!! 💚
I’m a hiker just getting into bike packing. I have all the little stuff but no idea how to start setting up a bike. So thanks for the run through!
Glad to help!!!
Excellent video. ❤❤❤❤
Thank you!!!
Excellent info! I’m also from Kentucky and an avid cyclist! I did a tour around Montana in 2019 and touring on a bike is absolutely the best!
Ohhh yes! A fellow Kentuckian! I would love to tour around Montana!! I’ll have to add that to the list. Thanks for watching!!!
Thank you for this information. I’m about to hit the Vancouver to San Diego ride with my son.
I hope y’all have the best trip!!!
Thank you so much! I've been a motorcycle camper for decades, but I'm going on my first bicycle trip with a friend in just a couple weeks. 300 miles in a week! Your suggestions have really helped me figure out how I'm going to distribute gear between my four panniers!
I’m so glad you found my video helpful! It sounds like your motorcycle camping experience will translate nicely to bike touring! You’re going to love it! Thank you for watching!!
Wonderful cycle all D best
Thanks for watching!!
Sweet rig!
Thanks!! 😄
Great set up aspen, we have a very similar set up ! Currently driving from Pennsylvania to clinton Missouri to do the Katy trail !!!
Ahh we just drove past a section of the Katy Trail!! Have a great ride!!!
Here r some ideas to consider!!
1. Bandanas- my neck burns easily!! I covered it!! And to cover the face with all of these fires that r happening nowadays!!
2. 2 fully sunglasses- one shaded and one cleared for the sun, wind, rain, freaking bugs, and exhaust fumes!! Lol!!
Love ur videos and u guys stay safe!!
Ohhh thank you so much for your ideas!!! And I love the clear sunglasses idea! I carry a normal pair, but the clear ones are a fantastic idea, plus I need some for when I’m mountain biking. Thanks for watching!!
Great setup, I wonder if you made a list for yourself depending from which season. Anyways....very efficient and I like that handle bar bag! Thanks, greetings from Holland, Jan
I definitely eliminate the down jacket, sock hat, gloves, and long sleeves and rain pants if it’s going to be warm and only warm. I would likely switch my sleeping bag to just a quilt. It would definitely save me several pounds!!
I love my handlebar bag! The only thing that bothers me about it is the clear map case that is built in is starting to yellow from sun exposure. Other than that, it’s great.
Thanks so much for watching!!
Excellent video Aspen, probably the best I've encountered on youtube in terms of minimizing what you bring & keeping the set-up simple & well organized! Thank you for the tip on getting a seat cover for the leather Brooks B17 saddle that came with the 2022 Kona Sutra that I recently purchased. Also great idea to pack the raincoat and rain pants with the tent gear which I hadn't considered!
On gravel trails I sometimes bikepack with a lighter weight carbon frame 2021 GT Grade Expert bike where I use more of a bikepacking configuration rather than a standard touring set-up with similar Ortlieb bags to what you and your Dad are using.
I had my Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 tent blow away one stormy night as well (lots of lightning and brutal wind gusts which made for one very rough evening of bike camping)! So I purchased some longer lightweight tent stakes from REI which has really helped. I have the same Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core SLX Sleeping Pad as you. I use it with a Big Agnes Lost Dog 30 Degree Sleeping Bag because I like the way the pad tucks directly into the base of the sleeping bag so you don't roll off it at night. During the heat & humidity of the summer months I bikepack with a Big Agnes Wool Sleeping Bag Liner instead of sleeping bag. It was a bit pricy at $150 but well worth it as it's lighter and less hot to sleep in. Nothing worse than sleeping in a hot & sticky tent in July & August in the mid-Atlantic! Apologize that I probably sound like an advertisement for Big Agnes camping gear!
You're smart to use a hammock as well as it's definitely cooler in the summer. I always bring two inflatable pillows as I find it more comfortable sleeping with the second pillow under my knees (as I have some lower back & hip issues).
