Gear
Undoubtedly there will be folks out there inquiring about the gear I am using, which type of bike, what kind of panniers, tires and so on and so forth. I was inquisitive about these things myself at the beginning when I started researching what I would need to go on such an extensive trip.
While looking at what others are bringing is certainly helpful and can serve as guidance towards your own “packing list”, I realized that it is important not to obsess about it. At some point I found myself contemplating buying different types of flip flops to bring, just because I felt the one’s I had at home (and had been in use for many years) would not “suffice” the demands of a journey of such epic proportions.
Bullshit.
Bring the gear you want to bring, that make you feel okay carrying and that you feel serve the purpose of your trip. If you want to bring a whole set of filming equipment, because you are a videographer or filmmaker, go for it. If you feel like you need to carry as little weight as possible (which may or may not include cutting off the bottom of your toothbrush handle) then do that. It is your journey and yours alone.
So, here is my gear list, grouped together in logical categories to, again, serve purely as guidance for others. This is what I am hauling, that does not mean you have to.
Bike
Surly Disc Trucker, 52cm, 26”
Surly Front Rack
Surly Rear Rack
Planet Bike Fenders
Ortlieb Back-Roller Plus (granite-black)
Ortlieb Front-Roller Plus (granite-black)
Ortlieb Rack-Pack 31L/Medium (black)
Ortlieb Ultimate6 M Plus handlebar bag (granite-black)
Deuter Energy Bag
Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires
Shimano PD-M520 SPD pedals
Brooks Saddel B17
Mirrycle Incredibell Adjustabell 2
NiteRider MiNewt 250 Bike Light (front/helmet)
Planet Bike Superflash Micro USB Tail Light
Dry Ride Seat Cover
CamelBak Podium Big Chill 25 oz water bottle (2)
Standard Bottle Cages (2)
Top Peak Road Morph G pump
Abus Locks U 64 Mini Futura Bike Lock with cable
Sleeping
Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 (including footprint)
Therm-a-Rest ProLite sleeping pad
Mountain Hardwear Lamina 35 sleeping bag
Earplugs
Cooking
MSR Whisperlite International stove
MSR 20 oz fuel bottle
Fire Starter/Matches
Sea to Summit X-Set 21
Snow Peak Titanium Spork
REI Cutting Board (small)
Nalgene 32 oz Wide Mouth bottle
½ sponge
Navigation
Garmin Edge 810
iPhone apps (Google Maps, Galileo Offline Maps, Maps.Me)
Clothes
Giro Ionos Road Helmet
Marmot Wool hat
Buff
Pearl Izumi Jacket
North Face Rain Jacket with hood
North Face soft shell
North Face Thermoball Jacket
Tifosi sunglasses with interchangeable lenses
Short finger gloves
Long finger gloves
Jerseys (3)
Padded shorts (3)
Craft baselayers (2)
Arm warmers (2 pairs)
Leg warmers (2 pairs)
Shimano SPD shoes
Cycling socks (3)
Hiking/regular socks (2)
Boxers (2)
T-shirts (2)
Columbia Cascades Explorer cargo pant
Performance Ripstop Rain Pants
Sneakers
Flip flops
Pjs
Bug hat
Tools
Park Tool IB-2 Multi Tool
Patch kit
Tire levers
Leatherman Multitool
Boeshield T-9 Bicycle lubrication
Pamper
MSR towel
Toiletries
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Adventure First-Aid Kit
Shaving kit
Floss
Hairbrush
Contact lenses + container + cleaning solution
Eye drops
3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent
Nail clippers + file
Lip balm
Sunscreen
Toilet paper and trowel
Assos Chamois Cream
Doc’s Skin Care Saddle Sore Ointment
Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash
Electronics
MacBook Pro 13” with Thule Strävan 13″ MacBook Sleeve
iPhone 5s with Lenmar Meridian iPhone 5/5s Power Case and Tech Armor Premium Ballistic Glass Screen Protector
WD My Passport Ultra 2TB plus Case Logic Hard Drive Case
SPOT Gen3 GPS Tracker
iPod Classic 160GB
Photography
Canon EOS Rebel T3i DSLR camera with Dakine DSLR camera case
Extra DSLR battery
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens
Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Standard Zoom Lens
Lens and sensor cleaning kit
Connectivity
Voltaic V72 Laptop Battery
Anker 2nd Gen Astro E5 16000mAh External Battery
PIXO C-USB Universal Charger
Various charging cables
Miscellaneous
Black Diamond Spot Headlamp
Moleskine Notebook and pens
Ziplock/Garbage bags
REI Flash 18 Pack
Wallet/ID
Passport
Green Card
Glasses + case