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Getting ‘out of office’ – Bike and gear

E Sharp

Bike: 2005 Cannondale T800 (purchased new Jan 2005)

2005 Cannondale T800 Loaded and ready to head to the Grampians 2013

Components: all stock except saddle replaced with a women’s Terry Liberator in 2010. Brake pads and chain replaced mid-tour 2010. New Schwalbe Marathon tires, a new small chainring (swapped a 26 for a 24), and handlebars rewrapped in 2013.

Accessories: I use a Topeak Road Morph pump and toe clips instead of clipless pedals. I have Planet Bike fenders – front one doesn’t come along on this trip. I have a Blackburn bar-end mirror.

Front rack: Tubus Ergo
Rear rack: What came stock

Left rear pannier – Ortlieb Sportspacker Contents: Medication chiller system (thermal-lined bag with frozen water bottle or 3 sandwich-sized ziplocs filled with ice inside gallon size) On-bike clothes packed in ziploc (2 jerseys; 2 pairs bike shorts; 1 pair thin tights to go over bike shorts; 1 high-vis windbreaker) Off-bike clothes packed in ziploc (2 t-shirts; 1 pair convertible pants; 1 pair shorts; 1 long-sleeve shirt) Warmies packed in ziploc (1 thermal underwear top and 1 bottom; winter hat and thin gloves; 1 pair warm socks for sleeping) Rain gear: jacket and pants (extra water bottle as required)
Right rear pannier – Ortlieb Sportspacker Contents: The ‘office’: journal; expenses notebook; maps not in use; battery chargers; touristy notes/brochures; itinerary Sleeping bag: Kelty Women’s Light Year 20F, long Home-made sleepsheet ‘Delicates’ ziploc includes: 2 pairs underwear; 2 sports bras; 3 pairs socks; sarong-also use as towel; swimsuit; sunhat (extra water bottle as required)
Front left pannier – Lone Peak P-099 Contents: Tent and rainfly (2005 Northface Tadpole) Plastic groundsheet (plastic bag from my washing machine cut to size) Tent pegs Flip-flops (extra water bottle when required)
Front right pannier – Lone Peak P-099 Contents: Two spare tubes (tube repair kit/valve converter/tire levers kept in outside pocket) Bike tools: allen key for each size on bike (not full set); 2 wrenches (1 10mm; 1 adjustable); multi-tool with mini-pliers; spare zip ties; small roll black electrical tape; 2 fiber-fix spokes; chain tool; spare nuts and bolts for each size; spare rags; lube Rain covers for Lone Peaks Small folding bucket (I use this to stuff clothes into to make a pillow at night; carry my toiletries to showerblock; wash up when there is access to water but no shower; rinse rags for bike repair, etc.) Headlamp Ziploc baggie with laundry detergent Toiletries and diaper rash cream (just the small, travel-size basics) Basic first-aid kit and extra hotel shower cap Food: more than shown here (extra water bottle when required)
Handlebar bag – Arkel small Contents: Cheap pre-paid dumb phone Camera Wallet Asthma inhaler Sunscreen and lip balm Alcohol anti-bacterial gel (travel size) Tiny cosmetic mirror (check that sunscreen all rubbed in; also use for diaper rash cream application on occasion when I need to figure out where to put it on thick) Any directions/extra maps for day not in map case on top of bag Lightweight cable lock tucked in a side pocket Two hotel shower caps tucked in outside side pocket (one to wrap over the cycle computer and one to go over the seat if raining or threat of dew/frost overnight) Cycling gloves Verne and Kermit in front pocket

Rear rack contents:
Tent poles in own bag rolled within Ridge Rest sleeping pad
Thermarest Ridge Rest 3/4 length closed cell foam pad. The roll is held with two ladies’ belts from a thrift shop. The roll is secured to the rack with adjustable webbed straps with clips [purchased from auto store – I also use these straps on the outside of my bike box when travelling (it keeps the flaps contained if the TSA tape comes undone)].

All of the gear on my empty living room floor.

NOTE: Clothing listed assumes I’m naked (e.g. I wear one jersey and have one spare). I’m a cold sleeper, so I always take one more thermal top than other people – for this ride, most people wouldn’t take any. For the US trip, I’ll be carrying an additional thermal top and a warmie jacket.

I use a Camelback instead of drink bottles. I stay better hydrated using one of these. I don’t keep anything else in the backpack usually. I attach my rear blinkie-light to this on my back. It is more visible this way than attached to my rear rack (it gets hidden under the thermarest if attached there). The pack is also great for taking on day hikes along the way.

I also wear a Giro Indicator helmet – cheap but ventilation okay. Most importantly this style has a visor – a must-have for me. My new Indicator is Livestrong-stickered since these ones were on deep clearance after the whole Lance affair, and I could care less about all of that.

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