Here is a verbatim copy of my gear checklist. Because I live on the road full time and because I am completely self-supported, this list represents the absolute maximum you should consider carrying. For example, I carry all the tools necessary to completely disassemble my bicycle. My bicycle trailer weighs 19 pounds, and my gear, groceries, cooking fuel, and water weigh 75 pounds, so I am pulling close to 100 pounds. Refer to Chapter 7 for a thorough discussion of why certain items are on this list and for an explanation of how I use and maintain these items. Gear selection is very personal. One of the great pleasures of preparing for your trip is shopping at REI, looking at all the cool gear, and making your selection. My general advice is to go as light as possible on gear, but for groceries, cooking fuel, and water, going heavy is just fine!
Bicycle Gear
Bicycle
Bicycle racks and panniers or cargo trailer
Handlebar bag
Bicycle helmet
Bicycle helmet cover
Bicycle shoes
Cleats (1 set installed, 1 set backup)
Cleat covers
Sun glasses
Pedals (installed)
Freewheel or cassette (installed)
Chain (installed)
Bicycle lights, USB rechargeable
Handlebar end mirror (installed)
Pump
Water bottle cages (2 installed)
Water bottles, 24 oz insulated (2 installed)
Handlebar tape (2 sets installed to double wrap handlebars)
Brake pads (4 installed)
Bicycle tires (2 installed)
Bicycle folding tire (1 backup)
Trailer tires (2 installed, no backup)
Bicycle tubes (2 installed plus 2 backup)
Trailer tubes (2 installed plus 2 backup)
Lock
Cable
Tools/Supplies
Zipper case for tools
Campy long wrenches for headset, bottom bracket, pedals
Campy T socket wrench
Campy seat wrench
Campy cone wrench 13/14 mm
Campy cone wrench 15/16 mm
Campy crank extractor and spanner
Campy allen wrench for crank set
Allen wrench for handlebar stem tilt
Park 3-way allen wrench (4-5-6 mm)
Chain gauge
Chain tool
Freewheel tool
Spoke wrench (make sure it is the correct size)
Crescent wrench (200 mm)
Crescent wrench (6 inch)
Pliers
Shorty screw drivers, standard and phillips head
Tri-Flo lubricant
Chain lubricant (2)
Grease
Electrical tape (to secure handlebar tape)
Patch kits (4)
Clothing
Bicycle shorts (3)
T-shirts (6)
Briefs (3)
Socks (6 pairs)
Athletic pants (narrow cuffs)
Rain parka with hood
Jacket
Down vest
Polar fleece gloves
Polar fleece head band
Lightweight polyester ball cap
Sandals
Stuff bag, 8 liter (clothing)
Sleeping
Tent
Ground tarp
Down sleeping bag
Yoga mat
Sleeping pad
Sleeping bag liner
Pillow stuff bag (down vest)
Stuff bag, 13 liter (sleeping bag)
Stuff bag, 8 liter (tent)
Leak proof plastic pee bottle, 1.5 liter
Leather work gloves
Folding saw
Repair tape and two tent pole sleeves (tent repair)
Bathing
USB fan
Zipper kit for bathing items
Soap container for bar soap
Toothbrush
Razor
Nail clipper
Scissors (blunt nose)
Tweezers
Hairbrush
Mirror
Bar soap, deodorant, toothpaste, dental floss, razor blades, Q-Tips, ointment, and sunscreen are listed under “Groceries” because they are often purchased in grocery stores (see below).
Cooking
Folding chair
Stove, propane, single burner
Zipper bag (stove, lighter, utensils, spices)
Pot set
Plate
Plastic cups (2)
Plastic sporks (2)
Knife
Knife sharpener
Electronic lighters (2)
Collapsible water container, 2 liter (2)
Groceries
Listed roughly in the order of each item’s location in a typical grocery store, starting in the produce section.
