You never really know what you should pack for certain events until after you do it. After experiencing my first overnight bicycle trip on the Great Allegheny Passage I realize I could have packed differently. There were some things I wish I would have packed with me and some things I realize I didn’t need. So here are the things I think you should be packing for a longer bike trip.
Bicycle Racks/Bags/Baskets:
Look into what different gear will help you carry all of your stuff, without making your bike uncomfortably unbalanced or heavy. Some people even pull carts behind their bikes to tow all of their gear with them. Now if you read my earlier post then you might know that I packed my yeti cooler with me. I am really glad I had it, but I do wish I would have purchased a better system for carrying in on my bike. I bought a random rack I found at Dicks Sporting Goods just thinking I could make it work. Mind you we did make it work, but it could have been so much easier. I also added a basket to the front of my bike, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The basket was great for things I wanted to grab quickly, like my mini backpack with my camera and wallet in it.
Bicycle Repair Kit/Necessities:
- Tube patches
- Air Pump
- Wrenches
- Allen Keys
One of the most important things I would suggest packing for your bike trip would be a repair kit. I would highly recommend buying or building your own bicycle repair kit. Just in case something happens at least you will know you are prepared for all the normal things. You can find a basic kit, with just about anything you might need for cheap on Amazon, or at your local Walmart and Target. The specific kit I bought is the one linked through Target just in case you were curious. I got the CO2 inflaters from there as well.
Bicycle Lock:
I feel like this one is a given. Unless you don’t mind if someone walks off with your bike while you eating lunch somewhere lol.
Cooler:
Having a cooler with you is also very convenient. It is especially nice to have snacks like fruits and veggies with you along with some good cold water. I will say carrying a cooler is extra weight and if not done correctly it might be a pain in the butt to haul around, but I wouldn’t go without it. Just be sure to lighten the load as much as you can if you do decide to have a cooler with you. Go with a light style cooler, go with plastic over glass because its lighter. I packed everything in baggies and containers I could throw away along the trip that way the cooler just got lighter as the trip got harder.
Snacks:
Munchies are always something you should pack on your trip. You are going to be burning calories like crazy, so having something to eat with you is important. Protein bar and trail mix are always good options to get some protein and heavier stuff into you. Fruits and veggies are another thing you can’t go wrong with for extra nutrients and hydration.
Phone/Camera/Backup Battery Packs/Chargers:
You’re probably going to want to take pictures, so a phone or camera is a great option to have. Having a phone with you also allows you to track where you are going, and how far you have left. You might also want to look for a good stopping point for food or camping and you can usually find any last-minute information on your phone along the way. This leads me to why a good battery pack is always great. The one I have will charge your phone a few times before it dies, so you can’t go wrong having one with you.
Bicycle Shorts/Padding:
I will say that I didn’t wear bicycle shorts or any type of padding. I also will say that I wish I would have. It would have helped tremendously. Having a comfy bicycle seat is probably not a bad addition, but I would advise some bike shorts as well. You are definitely going to want a comfortable seat, especially when you are going to be sitting on it for a very long time.
Camping Gear:
If you don’t plan to book a room somewhere and you plan on camping then you will need to make sure you have all the necessities for a comfortable night camping. Again I would recommend trying to pack as light as you can. So a small tent or hammock if you can sleep outside. And a sleeping bag for warmth depending on what time of year it is. Flashlight, maybe some light cooking gear.
Toiletires:
Toiletpaper, you are always going to want to make sure you have some kind of toilet paper or wipes just in case you have to go and there isn’t a restroom in sight. As far as everything else I would try to stay as basic as possible to keep your packing light. I would try to pack as much of your toiletries in throw-away containers as you can that way once you use it all you can toss it and have an even lighter trip back.
- Tooth brush/Tooth paste
- single use shampoo/conditioner bottles
- Bar soap/or single use body wash
- Toiletpaper/wipes
- Face wipes/face wash
- mini sunblock
Basic Clothing:
Just be sure to bring the absolute necessities. One outfit for each day, a sweatshirt/raincoat in case, undies and socks. Again I will say you do not want to pack more than what you need.
What not to pack.
Extras:
Don’t try to pack extras. No extra clothes, no extra anything. For someone like me, that is super hard. I always overpack. Whether it’s too many clothes, too much makeup, or extra shower stuff I am always going home with stuff I never even touched. I highly recommend picking out your outfits for each day and only packing what you ABSOLUTELY need. Everything you pack with you, you have to carry and you’re going to want it to be as light as possible. We did 60 miles in 2 days which wasn’t even that much and I was feeling the weight of my overpacking.
There it is the list of the most important things you should be packing for a long bike trip. If you are interested to see how my first overnight trip went and read about some things I learned along the way feel free to check out this post.