Right this moment I’m going to point out you a light-weight bike touring setup that you should use for native bike excursions close to your private home; for biking throughout a whole metropolis, state, or nation; or for biking all the way in which all over the world.
What you’re seeing within the video above is a Co-Movement Pangea touring bicycle geared up with entrance and rear fenders, three water bottles, a rear kickstand, two Ortlieb Bike-Packer waterproof panniers, and a water-resistant Ortlieb handlebar bag.
Right here’s an in depth breakdown of my advisable light-weight bike touring setup:
Touring Bicycle
The key to any profitable bicycle tour is having an excellent bicycle. Click on right here to study extra about what to search for in an excellent touring bike.
Flat Bike Pedals
For this light-weight bike touring setup, you’ll be biking in the identical pair of sneakers that you just stroll round in on the finish of the day, so that you’ll want a pair of easy flat bike pedals.
Entrance & Rear Fenders
Fenders assist to guard you and your bicycle from water and particles kicked up by the highway floor. They aren’t 100% obligatory, however most individuals who do long-distance bike excursions get pleasure from having them.
Water Bottle Cages
You’re going to be ingesting plenty of water in your bike tour, so that you need to mount as many water bottle cages to your bike as doable. Most bikes have mounts for at the very least two water bottle cages, however high quality touring bikes normally have three or extra mounts.
Water Bottles
Once more, you’re going to need to carry loads of water with you in your bike excursions, so don’t neglect to pack a couple of water bottles.
Kickstand
A kickstand isn’t obligatory, however it certain is sweet. So if you wish to make this light-weight bike touring setup even lighter, think about ditching the advisable kickstand.
Rear Bike Rack
You’re going to want a rear rack on the again of your bicycle. The rack is what permits you to carry the 2 giant bicycle panniers – which can carry most of your private belongings when you’re on tour.
Rear Panniers
The Ortlieb Bike-Packer Plus panniers are my favourite bicycle touring luggage. They’re giant sufficient to hold all you gear, utterly waterproof, and good trying.
Handlebar Bag
The Ortlieb Ultimate6 Handlebar Bag is an effective one for light-weight bicycle touring. You’ll use it to hold your pockets, smartphone, and numerous bicycle instruments.
Hat
A hat is non-compulsory, however I like to hold a hat with me always, in order that on the finish of the day, after I take off my helmet, I can instantly cowl up my unhealthy helmet hair.
Journal & Pen
In the event you’re the journaling kind, and even the sort that likes to maintain monitor of your each day distances, velocity and placement, then it’s a good suggestion to pack a journal and pen.
Sun shades & Light-weight Case
Sun shades are a should for any bicycle tour. The sun shades case, nonetheless, is non-compulsory. Solely pack it if you happen to suppose you’ll want it.
Paper Road Maps
Paper road maps are non-compulsory these days (as many bicycle vacationers are navigating solely with their smartphones), however if you happen to’re the paper map kind, then be sure you pack your maps.
Smartphone & Charger
For mapping out your route, listening to music/podcasts, studying overseas languages and easily entertaining your self, your smartphone may be your most-used bicycle touring instrument.
Entrance Bike Gentle
You’re going to need to have a small, brilliant bike mild that may be mounted to the entrance of your bicycle when using at evening or via darkish tunnels.
Rear Bike Gentle
Having a rear mild in your bicycle is a should. The sunshine (such as you entrance mild) can be used at evening when working in your tent or round camp.
Bicycle Laptop
A bicycle laptop just like the Blackburn Atom SL 4.0 bicycle laptop shouldn’t be 100% obligatory, however it’s a pleasant device to have if you wish to monitor your each day distances, common velocity and different necessary stats.
Passport
In the event you’re touring internationally, you’ll want your passport. In any other case, you’ll be able to in all probability depart this merchandise at dwelling.
Pockets
When placing collectively your light-weight bike tour packing record, don’t neglect your pockets. I like to make use of a zippered pockets, so I don’t have to fret about my money, bank cards or ID falling out whereas I’m on the highway.
Titanium Spork
A light-weight titanium spork is, for my part, the one kitchen utensil you completely want – moreover your knife.
Folding Knife
This small folding knife is carried in your handlebar bag and will be accessed shortly if want be. However the principle function for this knife is for meals preparation.
Patch Package & Tire Levers
In the event you get a flat tire, you’ll be able to normally restore the flat with a fundamental restore equipment and two extra plastic tire levers.
Bicycle Multi-Instrument
You need to buy the smallest, lightest multi-tool you could find that on the identical time comprises all of the Allen wrenches, screwdrivers, and instruments you want in your particular bicycle.
Mini Lighter
You possibly can in all probability depart the matches at dwelling, however at the very least carry a small lighter with you. This is useful for cooking over the identical range on the finish of the day of making a well-deserved campfire.