Apples (6)
Oranges (6)
Cabbage (1 head)
New potato (1)
White onions (2)
Ginger root (2 pieces)
Tomatoes, small roma (6)
Chunk light tuna foil pack 2.6 oz (6)
Whole wheat penne pasta 1 lb
Instant coffee 8 oz
Steel cut oats, long cooking 30 oz
Granola bars (15 bars)
Nuts, unsalted 2 lbs
Olive oil, extra virgin 1 pt
Italian seasoning .75 oz
Coarse Ground black pepper 1.5 oz
Stir-fry sauce or sriracha sauce
Tortillas, corn (30)
Large eggs (12)
Mozzarella string cheese (24 pieces)
Half & Half, ultra-pasteurized 1 pt
Fresh salmon or steak (1-2 servings)
Storage slider bags, 1 gal (15)
Trash bags, 4 gal
Paper towels, select-a-size (1 roll)
Dish soap 9 oz
Propane, 1 lb (2)
Bar soap
Deodorant
Toothpaste
Dental floss
Razor blades
Q-Tips
Ointment
Sunscreen
Electronics
Phone with case
Kindle Paperwhite
Ear buds
Bluetooth speaker
Portable charger
Solar charger
Zipper case for charging gear and tire repair gear
USB adapters/cords
I keep my pump and tire repair items in the outside pocket of the zipper case containing my charging gear. This zipper case rides in the top of my bicycle trailer for easy access.
Miscellaneous
Road atlas
Note pad
Pen
Reading glasses
Wallet
Watch
Insect repellant
Self defense pepper spray
Gorilla tape (1”)
Bottle brush (for cleaning plastic bottles)
Armor All (10 oz)
Woolite (16 oz)
Swimming
Swim suit
Goggles
Ear plugs
Case (goggles/ear plugs)
Combination lock
Annual Replacement
Here is a list of items I will definitely need to buy each year. At the end of the year, I review the status of the rest of my gear and replace worn items as
needed.
Bicycle tires (6)
Trailer tires (6)
Bicycle tubes (6)
Trailer tubes (6)
Bicycle chains (4)
Handlebar tape
Bicycle shorts (3)
T-shirts (3)
Cleats (2 sets)
Brake pads (4)
Chain lubricant (2)
Patch kits (4)
Shipments Along Route
I order two bicycle tires and two trailer tires on Amazon for delivery at strategic points along the route. I place my order about one week before my expected arrival. I recommend using UPS Stores or Pack and Ship stores to receive shipments. They usually charge $5 for each parcel they hold for you. Be sure to call to make sure it is permissible to use their address. Also be sure to call to request they hold your package if you are delayed. Don’t try to use U. S. Postal Service General Delivery because the post office won’t accept packages from carriers like UPS and FedEx even when you include the street address for the post office on the address label. Here are addresses and telephone numbers for shipping locations I have used. The shipping addresses are listed in the order they occur on the route.
The UPS Store
5114 Balcones Woods Dr Ste 307 #500
Austin, TX 78759
512-338-0811
The UPS Store
123-A Hwy 80 W
Clinton, MS 39056
601-925-1991
The UPS Store
105-A Lew Dewitt Blvd
Waynesboro, VA 22980
540-932-1000
The UPS Store
3710 Broadway St
Quincy, IL 62305
217-223-5555
The UPS Store
1201 Allen Dr.
Grand Island, NE 68803
308-382-2023
The UPS Store
217 Cedar St
Sandpoint, ID 83864
208-263-0261
Baltimore Centre Mail & Ship
1130 Baltimore Ave SE Ste A
Bandon, OR 97411
541-347-5351
Replacing Worn Chains
I start my trip in Austin with a new chain. I replace the chain in these cities:
Quincy, Illinois
White Fish, Montana
Prescott, Arizona
Refer to Appendix 2 for the addresses and telephone numbers of my favorite
bicycle shops in these cities.
