I am posting a complete list of my touring gear here over the next few months. During the winter I usually go through all my gear and take stock. Some items are in need of replacement others need a good cleaning etc… This year I am going to document the process and give a brief …
You will meet a lot of people while touring. It is easy to make a connection with a fellow traveller and folks you meet during the trip. A good way to remember them is to have a contact card. These have two uses. One card is for me to write their info on and what …
As a rule I don’t like disposable single use items. I do make an exception for these in certain circumstances. I do have a traditional toothbrush in my shower kit but for ultralight trips I like the ease of use. I always make sure to dispose of them properly and use them only when called …
Being out on a bike day after day presents a challenge for keeping yourself from too much exposure. Much of the time you are in direct sunlight so SPF rated jerseys and sun screen are your main defenses. I do not have a “go to” brand for this stuff, it all seems to be about …
Being exposed to the elements day after day is tough on your skin. Keeping your lips protected is a nice thing to do for yourself. Between the constant wind and a lot of UV exposure dry cracked lips happen fast. Personally I prefer the Burt’s Bees brand, specificly the Vanilla Bean flavor. It has a …
It is hard to express how important cleanliness is as it relates to saddle issues. Saddle sores can be uncomfortable, excruciating or end a trip in its tracks. There are two kinds of cycle tourists. Those that have had painful saddle sores , and those who will someday. These wipes seem to help tremendously in …
2020 and Covid19 has taught us about the importance of keeping hands clean. Long ago I would just use a quick squirt of the water bottle and drip dry my hands. About 10 years ago I started keeping a few of these in my bag for day trips and they quickly became part of the …
These are in my handlebar bag because its something I use a lot. It seems that reaching in and out of panniers and doing a lot of hand work breaks nails. Trimming a broken corner so it does not catch on anything else is way too common for me to be digging into the shower …
Earplugs for me are a necessary item. Very rarely am I in a sleeping situation where it is quiet. The romantic ideal is that we sleep in pristine nature with crickets and night creatures soothing us to sleep. That does happen but not very often on the type of touring I do. Highway noise near …
Let’s start at the bottom of this and lose the crappy eye rolls. OK I’ll stop. There are questions that people ask about bicycle touring all the time. Where are you going? Where did you start? if you talk to them long enough about touring another topic will undoubtedly arise. Where do you poop? The …
I am a notebook junkie I’ll admit it. I like having a place to record projects, thoughts, make lists etc… I have notebooks for all kinds of things and in all kinds of places. These little notebooks are perfect for everyday use if you spend time outdoors a lot. Besides being a nice size for …