Hi there... I just read about this list on the iBOB list, so I thought I'd join and see
what's up.

And I'll start with a HUGE way too long post!  : )

***

My name is Jeff Potter and I live in mid Michigan where there aren't any good
towns to bike to. For me that would be a towns within 5-30 miles. I publish the
OutYourBackdoor.com and AllBikeMag.com websites and related projects.

My biketour goals are to do overnights up to weeklong rides, at about 70 miles
a day. I like tenting and campcooking, but I don't mind creditcarding. I like both
road and dirt road routes.

My load goals are to just use two rear pans plus a front barbag. No junk on the
trunk! (Except maybe a grocery bag of food in the evening, tied to top of rack.) I
think that would limit me to 15 lbs of junk on the bike---with room for snacks
and dayfood which must add a pound, say. I really like the idea of a good
looking bike and packs combo and a trim load. I also really like plain old simple
travel. Yet, yet, I find I can wedge in quite a few creature comforts for
marvelous R&R on the road.

I like to go light partly because I tend to go fast, partly because I like to go
simple and partly because I think it looks good.

My basic ultralight list/packing plan is:

*Rear pans: tent/pad in one main rear pan compartment; sleepbag and poles in
the other; outer pockets hold: clothes, twig-stove, mug, pipe/tobacky, plastic
airline bottle of tequila, portion of a paperback, coffee & filters, repair kit/tools.

*Front barbag: snacks, camera, shades, first aid/sunscreen/bugjuice, toiletry,
notepad, maps, wallet.

***

So are there lists on this list that people have made of what they bring on
tours? Or sites where they list things?

I dunno if they're really that helpful, but maybe one could glean tips. I get a
sense that determining what you need is a personal and dynamic process. You
get your stuff together then look at it. Ideally I suspect that you have a couple
weeks lead time so you can keep looking at it. And even test-riding with it! I
dunno if looking at someone else's list can really help me, but I'm game!
Maybe. On my last tour I didn't have time to think about what to bring until the
day before. Hopefully I do another tour before I forget what I learned. I might
even have a list around somewhere from AFTER my last tour. THAT's when
you REALLY know what's right for you to bring.

At least with this ultralight biz a list might not be so big. Then again I find with
my ultralighting that I bring quite a bit of stuff---just not much of it and it's
stashed in baggies and film-cans.

***

My tip for the day is the Texsport bivvy tent for $25 and 3 lbs. It worked great
for me. --Altho I need to figure a way to make the poles shorter to stash INSIDE
a pannier.

http://www.texsport.net/acatalog/Knollwood_Bivy_Shelter_Tent.html

***

Another tip is that a I have a link to twig-stove info somewhere at my OYB
website---my twig-stove worked great last summer.

***

I did my first tour in a long time last summer---4 days with a group, the famous
DALMAC supported tour, but I rode loaded. It really wasn't much but I had an
interesting time and I really enjoyed the "dialing in the equipment" aspect.

Another tip is that I ended up mailing home several excess BAGS---I didn't end
up needing a saddlebag nor any stuffsacks for tent or bag. My excess bags
weight alone was a couple pounds. (A little stash of plastic grocery bags is
good enough to stick things in inside the pans if it rains.) I was also happy to
mail home my heavy Leatherman tool plus a GPS device.

Another tip is that for 3-season riding and camping I found I only needed 2
jerseys (one wool!), bandanas and arm/leg-warmers. I'd put on everything I had
at night and in the morning. If it had rained I figured I'd find a garbagebag
somewhere or just wear everything and ride wet then ride til the wet was dry if it
stopped raining...

***

Anyway, I wrote up the trip and have a report and some photos at
http://allbikemag.com/article.php?id=436. Here's a few grafs of text where I
reflect on what I brought and why...

[...]

I brought way too much stuff. I sent home 10 pounds after the first day. When I
was done with the whole ride I rifled thru my gear and made another 10 pound
bag that I didn't need. So I started with a total 60-lb bike/load combo, which
went down to 50 lbs but could've been 40. That is, 15 lbs on a 25-lb bike. [My
tour was 3-season---cold at nite and in mornings.] Now, for riding at a
toodling-pace and if I didn't care how my rig looked, my first load was fine. But I
prefer a better match, somehow.

I just prefer doing a ride with the right amount of stuff. After long, hard days of
riding "want" loses its appeal. Need is all that counts. That's what biking made
me realize with the force of virtue. I felt like I'd sinned by bringing more than I
needed. Of course, it's funny because I *want* to only bring what I need, so
want is still in there. [...] A virtuous load would have no bundles on top of the
rear rack and wouldn't bulge the packs out. It would look trim and would tempt
those who saw it to think "Hey, I should try a loaded tour myself next time." A
proper load is a good ambassador.

[...]

Not a lesson but more a note is that I wasn't hungry or thirsty ever. Effort
suppresses my appetite, I guess. But at least I wasn't stupid there. I noticed my
fuel-hydration levels and maintained them. But I wasn't eager about them.
However, I did feel like kicking back under a shade tree and smoking a pipe
and having a beer to cut the sweat. I also noticed that when riding with others
that I noticed the scenery less.

Martha asked as I was getting ready to roll out of the driveway if I was nervous.
I said No, it's what I do. And that proved true. I was totally happy and comfy the
whole time spending the days on the bike and camping out. [...]

I fantasized about aerodynamic panniers quite a bit.

***

So there ya go!  : )  --JP

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