2011-01-04

MY FOLDING BIKE FRIDAY TOURING GEAR LIST (POCKET ROCKET PRO)

CYCLING / HYGIENE / TRANSPORTATION / TRAVEL / ESSAYS

WHY TOUR ON A FOLDING BIKE?

Bicycle touring is a great way to travel and (re)discover places:

slow enough – to enjoy the scenery, down to every crack or up to every leaf
fast enough – to cover 150 km a day or more, just by the power of your own body
open to the outdoors – to enjoy the wind, the sun and the rain on the skin, being part of the environment
silent – to marvel at the sounds of birds and rivers
continuous – to connect the geographical dots, to form a complete picture in the mind, instead of hopping from place to place in a plane
interactive with the local people – to appreciate each other without the windows between us
free – to move in any direction, regardless of the traffic jams or the public transport timetables

Bicycle touring on a folding bike is even better, because it allows:

intermodal transportation by train, bus, ferry or cars (taxies, friends, hitchhiking) without advance reservation or bike fees – easy to get to the starting point, skip a dull or dangerous portion of the route, or simply move forward when too tired to ride
theft protection – the bike is folded, with you, in museums, restaurants and supermarkets, instead of waiting for a thief outside
storage in small spaces (hotels, urban flats)

Of course, appropriate gear can make the experience much more enjoyable, so I include my very detailed and very personal bike touring gear list. It might give you a different perspective, or it might even suggest an idea or two.

MY FOLDER BIKE FOR TOURING

When touring on good asphalt roads anywhere in the world, I choose the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro. It rides like a top of the range road bike, yet still folds into a bag I can carry on my shoulder.

Photo: current Anatoly IVANOV’s unfolded Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro loaded for self-sufficient touring (with lights, GPS, bottle, fenders, Tubus Airy rack, Ortlieb Back Roller Plus panniers)

Photo: current Anatoly IVANOV’s unfolded Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro (with lights, GPS, bottle, fenders, Tubus Airy customized titanium rack)

Photo: current Anatoly IVANOV’s folded Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro (without accessories, folds the same with the rack)

If you’d like to find out more about my bike and understand the selection process, read my detailed description of its components and modifications. But here, let’s focus on the touring gear and techniques that work with this folding bike.

WHAT INFLUENCES MY CHOICES FOR THIS GEAR LIST?

riding conditions
- good asphalt roads
- intercity routes
- versatility to weave through traffic jams and slow urban traffic when needed
- night and day
- day temperature (most frequent): +20° C
- night temperature (minimum): 0° C
- sustained rain
- geographical example: summer Scandinavia
duration: 30 days or more
food
- ready-to-eat food, mostly fruits, vegetable salads and fish, bought at food markets and supermarkets
- restaurants and cafés
- although I could carry a lightweight stove cooking set, I prefer to spend the cooking time riding or sleeping
sleeping versatility
- stealth camping whenever and wherever I like (tired? get a rest!)
- campsites with amenities (showers)
- friends’ places (sleeping outside, on the floor or wherever my hosts allow)
- hotels
cycling to walking conversion: ability to switch from the Tour de France look to the “walking around town” mode when stopping at major cities or visiting friends
solo travel
- I’m comfortable with myself
- few people live the flexible schedules that would fit my spontaneous planning
- even fewer like the combination of long and fast cycling with unplanned eating and sleeping
weight
- I try to reduce the weight to the lowest comfortable, as I tend to ride only slightly slower when compared to my long training rides, hill climbing included (I use the same chainset and cassette combination with a 120" highest gear and 30" lowest gear)
- the 2 areas where I allow myself some luxury are sleep (because I have sleep problems) and organization (because a messy bag wastes my energy)

WHAT ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY?

As you may know, I’m a professional photographer, shooting a lot of landscapes. I’ve tried various transport solutions and techniques and I’ve found that for me, cycling is too fast to really focus on photography. Walking is better.

So, when bike touring, I rely on my iPhone to record an occasional place I may find interesting. A reference for a future shoot. But I leave the 11 kg of my photography equipment at home.

MY GEAR LIST CONVENTIONS

sorry, but most weights and measurements are metric, primarily because of space constraints
I remove most labels and redundant features, then weigh the items on my electronic scale (1 g precision)
items are listed by theme, not in the order of packing or weight distribution (example: the rain jacket can go in the left pannier, while the rain pants can go in the right pannier for better bike balance)
items are grouped by container bag
manufacturers change their products at least every year, or, in the outdoor gear industry, twice a year, so to give you a more precise reference, I mention the item’s retail season, in other words, an approximate date when the item was manufactured and first hit retail stores
- SS 2004 means the Spring / Summer retail season, from mid-March 2004 to August 2004
- AW 2004 means the Autumn / Winter retail season, from September 2004 to mid-March 2005
water-repellent means an item resists liquid penetration for some time but will eventually leak through (soft-shell, lack of seam tape…)
water-proof means an item will resist liquid penetration indefinitely (hard-shell, seam tape…)
civilized clothing means the city “sportswear” look
I link to an item’s manufacturer page if:
- the product is still listed despite the frequent changes in season line-ups
- the manufacturer’s web site allows deep linking (that excludes Flash sites)

