beatrix
07-03-2012, 09:46 AM
What do all y'all take with you for a tour? How do you vary your gear if you're supported or unsupported? Credit card touring, or visiting the back of beyond?
After a two month tour through Italy, Spain and France, I've been reviewing the list of what I had (and the gear I shared with my taller half), and thinking about what changes I would make. We spent a good portion of the trip camping, but stayed in hotels every few weeks. I just blogged about the whole packing list (http://alaskalainen.blogspot.com/2012/07/packing-list-critique.html), but here's the five things I really loved having along.
A quick drying button up shirt
I could quickly take it on or off and never had to mess with my helmet to adjust it. I could unbutton the sleeves and roll them up, and leave the front unbuttoned as well for temperature regulation. When it was clean, I could wear it as "civilian" clothing off the bike. It also wadded up, with other clothing, for a pillow on camping nights.
Canari gel liner shorts (http://www.rei.com/product/765678/canari-gel-liner-womens)
The gel pad on the liner shorts covers a smaller area than some of the padded shorts I left at home, but having the versatility was key. I was able to easily swap around between longer and shorter length of shorts and capris, without exposing my derriere on the side of the road. The pad didn't absorb water, so after a rinse with me in the shower, the shorts could dry overnight. Depending on your modesty, they could probably be worn by themselves as short shorts.
Shea butter
I went on a fruitless search for Hoo Ha Ride Glide in the days before we left, couldn't find it, but then read on the forums here about the wonders of shea butter. I got 2 oz. of shea butter from Whole Foods, and transferred it from a fancy glass jar to a sturdier plastic jar. It was applied to saddle sore prone spots, used as chapstick and as skin moisturizer, fulfilling my desire for multipurpose items, and working fairly well on all accounts. I did have some saddle sores at the beginning, but I believe it was due to not enough opportunity for washing.
REI Halo 40 degree down bag and Women's Prolite Thermarest
After the first week or two, it was warm enough that this bag was overkill. I have slept cold so many times in the mountains, though, that I found it really luxurious to sleep with a bag unzipped. The taller half had a much thinner summer weight bag and was occasionally cold; because I was extra toasty I was able to keep my bag unzipped and wrap part of it over him, giving back some of the body heat I have leached from him over the years. I returned a 1 inch Thermarest for a 1.5 inch pad before we left, and I have no regrets. Really, sleeping comfy in the tent for several weeks was key to a successful trip.
Bungee cargo net
The taller half got this and although I wasn't impressed at first, I now find it one of the most awesome things ever. It held the tent to the back of my bike, and I could easily take off a layer and stick it under the net without having to mess with a pannier. When we had damp laundry, I put it in a mesh bag under the net to air out during the day. It was incredibly useful.
The taller half and I had a discussion towards the end of the trip about what was most useful for its weight. We first decided that his smartphone (unlocked so we could get new sim cards in each new country) had been the best, but then later we realized that we had gotten a ton of help out of the smallest item - a credit card!
What have your most useful items been?
After a two month tour through Italy, Spain and France, I've been reviewing the list of what I had (and the gear I shared with my taller half), and thinking about what changes I would make. We spent a good portion of the trip camping, but stayed in hotels every few weeks. I just blogged about the whole packing list (http://alaskalainen.blogspot.com/2012/07/packing-list-critique.html), but here's the five things I really loved having along.
A quick drying button up shirt
I could quickly take it on or off and never had to mess with my helmet to adjust it. I could unbutton the sleeves and roll them up, and leave the front unbuttoned as well for temperature regulation. When it was clean, I could wear it as "civilian" clothing off the bike. It also wadded up, with other clothing, for a pillow on camping nights.
Canari gel liner shorts (http://www.rei.com/product/765678/canari-gel-liner-womens)
The gel pad on the liner shorts covers a smaller area than some of the padded shorts I left at home, but having the versatility was key. I was able to easily swap around between longer and shorter length of shorts and capris, without exposing my derriere on the side of the road. The pad didn't absorb water, so after a rinse with me in the shower, the shorts could dry overnight. Depending on your modesty, they could probably be worn by themselves as short shorts.
Shea butter
I went on a fruitless search for Hoo Ha Ride Glide in the days before we left, couldn't find it, but then read on the forums here about the wonders of shea butter. I got 2 oz. of shea butter from Whole Foods, and transferred it from a fancy glass jar to a sturdier plastic jar. It was applied to saddle sore prone spots, used as chapstick and as skin moisturizer, fulfilling my desire for multipurpose items, and working fairly well on all accounts. I did have some saddle sores at the beginning, but I believe it was due to not enough opportunity for washing.
REI Halo 40 degree down bag and Women's Prolite Thermarest
After the first week or two, it was warm enough that this bag was overkill. I have slept cold so many times in the mountains, though, that I found it really luxurious to sleep with a bag unzipped. The taller half had a much thinner summer weight bag and was occasionally cold; because I was extra toasty I was able to keep my bag unzipped and wrap part of it over him, giving back some of the body heat I have leached from him over the years. I returned a 1 inch Thermarest for a 1.5 inch pad before we left, and I have no regrets. Really, sleeping comfy in the tent for several weeks was key to a successful trip.
Bungee cargo net
The taller half got this and although I wasn't impressed at first, I now find it one of the most awesome things ever. It held the tent to the back of my bike, and I could easily take off a layer and stick it under the net without having to mess with a pannier. When we had damp laundry, I put it in a mesh bag under the net to air out during the day. It was incredibly useful.
The taller half and I had a discussion towards the end of the trip about what was most useful for its weight. We first decided that his smartphone (unlocked so we could get new sim cards in each new country) had been the best, but then later we realized that we had gotten a ton of help out of the smallest item - a credit card!
What have your most useful items been?