Touring Gear

How to Choose Touring Gear If you're an avid backpacker, you probably already own much of the gear you'll need for touring. Both activities rely on lightweight, compact, durable designs and materials. However, with touring there is some cycling-specific gear you'll need. These buying tips are followed by descriptions of the gear you'll need on a bicycle tour. Purchase items only as you need them. Buy the highest quality you can afford. Consider items that will be effective on a range of tours. Buying Gear Start Slowly You don't have to buy everything at once. Concentrate on the basics, then pick up new items as your tours get longer and more adventurous. Buy With a Range of Trips in Mind When possible, purchase gear and clothing that can be used for a wide variety of bike tours (as well as other sports like hiking, backpacking, climbing). Be Realistic Select gear and clothing that matches the kinds of trips you're likely to enjoy. In other words, don't waste money on high-capacity bike bags if you plan on doing all of your touring on Saturday afternoons near home. Consider Typical Conditions The weather and terrain you're likely to tour in will help determine the gear you need. It's important to prepare for a wide variety of conditions, but if you love desert riding, chances are you'll need different gear than people who ride in cold or moist climates. Buy Quality Bicycle touring is tough on equipment and clothing. Quality products cost a little more up front, but they last longer, perform better and are more dependable. Remember—broken gear can mean the end of a tour. Keep Weight and Bulk in Mind Keeping your gear load light and compact will make touring easier (less weight to lug around mile after mile) and safer (less weight to balance and control while riding). To ensure a manageable load: Look for lightweight, compact gear designs. Avoid unnecessary extras. Look for products that can perform multiple tasks—like bike headlights that can be detached and used as flashlights. Share gear with fellow cyclists. The Essentials Helmet Head injuries are the most common cause of cycling deaths and disabilities. Not surprisingly, helmets are required by law in many areas. Wear an approved cycling helmet every time you ride. Cycling helmets come in a variety of shapes, styles and sizes. Finding one that fits well is essential for good helmet performance. Any time you crash and take a significant hit to your helmet, replace it, even if there is no visible damage. Hidden damage may compromise your helmet's safety. Gloves With perforated Lycra® spandex on the back for stretch, synthetic or real leather on the palms and a terry cloth or microfleece wipe on the top of the thumb, cycling gloves are tough, breathable and useful. They come in full- or half-fingered designs for cool- or warm-weather rides. Tire Pump Flat tires can occur on any bike tour, so carry a lightweight, compact bike pump with you on every ride. Make sure the pump you choose (1) matches your tire valves (Schraeder or Presta)—many are adjustable to fit either type, (2) is durable and lightweight and (3) either attaches to your bike frame or is easy to store in one of your bike bags. Also make sure that you know how to operate your pump before you leave home. Basic Tool Kit Never leave home without a basic selection of cycling tools to perform adjustments and repairs. The specific items you need will depend on your type of tour. Hydration Staying well hydrated will make your ride easier and more comfortable. Carry at least one water bottle with you whenever you ride. Many experienced touring cyclists carry two (or more) bottles with them, keeping one full when riding through developed areas and filling both in areas where water is scarce. Choose tough, lightweight water bottles (cracked or punctured bottles can mean trouble, especially when you're traveling in remote areas with few water sources). The most convenient way to carry a water bottle is in a "cage" that attaches to your bike frame. These holders keep your bottles close at hand and out of the wind. Most bike frames have convenient attachment points for water bottle cages. Some require cages that can be clamped on. You may also want to consider using a hydration pack instead of a traditional water bottle. A hydration pack is a portable water reservoir worn on the back as you ride. A hose running from the reservoir to the pack's shoulder strap lets you sip water, hands-free. Thus equipped, you don't have to take your hands from your handlebars to drink. More and more cyclists are choosing convenient hydration packs for all kinds of riding. Saddlebag If you don't want to carry your tool kit or spare tube in your backpack or hydration pack (and you shouldn't on longer rides for your back's sake), a great alternative is a saddlebag. These attach under the seat and are perfect for carrying small items. Some models even come with a built-in tool kit. Learn more about choosing a saddlebag. Toe-Clips Toe-clips keep your feet connected to your pedals throughout each pedaling cycle, enabling you to pull up with one foot as you push down with the other. This increases pedaling efficiency and decreases fatigue, especially on longer rides. Clipless Pedal Systems Some cyclists prefer clipless pedal systems to toe-clips. Clipless systems have special pedals that cyclists literally "clip" into, using special shoes with cleats built onto (or into) the soles. Clipless pedal systems offer a stronger, more sturdy connection between you and your bicycle than toe-clips. Their only drawback is that they're more expensive. Reflectors Simple and inexpensive, these safety devices draw attention to your position and direction. Make sure your bike has one facing the rear (required by law in most areas) and another in