1 / ITEMS WORN ON BODY

1 876 g

Clothing worn
Mavic Espoir cycling jersey size M (SS 2009)	thin, short-sleeved, polyester, quick-drying starts to stink after 2 days of riding red for high visibility	178 g	1	178 g
ASSOS T Fi.Uno S5 cycling chamois shorts size M (SS 2009)	most comfortable shorts I could find does not stink, but washing the chamois insert increases comfort red for high visibility	195 g	1	195 g
pair of ASSOS Summer Gloves size M (SS 2008)	half-gloves protects the palms from abrasion during falls sweat wipes red for high visibility	33 g	1	33 g
pair of Patagonia Ultra Lightweight Endurance Ankle socks size L (SS 2008)	thin, merino wool and nylon	26 g	1	26 g
pair of Sidi Dominator 5 Narrow size 46 EUR with Shimano SPD cleats (SS 2008)	sufficiently stiff for pedaling efficiency suitable for walking in the supermarkets, toilets, restaurants and off-road (unlike road cycling shoes) the only MTB shoe sized specifically for my narrow but long feet	873 g	1	873 g
Sub-totals				1 305 g

Watch, sunglasses, helmet
Suunto t6c wristop sports computer (SS 2010)	just the watch I wear all the time I don’t measure my heart rate when touring	52 g	1	52 g
Rudy Project Freeon frame (AW 2003) with anti-drop cordelette	maximum field of view	18 g	1	18 g
Rudy Project Freeon LE8210 smoke black lens (SS 2005)	for riding in sunny weather eye-protection from wind, insects, glare, UV	13 g	1	13 g
Giro Atmos, size M (AW 2007)	so comfortable, light and ventilated, I forget it’s on my head always on, including super hot days and hard climbs – taking this helmet off does not make any difference to me	290 g	1	290 g
Sub-totals				373 g

IDs, money, bike lock key
passport		30 g	1	30 g
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)		5 g	1	5 g
emergency card (contacts, medical, allergies)		1 g	1	1 g
VISA debit card	I have zero debt and avoid any forms of credit I pay with my VISA cards whenever possible: lighter, faster, easier outside my home Euro zone and allows tracking of expenses includes worldwide health insurance, fraud protection, legal services	4 g	2	8 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 18 x 11,3 cm	waterproof (sweat, rain), transparent (easy access to choose the items inside), compact, ultralight stored in cycling jersey back pocket	6 g	1	6 g
Abus Aqua Safe 70IB padlock key (AW 2009)	for the bike lock	7 g	1	7 g
Sub-totals				57 g

Phone, camera, music player and computer
Apple iPhone 3GS 32 Gb	phone, SMS, Skype, e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, Word, Excel, bank accounts’ management, calendar, address book, Wikipedia, FTP and remote web programming, grammar references, weather, travel booking, back-up GPS, music, e-books, camera kept in Airplane Mode to conserve battery power – I don’t answer calls when riding anyway	135 g	1	135 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 18 x 11,3 cm	waterproof (sweat, rain), transparent (the iPhone touchscreen interface works through the plastic), compact, ultralight stored in cycling jersey back pocket	6 g	1	6 g
Sub-totals				141 g

2 / REAR PANNIERS

11 912 g

2.1 / Rear panniers – Container bags

1 540 g

Panniers
Ortlieb Back-Roller Plus 20 L (with custom Tyvek inserts, with shoulder strap) (SS 2010)	waterproof, relatively lightweight instantaneous on-off carrier attachment system (pull up by the handles to unclip) extra room for food and items to remove from the bike when folding and locking (GPS) angled and placed for heel clearance – I have big feet red for high visibility I’ve removed the Ortlieb nylon inside organizers and have covered the inside plastic bolt heads with Tyvek to protect items from continuous friction-induced abrasion while riding I carry the 2 panniers on one shoulder and the folded bike (in a bag as well or carried by the frame) on the other shoulder, which allows movement in public transport, supermarkets, restaurants or other places where bikes are not allowed or require reservation or a fee	770 g	2	1 540 g
Sub-totals				1 540 g

2.2 / Rear panniers – Items – Take along	1 590 g
carried by the container handle with me at the restaurant table, in the toilets, museums things to recharge (iPhone, AA batteries) essential stuff if everything else is stolen

Take along items container
Granite Gear Air Zip sack size XS (SS 2004 & SS 2010)	ultralight, sil-nylon, water-repellent, cuboid, zippered bag for frequent access	34 g	1	34 g
Sub-totals				34 g

Medication, first aid and survival – dry
my personal medication	either requiring a prescription or unavailable outside of France / Switzerland (my home countries)	350 g	1	350 g
Onto MT1681 electronic body temperature thermometer in plastic case (SS 2010)	important self-diagnostics tool does not contain mercury shatter-proof	24 g	1	24 g
Merfen – Chlorhexidine-based liquid antiseptic – Novartis – 15 ml	non-emergency-room bike accidents usually result in skin abrasion (road rash), which I fist flush with drinking water, then disinfect, then allow to dry (often by the wind when riding), then cover with a wound dressing (especially before showering or going to bed)	24 g	1	24 g
3M Tegaderm + Pad in different sizes	professional, sterile wound dressing consisting of a non-adherent absorbent pad, bonded to a larger, thin film backing coated with a border of hypoallergenic, water-repellent adhesive the backing is water- and bacteria-proof, but allows the skin to breathe	20 g	1	20 g
La Roche-Posay Ceralip lip repair cream 15 ml	to compensate for wind-induced lip dryness lip repair only, no fancy UV blockers or other cosmetics	19 g	1	19 g
Nogent nail clipper	nail clipping other cutting	16 g	1	16 g
Nogent tweezers	foreign object removal from the body (eyes, mouth, wounds) repairs (picking tiny objects)	6 g	1	6 g
Prym KAI 5100 Pro embroidery scissors 10 cm inox	straight-blade, high-quality, stainless steel scissors for repairs	10 g	1	10 g
BiC Mini lighter	synthetics melting when repairing emergency fire starting	12 g	1	12 g
storm matches in waterproof bag	backup for when the lighter fails	3 g	1	3 g
Coghlan’s Featherweight Mirror (unbreakable acrylic) (AW 2004)	apply suncream extract foreign objects from the eyes and mouth signaling device: peer through the hanging hole to reflect sunlight to rescuers	20 g	1	20 g
ACR Emergency pealess whistle (AW 2004)	signaling device, much more efficient than screaming very loud, developed for the US Navy prevents holding water ultralight, flat and compact	5 g	1	5 g
Air Core 1 Spectra Accessory Cord 15 m roll inside container (AW 2004)	ultralight and very strong cord hanging, tying, repairing	13 g	1	13 g
Apple iPhone 3GS SIM card extractor pin	allows to change the SIM card in each country and avoid roaming costs	1 g	1	1 g
Granite Gear Air Pocket size L (SS 2004 & SS 2010)	ultralight, sil-nylon, water-repellent, flat, zippered bag for frequent access	24 g	1	24 g
Sub-totals				547 g

