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Ten Tips To Outfit Your Bicycle For Touring
By spokesman | May 20, 2010
The purpose of this post is to give you ten tips to outfit your bike for touring, especially for a self supported multi-day tour. This list was motivated by a friend that I meet at a party, who is planning a cross country tip. This list focuses on accessories and things that you should bring.
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Campus Pedals - These are dual sided pedals that with a shimano cleat on on side and a flat surface on the other side. These pedals eliminates a single point of failure and allow you to ride with and without biking shoes.
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Pump With Retractable Hose (wrap some duct tape on the pump) - Performance bike has several small frame pumps with a retractable hose. It is easier to get tires up to high pressure with these pumps and there is less chance of damaging a valve.
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Rear View Mirror -You are going to ride in new places. It can be a helmet or glasses mounted small mirror or a larger one that mounts on you handle bars.
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Lights - Y0u won’t plan to ride at night or in the dark - but it will happen. Even in rain strong during the day, it can get dark enough that lights are important. You need a head light and a rear blinker. Put a reflective traffic triangle on the rear of your panniers or on your back.
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Plastic Bags in panniers - I am leaving panniers and packs off of this list because it seems to basic, but one thing that is overlooked is packing in plastic bags. It adds virtually no weight and will help keep your stuff dry. Line the panniers with a large garbage bag. Use gallon size zip-lock bags for certain items.
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Fenders - While we are on the subject of keeping dry, fenders help keep you and the bike cleaner and drier.
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The Right Tools and Knowledge To Use Them - Have the tools to adjust all of the bolts on you bike. You don’t need to bring a large pedal wrench or bottom bracket puller.
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Knife - Bicycle multi-tools rarely include a knife but it can be useful. A Swiss army knife with a pair of scissors and a small file is good. Some even have a small wood saw which can be useful if you are camping.
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Extra Parts and Little Miscellaneous Extra Stuff - The obvious things include extra bike parts such as extra tubes, an extra tire (yes a tire, a folding one packs easily) extra cables, extra spokes, allen bolts, chain links and lube. Other little things that take up virtually no weight and are helpful on repairs include wire ties, some duct tape (wrapped on pump or tire lever), presta/shrader converter, and federal express tyvek envelope (for tire patches).
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First Aid Kit - You don’t plan on needing it, but it is good to have.
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Cell Phone and charger - I know that this is a top ten list and this is item number 11. However, you may not think of it as a bike accessory because you carry a phone all of the time. There is not cell phone coverage everywhere (my trips on the C&O Canal, Alaska and the Canadian Rockies for example), but it is still good to have a phone. I have seen groups on tours bring walkie-talkies. The walkie-talkies help keep the group in contact.
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Topics: Bike Accessories, Touring Tips |