Anyway, keep up the great work! I really enjoyed the video of you and your Dad cycling the C&O and GAP trail. I live in Cary, NC and I'm getting ready to ride from DC to Pittsburgh in the next week or so. Best of luck to you and your Dad on your adventure to the state of Washington!
Thank you so much for your kind comments!! I’m laughing about your Big Agnes advertising comment- but they are the absolute best!!! I’m hoping to get a Big Agnes tent sometime soon. I like my marmot but the Big Agnes tents are sooo nice. I’ll have to look into the wool sleeping bag liner!! I need one of those for when I’m just touring around here where it’s hot!!
Good luck on your upcoming ride and stay safe!! Thanks for checking out my videos!!
@@aspenswanderings FYI - I noticed Moosejaw has the Big Agnes Farrington sleeping bag liner on-sale at 25% off ($111.99).
Stop at Crater Lake in Oregon. There is a loop all the way around the lake. It veers off in some places, but for the most part it is a spectacular lake view the whole way. I think it was 27-30 miles around. Nice morning or afternoon bike ride. They have camping sites. It was $20/night in 2016.
Oh I will definitely add that to my list! I have always wanted to go to Crater Lake! Thanks for the recommendation!
The road that goes around is usually closed in places up until the end of June (snow).
czcams.com/video/NxlnUphllJs/video.html
Aspen ... Enjoyed the video. I really like seeing how people are packing and the rationale for what they put in their panniers. I have yet to find that go-to setup so I'm going to tweak mine a little based on some of your setup. I use the Anker 26k mAH battery bank and have been happy with it. It generally lasts me 6 to 7 days. I use it to charge my iPhone, headlight, tail light, and my head lamp. In the warmer months, I use my sleeping bag liner as the sheet for the sleep pad. The pad fits in the liner perfectly. For the warmer months I just have a quilt. For your clothing, do you and your dad have designated clothing for camp and being in town? I'm assuming you do. What do you both generally pack for camp/town? Enjoyed the video. Thanks again. Stay safe! .... Ciao
Thank you for watching!! I think the Anker 26k is my next step- that was the one I was looking into buying! I actually do have a down quilt that I could use if I was confident on the weather- I probably could get by with it on most of my trips…I may need to try it out on a bike tour. As far as clothing- we have clothes that we ride in, and clothes that we hang out around the campground in that are more comfortable and “normal”. Honestly- we aren’t super keen on hanging out in towns and shopping around, etc…we mainly just ride and camp, so we don’t really take any nicer/town clothes. I have some loose fitting shorts and a t shirt I wear around camp. Haha!! We aren’t too fancy…haha!!! Thanks for your input and advice!!
For Brooks, try the C19. I love Terry saddles and have another Brooks I love too, but this is hands down my favorite saddle of all time (next to the Serfas Arc). I'm known for using shammy butter until it's seeping out my shorts, but this saddle changed that. Used it for a 500 mile tour last summer and it was the first time I didn't use any of the shammy butter I packed. Love it!
Ohh I’ll have to check that one out!! Thanks!
Another one to try is the WTB Speed V series of saddles. They also have a women's version.
I just got a LHT after riding a Cannondale touring bike 35 years. The LHT is much heavier, but the gearing handles the weight so well. I loved seeing you organize your kit with nearly the same set up I have with my new (to me) bike.
I love my LHT!! Congrats on getting yours- you’re going to love it. Thanks for watching!!
Cannondale touring bikes are fantastic. Their only issue is the narrow tires and hub clearances. I have an LL Bean Cannondale touring bike with matching vintage Red LL Bean bags and grocery panniers and a red Brooks saddle (wish they still made those). My eventual goal is to replace the wheelset with an 8x2 with a wide cassette. It's my day tripper ride.
