The Southern States - San Diego CA to St. Augustine FL
The Equipment List
The Equipment List
This is the list of everything I have with me at the start of the trip. I thought this would be all the things I need to handle anything that might happen on this trip. I decided to travel as light as possible because I have limited storage space on my bike. Hoping this would prevent me from over packing for the trip. The backpacking experience I have taught me to go as light as you can. I decided to forgo the front set of panniers with the rack and also the handlebar bag. I made a special box for extra storage space on the bike. I've included some commentary about the equipment, what work, what didn't. If I was going to do another bike tour trip, there certain things I would change. After every adventure, one get a little more experience and little more wisely. For some this would be too much stuff, for others far too little. It all depends on your comfort level, what you can live with, what you can live without. I hope that all of this might be of some use in planning your trip.
The Bike
My bike is a twenty-one speed Trek 830 Mountain Bike, the entrance level model, plain and simple. I thought it would be sturdy enough to make the trip without any trouble. I did some mountain biking in West Virginia with this bike, the bike survives, and I almost did not. I figure that with a mountain bike, I wouldn't need to carry all the extra tools and parts you need with a touring bike. Also I didn't need to spend money on a touring bike I might use only for this one trip. I replace the knobby tires with slick tires. Thought the slick tires would take less energy to push because they are smooth and the higher air pressure they can take. Tire liners were place inside the tires. The storage space was a rear set of panniers and a home made metal box that I mount on the main triangle of the bike. Two water bottle cages were mounted on the sides of the box and a large size bottle cage was mount underneath. The tent and tarp was strapped to the top. A surprising amount of stuff could be packed inside the box. Almost all of the equipment went inside and the clothing was put in the panniers. All heavy items went in the bottom, bike tools, stove, cook ware, with food and clothing stuffed on top to keep it pack tight and keep things from moving about. This centers the weight on the bike and I thought this made the bike very sable and it handle well. With the weight center, the bike was balance on the kickstand, so I keep it on. The sleeping bag was strapped on top of the rack. In this position, the sleeping bag prevents water from rear wheel flying up on your back. Also the center box acted like a fender to keep water from flying up from the front wheel. The box is mine own design. It is a length of channel bend to match the large triangle of the bike frame. Aluminum sheet metal was rivet to the channel and the unit was bolted to the bike. The box weight less than a rack and panniers set would. I make the box for a future off road bike trip I was planning to doing. I thought is would work better than a conventional panniers set and or handlebar bag for off road riding.
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