How To Pack Your Panniers – Bicycle Touring Professional

I get numerous questions from potential bicycle vacationers who ask find out how to go about packing their panniers for a bicycle tour. This looks as if a easy query, however there may be truly quite a bit that goes into packing your bike for a tour.

That being mentioned, I can’t cowl every thing in only one put up. So I’ve damaged down this query of find out how to go about packing your bike, by breaking the query into three totally different sections.

1). Tips on how to pack your handlebar bag
2). Tips on how to pack your panniers
3). Tips on how to pack your bicycle

I’ve put collectively a bit video the place I present you precisely what I carry inside panniers and I offer you some recommendations on find out how to pack your luggage so nothing ever will get misplaced and you’ve got greater than sufficient room for every thing you’ll need in your tour. Under the video, I’ve listed the contents of each one in all my panniers and given particulars for why I deliver these explicit gadgets with me.

The video that was on this spot initially has been changed with this new, up to date model. Get pleasure from!

Right here’s a Listing of Every part I Carry In My Panniers:

Panniers – I’ve a set of Lone Peak panniers (made in Salt Lake Metropolis, UT) and I’ve used these panniers on my final 4 excursions. They’ve been via quite a bit, however they appear virtually model new. I’ve P-500’s on the again of my bike, P-100’s on the entrance, and the H-100 Alta Handlebar Bag. In case you are searching for a set of panniers, I might extremely advocate them.

Sun shades (in a tough case) – Most cyclists see sun shades as an important piece of drugs. I don’t put on my glasses as a lot as I ought to (primarily as a result of I feel I look humorous with glasses on), however I received’t hesitate to put on my glasses if it will get actual shiny, or if I occur to enter a area filled with dragonflies or different flying bugs.

Range and Gasoline Canister – There are a variety of various stoves you need to use in your bike journey. Relying on the place you’re going and the way lengthy you propose to be out on the street, the kind of range you utilize will differ. Click on right here to learn my report on the proper range to pick to your tour.

Fork and Spoon – For those who plan to prepare dinner your personal meals whereas out on the street, you’re going to wish some consuming utensils. I deliver a light-weight fork and knife and wrap them in a handkerchief and put a rubber band or two round them in order that they don’t rattle inside my luggage.

Battery Chargers – For those who’re bringing your cellular phone, iPod, digicam, or different digital gadget, you’re going to must deliver the assorted electrical chargers for these gadgets. The extra gadgets you deliver, the extra expenses you’ll want. For those who can, go away the electronics at dwelling. For those who should deliver them alongside, attempt to discover a manner to make use of AA or AAA batteries in as many gadgets as you possibly can. This fashion you possibly can simply deliver a reasonable battery charger and use rechargeable batteries in all your gadgets. I do know that many gadgets don’t provide the possibility of performing on AA batteries, so in these instances, you’re caught bringing the charger. Simply do your greatest to deliver as few chargers as potential.

Meals – Don’t pack your luggage to the gills after which overlook about the truth that you don’t have any meals packed but! You’ll want to go away loads of room inside your luggage for meals. On any given day, I’ve sufficient meals in my luggage to final me between 2-4 days. I normally buy a considerable amount of oatmeal and that alone can feed me for per week or extra if wanted.

Prepare dinner Pot – For those who’re going to be cooking your personal meals whereas out on the street, you’ll must deliver alongside a pot to prepare dinner every thing in. I like to recommend bringing a medium sized pot and nothing extra. You don’t want three totally different pots to prepare dinner in and also you don’t must deliver one thing that holds ten gallons of water. You simply want a pot that’s sufficiently big to prepare dinner a good-sized meal. A very good factor to do earlier than you allow in your tour is to begin cooking out of your pot earlier than you allow dwelling. This offers you an concept of what it will likely be like out on the street and can inform you whether or not you want an even bigger pot, or whether or not you possibly can afford to make use of a smaller one. The smaller the higher! I take advantage of the Coleman Exponent prepare dinner set. There are a variety of pots that include this set, however I take advantage of the medium sized one solely.

Lighter/Matches – You’ll additionally must deliver some matches or a lighter with you if you’re going to be doing any cooking. I like to recommend bringing a couple of waterproof matches as properly, simply in case you encounter a horrible storm that soaks your luggage and also you wish to get a fireplace began to remain heat or prepare dinner your dinner.

Sleeping Bag – What kind of sleeping bag to deliver on tour with you goes to depend upon the place you’re headed and what a part of the yr you may be touring there. I’ve two foremost sleeping luggage that I’ve introduced on tour with me. The primary is a Coleman Canyon and it’s my summer time bag. It is extremely small and really skinny, however is all you want when touring in the course of the summer time months in most areas. The opposite sleeping bag I’ve is a North Face Cat’s Meow. It’s my winter sleeping bag. It’s a lot bigger than the summer time bag, nevertheless it’s positively value the additional area when the climate will get chilly. Earlier than you allow in your tour, discover out what the climate goes to be like and get a bag that may hold you heat in these temperatures. One other factor to bear in mind when choosing a sleeping bag is that it could get a bit moist or it’s possible you’ll wish to wash it when you are out on the street. For that reason, I don’t like to make use of down sleeping luggage, as a result of in the event that they get moist, you’re screwed. My North Face Cat’s Meow bag is heat and dries shortly… and these are the 2 foremost causes I chosen this bag.