The LHT gives you more tire options, so you'll gain comfort on unpaved roads and better loaded handling. I ended up going with the Surly Troll since I knew I could run 650 or 700 if I wanted to but 26" would be the strongest and easiest to service on the road.
Great video - my channel just got recommended to me and I am so happy. Subbed. I cannot wait to go on my 1st bike tour/camping trip =)
Aww thank you so much!!! More videos coming! You’re going to love bike touring! It’s the absolute best!! ❤️
@@aspenswanderings Here 4 it! Keep them coming
I think I had the exact same power bank, and it lasted about a week lol. Ordered an Anker now instead and will test it out a 4 day trip next week.
I didn’t mention that the cord that comes with it doesn’t even hardly stay plugged into it. I see an Anker in my future too. Let me know how yours does!!
I see a new set of Continental tires? Hope they work flat free, we shall see if Dad rides more flat free miles with his Marathons? I would add a waterproof helmet rain cover on those long mountain downhills in the rain it does not really keep your head dry, but does keep you warm and we lose most of our heat through our heads. I would like you to ride behind your flashing rear light for a few miles, it may be an aging thing, but I am finding these new high intensity strobe lights (red and white ) are painful to cycle behind and approach on Florida rail trails this past winter Some are flashing in the range that send people into epileptic shock! Some from China use lasers that are damaging peoples eyes. Being seen is important, but not if it is causing pain to others. Have a wonderful trip and dreams of that lower chain ring with a 26 tooth granny (26,36,48) as you grind up those multiple mile mountain passes.
Yes! I’m curious to see, as well! Honestly, I’m thinking I may need to switch either way because they are so hard to get on and off. It’s crazy!! I’ll definitely look into a waterproof helmet cover- I was just talking to my dad about that the other day. And on the light- I have and I totally agree- it’s not fun and hurts your eyes. I don’t feel so bad for cars who are passing by quickly, but dad and I usually stick together and whoever is in front usually has theirs off unless we just forget. It really is annoying, that’s for sure. And yes, I’m hoping my granny gears do me some good. Ha! Thanks for watching!!!
For beanie would one without the ball on it be better. When it is cold I wqear a beanie under my helmet to help keep my head warm. You put a rain jacket hood over it to.
Oh, for sure! I need to find a good beanie for riding. All of the ones I have are girly, or too thick, or have the ball on top. I forgot to bring one on my Pacific Coast ride and regretted it the entire trip, haha!
Thanks for the video, how about the mirror. How did you get it on drop bar handles? I couldn't make it out on the video. I plan on doing the Eurovelo 15 this summer in Europe so this video is so helpful.
It’s just some cheap mirror that I have no clue where I got…it’s got some Velcro and an adjustable arm, so I just rig it up to my drop bars and it works great. The mirror on it is scratched right in the middle, so I need to see if I can put a new mirror on it. Can’t find another one that will work.
Hi Aspen. Thanks for sharing your bike touring load out. Have you considered consolidating to a 2 pannier plus handlebar set-up?
Enjoy your Washington parks ride. I live in PNW. Just subscribed.
Dave
Hey, Dave! I actually have considered it and haven’t written it off yet. I was desperate to get rid of some weight on my TransAm ride and one night I completely consolidated everything to the back two bags and ended up putting my tent on top of my back rack. I did like having fewer bags. I did feel like my weight wasn’t distributed well and I didn’t like how the front of my bike felt. I also worried about the extra weight on the back tire making it more likely to cause a flat if I roll over something sharp. I think if I could get less bulkier items, I could definitely consolidate. The pillow kind of ruins it but it’s SO comfortable. Ha! I also normally don’t take as many clothes as mentioned in this video, but worried about the temps fluctuating on this trip. Thanks for watching and for the recommendation!!
