19 Jun Packing Lists For Our Bike Tour from Vancouver to San Francisco
In my previous post, we revealed that we will be riding down the Pacific Coast starting at Vancouver, British Columbia to San Francisco, California. You should know the stops that we will be taking on our month-long adventure but are you curious about what we will be bringing?
I have noticed that one of the unwritten tradition of bicycle touring is that people love to see what you’re packing and bringing. There’s always a certain curiosity of what’s inside those panniers, so instead of denying you this bit of detail from previous trips, we are going to share with you the list of things that both myself and Sang Hyun will be carrying down the coast.
Sang Hyun’s List
The interesting thing to note is that we are planning to step up our videography game as Sang Hyun will be riding with a slider and monopod to improve video panning techniques. Here is Sang Hyun’s list of possessions that he will be traveling with.
- Sleeping bag
- Pillow
- Headlamp
- Ear plugs
- Ear phones
- Toiletries
- Camp towel
- Tarp
- USB wall charger
- Beanie
- Riding shorts x 2
- Bike jersey x 4
- Underwear x 4
- Buff
- Beanie
- Patagonia Nano Puff jacket
- Wool socks x 2 pairs
- Closed finger riding gloves
- Wool arm warmers
- High Vis riding jacket
- Arm sleeve/cooler
- Waterproof socks
- Spork
- Tubes x 2
- Patch kit
- Multi-tool
- Charging cables
- Newtrent Charger
- MSR cooking pan
- Spork
- Lighter
- Chain lube
- Camera
- Cell phone
- Altoid box/Credit card/ID
- Passport
- Tent
- Cable & lock
- Sleeping Pad
- Monopod
- Camera Slider
- Water bottles x 4
- Sunglasses
- Road ID
- Helmet
- Garmin Edge Touring
- Go Pro
- The Purple Book
Johnny’s List
My list is a bit more comprehensive because I need to know exactly what I’m bringing. For example, I could have consolidated 5 things on this list into “toiletries,” but I don’t want to forget anything. You’ll notice that I’ll be carrying the blogging kit which is essentially my iPad with keyboard. I will also have Tara Alan’s cookbook, “Bike Camp Cook” which I received for supporting her Kickstarter campaign. Here we have my list of things I will be carrying. All items with the exception of my undies, spork, and cell phone are pictured above.
- Sleeping bag
- Cocoon bivvy
- Sleeping pad
- Pillow
- Headlamp
- Ear plugs
- Ear phones
- Face wash
- Toothbrush
- Nail clipper
- Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap
- Camp towel
- Contact lens (extra set)
- Glasses
- Handwarmers x 2
- Charging cable
- Pants / Shorts
- Hiking short
- Bike jersey x 3
- Underwear x 4 (Not pictured)
- Wool shirt
- Buff
- North Face Thermoball jacket
- Wool socks x 2 pairs
- Cycling cap
- Beanie
- Blogging kit – iPad, Keyboard, & Case
- Rain jacket / High Vis
- Rain pants
- Helmet rain cover
- Waterproof socks
- Closed finger riding gloves
- Camera battery charger
- ACA Maps
- Jetboil (No fuel)
- Spork (Not pictured)
- First aid kit
- Tubes x 2
- Patch kit
- Fiberfix Spoke
- Extra chain
- Bicycle Multi-tool
- Sunglasses / Riding glasses
- Eye drops
- Camera
- Camera battery
- Passport
- Tent
- Rope
- Waterbladder
- Cable lock
- Goal Zero solar panel
- Water bottles x 3
- Cell phone (Not pictured)
- Road ID
- Credit card / ID / Cash
- Battery packs x 2
- Reflective triangle
- Cookbook
- Front and rear light
- Music speaker
- Helmet
- Frame pump
- 4 Orlieb panniers
Purchasing in Vancouver
Here is a list of things we need to purchase when we land at Vancouver. You’ll notice many of these things are perishable items or things we can’t fly with, like fuel canisters.
- Jetboil fuel
- Contact solutions
- Toothpaste
- Gatorade
- Groceries
- Sunblock
Concerns
Our main concern is that we may be carrying too many things for this trip. Our bikes will be packaged properly and checked-in during our flight. We just need to make sure we don’t exceed the 50 lbs requirement, otherwise it’s a $75 penalty! It’s already going to cost us $50 for the bike and checked-in bag.
I’m sure there are things that each of us can shed, so please let us know your thoughts in the comments below about our packing list. There will definitely be some learning experiences that come along with a long trip like this, and we may even have to send more things home as the month progresses. We will tentatively use this list as a foundation for our packing list for other trips.
tonyg
Posted at 16:17h, 20 JuneIf you have more than 2 panniers of gear plus stuff strapped to the top of the rack, you have too much stuff. If you do not have a 24 tooth small front ring get one, thank me later. I’ve done that trip 3 times. Less is more
Johnny Lam
Posted at 18:01h, 20 June@tonyg – Thanks for the your feedback and insight. That’s a pretty phenomenal feat of riding down the Pacific Coast 3 times. I can definitely see the benefit of dialing down on our things but we just finished a 5 day Joshua Tree trip a few weeks ago with just as much. I suppose if we don’t need anything, we’re going to send it home but for now, I think we are appropriately packed. Thank you for the recommendation.
As for the 24 tooth small front ring, that is an interesting idea. We may switch out in the middle of our trip but for now I’m rolling with my 30T and Sang Hyun is on a 28T. Specifically which area do you think this will play to our advantage having a 24T small chain ring? Do you also know if it is easy to obtain drinking water through-out the trip where you don’t need a water filter? Thanks again for your feedback.
tonyg
Posted at 08:07h, 21 JuneThe 24 tooth ring will fit on your crank as is, it will be used all the time, believe me, you have a good solid heavy bike with a lot of gear. There are all sorts of micro ups and downs along the coast that arent visable on maps. Its also cumulative fatigue that sets in after a few days. I have shipped home front panniers on the road. that was the last time I ever used them. my full loaded touring bike with camp/cook gear is 50 pounds, and I notice it a lot on long uphills, There is water/ stores everywhere on the entire trip. lots of great seafood shacks and taquerias too. I looked at your route,you are using the bible route, its a good one, you will have good weather. use LOTS of sunblock. be safe
Johnny Lam
Posted at 14:32h, 21 June@tonyg – Really good information. It’s good to know that the route we’ve chosen is accommodating in terms of weather and food. We’re planning to get lots of sunblock and if the going gets tough, maybe a 24 tooth ring. Thank you again for your helpful insights.
Mary Kimball
Posted at 13:54h, 14 OctoberLast year I took a camping trip to Yellowstone. To save on driving time, I flew from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. I stupidly admitted to the check-in agent that I had a JetBoil in my bag. I was not permitted to bring it on my flight, either in my carry on bag or in my checked luggage.
Have you found that so long as you don’t mention it that you can fly with your JetBoil? I thought all I had to do was clean it, and I could bring it on.
Johnny Lam
Posted at 21:06h, 16 OctoberHi Mary,
I believe the issue with bringing a Jetboil is the fuel. You definitely cannot travel with the fuel canister in the Jetboil. We had to buy our fuel when we reached Vancouver for this trip. I would just leave it in your checked luggage the next time. I’ve traveled this way across the country without any issues.
~Johnny