Bike Lock – Deciding on the suitable bike lock is essential. I take advantage of a lock just like the OnGuard Doberman 5029 Bicycle Coil Cable Lock as it’s lengthy sufficient to safe each my bike and my panniers, however can also be thick sufficient to stop would-be thieves from chopping my lock and stealing my bike.

Further Tubes – For those who get a flat tire whereas out on the street, you’ll wish to have some additional tubes readily available. I don’t even attempt to patch flat tires. I simply throw the tube out and put a brand new one in. You’ve got sufficient to fret about once you’re driving. Don’t fear about whether or not or not your patch job is working. Simply put in a brand new tube! It’s a good suggestion to deliver alongside a patch package simply in case, nevertheless it’s a good higher concept to have sufficient spare tubes that you simply by no means have to make use of the patch package in any respect.

Tent – Deciding on your tent is essential… as your tent is your private home on the street. In case you are driving alone, a one or two particular person tent is all you want. For those who’re driving with a cherished one or a good friend and also you’ll be sharing a tent, a two or three particular person tent is what you wish to search for. I’ve a MSR Zoid 2 Two-Individual Quick & Gentle Tent and there are a selection of causes I chosen this tent. The primary cause is as a result of it’s light-weight. Plus, it compacts all the way down to a small dimension, but is massive sufficient to suit each me and all of my panniers inside it at evening. I additionally like this tent as a result of it has a brown rain fly, which is helpful for hiding at evening when I’m doing a little stealth tenting.

Bike Pump – You’ll need a good bike pump to your tour. I like to make use of the marginally bigger Topeak Harpoon S2 Grasp Blaster Bike Pump as I’ve used smaller pumps previously they usually have both damaged whereas I used to be out on the street, or they had been so small that it took without end for me to pump up my tube. The Grasp Blaster is a bit bigger than a few of the smaller pumps, however is certainly value the additional dimension and weight. Don’t go low-cost along with your bike pump. The success of your tour can depend upon this one little instrument.

Tire Levers – These plastic tire-changing instruments are essential for altering your tire in document time. They normally are available in units of three, however I’ve discovered that solely two are wanted more often than not.

Leatherman – The Leatherman is an pointless merchandise that I prefer to deliver with me. I did my first 4 excursions with out such a instrument, however I prefer to deliver it now simply in case (so I can use it to make repairs to my bike). There have been instances once I’ve used the pliers to drag thorns out of my legs, and I’ve used the screwdriver and knife set on a number of events as properly.

Bicycle Multi Device – In contrast to a Leatherman, a multi instrument is crucial to your success out on the street. These instruments sometimes include all the hex wrench sizes you’ll need to your bike, together with each kinds of screwdrivers, a sequence instrument, and perhaps even a knife! There are a variety of excellent multi-tools to select from.

Chain Lube – There are a variety of various chain lubes to select from as properly. Some are for driving in dry climate. Some are for moist humid areas. Ask your native bike store which is greatest to your tour. No matter kind you determine to make use of, make certain to not go away dwelling with out it!

Bungee Wire – I normally deliver alongside an additional bungee wire within the occasion that I wish to tie down one thing to the again of my bike… or if one of many bungees I’m already utilizing to tie issues down occurs to interrupt. I sometimes have three bungee cords on me in the beginning of a tour. I’ll typically instances ditch one in all them someplace alongside the best way.

Toiletry Package – I prefer to hold all of my toiletries inside one bag. I don’t use a Ziploc bag as these can break and tear. As an alternative, I take advantage of the Eagle Creek Wallaby II to maintain my toiletries organized. This fashion, once I go to take a bathe, I can simply seize the bag and the garments I’m going to vary into and I’m able to go! It’s necessary to notice that my toiletry package additionally accommodates my tub towel. I take advantage of an MSR Pack Towel because it folds as much as the scale of a pleasant dinner serviette, suits simply inside my toiletry package, and dries in document time.

Garments and Underwear – The very last thing I deliver with me on my lengthy distance bicycle rides are my garments. What you determine to deliver with you is as much as you, however here’s a checklist of every thing that I sometimes take with me: (watch the video above for extra info)

1 Heat Jacket
1 Pair of Denims
1 Rain Jacket
1 Pair of Rain Pants
2 T-Shirts
3 Pairs of Underwear
1 Pair of Arm Heaters
3 Pairs of Using Socks
1 Pair of Hotter Socks
1 Lengthy Sleeved Shirt (to sleep in)
1 Pair of Sweat Pants (to sleep in)
1 Pair of Using Gloves

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