Hygiene and eating utensils – wet
Oral-B Essential Floss waxed 50 m	large quantity: I use it after each meal the only floss that’s thin enough to work between my close-spaced teeth	13 g	2	26 g
toothbrush, 15,5 cm handle	soft, ergonomic head toothbrush handle cut to allow sufficient control yet reduce packing size	10 g	1	10 g
Colgate Total toothpaste 75 ml	I brush my teeth at least twice a day, sometimes more often, so toothpaste goes away fast	105 g	1	105 g
Vargo titanium spork (AW 2004)	universal eating tool that combines a fork and a spoon ultralight no aluminum leaching especially useful for supermarket food	15 g	1	15 g
Granite Gear Air Pocket size S (SS 2004 & SS 2010)	ultralight, sil-nylon, water-repellent, flat, zippered bag for frequent access	16 g	1	16 g
Sub-totals				172 g

Wipes
Kleenex wipe (1 sheet)		2 g	10	21 g
Swiss Clean isopropyl alcohol wipe in sealed container	sterilizing cleaning greasy surfaces (bike parts, hands) removing alcohol-based ink (permanent markers)	7 g	10	66 g
Granite Gear Air Pocket size S (SS 2004 & SS 2010)	ultralight, sil-nylon, water-repellent, flat, zippered bag for frequent access	16 g	1	16 g
Sub-totals				103 g

Battery charging, headphones, USB storage, sleep accessories, notes, keys, cash
iPhone USB / outlet charger with European plug v2		27 g	1	27 g
iPhone USB main cable		21 g	1	21 g
USB 2 cable 3 m	to extend the reach to a power socket	103 g	1	103 g
Tesa Velcro Cable Manager, Small, 12 mm x 20 cm (SS 2010)		2 g	1	2 g
GP PowerBank GPPB03GS Travel (SS 2009)	the smallest and lightest AA and AAA battery charger I’ve found that does not require a bulky transformer unit can charge 1 to 4 AAs, or 1 to 2 AAAs	105 g	1	105 g
Rechargeable NiMH AA battery (2700 mAh) – GP	fresh set of 2 AAs in case I have no opportunity to recharge the AAs inside the GPS during the day or at night	30 g	2	60 g
standard AC/DC cord 1,5 m		77 g	1	77 g
Tesa Velcro Cable Manager, Small, 12 mm x 20 cm (SS 2010)		2 g	1	2 g
3-socket international multi-plug (Anatoly IVANOV design)	a very compact and light 3-plug that can power the iPhone, AA charger and beard trimmer at the same time, from 1 socket I charge the GPS AAs and the iPhone every time I’m near a power socket for 5 minutes or more (restaurants, campsites, hotels, trains, bike stores, etc.)	58 g	1	58 g
Etymotic Research hf2 headphones (SS 2009)	very high-quality, neutral spectral rendition, noise isolating in-ear headphones ultralight and very compact I listen to music in trains, camps, hotels – never when riding contains a microphone for phone / Skype calls	15 g	1	15 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 18 x 11,3 cm	to contain and protect the headphones to avoid contamination by earwax	6 g	1	6 g
SanDisk Cruzer 32 Gb USB memory stick (HFS+) (AW 2009)	contains an encrypted backup of my files for emergency access	11 g	1	11 g
UDisk 2 Gb USB memory stick (FAT) (SS 2009)	used for transfer and storage of work-related files (press kits, images, etc.)	9 g	1	9 g
Petzl Tikka Plus compact 4-LED headlamp (SS 2006)	in camp, hotel or any other place without light repairing the bike at night lighting the insides of Campagnolo brifters to aim the inner cable signaling device at night	45 g	1	45 g
Rechargeable NiMH AAA battery (1000 mAh) – VARTA Professional		13 g	3	39 g
Eagle Creek Comfort Eye Shades (SS 2008)	partially simulates darkness for better sleep or rest works great with my big nose isolates from distracting environments in camp, train, etc.	17 g	1	17 g
Moldex Pocket-Pak	earplugs container	6 g	1	6 g
Moldex memory foam ergonomic earplugs (35 dB average, NRR 33), pair	allows better work, rest or sleep conditions despite the sound of traffic, children, talking, engines, etc.	1 g	2	2 g
BiC M10 Clic retractable ball point pen	note-taking and drawing when impossible to use the iPhone my favorite writing pen, have them everywhere	7 g	1	7 g
Staedtler Lumocolor permanent sharpie size F	to mark adjustments and repairs on the bike create signs (“don’t wake me up”, “need a ride”)	8 g	1	8 g
A4 blank paper	folded in 4	5 g	2	10 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 32 x 15,5 cm	waterproof, transparent, compact, ultralight container for the paper objects I need to keep (tickets, reservations, receipts for accounting, etc.) and blank A4 sheets	16 g	1	16 g
apartment keys		2 g	1	2 g
Granite Gear Hiker Wallet (SS 2010)	ultralight, sil-nylon, one-compartment wallet for cash I pay with a VISA debit card whenever possible, but some countries, like Germany, require cash to pay in restaurants, campsites, food markets…	10 g	1	10 g
cash	local currency usually no more than a 50 EUR equivalent	60 g	1	60 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 32 x 15,5 cm	waterproof, transparent, compact, ultralight garbage bin	16 g	1	16 g
Sub-totals				734 g

