Gear Geek Out!

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One of the common questions we get as we wander around the local Circle K is about the gear it takes to bike across the country (or at least half of it). So tonight’s blog is dedicated to the gear lovers among us and will be about what and why we brought what we did.

I also want to add a huge thank you to my homies at Peoria’s Bushwhacker. Nearly everything we’re carrying is from there and the expertise from the bike mechanics has been invaluable. Now, onto the good stuff.

Micah's 520 missing the left rear pannier. We keep all our food for 36 hours in that pannier and this time, it was time for lunch. Cleveland, OH

Bike: Trek 520

Touring bikes are made of steel and have countless points to carry gear, racks, bottles and the occasional hitchhiker. They’re much like a road bike but have larger gears which make going up those hills a tad easier (but just a tad). My bike is named Sanca (from Disney’s Cool Runnings, but that’s is a story for another blog though) and with rider, gear and bike weighs in about 275lbs. But even with all that girth Sanca rides smooth and corners well.

Extra Geeky Breakdown: If you’re interested in touring, one of the most popular bikes out there is the Surly Long Hauler. We almost went that direction but found the Trek’s geometry to be a bit more comfortable. Also the Long Hauler has smaller wheels for smaller frame sizes (Joelle rides a 51, I ride a 54) and that was a turn off. That, and with the retail price being a couple hundred bucks cheaper and the rear rack included, the 520 won for us. Another shameless plug for going to a bike shop; you don’t really get to know a bike until you ride it. All the stats online just don’t make it real.

This has to be one of the roomiest 3-person tents out there. Seriously, there's so much room for two people and gear. Odell, IL

Tent: Marmot Limelight 3P

There are certainly lighter tents (ours clocks in over 6lbs) but the elevated sides and roominess made this our winner. As a bonus, the rain fly extends slightly from the tent and is large enough to stash panniers underneath it when it rains.

Joelle cooking up some Hamburger Helper. Gibsonburg, OH

Camp Stove: MSR Whisperlite International

I’ll be the first to admit, no one gives us creative points for this pick. The Whisperlite burns camp fuel, gasoline or just about any other flammable liquid and packs down small. But it’s mighty and there’s a reason it’s always at the top of the lists for backpacking/bikepacking stoves.

The Real MVPs: Patagonia Capilene and The North Face 3-1 Convertible Pants

After being cooked by the sun until my back was the texture of friend chicken, I wore my long sleeve capilene baselayer in 90 plus degree heat. I didn’t get over heated and the UV protection did far better than sunscreen. Same for Joelle’s adventure pants. They are zip-off pants that also become capris and are water repellent. Both items have saved burnt shoulders and legs from getting any crispier. But on that thought, I’m starting to crave fried chicken.

Because when you bike across the country, it's nice to have a drone following you for parts of it. Gibsonburg, OH

Other stuff:

We’re carrying a couple of 35 degree North Face sleeping bags, Therma-Rest Prolite Plus pads, a pillow stuffed in a stuff sack, a camp pillow, and enough Sea to Summit dry bags that we could build a make-shift raft.

Other items include:

·       Axiom Panniers

·       Flare R Tail light

·       Water bottles

·       Handle bar bag

·       Saddle bag
 

·       4 shirts

·       2 shorts

·       1 convertible pants

·       Shoes

·       Chacos

·       Raincoat

·       3 pairs of socks

·       4 pairs of underwear

·       Toiletries

·       SUNSCREEN

·       Aloe (picked that up first day…)

·       Bug spray
 

·       Pliers

·       Wrench

·       Multi-tool

·       Spare parts

·       6 spare tubes (tires)

·       Knife

·       Headlamps

·       Hatchet

·       Camp stove

·       Camp stove fuel

·       Pots

·       Mixing spoon/tool

·       Dish soap

·       Wash cloth

·       Pepper and seasonings

·       Matches

·       Water purification tablets

·       Eno hammock and straps

·       First aid kit

·       Foam roller

·       Camp towels
 

·       Drone

·       Canon 6D

·       Laptop

·       Battery bank

·       Small flexible tripod

·       Phones

·       Maps

Today’s Stats:

Left: Mentor, OH, 10am
Sleeping in: a campground in Conneaut, OH, arrived at 6:30 pm
Total mileage: 59 miles.
High Speed: 30.3 mph
Avg. Speed: 10.0 mph
Overall weather conditions: windy
Elevation Gain: 602 ft
Total Trip mileage: 583 mi.