10 Things Not to Bring on a Bike Tour

19 Feb 10 Things Not to Bring on a Bike Tour

There is probably a list somewhere on the Internet explaining what you should bring on a bike tour. Heck, I have given you my list of essentials before! So instead of showing you what I typically bring on a bike tour again, let me tell you the top 10 things I DON’T bring on my bike tours. This should help you understand the thoughts behind my packing strategies. These are strategies I’ve learned either from other bicycle tourists or through my own personal experiences.

1. Books

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Believe it or not, some people actually travel with a few books stored away in their panniers. While books provide an excellent form of entertainment while you wind down your day, they can be the most inconvenient thing to bring on a bike tour. They weigh you down and are bulky, so they will take up valuable space in your panniers – space that can be used up by other important things. They can definitely get damaged as a result of moisture from the air or just the day-to-day shuffle of a bike tour.

Alternatives

An alternative to books, is a tablet device, like the iPad Mini Retina or even the cheaper Amazon Kindle. These thin electronic devices generally have long battery lives and are a great way to access your library on the road. Most have back-lit displays so you can read them in your tent without needing an auxiliary light. You can also use your smart phone as a reading device since you may already have that with you. The Kindle app makes it really easy to access your library on the go.

Not everybody has a tablet or smart phone, so another strategy is buying a soft cover version of your book and as you finish reading the pages, you can rip it out and use the paper to stoke a campfire. I personally cringe a bit when I see people ripping books apart, but this serves the dual purpose of entertainment and comfort.

2. Water Filter or Purification Systems

When it comes to having good clean water to drink and cook with, this is always a high priority for most bicycle tourists. When you’re starting out on a bike tour, having a water filter or purification system is absolutely unnecessary, especially when you’re traveling in North America, Europe, or any first world country.  Your water options should be easily available. Because you are riding from town to town, you’re either going to find water from spigots, campsites, or even convenience stores. All it takes is a little planning and you should have potable water to drink. Now if you’re bike packing or riding through areas that are remote and less populated, you may consider bringing a system to purify your water from streams.

Alternatives

Instead of a water filter or purification system, use your stove to boil water. I understand it will waste fuel, but when you’re in a bind and aren’t sure of the water, boiling it should help with the purification process.

Sometimes I bring a MSR Dromedary bag to fill up and carry water as I travel. I use one for my longer trips, and they work fantastically. Especially at places like Joshua Tree in the late Spring, it’s a life saver. The only issue is that there is a plastic taste to it, which I don’t mind, but others may be very particular about.

3. Jeans & Cotton Clothes

I remember my first bike tours, I brought with me 2 pairs of jeans and several cotton t-shirts. Even if they were meant for in-camp use, it was terribly inefficient. Jeans are so heavy and bulky. Getting either jeans or cotton t-shirts wet, meant you are weighed down and would take considerable effort and time to dry them out. Do yourself a favor and leave these at home.

Alternatives

When I discovered hiking shirts and pants, they were the perfect alternatives for my clothing needs. I now bring with me a few Smartwool shirts and a pair of lightweight convertible hiking pants which serve as riding shorts, as well as long pants for in-camp use.

There are also hiking shirts that are lightweight and made with technical materials that wick away sweat and moisture, like wool.  They are very fashionable and pack away in a small package, and can cut your clothing weight considerably.

4. Scarves & Beanies

Since we’re on the subject of clothing, 2 other things not to bring on a bike tour are scarves and beanies. Yes, they may be great for cold nights in camp, but they only serve a single purpose – to warm your head and neck up. On the other hand, they add more bulk to your load. Read on for a better alternative.

Alternatives

One of my favorite things I almost always bring with me is a wool Buff. These were first introduced to me by the Path Less Pedaled and I received mine as Christmas presents and I can’t leave home without them. They are a long tubular cloth that can be twisted and converted into many useful configurations, such as a beanie or neck scarf, to keep your body warm, and it also keeps sweat out of your eye during your ride. The versatility combined with its lightweight feature make them the most ideal thing to bring instead of your scarf or beanie hat.

5. Tripod

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One of the major appeals of bike touring is to be able to capture the moment using a camera. Having one is highly recommended for any tour, but having a tripod is not. They’re just a hassle to haul around and the amount of time you actually use one is not worth having them around. When are you realistically going to stop and pull out a tripod, slide your camera into place and take photos and break it down and go on your way?

Alternatives

If you must have one, bring a small one or a Joby Gorillapod. These are smaller than your typical camera tripods and are versatile enough to be mounted at various places to give you interesting angles.