High Performance Gear
Bicycle Gear
Surly Long Haul Trucker touring bicycle
Bicycle Joy Cargo Trailer
Ortleib Classic handlebar bag
Oakley sun glasses
Specialized Echelon helmet
LG Garneau helmet cover
Specialized Torch 3.0 road shoes
Shimano Dura Ace road pedals
Shimano road cleats
Shimano road cleat covers
Continental Gatorskin hard shell tire, 700 x 28
Kenda Kwest high pressure tire, 20 x 1.5
Bell Mini U-lock
Lezyne bicycle pump with schrader/presta flexible hose
Lezyne USB rechargeable bicycle lights (attach to left
front fork and seatpost as needed for tunnels or fog)
Sprintech handlebar end mirror (absolutely essential)
Tools/Supplies
Park tools necessary to disassemble bicycle
Park lightweight chain tool
Park 3-way allen wrench (4-5-6 mm)
Tri-Flo lubricant
Phil Woods bicycle grease
Rock ‘N Roll Red dry chain lubricant
Clothing
Specialized RBX W/SWAT cycling shorts
Nike Pro Dri-Fit fitted t-shirts
Under Armour Tech 9” boxer briefs
Marmot Minimalist rain jacket
Endura Hummvee Fleece cycling jacket
Western Mountaineering Flight down vest
Darn Tough merino wool quarter rise cushion socks
Sea To Summit Big River stuff bag, 8 liter (clothing)
Teva Terra Fi Lite sandals
Sleeping
MSR Hubba Hubba NX Xtreme Shield two man tent
Western Mountaineering Apache MF sleeping bag
Alps Mountaineering foam pad
(for use as yoga mat and to protect tent floor)
Thermorest Pro Plus regular size sleeping pad
Thermorest pillow stuff bag (down vest)
Sea To Summit Reactor sleeping bag liner
Sea To Summit Big River stuff bag, 8 liter (tent)
Sea To Summit Big River stuff bag, 13 liter (sleeping bag)
Walmart Mainstays Mini USB fan model FL801B
REI/Nalgene opaque white bottle, 1.5 liter (pee bottle)
Ace Hardware Corona professional folding saw
Tenacious tape (tent repair)
REI pole sleeves (tent repair)
Bathing
Neutrogena fragrance-free bar soap
Radius toothbrush
Cooking
A-Lite Monarch Butterfly chair
Walmart Ozark Trail single burner propane stove
Eagle Creek clean/dirty small half cube (for stove, lighter, utensils, and spices)
MSR ceramic cook set with Fusion Coating, 2.5 liter/1.5 liter (2 pots, 1 lid, 1 handle)
Outdoor Edge folding filet knife
Accusharp knife sharpener
HumanGear plastic spork
Sea To Summit Delta plate
HydraPak Seeker collapsible water container 2 liter
Groceries
Quaker Steel Cut oats, long cooking
(1 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup oats, 20 min cook time)
Quaker Old Fashioned rolled oats
(1 cup water, 2/3 cup oats, 10 min cook time)
Nature Valley Fruit & Nut Trail Mix granola bars
Starkist chunk light tuna 2.6 oz foil pack
Barrilla whole wheat penne pasta
Mission corn tortillas
Pompeian Robust extra virgin olive oil 16 oz
McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian seasoning .75 oz
McCormick Coarse Ground black pepper 1.5 oz
Tuong sriracha sauce 17 oz
Bounty paper towels select-a-size
Hefty gallon storage slider bags, 15 count
Color Scents lavender trash bags 4 gal, 80 count
Dawn dish soap 9 oz
Electronics
Samsung S 10 e android phone
Kindle Paperwhite
Beats Flex Bluetooth ear buds
Bose Soundlink Micro Bluetooth speaker
Anker five port wall charger
Anker PowerCore 26,800 portable charger
Anker PowerPort solar charger
Swimming
TYR Phoenix Splice jammer swimsuit
TYR Tracer swim goggles
TYR Protective goggle case
Master combination lock
Miscellaneous
Rand McNally Road Atlas
Timex Iron Man watch
Armor All (10 oz)
Woolite (16 oz)