2.3 / Rear panniers – Items – Leave in panniers	8 783 g
non-essential stuff if stolen

Shower, creams, laundry, insect repellant, shaving, sunglasses storage, water purification
MSR PackTowl Original (92% viscose 8% polypropylene) high porosity 30 cm x 22 cm (SS 2004)	to wipe off spills and rain drops	22 g	1	22 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 18 x 11,3 cm	contains the PackTowl even if it’s wet, although I generally dry it on the bike	6 g	1	6 g
MSR Packtowl Personal (85% polyester 15% nylon) high porosity, soft, anti-microbial, face size (SS 2006)	shower towel that, compared to the PackTowl Original, does not stink after multiple use and is softer to the skin to compensate for small size, wipe, wring, then repeat	24 g	1	24 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 18 x 11,3 cm	contains the PackTowl even if it’s wet, although I generally dry it on the bike	6 g	1	6 g
netted shower puff / scrub	creates foam with just a few drops of shower gel scrubs off sweat, dirt and dead cells	39 g	1	39 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 32 x 15,5 cm	contains the scrub even if it’s wet, although I generally dry it on the bike	16 g	1	16 g
phial of universal shower gel / hair shampoo	I generally buy the full-sized version, pour it into the phial and offer the remainder to someone Adidas Hair & Body is an example	70 g	1	70 g
Mennen Stick deodorant	not an antiperspirant does not contain aluminum	105 g	1	105 g
ASSOS chamois cream empty phial (sample size)		18 g	1	18 g
ASSOS chamois cream	reduces friction, keeps skin cooler, prevents inflammation, kills bacteria 1 g per day	30 g	1	30 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 32 x 15,5 cm	redundant spill prevention for the gel and creams	16 g	1	16 g
ASSOS laundry mesh for machine wash	protects cycling short’s Lycra from washing machine abrasion	13 g	1	13 g
liquid detergent container		8 g	1	8 g
liquid detergent	less aggressive for high-tech clothing	30 g	1	30 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 18 x 11,3 cm	redundant spill prevention	6 g	1	6 g
La Roche-Posay Anthelios 20 SPF extreme fluid 50 ml	the least oily suncream I could find	65 g	1	65 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 18 x 11,3 cm	suncream bottle tends to become greasy after use redundant spill prevention	6 g	1	6 g
McNett Anti Bite mosquito repellent Bio formula 60 ml		75 g	1	75 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 18 x 11,3 cm	redundant spill prevention	6 g	1	6 g
Philips QT4045 beard trimmer without comb (AW 2009)	I stopped shaving in the end of 2009 now I only trim my beard to 1 mm, once a week a lot better for my skin, faster, cleaner this particular beard trimmer contains a vacuum cleaner which sucks the cut hair into a storage compartment – the hands and the floor remain clean, perfect for travel fully charged battery lasts for months	190 g	1	190 g
Philips QT4045 beard trimmer charger		112 g	1	112 g
Tesa Velcro Cable Manager, Small, 12 mm x 20 cm (SS 2010)		2 g	1	2 g
Braun electric shaver dry cleaning brush		2 g	1	2 g
Gillette Turbo II razor with cut handle	I shave my armpits as soon as the hair grows longer than 2 mm amazing reduction of stench (even the Russian army soldiers use this trick) I use the foam created by the shower gel instead of dedicated shaving foam the handle is cut just enough to hold with 2 fingers, no need for extra bulk	20 g	1	20 g
Gillette Turbo II blade	I’ve tried cheaper blades without aloe vera etc, but the more expensive blades shave better	1 g	2	2 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 18 x 11,3 cm	contains wet shaver	6 g	1	6 g
Rudy Project Freeon LE8211 transparent lens (SS 2005)	for riding in overcast weather, at dusk and at night eye-protection from wind, insects	13 g	1	13 g
Rudy Project lens wrap (SS 2005)	protects the lens from scratches when stored inside the sunglasses case	5 g	1	5 g
Rudy Project sunglasses cloth / pouch (SS 2009)	contains the sunglasses when they are not worn (usually when riding in the rain, or walking around under overcast skies or at night)	9 g	1	9 g
carbon-imbued microfiber lens cloth	effective to clean greasy, stained lenses	4 g	1	4 g
Rudy Project sunglasses case (AW 2003)	very tough yet compact	85 g	1	85 g
AquaMira part A and part B filled in 2 BackpackingLight.com micro bottles with mixing cap	inert components to create a chlorine dioxide water purification liquid same as used in municipal tap water filtration systems kills bacteria, viruses and protozoa improves taste road cycling generally means drinking water is easy to get, so I carry just a bit of AquaMira more for exceptional situations	31 g	1	31 g
cheesecloth for water pre-filtration to eliminate debris	water in wells or reservoirs often contains dead leaves, small branches, insects, etc.	8 g	1	8 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 18 x 11,3 cm		6 g	1	6 g
Granite Gear Air Zip sack size XXS (SS 2004 & SS 2010)	ultralight, sil-nylon, water-repellent, flat, zippered bag for frequent access	28 g	1	28 g
Sub-totals				1 084 g