Spoke Wrench
In the event you’re happening a brief bike tour near dwelling, you’ll be able to in all probability depart your spoke wrench at dwelling. However if you happen to’re planning a long-distance bike tour, then packing a spoke wrench is a good suggestion.
Photo voltaic Charger
If you realize you’re going to be touring with a smartphone and also you gained’ be close to an influence outlet for a number of days on finish, then you definately would possibly need to think about carrying a small photo voltaic charger, like the favored Voltaic Fuse 6 Watt photo voltaic charger.
Bungee Twine
You’ll use this brief bungee twine to hold your photo voltaic charger, sleeping bag, tent, or another objects you would possibly decide up alongside the way in which) on the highest of your rear bicycle rack.
Sleeping Pad
You’re going to need to use the smallest and lightest, high-quality sleeping pad you’ll be able to fund. The Vaude Sove is, by far, the most effective sleeping pad I’ve ever used. It’s excellent for summer season bike touring, however not excellent for winter biking expeditions.
Cable Lock
Whereas not 100% obligatory on each bike tour, it’s normally a good suggestion to hold a cable lock of some variety, so you’ll be able to safe your bicycle everytime you step away from the bike for any size of time.
Bicycle Pump
The Lezyne Sport Drive HV hand pump is an affordable bicycle pump, however it’s compact, light-weight and straightforward to make use of.
1-Man Tent
To be able to pack mild, you’re going to need to buy the smallest and lightest tent you could find – just like the Huge Agnes Copper Spur UL, which comes extremely advisable!
3-Season Sleeping Bag
You’re going to desire a small, light-weight sleeping bag is right for a summertime bicycle touring expeditions. One thing just like the Marmot All the time Summer season sleeping bag is ideal for the cooler nights of spring, summer season and fall.
Chain Lube
To be able to keep your bicycle, you’ll have to pack a small, light-weight bottle of chain lube.
Spare Brake & Derailleur Cables
Whereas not 100% obligatory, it may be a good suggestion to pack at the very least one spare brake and one spare derailleur cable in your bike tour – particularly if you’re planning an extended journey in additional distant corners of the globe.
Pedal Wrench
A pedal wrench is barely actually obligatory if you’re having to assemble or reassemble your bicycle in the beginning of your tour. In the event you’re biking near dwelling, you’ll be able to in all probability depart the pedal wrench there as properly.
Spare Brake Pads
As soon as once more, on shorter bike excursions, you in all probability gained’t have to pack a set of spare brake pads, however on longer bike excursions it’s a good suggestion.
Electrical Tape
A half-roll {of electrical} tape can come in useful – for minor repairs to your bicycle… or for re-wrapping your handlebar tape ought to it come undone in some unspecified time in the future throughout your journey.
Helmet
A helmet isn’t 100% obligatory (some individuals don’t prefer to cycle in a helmet and that’s okay), however a helmet is required by legislation in lots of international locations all over the world, so do your analysis earlier than you permit dwelling.
Sneakers
For this light-weight bike tour packing record, you’ll be sporting only a single pair of sneakers – to bth cycle in and stroll round in on the finish of the day. Be sure to decide a shoe with a agency, however snug sole.
Biking Shorts
You possibly can select to put on any variety of several types of biking shorts. Whether or not you need tight lycra shorts of unfastened mountain bike type shorts – the selection is as much as you.
Biking Jersey
You’re going to need at the very least one light-weight biking jersey in your bike tour. That is going to be the jersey that you just use solely for biking in every day.
Heat Fleece Jacket
If it will get chilly, you’ll be glad you packed a small, compact and light-weight fleece jacket – which will be worn alone or beneath your waterproof rain jacket.
Toiletries
You possibly can carry all your toiletries inside a single light-weight toiletry case. Along with the plain toiletries you would possibly want, you may also select to hold a light-weight camp towel.
Rest room Paper
I like to recommend carrying at the very least a half-roll of bathroom paper – simply in case. You by no means know when nature goes to name… or if there might be any bathroom paper within the neighborhood, so it’s greatest to be ready.
Socks
I like to recommend packing socks which you could put on each on and off your bicycle. It will scale back your general weight, as you might be eliminating the necessity for 2 several types of socks. Three or extra pairs of socks is a good suggestion.
Spare Tube
Within the occasion of a flat tire, you must all the time have at the very least one spare bike tube on you always.
Biking Gloves
Biking gloves are by no means obligatory throughout most summertime bike excursions, however in chilly climate a light-weight pair of gloves can actually come in useful.
Worldwide Energy Adapter
In the event you’re touring with a smartphone or another electronics abroad, it’s possible you’ll want to hold a world energy adapter, such because the Journey Good All-in-One Energy Adapter pictured right here.
Camp Range & Cook dinner Pot
Bicycle touring with a camp range isn’t all the time obligatory, however being able to cook dinner your individual meals definitely is useful in sure elements of the world. You’re going to need to smallest and lightest camp range you could find.
T-Shirts
Nothing particular right here. On the finish of the day it would be best to change out of your smelly biking jersey and into one thing slightly extra snug.