@@aspenswanderings I agree things will get squirrelly if the weight between back and front get out of balance. Based on my experience, you can comfortably go with a 2 rear pannier only plus handlebar set-up if you limit the total weight of the contents to below 30 lbs. Btw, I have the same tent as you. I attach it to the top of my rear rack between the panniers
Careful with the white light at the back of the bike on public roads - considered a very expensive ticket item in some places. Great video and fun to watch what others carry on their bikes. :)
I’ve had someone else comment this from a different country (outside of the U.S.) Are you thinking this for the U.S.? Just curious. I’ve ridden in many states with it and haven’t ever had an issue. An officer actually found me after passing me and he was also a cyclist and was curious what light it was since it was so bright. BUT- there’s no way I would use it at night, as it would blind drivers. I have a red light for night. Anyway- let me know of specifics regarding laws on this in the U.S. (if that was what your comment was pertaining to) as I haven’t ever heard of them. Honestly curious!! Thanks for watching!! :)
@@aspenswanderings I've lived in, but not cycled in, the US. That said, plenty of cops here dont know all rhe laws and certainly dont enforce all the onea they do know 🤣. But a white light at the back of a vehicle is likely one they will act on here. Cheers!
this is a sweet young woman and it is a pleasure to hear of her travels and see her equipment choices.
Thank you for your kind comment and thanks for watching!!
Hi Aspen! A very informative video. Good job! Do you take medical supplies (first aid kit) with you on your trip? You didn't say anything about it.
I will be happy to watch your CZcams channel.
Thanks for watching!! We take some very basic medical supplies…nothing too extensive- gauze, medical tape, ointments, bandaids, tweezers, Advil, etc. Our first aid kit could probably use some tweaking, but there is also a fine line of carrying too much and too little….but then still needing to adequately be prepared for emergencies. That might be a great video topic- I recently lost the trail for a few hours while hiking in the Rockies and it really scared me and had me analyzing the emergency gear that I had with me.
The thing about the brooks saddle is that the first 2000 miles on it are a nightmare. But once it forms to your bottom, there is no saddle that is more comfortable. I have about 10,000 miles on mine and would never use a different saddle. But i would never go thru the pain of breaking in a new one.
I think I need to just find the right model. I have the Brooks Imperial with the cutout, and the cutout was very thin and I could feel it through my shorts. I’m thinking about trying out a flyer. I’ve always loved Brooks saddles, and I’m not one where saddles typically bother me, so I know if I could get one broken in, I would love it. Might have to just jump back in to the Brooks game. :)
Yes Anker is the best
Good to know!! I’ll be grabbing one soon!
Great tips! How do you (and Dad) handle laundry on extended trips? I always hear horror stories about wearing shorts for too long (saddle sores, etc).
We usually carry a couple pairs of shorts, so that we can hand wash a pair in a sink/shower/spigot with some soap or body wash that we have, and then strap it to a rack to dry the next day while we are riding. If we don’t have anywhere to rinse them out, I usually carry some type of antibacterial wipes and will just scrub the shorts out and let them air dry over night. It sounds weird, but it actually does an ok job if that’s your only option. And of course, if we come across a laundromat, we take advantage of it. I always carry a few of those travel size Tide packets. We will put on our rain gear that we aren’t washing, and wash everything else. We get some funny looks…ha! I hope this helps- and you gave me an idea for another video!! Thanks for watching and commenting!!
Good stuff, thanks for the information. It’s very much a “whatever it takes” situation. Great job with the channel and keep up the great work!
where in the south are you from? i am from the south to. and i love biking and bike touring.
Don’t you share some stuff with your dad or do you have everything twice on tour? Have a nice season. Greetings from Switzerland.