Clothing – wind protection
Montane Featherlight Velo Pertex Microlight windhsirt size M (SS 2009)	ultralight, hoodless, full-zipper jacket that eliminates wind chill much more breathable than a rain jacket extremely versatile for body temperature control cycling specific cut and design with vents does not create loud flapping noise at speed high visibility red	132 g	1	132 g
Sub-totals				132 g

Clothing – rain protection – torso
Montane Stormrider eVENT rain jacket (AW 2008)	worn in the rain eVENT remains the most breathable water-proof fabric available cycling specific cut and design with vents, no hood high-visibility fluorescent yellow-green	311 g	1	311 g
Granite Gear Air Bag #1 11,5 x 7 x 26 cm (SS 2010)	sil-nylon, ultralight, water-repellent, cuboid stuff sack	13 g	1	13 g
Sub-totals				324 g

Clothing – rain protection – head
Outdoor Research Revel Pertex Shield DS rain cap (SS 2010)	worn in the rain water-proof, breathable, seam-taped, baseball hat that fits under my helmet allows full range of motion for the head and maximum field of view, unlike a rain jacket’s hood – important for situational awareness the brim creates a rain-free zone for better vision	50 g	1	50 g
Sub-totals				50 g

Clothing – rain protection – legs
pair of Shimano PRO Endure H2O Shoe Cover rain overshoes size XXL (SS 2010)	worn when the road is wet or when it rains hard keeps cycling shoes clean, dry and comfy, without overheating in summer	103 g	1	103 g
Montane eVENT Air Pants, size M (SS 2005)	worn in hard or cold rain minimalist, ultralight, very breathable eVENT rain pants each leg zips up to the knee stretch panels on the knees	230 g	1	230 g
Granite Gear Air Pair MD 14,5 x 8 x 32 cm (SS 2010)	sil-nylon, ultralight, water-repellent, partitioned cuboid stuff sack; to separate the dirty overshoes from cleaner pants	19 g	1	19 g
Sub-totals				352 g

Clothing – cycling spares, accessory insulation, civilized
Mavic Espoir cycling jersey size M (SS 2009)	remaining stink-free is important in the civilized world when hand-washed and hand-wringed, this jersey does not dry sufficiently through the night to ride in the morning, so I wash and dry one while I wear the other	178 g	1	178 g
pair of Patagonia Ultra Lightweight Endurance Ankle socks size L (SS 2008)	worn while the other pair dries	26 g	1	26 g
pair of Outdoor Research Omni gloves in Polartec Wind Pro, size L (AW 2004)	worn in camp or for sleep if very cold wind-resistant, soft, very dexterous gloves	60 g	1	60 g
The North Face Vector Beanie in Polartec Power Shield (AW 2003)	worn in camp or for sleep if very cold wind-proof, water-repellent, ultralight and compact hat	31 g	1	31 g
Patagonia Merino 1 long sleeve size M 2009	excellent civilized top in sober, uniform color extremely odor-resistant sufficiently thin for summer temperatures up to +30° C sleeves can be rolled up or down to adjust the body temperature doubles as an additional insulation layer over the cycling jersey can be worn for sleep in low temperatures	122 g	1	122 g
Patagonia Capilene lightweight briefs size S (SS 2010)	thin, quick-drying polyester one is reserved for “no-shower” nights to wear inside the sleeping bag and avoid contamination by sweat and chamois cream, the other is for civilized wear	49 g	2	98 g
Eider Siral pants size XS in DrycoreStretch (SS 2010)	minimal, lightweight, wrinkle-resistant, quick-drying, nylon, stretchy pants that look good in the city environment preformed knees	352 g	1	352 g
Granite Gear Air Bag #3 16,5 x 9 x 34 cm (SS 2010)	for clean clothes	20 g	1	20 g
Granite Gear Air Bag #3 16,5 x 9 x 34 cm (SS 2010)	for dirty clothes	20 g	1	20 g
Sub-totals				907 g

Clothing – core insulation
Patagonia Micro Puff pullover, Polarguard Delta synthetic insulation (SS 2006)	wind-proof, water-repellent pullover that insulates even when wet once, a drenching-wet Micro Puff has saved my life from hypothermia in the Alps very high insulation-to-weight ratio, especially compared to fleece I can wear it down to +5° C with just 1 layer of Merino 1 wool can be worn inside the sleeping bag if really cold durable, continuous filament synthetic insulation allows frequent compression	310 g	1	310 g
custom Patagonia Micro Puff stuff sack		8 g	1	8 g
Sub-totals				318 g

Walking shoes
InvisibleShoe.com huaraches running sandals (SS 2010)	walking in-camp showering at less-than-sterile campsites city-walking very comfortable, custom fit that allows running relaxes and vents feet that have spent the day in cycling shoes extremely lightweight and compact fast to put on or off, no tying necessary do not soak up in the rain I can wear them down to +5° C when moving	212 g	1	212 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 32 x 15,5 cm	stores the sandals even if they are wet and dirty	16 g	1	16 g
Sub-totals				228 g

Sleep – ground sheet, mattress
Tyvek (55 g / m2) NeoAir sleeping pad size Large ground sheet (210 x 74 cm)	ultralight and very tough material to protect the sleeping mattress from dirt and punctures	88 g	1	88 g
Thermarest NeoAir Large (AW 2009)	the most comfortable and most compact ultralight sleeping pad I have ever slept on insulates even when sleeping on concrete at 0° C size large for extra width (size regular is too narrow: even though I’m not broad-shouldered, my arms tend to fall off the mat)	480 g	1	480 g
Granite Gear Air Bag #3 16,5 x 9 x 34 cm (SS 2010)	sil-nylon, ultralight, water-repellent, cuboid stuff sack	20 g	1	20 g
Sub-totals				588 g