Underwear
You’ll need to rotate between the 2 or extra pairs of underwear that you just’ll be carrying.
Fleece Pants
Whereas not 100% obligatory, I’ve discovered it to be good to have a pair of light-weight fleece pants to sleep in at evening. This pair of pants is particularly good if you’re going to be tenting in cooler circumstances.
Light-weight Pants
Off the bike, you’re going to desire a pair of pants that may be worn round city – doubtlessly in each formal and casual environments. A pair of light-weight black denims is an effective choice, for my part.
Rain Pants
I’ve bought a fundamental set of North Face rain pants that I extremely advocate. They’re waterproof, weigh nearly nothing, and pack right down to an extremely small dimension.
Rain Jacket
Lastly, you’re going to desire a small, light-weight rain jacket that’s 100% waterproof and will be worn within the worst of climate circumstances. This jacket doesn’t need to be a devoted biking jacket. I, for instance, have just lately been utilizing the REI Rhyolite rain jacket, and I actually, actually prefer it.
So, there you will have it! It is a light-weight, reasonably priced, bike touring arrange that you should use for native bike excursions, or or long-distance biking adventures all over the world.
The Greatest Light-weight Bike Touring Setup
To begin, let’s have a look contained in the handlebar bag. Handlebar luggage are nice as a result of they let you entry your necessary and most-used objects in a fast and straightforward method. Inside your handlebar bag you would possibly carry a hat, a light-weight journal, a pair of sun shades in a light-weight protecting case, road maps, a smartphone (which you should use for navigation and leisure) and your entrance and rear bike lights (which you’ll solely place in your bicycle while you want them).
There’s a zippered pocket inside this specific handlebar bag and connected to this pocket is a small lanyard the place you’ll be able to connect a spare key in your bike lock. Contained in the zippered pocket you would possibly maintain your passport, a pen, your pockets, a spork (to eat with) and a small folding knife.
On the surface of the handlebar bag are two small zippered pockets. On one facet of the bag you would possibly maintain two plastic tire levers and a light-weight patch equipment. Within the pocket on the opposite facet you’ll be able to carry some lip balm, your multi-tool, a small lighter, and a spoke wrench.
On the again of the bicycle is a Voltaic 6 Watt photo voltaic panel, which you should use to maintain your smartphone and bike lights charged up when you’re biking on the highway. The photo voltaic panel attaches to your rear rack with a bungee twine, after which the panniers mount to the rack after you’ve secured the photo voltaic panel in place.
Having a photo voltaic panel isn’t obligatory and you would definitely avoid wasting weight out of your bicycle by eliminating it, however it undoubtedly is useful if you happen to plan to make use of your smartphone rather a lot, or if you happen to suppose you would possibly go for a number of days with out accessing an influence outlet.
Within the pannier in your bicycle’s left facet I like to recommend you carry an inflatable sleeping pad, a motorbike lock, a bicycle pump, a one-man tent, and a three-season sleeping bag. All of that goes inside one giant pannier!
On the surface of that rear pannier there’s a small pocket the place you carry a few of your extra, however hardly ever used bike instruments, resembling chain lube, spare brake and/or derailleur cables, a light-weight pedal wrench, spare brake pads and handlebar tape (which can be used for a plethora of different issues).
Lastly, inside your rear proper pannier, you’re going to carry all your private belongings. Along with the garments you’ll be sporting in your bicycle (which could include sneakers, shorts and a jersey of some variety, you’ll additionally need to be packing a compact fleece jacket (to maintain your self heat each on and off the bicycle), a toiletry equipment (consisting to a camp towel, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, cleaning soap, razor and shaving cream, and so on), a half-roll of bathroom paper, a pair additional pairs of socks, a number of spare bike tubes, a pair of gloves (that are non-compulsory, however are good to have – particularly in colder climate), an electrical energy converter (which you actually solely want if you happen to’re touring to a overseas nation), a small light-weight camp range and pot (which can be non-compulsory and positively not required), a couple of spare shirts (to put on each on and off the bike), a number of pairs of underwear, some light-weight fleece pants to sleep in, a pair of pants to put on off the bike at evening, a pair of waterproof rain pants, and a light-weight rain jacket.
It’s necessary to notice that whereas the rear left pannier is stuffed to the highest with tenting tools, the rear proper pannier is absolutely solely about half-way full. That is extraordinarily necessary, as it’s essential to save house inside your panniers for meals, drinks, and another objects you would possibly decide up alongside the way in which. So be sure you avoid wasting house inside your panniers while you’re packing. You want to have at the very least 1/2 to 1/3 of your panniers empty and saved for meals storage.
To study extra about conducting your individual unbelievable bike excursions wherever on this planet, be sure you seize a duplicate of The Bicycle Touring Blueprint – which is the world’s greatest guide about find out how to plan, put together for, and execute the bike tour of your desires.
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