He has his own tent and sleeping gear and clothes, lights, and whatnot. We share the repair gear and cooking gear and food. Thanks for watching!!
for your pacific coast tour did you bring anything for bears? were u worried at all ? maybe im overthinking it but that is one of my biggest concerns sleeping in tents throughout the trip
We did carry bear spray, but not necessarily for bears. We just like to have it on hand for any scenario. To my knowledge, I don’t think bears are extremely common along the coast, although they are there. I can’t think of a day where bears really even crossed my mind. I was honestly more worried about cougars and the homeless population near some of the big cities. I heard a cougar scream one night when I was walking to the campground restroom in Northern California. I honestly wouldn’t worry at all about bears. I know raccoons are more of a nuisance in the campgrounds and a bigger concern as far as food storage goes. If you’re camping in established campgrounds, you have nothing to be worried about. I’ve ridden through the Appalachians and the Rockies and was much more concerned about bear encounters through Grand Teton and Yellowstone, and definitely kept my bear spray close, but I never needed it. Good luck!! Thanks for reaching out!
I am curiuos what tire width you commonly use. I have been using a Slasa Journeyman which came with 2.1" but for going on a mainly road tour I switched to 40mm or 1.57". I commonly do a mixture of pavement and gravel.
I’m currently riding on 26”x1.75” Continental Touring tires. They do really well with gravel too!
What size ortlieb bags dis you use at the front and bag? Such a useful video, thanks
They are the ortlieb back rollers on the back, and the sport rollers on the front- both are from the pvc-free line….I just liked the color that was only offered in the pvc-free line, haha. The back bags are 40 liters each and the front are 25 liters each. :)
Thanks, how about the mirror. How did you get it on drop bar handles? I couldn't make it out on the video. I plan on doing the Eurovelo 15 this summer in Europe so this video is so helpful.
Nice! -- QUESTION -- Can you talk about your tires and gears and such? Not sure if you kept it stock from Surly but it looks like you changed up the tires... Can you explain that since I know you have ridden many miles.
Those are actually the stock tires in the video. They’re 26”x1.75” Continental Ride Tour tires. They were amazing- I had 3 flats in about 6,000 miles. The only negative, and it’s a big one, is that they are extremely hard to get on and off. I couldn’t really do it by myself- had to have two people. They are notorious for that. Despite that fact, I recently put on some new ones and am pretty disappointed. They didn’t have the reflective strip around the outside, and I got a flat on the first day of my ride in Washington this summer. I’m pretty sure they aren’t even the same product anymore. My dad has Schwalbe Big Apple tires and they are great- I think I’m going to get those next. As far as my drivetrain- it’s 3x10. Definitely recommend having a triple in the front. It will help immensely with climbing with a load. My husbands bike only has 2 rings in the front and he struggles when climbing carrying a load.
@@aspenswanderings ..very interesting about the tires. New Disc Truckers seem to have a brand I don't recognize.. Another issue is the brakes - I keep hearing about how you have to get "disc brakes" but I suspect that your brakes are much more reliable and effective for world cruising. Do you wish you had gotten discs?
dat was funny, dat dog aint going in doz panniers!! ha ha!! i like your gear set up. but i am leaving in 2 weeks for my rail trail tour. i am using just rear panniers and sleep system on top. i like using a frame bag. i don't cook so i carry lots of trail bars and gu gels. i like nutella and pbj's . after i long day biking i like showers, but i just get a cowboy bath wid a water bottle and wet wipes. do you use a front light on your bike? anyhow you know more about touring than i do. but everybody is different. Good luck!!
When I tour with my husband, we share the tent setup, so usually I can get down to two panniers that way! Everyone has their own setups- I’m sure yours is great!! And honestly, I try to not cook if I don’t have to. I prefer to grab something somewhere, but sometimes ya just can’t. On my TransAm bike tour, we ran across showers about once a week so I used lots of wet wipes….lol!!! I typically don’t use a front light unless there’s lots of traffic or if it’s foggy or something. Thanks and have a great time on your ride!! I love riding rail trails!