Sleep – bivy
Integral Designs Crysallis eVENT bivy long, fully SeamGripped (AW 2004)	I prefer a bivy over any other type of shelter for stealth: I can sleep beside the road, hiding in the high grass, without anyone seeing me in many countries, bivouacking is not considered “camping” and therefore better tolerated in restricted areas eVENT remains the most breathable water-proof fabric available, which reduces condensation inside the bivy, even when fully zipped this particular bivy opens down to the waist but still allows full mosquito net coverage the bivy goes on top of the sleeping pad, so I can turn, lift my knees or feet, sit upright…	820 g	1	820 g
Granite Gear Air Bag #3 16,5 x 9 x 34 cm (SS 2010)	sil-nylon, ultralight, water-repellent, cuboid stuff sack	20 g	1	20 g
Sub-totals				840 g

Sleep – sleeping bag
The North Face Scorpio +5° C / +40° F (EN13537 comf +8° C), Primaloft Infinity synthetic insulation, full-length zipper, size regular sleeping bag (SS 2010)	a highly compressible, continuous filament, high-loft synthetic insulation sleeping bag that tolerates moisture, both from the inside (sweat) and from the outside (high humidity in rainy weather) more user-friendly than a down bag I’m a cold sleeper, so I choose this bag for night temperatures around 10° C and an occasional drop to 0° C compensated by wearing insulation clothing (see above) a full-length zipper allows to use the bag as a blanket for warmer nights	883 g	1	883 g
Granite Gear Air Compressor size XS (SS 2010)	sil-nylon, ultralight, water-repellent, cuboid compression stuff sack	63 g	1	63 g
Sub-totals				946 g

Sleep – pillow
Thermarest Compressible Pillow size small (SS 2010)	a luxury item	198 g	1	198 g
Sub-totals				198 g

Water in and out
Nalgene Cantene 1,5 L wide mouth (SS 2004)	supplemental water container (in camp, very dry stretches) folded and very compact when empty ultralight clear-colored easy to clean unaffected by boiling water or ice BPA free	66 g	1	66 g
Nalgene Cantene 1,5 L wide mouth (SS 2004)	pee-bottle for in-camp use	66 g	1	66 g
Sub-totals				132 g

Folded bike shoulder bag (intermodal transport, storage)
custom Bike Friday PRP shoulder bag in Dyneema gridstop (designed by Jean-Christophe LEBEAU and Anatoly IVANOV)	conceals and carries the folded bike allows travel in trains, buses, cars (taxies, friends, hitchhiking) without anyone knowing there’s a bike inside (no bike fees or reservations) bike shoes and helmet go inside the bag I carry the bike bag on one shoulder and the 2 panniers on the other shoulder ultralight, very compact when empty Dyneema fiber is stronger than steel	398 g	1	398 g
child sock to cover greased stem		10 g	1	10 g
child sock to cover greased headset		10 g	1	10 g
custom aluminum chainwheel teeth protector (designed by Anatoly IVANOV)	prevents the chain wheel teeth to rip through the bag fabric	25 g	1	25 g
Tesa Velcro Cable Manager, 10 mm x 20 cm (SS 2010) for holding the chainwheel protector		1 g	3	3 g
Tesa Velcro Cable Manager, 10 mm x 60 cm (SS 2010) for preventing crank movement		3 g	3	9 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 18 x 11,3 cm	to contain oily chainwheel teeth protector and Velcro	6 g	1	6 g
Granite Gear Air Bag #3 16,5 x 9 x 34 cm (SS 2010)	sill-nylon, ultralight, water-repellent, cuboid stuff sack	20 g	1	20 g
Sub-totals				481 g

Photo: current Anatoly IVANOV’s folded Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro (folds the same with rack; prepared to fit inside custom shoulder carrying bag: cranks immobilized, chainwheel teeth covered by aluminum protector, exposed greased headset parts covered with kid’s socks)

Photo: Jean-Christophe LEBEAU and Anatoly IVANOV ultralight 398 g (14 oz) Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro shoulder carrying bag made of Dyneema Cross-Rip Gridstop fabric (fits with rear rack)

Bike lights
Busch & Müller Ixon IQ without batteries and mount (SS 2008)	bright enough to see the unlit intercity roads 40 lux at 10 meters wide and uniform illuminated area up to 6 hours of operation in 40 lux mode (25 hours in 10 lux mode)	88 g	1	88 g
Rechargeable NiMH AA battery (2700 mAh) – VARTA Professional	uses 4 AA batteries allowing commonality with my rear light and GPS	30 g	4	120 g
Busch & Müller IX-Red LED Rear Light without batteries and mount (SS 2009)	wide 260° angle visibility up to 50 hours of operation	32 g	1	32 g
Rechargeable NiMH AA battery (2700 mAh) – GP	uses 2 AA batteries allowing commonality with my front light and GPS	30 g	2	60 g
Granite Gear Air Pocket size S (SS 2004 & SS 2010)	ultralight, sil-nylon, water-repellent, flat, zippered bag for frequent access stores the lights inside the panniers during the day and thus simplifies bike folding and storage (less items to take off the bike) if lights are wet and dirty, will not contaminate the rest	16 g	1	16 g
Sub-totals				316 g

Bike lock, carrier bungee cord
Abus Cobra loop steel coil cable (8 mm x 185 cm) (AW 2009)	A visual trick, an optical illusion. Abus covers their super-tough, super-heavy chains with a characteristic, logo-laden sheath. I use a lightweight, simple and supple coil cable instead of a chain, but retain the protective sheath, so it still looks like an Abus chain lock. Of course, a close inspection reveals the truth: a cable that’s easy to cut with a concealable bolt cutter. the length is needed to secure the mono-tube frame of the Bike Friday and the wheels	273 g	1	273 g
Abus chain protective nylon sheath (185cm) (AW 2009)		130 g	1	130 g
Abus Aqua Safe 70IB padlock (AW 2009)	weather-resistant	100 g	1	100 g
MIGROS SportX flat double 60 cm bungee cord with double hooks to attach items to rack (SS 2010)	rarely used, mostly for over-sized groceries or items to dry	44 g	1	44 g
Granite Gear Air Bag #1 11,5 x 7 x 26 cm (SS 2010)	sil-nylon, ultralight, water-repellent, cuboid stuff sack contains the dirty lock combo	13 g	1	13 g
Sub-totals				560 g