front. If you've removed these reflectors for any reason, return them to their original positions. Bike bags and clothing that have reflective strips, sections or panels are great. But use them in addition to bike reflectors, not as replacements. Spare Tube Don't leave home without one. Your patch kit will help in most cases, but if you have a massive blowout or a valve breaks, a spare tube is your best option. Advanced Attachments As your bike tours get longer, more challenging and farther from home, you'll need additional equipment to be properly prepared. Again, the specific items you need will depend upon the type of tour you have planned. Bicycle Bags Bicycle bags, or panniers, are specialized storage bags that attach to your bicycle. Not everyone who tours needs them on every trip. But when equipment loads start getting large or heavy, most touring cyclists prefer to use them. In general, bike bags are designed to: keep equipment and clothing safe, secure and protected from the elements. position equipment and clothing away from your legs and moving bike parts. minimize the effect that your gear load has on your balance and bike control. NOTE: Avoid using regular backpacks or daypacks to carry gear while you ride. Weight carried up high on your back raises your center of gravity and can make balancing much more difficult. Bicycle Racks If you're using panniers, you'll need the racks that carry these bags. On some tours, tour operators or support vehicles shoulder the load. But sooner or later, you'll have to carry your gear with you. Bike racks hold the bike bags out away from your legs and the moving parts of the bicycle. Rear racks are especially popular among touring cyclists since they can be used to store moderate to large amounts of gear in one of the most efficient positions on the bike—low over the rear wheel and centered side-to-side. Rear-View Mirror A lightweight, compact rear-view mirror helps you check for approaching traffic without having to turn your head too far. Some models attach to handlebars, others attach to brake levers, while still others clip onto bicycle helmets or eyeglasses. Bike-mounted models can be difficult to use when the road is rough, when the bike is shaking or when your rear panniers are large enough to partially block the view. Riders often have to turn their bikes slightly to get a clear view. Helmet-mounted and eyeglass-mounted mirrors avoid this problem, but getting used to them takes some time. Bike Lights Carry a bike lighting system with you on all but the very shortest tours. It doesn't matter if you plan on riding at night or not. Plans can change, schedules can get messed up and people can take longer than expected to get from A to B. To protect yourself from passing motorists, other cyclists and unseen obstacles, use both of the following: Headlights: In addition to lighting the road in front of you, headlights also let vehicles and pedestrians know you're approaching. The most convenient models attach directly to your handlebars using a mounting bracket or clamp. Many also can be detached to serve as portable flashlights. Taillights: These attract the attention of vehicles and cyclists that are approaching from behind. Many models use strobe lights to make you visible. Taillights can be attached directly to your clothing or hooked onto your bicycle (usually on the seatpost). They are especially important when traveling on roads with lots of auto traffic. Learn more about choosing bicycle lights. Cycling Extras The following items are not necessary for all bike tours, but they can make your ride more comfortable. Handlebar Pads and Tape In addition to cycling gloves, hand protection options include padded-foam (or gel-filled) handlebar pads or padded handlebar tape. One caveat: Too much handlebar padding may affect your ability to steer. Seat Pads Foam and gel-filled pads provide extra saddle cushioning. These pads won't make up for a poorly chosen, ill-fitting saddle, but they can help lessen discomfort on long rides or rough roads. Fenders Fenders help keep dirt, mud and water spray off of you and your gear, especially in bad weather. Fenders are available for front and rear wheels, in a variety of sizes to fit different bikes. They add weight but are a nice addition in foul conditions. Cycling Computers Cycling computers are small, lightweight devices that provide information about things such as bike speed, elapsed ride time, distance traveled, average speed and maximum speed. Some can also help you maintain a steady pedaling cadence, which can help you ride more efficiently and save your knees. A variety of models are available, offering different options. Most attach directly to bicycle handlebars. Tire Protection Several devices help cyclists avoid punctured tires. Most will add rolling weight to your tires, and none of them is guaranteed to work every time. However, they can be a wise investment if you're planning a tour over rough terrain, on gravel roads or in remote areas where spare tires or tubes may not be easily available. Tire Liners: These tough polyurethane strips fit between your tubes and your tires to stop objects that penetrate the tire from popping the tube as well. Self-Sealing Tubes: These tubes seal themselves after minor punctures. Puncture-Resistant Tubes: These tubes are harder to puncture than regular tubes. Camping Gear If you decide to camp outdoors during a bicycle tour, you'll need the same kinds of camping equipment that backpackers and other backcountry travelers use. Space will be limited, so stick to the essentials and choose your gear wisely. Remember: Overloaded bikes are harder (and less fun) to pedal and can be harder to control. NOTE: For more detailed information about choosing camping items, please refer to Selecting Gear.