Traveling with a friend or with other bicycle tourists allows you to have someone help take your pictures and videos. Don’t be shy and ask for help. I personally don’t travel with a tripod, but I know Darren Alff of The Bicycle Touring Pro travels with one to take candid photos of his trip.

6. Wallet

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Now I don’t mean ditch your wallet with the credit cards, identification cards, and money at home.  What I mean is find another method to hold your essentials. Your traditional leather wallet does not have a place in your travels as it is too bulky and can easily be misplaced.

Alternatives

I would recommend finding something else that serves as your wallet. Something like the GSI Cool Sealed Waterproof bag will not only hold your cards and money, but it will also keep your cellphone safe from downpours. I don’t have this, but I do have a neoprene pouch which I got from a conference for free. It has loops for me to attach to my panniers with carabiners for quick external access. Also, don’t take ALL your cards. I think a credit card, debit card, and a photo id is really all that you need.

7. Contact Lens

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I learned this the hard way on my Pacific Coast trip. I had days where I did not have running water for a shower and my water supply was best used for consumption, so having water to clean my hands and remove my contact lenses was not an option. I quickly ditched my contact lens and sent my contact lens, case, and solution home as soon as possible.

Alternatives

Bring your glasses with you regardless if you are wearing contact lens or not. Having my glasses helped me during my Pacific Coast tour to rest my dry eyes from days of wearing the same lens without washing them. A better solution is have a pair of glasses where the lens would dim automatically when you’re in the sun or have a pair of prescription sunglasses.

8. Extra Spokes

Touring bikes like the popular Surly Long Haul Trucker gives you extra spokes that are placed opposite side of the chainstay areas on the bike. This is an elegant solution to something that may not ever happen to you on a bicycle tour. Carrying extra spokes is unnecessary as they are a hassle to store away and may require you to have the right tools to remove, especially if it’s a rear wheel. It’ll take a lot of beating and miles to get to a point where your spokes may break.

Alternatives

Do yourself a favor and get the FiberFix Emergency spoke kit. I’ve recommended this in the past and can’t highly recommend them enough. They are great to keep your wheel in running condition until you can make it over to a bike shop to get your broken spokes replaced for good. They fit on all wheel sizes and do not require special tools to install. They are made out of Kevlar material and will last a long time.

9. Pillow

This is something I haven’t subscribe to yet, as I just bought a new Sea To Summit Ultralight pillow but friends I know who have owned inflatable pillows do not like them. Pillows like these only have 1 purpose and that’s to keep your head propped up and keeping you comfortable. I had recommended a Thermarest pillow in the past, but during my Pacific Coast trip, the pillow retained moisture and started to smell bad even after being washed.

Alternatives

One of the known tricks from backpackers is to use the stuff sack your sleeping bag comes in.  Stuff it with your jackets and clean clothes to make yourself a pillow. I’ve tried this before, but didn’t achieve the comfort I desired.  That doesn’t mean I won’t try it again, but for now, let’s see how this new inflatable pillow performs on a few of my trips.

10. Guitar

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Guitars are heavy and are prone to getting damaged on the ride. Do yourself a favor and don’t be that guy!

I forgot where I read this on the Internet in regards to people bringing guitars on their bike tours. They mention that that’s usually the easiest way to spot the newbie, as they are carrying their guitars and a whole lotta other stuff on their bikes. On our trip down the Pacific Coast, there was a young guy, who not only had a full set of panniers, but he was hauling an extra trailer to haul his guitar and fishing gear. The idea of getting into camp with enough energy and inspiration to sit down and play a guitar is absurd. Guitars are heavy and are prone to getting damaged on the ride. Do yourself a favor and don’t be that guy!

Alternatives

If you think you’re going to have the energy and time to play a musical instrument, I would consider turning to a harmonica or maybe a ukulele. A ukulele may not be ideal as it can be very awkward to carry, but like I said, if you are dying to play a string instrument, a ukulele is as small as it gets.

Final Thoughts

When I was coming up with this list of things, there were other choices that came to mind. This list can easily grow in size as I have seen a lot of things people bring with them on bike tours that make my jaw drop. It’s usually not because I am impressed or amazed by it, but rather in the, “I can’t believe you brought this with you” sense. For example, I’ve seen someone riding with a full-size Coleman 2 Burner Propane stove and propane fuel. I am not making fun of them as they are actually out there traveling in a way that they know how. It is only when you do more of this and see other people’s solutions that you learn how to improve your comfort, resulting in a better experience on the road. We all have to start somewhere!

Let me know what would be on your list of “not to bring” for a bike tour. Would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions.

Please share with others if you find this useful.

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