Bike tools
Zefal Xtra Light carbon fiber pump without pressure gauge (SS 2009)	very light actually pumps the rear tire to my requirement of 105 PSI (7,24 bar)	55 g	1	55 g
SKS Airchecker electronic tire pressure gauge (AW 2009)	a precise way to control tire pressure	44 g	1	44 g
Schwalbe tire lever (AW 2008)		12 g	2	24 g
Rema Tip Top Touring Kit	inner tube punctures repair kit	20 g	1	20 g
Park Tool AWS-10 (AW 2008)	very comfortable, high-quality combination of 2 mm, 2,5 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm hex Allen wrenches	105 g	1	105 g
Facom 89S.25 T25 Long Torx key with spherical head (AW 2009)	“L” shaped tool for Campagnolo brifters’ and brakes’ bolts	18 g	1	18 g
Facom 83SH.8 Allen hex 8 mm long key with spherical head (pedals) (SS 2009)	pedal wrench	80 g	1	80 g
generic Allen hex 5 mm “Z” shaped mini-wrench for difficult access	for front derailleur cable clamp bolt and rear fender attachment bolt (the Park Tool AWS-10 can’t access these)	14 g	1	14 g
Bike Friday 1 1/4 in headset + 15 mm wrench (SS 2010)	headset rear Campagnolo brake	74 g	1	74 g
Facom 113A.4C adjustable wrench (0 to 13 mm) (AW 2008)	Tubus rack and Ortlieb panniers hex nuts	65 g	1	65 g
Spokey flat + Philips interchangeable screwdriver (AW 2008)	derailleurs adjustment Ortlieb panniers screws	18 g	1	18 g
Park Tool SW-0 spoke wrench (AW 2008)		17 g	1	17 g
Shimano TLHG09 – F700 Capreo Cassette lock ring removal tool (AW 2009)	no chain whip needed as I can use the pedals	85 g	1	85 g
Park Tool CT-5 Mini Chain Brute Chain Tool (AW 2009)	the lightest chain tool available	77 g	1	77 g
Park Tool MG-1 nitrile rubber mechanic’s glove size M	“second-skin”, extremely dexterous gloves slightly textured for grip even when handling greasy parts keeps hands clean: very useful in the field without access to powerful hand detergents and tap water reusable	6 g	6	33 g
zip-tie, 4,5 mm x 16 cm		2 g	4	6 g
Electrical insulation tape, roll	similar to “duct tape”, only better	19 g	1	19 g
McNett SeamGrip 7 g mini-tube	seals, glues	9 g	1	9 g
Benchmade 556S Mini-Griptilian knife with folding, locking, serrated blade, without belt clip and with attachment ring (AW 2004)	high quality steel, remains sharp includes a saw easy unfolding with either hand unfolded, locked blade is as secure and stiff as a non-folding knife great fit for my hand light and compact	71 g	1	71 g
Nokon brake cable liner 1,5 mm x 2 m		11 g	1	11 g
Nokon derailleur cable liner 1,2 mm x 2 m		18 g	1	18 g
Jagwire Hyper inner derailleur cable (stainless steel) 1,1 mm x 2,3 m (Campagnolo)		15 g	1	15 g
Jagwire Hyper inner brake cable (stainless steel) 1,5 mm x 2,3 m (Campagnolo)		23 g	1	23 g
Nokon spare outer cable casing pearls		3 g	1	3 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 18 x 11,3 cm		6 g	1	6 g
Campagnolo brake pads, pair		12 g	2	24 g
SRAM PowerLock		5 g	3	15 g
spare spoke 210 mm, average	2 front 2 rear, cassette-side length 2 rear, normal length	6 g	6	36 g
Granite Gear Air Pocket size M (SS 2004 & SS 2010)	ultralight, sill-nylon, water-repellent, flat, zippered bag for frequent access	19 g	1	19 g
Sub-totals				1 004 g

Bike cleaning
Park Tool GSC-1 gear Clean Brush (AW 2009)	larger and heavier than a toothbrush, but much more efficient to clean the chain and cassette I’ve cleaned my bike in hotels, homes and self-service car washes	30 g	1	30 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 32 x 15,5 cm	if brush is dirty and wet, will not contaminate the rest	16 g	1	16 g
Sub-totals				46 g

Bike oil
empty Finish Line Ceramic chain oil semi-transparent squeeze bottle 60 ml		15 g	1	15 g
chain oil 60 ml	chain oil available on location, preferably Motorex or Finish Line	60 g	1	60 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 18 x 11,3 cm	redundant spill prevention	6 g	1	6 g
Sub-totals				81 g

Bike inner tubes
spare inner tube Schwalbe SV 7A for ETRTO 28-451 tires	98 g	2	196 g
Sub-totals			196 g

3 / WATER AND FOOD

1 916 g

En route water and food (amounts vary, maximums given)
dried or fresh fruit	dried or fresh pineapple, dates, figs, bananas, apples, raisins, peaches, pears, etc. I eat all the time	600 g	1	600 g
Aloksak durable watertight plastic bag 32 x 15,5 cm		16 g	1	16 g
water inside 1 bottle	front bottle holder	650 g	1	650 g
fruit juice (or water if unavailable) inside 1 bottle	rear bottle holder	650 g	1	650 g
Sub-totals				1 916 g

