The two-week packing list
The rule is simple: if I did not use it on the last two trips, it stays home. This list has shrunk every season.
Riding gear
- Textile jacket and trousers with removable thermal liners
- Two pairs of gloves: summer and waterproof
- Thin rain over-suit — lighter than relying on the membrane alone
- Neck tube, earplugs (always), spare visor insert
Clothes
- Three sets of quick-dry base layers, washed in the sink every evening
- One pair of light trousers and one shirt for dinner
- Light trainers that pack flat
- Thin down jacket — doubles as a pillow
Tools and spares
- Tubeless repair kit and small electric pump
- Compact tool roll matched to the bike's bolts
- Cable ties, electrical tape, a short length of wire
- Chain lube and a rag
- Spare fuses and a bulb
The three things that saved a trip
- Cable ties. Held a cracked indicator, a luggage mount and once a side stand spring.
- Offline maps on the phone. Mountain valleys have no signal exactly when you need it.
- A paper copy of documents. Registration, insurance, licence. Ferries and border posts still like paper.
What I stopped carrying
- Camping gear — small guesthouses are cheap off-season
- A second pair of boots
- The laptop