@@aspenswanderings it is so awesome to see folks out bike touring. i mt bike a lot. how do you you like your long haul trucker? here's a short story about long haul trucker. when i was working at custer state park in south dakota, there was this guy working there that had a brother and he had a friend that was really fat. i mean fat. he weighed about 290. anyhow they had this wild idea about biking across america. they almost succeeded . they went out and bought surly's long haul truckers. great bikes. they made it to south Dakota and took a rest break for a few days. they hit the wyoming wind and it broke them. the fat guys bike broke down, he was running out of money. so he quit. the brother made it a little further and he folded. the 3rd guy from north carolina is the only one who made it. they were all college kids. kuddos goes out to all of them esp. the fat guy for making that far. i don't see how he did it. i rode in the black hills everyday all the time, and it is brutal with hills. man, they rode interstate 90 all the way through south Dakota. what a journey. anyhow thanks for replying.
Great Video! QUESTION... I really need a mirror like you have but, after looking all over the internet, I can't find one that will work and is good quality. What kind do you have and where did you get it. I will be starting a cross country ride on May-1 and that is critical for safety. Like you, I have bar-end shifters.
Unfortunately, most mirrors these days aren’t very good quality. I’m almost positive this one came from Dick’s Sporting Goods years ago. It doesn’t really even fit my handlebars- it just has a Velcro strap, so I just make it work. Mine has a scratch right in the center of the mirror, so I’ve been looking for a new one as well and it seems like nothing out there is good quality. If I end up finding one that works well, I’ll for sure let you know. If you find a good one- you can let me know! Good luck on your cross country ride!! Are you taking the TransAm route? I’m hoping to do another cross country ride one day, hopefully sooner than later!
Thanks for watching!
Yes, after rewatching your video more carefully, I saw the velcro straps. Very clever on your part!
I think I finally found a good mirror. It is from a German company Busch+Mueller and it is called the CycleStar 80. It looks like it has mounts for both bar end and a clamp. I ordered it last night and will give it a try clamped just below my brake levers. If it works, I will reclamp it on the bare bar and then tape around it. I will let you know how it works out.
I also ordered the Garmin Varia RTL515 rear radar/taillight which integrates with my Garmin head unit or phone. Hopefully, those two changes will make things much safer.
Thank you for the nice video. I have been a fan since your TransAm. Question, How do you clean your water bottels on tour?
After several days mine get dirty/moldy. At home I use bleach.
Honestly, I could do a better job cleaning them. If I notice they’re dirty looking, I’ll try to clean them out in a sink somewhere with soap. Occasionally if we stay in a church who hosts cyclists, sometimes they have dishwashers. In a pinch, I’ll try to clean them up with wet wipes since they are antibacterial. With all that being said, sometimes they’re just dirty. Lol
I use baking soda!! It is good for u and the environment!! Plus it's cheap!! Look it up for a lot of usages for baking soda!! You'll be amazed!!
CZcams recommended this video to me!
Greetings from Ukraine!
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Thank you for watching!!
I was hoping that you would have mentioned what kind of tires you was running on the bike, going by the logo color on the tire i would say it is a continental tire, but cant quite make out the model of tire.
Yeah, that would have been helpful for me to mention!!! You’re right- they are the Continental Tour Ride tires (26”). The ones that came stock on my bike were amazing…3 flats (all on the rear) in about 10,000 miles. Horrible to try to get on and off though. I’m petite, but even strong men have issues getting them on and off…ha. I recently replaced them with a new set and they’re just not the same. They are missing the reflective strip along the outside, and I got a flat literally the first day I took them out for a tour. Not sure if that was just bad luck or what….
@@aspenswanderings yeah, I was looking at those tires, I ended up getting the schwalbe big apple to see how well they do (so far I like them), I'll probably get a pair of Continental tour tires eventually.
@@aspenswanderings as for battery banks/external battery I would try to find one that has user replaceable batteries (18650). These are usually a bit more than the a sealed battery bank/external battery tho. Some battery banks supply pass through charging (which is pretty nice to have).
