Bicycle Touring Checklist

I recently returned from a 4-week bike tour through France and Spain, carrying all of my own kit and camping along the way. Some people have commented that they can’t believe I travel so light, while others have said “how the heck do you fit all that on a bike?” You can fit a surprising amount of stuff on a bike. Of course, the heavier the bike, the harder the journey. Here is a list of what I took with me, plus extras I’d consider taking next time.

Bicycle Touring Checklist

Essentials:

• Bicycle with a rack (mine is a Jamis Nova)

Bike Accessories:

• Panniers (I use Ortlieb – they really are the best, waterproof, durable, simple but perfect design)
• Frame bag
• 2 Waterbottles
• Headlight / Tail light
• Bike computer for recording mileage / speed (mine is a Cateye Enduro 8)
• Bell
• Bike lock
• iPhone mount (I used a Quad Lock and can’t recommend it enough)
• Bungee cords
• Fuzzy dice (or some other trinket on your bike deliver mojo and lift your spirits – I had a little pendent from my sister, and collected stickers from the places I visited along the way)

Bike Tools:

• Air pump
• Patch Kit with Tire Levers
• Spare Inner Tubes
• Chain Lube
• Bicycle Multi-Tool

Camping Gear:

• Tent (Mine is an MSR Hubba HP 1-person tent)
• Sleeping bag
• Air Mattress (I use a Therm-a-Rest ProLite)
• Headlamp

Camp Cooking Gear

• Backpacking Stove (I adore my MSR Pocket Rocket)
• Fuel for stove (bring extra in case you have a hard time finding the fuel you need en route)
• Lighters for the camp stove
• Cooking pots (I have Snowpeak’s Multicompact Titanium Cookset which I love.)
• Mug
• Cup (Nérac cups are great! And versatile!)
• Utensils: Folding knife, spoon, fork (or Spork!), wine bottle opener
• Coffee making stuff (I use the Hario V60 plastic 1-cup coffee dripper, in which case, don’t forget filters, too!)
• Washing up liquid and quick dry towel (REI’s are handy)
• Tea Towels (Good as napkins, or mini picnic blankets, or to dry dishes, or anything! You will always find uses for them!)
• Water “tank” (Handy at the campsite. I just used a 2L plastic bottle which you can crumple and uncrumple as needed – top tip from Mike! But Platypus also makes nice collapsible water holders.)

Cycling Clothes

• Helmet
• T-Shirts (I went for a merino wool t-shirt and tank top over cycling jerseys which are more versatile for off-the-bike shenanigans)
• Cycling Shorts (at least 2 pairs)
• Underwear (Icebreaker Merino Wool Underwear, it’s expensive but so good! I recommend at least 3 pairs.)
• For the ladies – Sports bras (2)
• Socks (Smartwool Merino Socks for me)
• Cycling gloves
• Clippy Cycling Shoes
• Merino Wool Long Sleeve Short (for cooler days)
• Waterproof Jacket
• Waterproof Over-Shoes
• Mountain bike hip pack or some other kind of bum bag / fanny pack for easy-access snacks, wallet, etc

Camp / Town / Beach Clothes

• Pair of shorts
• T-shirt
• Flannel shirt
• Fleece
• Hat
• Walking shoes
• Sandals
• Bathing Suit

Personal Items

• Watch
• Sunglasses
• Eyeglasses
• Sunscreen
• Insect Repellent
• Lip Balm

Toiletries

• Quick Dry Towel
• Washcloth
• Soap / Shampoo
• Deoderant
• Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss
• Toilet Paper (You will want this!)
• Wet wipes
• Skin Cream / Moisturiser
• Nail Clippers
• Tweezers
• Vitamins / Medication / etc
• Ear Plugs
• First Aid Kit
• Ibuprofen
• Anti-Chaffing Balm (You will want this.)

Important Documents

• Wallet
• Driver’s License / Passport
• ATM Card
• Credit Cards
• Cash
• Travel tickets

Gadgets & Travel Goodies

• Phone (which also serves as camera)
• iPad + Case
• Phone / iPad Charger
• Universal plug adapter
• USB Battery Pack (For charging on the go. I use an EasyAcc Classic 10000mAh Power Bank which gives me about 2-3 iPhone charges.)
• Personal Locater Beacon (I use a Spot Gen 3)
• Spare batteries for electronics, headlamp, bike lights, etc
• Guidebook (France en Velo was my friend)
• Notebook
• Pens

Food
I obviously topped this up as I travelled – French markets are the best! But these are the staples I tried to always have on hand. 

• Stuff sack to keep all the food in
• Salt and Pepper
• Individual spices (stored in film canisters)
• Porridge oats
• Quinoa and/or bulgur wheat
• Dried fruit and nuts
• Coffee & tea

Things I wish I had brought:

• Clothing line for drying stuff
• A few bin bags and packing tape for packing my bike for the ALSA bus in Spain
• Picnic blanket
• Air pillow (maybe?)
• Camp chair (ThermaRest’s chair kits are pretty cool)

Optional Extras
This is stuff I didn’t bring but I could see being useful, especially in cooler climates.

• Cycling Long-Tights
• Waterproof Trousers
• Fall/Winter Full-Finger Gloves
• Skull Cap
• Snood
• Trousers for wearing off the bike
• Binoculars
• More bike repair stuff, that I probably wouldn’t know how to use (bicycletouringpro.com has an epic list)