4 / ON THE BIKE

935 g

Rack and fenders
Tubus Airy assembly without horns	370 g	1	370 g
Bike Friday front fender including mounting hardware	91 g	1	91 g
Bike Friday rear fender including mounting hardware	103 g	1	103 g
Sub-totals			564 g

Water – frame bottles
Nalgene ATB bottle 22 oz (0,65 L) (SS 2009)	unique Tritan cap keeps the drinking spout clean when the cap flips open, the spout opens as well, automatically, no need to pull with the teeth high-visibility green-yellow BPA free	104 g	2	208 g
Sub-totals				208 g

Navigation
Garmin Dakota 20 (SS 2009)	read my detailed review of this GPS unit	103 g	1	103 g
Rechargeable NiMH AA battery (2700 mAh) – GP		30 g	2	60 g
Sub-totals				163 g

GRAND TOTALS

naked body weight (I’m 1 m 80 cm)	67,0 kg
items worn on body	1,9 kg
Total body weight	68,9 kg
bike without touring accessories	9,9 kg
bike touring accessories (fenders, rack, GPS…)	0,9 kg
Unloaded bike	10,8 kg
rear panniers (with items inside)	11,9 kg
Loaded bike with panniers	22,7 kg
water and food (maximum carried, consumed while riding)	1,9 kg
Load with food and water	13,8 kg
Load with rider, food and water (max frame allowance for Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro is 90 kg)	82,7 kg
Weight of rider, bike, food and water	93,5 kg

CHANGE LOG

2011-01-04	Added links to items still available on the market.
2010-10-12	First publication.

9 COMMENTS

Linda Gryczan / 2010-10-13 19:39

This is great Anatoly. As a long time fully loaded bicycle tourist, I appreciate hearing how someone else does it in such detail. I see the benefits of focusing on lightweight gear. Also good to know that Sidi makes long narrow shoes, since I need to buy men’s sizes.

Tailwinds & keep the rubber side down.

ANATOLY IVANOV / 2010-10-13 20:32

Thanks Linda!

Yeah, going as light as possible only adds more fun to bike touring. And travel in general.

Concerning the Sidis, the narrow versions are sold only in the US. Although I’m only 600 km from the factory where the shoes are made (Geneva to Venice), I can’t buy them anywhere in Europe!

Win Allred / 2010-10-14 21:28

Thanks for doing this especially the detail you provided. Gave me several ideas.

Miguel Marcos / 2010-10-15 12:37

Good post and very detailed. I like reading how others organize for tours.

A couple of alternatives I’ve settled on:

– Instead of a titanium spork I’ve settled on these little critters:
http://www.amazon.com/Guyot-Designs-Utensil-Set-Celery/dp/B001O47J96
They’re 5g heavier than the spork you list but multiuse.
– My tshirts are now all wool (Icebreaker, SmartWool, Patagonia, Chocolate Fish, whatever) because the smell factor is dramatically reduced.
– I haven’t weighed it but Muji makes a really light yet reasonably strong folding toothbrush.
– I bring along a Petzl e+LITE at 28g.
– Shoewise, I haven’t tried this on a biking trip but I will next time: Keen Newport Sandals + Sealskinz waterproof socks + (toe clips or Powergrips). This will reduce my shoe/sandal equipment to one item. I’ve already used this for a 2-week (non-bike) trip in India and it worked well. I think Keen has SPD sandals, too.

I like the Sharpie and paper idea for signs.

Also, I don’t shave on long trips. I grew a nice, castaway-look, beard this summer!

And I’ve heard the Etymotics generate a lot of noise when the cable flops back and forth. What’s your experience?

ANATOLY IVANOV / 2010-10-15 15:14

Thanks Win and Miguel,

// Cycling shoes

In my opinion, toe clips, which I use on my Brompton by the way, are nowhere near the direct power transfer provided by stiff cycling shoes and clipless pedals. I’d even choose a carbon-fiber-soled pair of Sidis if they were available in my narrow size. The body to bike interface is crucial for efficiency, so no compromises here for me ;-).

// Etymotic Research headphones

Yes, like any in-ear headphones connected to the ear canal, the hf2 create a “poof” noise when the cable gets pulled or tapped on.

However, I don’t listen to music when I run, bike or climb. I listen to my breathing, the wind… and crazy cars. Music disconnects me from my body and the environment.

Sitting or lying with these headphones does not create the noise.

Glenn Martin / 2010-10-17 03:57

Your list reminds me of the list included in the book “The Complete Walker” written by Colin Fletcher. The book was more about backpacking than walking. Colin included a detailed equipment list with an explanation for each choice. He also wrote a book about his walking trip through the Grand Canyon tittled “The Man who Walked Through Time”.

Glenn

Miguel Marcos / 2010-10-22 12:01

“The Complete Walker” is a great book and a great read. Colin was a very witty writer and reading the entire book, even topics I wasn’t initially interested in, was an enjoyable experience. Highly recommended.

Chase Hensel / 2011-03-21 10:33

Thank you very much. Like others, I find it useful to see what others take. It always helps me realize things I could leave behind. Another good thing we did in New Zealand was to tour for a couple of weeks, then mail home most everything we hadn’t used. We’ve tended to carry two jerseys and 2 pairs of shorts, wearing one set and drying the other on the bike. I’ve been using an S&S coupled bike, but a folder would definitely help w. the intermodal travel

ANATOLY IVANOV / 2011-04-02 20:52

Thanks Chase,

tour for a couple of weeks, then mail home most everything we hadn’t used

Excellent strategy to trim the stuff!