I would also get a small foldable portable solar panel, something in the 30w range that supports your devices fast charging protocol. You can even go as far as laying it over your rear bags while you're riding and have a device that needs charged hooked up to it.
So here's a question for you, how do you typically transport your bike and gear to your ride? I know that you live in KY and will be riding in the NorthWest so I'm assuming that you will be flying. Do you box your bike and some or all of the gear for the flight? Some airlines have restrictions that only allow for a bike to be in the box and no other gear. I was thinking of packing all of my gear into a fold-up duffle that could be packed away during the tour. How do you deal with this?
Great Question! I need to make a video on this, as well! Typically, I go to my local bike shop and have them take my bike apart and ship it for me. There is typically room to put an empty pannier or two (I usually put a smaller one inside a larger one and put them both in the box with the bike, plus any other small items that may fit. I’ve never had any issues with adding extra gear to my box when shipping via a bike shop. It usually costs around $150 or $200 to ship it this way. I believe the bike shop ships it via Bike Flights.
When I plan to return home, I usually contact a bike shop near the end of the route and do the exact same thing. They box it up, I stuff what I can in the box with the bike, and try to combine my panniers and just take those on the plane as carry on bags. Usually after packing what I can in the box, I can easily fit the rest into the two panniers that are left.
So…..I ran into an issue at the end of my Pacific Coast tour. This is the only time this has ever happened, but the bike shop who gave me their word on shipping backed out when I showed up at the shop. We had no choice but to ride to the nearest UPS store. They just so happened to have two bike boxes and we took them apart ourselves and shipped them home via UPS. This cost $800 for two bikes….which hurt, but we had no choice. There are probably better options out there, but it’s not like we could go buy a bike box and load them into a cab and carry them to the airport.
I know some airlines allow you to bring a bike and some people have their own reusable bike boxes/bags that are really nice…I’m just not sure what they do with their bags once they get to where they are going….or how they get their bag back when they’re ready to fly home.
For my Washington State tour coming up, we are actually going to drive out there and leave our car at a long term parking facility and then basically ride a loop back to our car….that way we avoid shipping our bikes and everything.
Hope this information helps!!
@@aspenswanderings A lot of soft shell bike bags designed to be foldable, so you can just strap it to the frame or rear rack. However, they’re quite heavy. There are some super lightweight ones that fold almost to pocket size but no idea how safe they’re to keep frame or crankset from damage. Scicon makes great bags. I would just use cardboard bike box for flying but your approach is pretty neat too.
Ohhh thanks for the info! I’m definitely interested in getting my own bag/case. And I also wonder if airports have some sort of long term storage facility where you could just leave your bag/case…..they probably don’t….but that would be helpful for sure.
@@aspenswanderings I had to cancel a bike trip to CUBA this past winter, Canadian airlines are stopping to allow bike boxes, only bike cases. And our Touring bikes with racks will not fit in our racing bike cases that airlines like. Hope US airlines do not follow suit with this new ruling.
I have always flown with my bike. Nowadays, many airlines allow a bike as one of your pieces of luggage without a hefty surcharge. Alaska Air is the best as they don’t have any weight restrictions either. I have flown with my bike in a cardboard box, then stored the box at a hotel that I stayed in the first night and last night of the loop tour. For the Trans Am, I had a case that folded down to 26”X10”X6”. I had my husband ship the case to a hotel in Yorktown (rode from home). In Australia, I flew to Melbourne, then shipped the case to Perth for the end. I’ve also flown with my bike in a CTC plastic bike bag (get them from Wiggle in the UK, they are inexpensive and ship to the US. The bag is the heaviest, yet still flexible, plastic bag. All you do is remove the pedals, loosen the stem bolts and turn the handlebars, lower the saddle, pad or unbolt the rear derailleur, and pad anything else that is pokey. Roll the bike into the bag, and tape it up. You do want to double check with the airline as to whether they will allow the bike to go in a plastic bag. If they are dubious, tell them it is a bike specific bag. Then, when you get to your starting point, you can simply fold up the bag, and put it on top of your rear rack, or in the bottom of a pannier. I’ve also taken my bike completely apart, stacked the parts (wheel, frame, fork, handlebar, wheel…Saddle, seatpost and pedals in a separate bag with my panniers), cocooned the bike in cling wrap, with cardboard bits to protect things, and wrapped in tape. Flying with your bike is almost always (unless an airline still charges exorbitant fees) going to the cheaper than shipping.
