Inquiry #7 – Sorting out the Gear

The next thing to consider with bike packing is all the gear that is needed. I camp and hike regularly, and have all the necessary equipment for a comfortable night out in nature. Is it ultra light? Not really. Does it pack down into water-bottle sized packages? Definitely not. Both of these things may cause issues for loading it all onto my bike… I sometimes have issues fitting my school backpack into my panniers for a day at campus, let alone an entire overnight trip.

Here is a list of camping gear I have:

• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping mat
• Headlamp
• Tarp
• Warm layers
• Cooking gear
• Water filter
• First aid

Things specifically bike related I will need:

• Bike repair kit
• Spare tubes
• Bike lights
• Helmet
• Chain oil
• Some small tools like a wrench, screwdriver, and pliers
• Tire pump

This list from trusty bikepacking.com is comprehensive and covers just about everything you could hope to need for a trip.

Based on my current pannier set up, I think I will be able to use both back bags, my two front bags, and strap some things down on to the rat trap. I would like to avoid wearing any sort of backpack if possible, and think it can be done. I bought these panniers from a gentleman who used them for touring, so I have high hopes the their capacity is larger than I think.

My other idea is to add a milk crate either to the back or the front rack of my bike. It may not fit with the panniers on, but I loved having a basket on my old bike and find them very useful. Is it silly for an overnight trip? Who knows.

I am a big proponent of using what you have to get things done (to a reasonable extent). I have everything necessary to embark on a successful and enjoyable overnight bike packing adventure. Its not the state of the art equipment: its all mismatched, second hand, and old. But! I love it, and its been with me through many fun times. Its easy to get persuaded to buy new things all the time. When in reality, we can pretty much always make do with what we have. Media, capitalism, and pressure from internal and external sources convince us that in order to try something or to be ‘good’ at something you need the top of the line stuff. I reject this outlook and take pride in the wonky gear I have. Outdoor activities are often inaccessible due to the high price of a lot of the equipment, so I’m happy and grateful to have access to the stuff I own. I am not going out to break any records. Just to have fun and be safe. And maybe I’ll change my tune after biking uphill with a heavy bike for hours… I will cross that bridge when I get to it (haha).