When I started my trip I didn’t know how much equipment to bring along, what was ”nice to have” and what was ”need to have” and where I would be able to buy new stuff if something broke.
It turned out I would have been alright with a lot less than I chose to pack into the trailer. Half would have been enough, I know that know. If you plan on doing a similar trip to mine feel safe with leaving these things at home:
Hammock: ”All I need is two trees and I’ll have a bed ready”. And if there are NO trees? I didn’t use it once on my whole trip. I could have, but my tent was far superior.
Two books: I read books in my iPhone, why bring to thick books along then?
The jogger kit for my trailer: ”I’ll start every morning with a 45-60 min jog”. My foot was still recovering from an injury and it never got better, so running never became an alternative. Mounting the jogger kit, rearranging the content of the trailer, placing the bike ON the trailer might sound like a 5 min procedure, and it is, but I just wanted to get going as fast as possible after breakfast.
Two types of chain lube: Use one until it’s empty then buy a new.
Four pairs of clothes: No. You will use one piece until it stinks so bad you are disgusted by yourself, then you’ll put the second one on and wash the first. You will not need more than two of anything. If you realize after ten days that you miss something, buy it at Walmart.
Two expensive things: If you have one expensive sleeping bag, the second one (if you plan on going to cold places) should be one that you don’t mind throwing away (or donating to a homeless shelter) after entering warmer areas.
50 meters of rope: Unless you are a cowboy, 10 m is enough. Make sure you know how to make knots before you need to make one.
Empty bottles: Bringing an empty inhalor isn’t going to make breathing easier. Two half full bottles of soap take up twice the space as one full. Makes sense, right?
Thick clothes: Three thin shirts are better than one thick. Don’t bring the thick one with you at all, it will only take up space that can be used for…a dog.
Plastic bags: Bring a few bags of really good quality and use the shitty ones only for garbage. No, you don’t need 15 bags.
Gear that hasn’t been tested: You’ll get disappointed. You will. Don’t kid yourself.
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The list with the equipment I did use a lot and what I thought about it will be expanding as I get time to sit down and write. Hopefully I will make the life for future cross continent cyclists a little bit easier by supplying important pros and cons for each item.
Good luck with your shopping!
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