Hi again Aspen. Non gear related question. As a Kentucky native, and bicyclist, is your state's reputation for mean packs of dogs and non-bicycle friendly roads and drivers true?
Haha I love this question!! Reputation for loose dogs is absolutely true- but not big packs. For whatever reason, a lot of people let their dogs run loose and occasionally one will get after you. With that being said, there are probably just as many people who do have their dogs in a fence or on a leash. I will say, KY was the only state on the TransAm that I had any issues with dogs…and it was only one dog. I typically keep a whistle with me and it usually startles the dog enough to make it slow down or stop altogether.
The roads are not bike friendly at all. It’s pretty disheartening, especially when I go ride places out west that have amazing bicycle infrastructure. There are plenty of rural roads though where there isn’t hardly any traffic though…but even those typically have zero shoulder.
As far as mean drivers- I haven’t encountered mean drivers here. For the most part, everyone gives you adequate room when passing. I worry more about their lack of basic awareness that people ride for recreation. At least where I’m from (far West KY), everyone is all about the lake and boating and fishing and hunting, so they’re not as aware as drivers in states with decent bicycle infrastructure who are used to seeing cyclists out on the roads.
Hope this info helps! Great question! This would make a great video topic in itself!
@@aspenswanderingsHi Aspen. Thank you for the nice reply. That would be a fun and informative video. A click bait title could be the "Joys & Terror of Kentucky Bicycle Touring" 😁 I will definitely watch, if you decide to make the video
@@IdahoSolar Hahaha!!! Perfect!!!!! I’m adding that to my video list and it WILL get made! 🤣🤣
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Thanks for watching!!
What size tires are those
They are 26”x1.75”
What width are your tires?
They are 26” x 1.75”
I'm struggling to fathom the logic on having a white rear facing light. It's illegal here in the UK.
It’s a lot brighter and more visible in the daylight than a red light. You can’t see red bike lights at all, in my opinion….until you are already right next to the cyclist. You’d be better off just wearing neon instead of depending on a red rear light. In the day time, it doesn’t seem too bright from a driver’s perspective- I’ve tested it out. It’s not even close to being blinding or hurting your eyes or anything. In the evenings or when it’s dark, it has a night time mode to where it dims and also doesn’t hurt your eyes. With that being said, I do use red lights at night instead of the white light. I know I already mentioned it in the video, but I’ve had police officers who were cyclists stop me to ask what light it was so they could get one. Hope this info helps! Sorry they are illegal as rear lights in the UK.
Nice video Aspen! One thing I take with me that is very handy and versatile is a merino wool neck buff/gaiter. This can also be used as a beanie (we call them touques up here in Canada) on colder mornings or while sleeping. Here's a good video that gives other ways to use it.
czcams.com/video/47KhhB616jM/video.html
Someone else mentioned one of those!! I’m definitely going to have to get one- plus it would eliminate taking a bulky beanie. Thank you!!
I bet your boyfriend really misses you when you go on thease trips 😊
*husband :D
@@aspenswanderings dangit lol all the good ones are taken lol
I just gave up, the background music is too much. After a while. That's all I hear. It's so invasive.
Thanks for your input. I’m relatively new to making videos, so I’ll work on that for future videos. Sometimes it’s hard to gauge in the edit process and the levels sound different in the editing program compared to after they are uploaded on CZcams. Thanks for watching….um…clicking on my video! ;-)