These are just five of the things I like to bring on my bike tours. Do you have any smart gear that I might have missed bringing? If that is the case I'm curious to read about your gear. Feel free to share your experiences below!
Hi Mike, I always bring a space blanket with me. It can reflect the sunlight in summer and make my tent cool and dark for a better sleep, push the temperature rating of my sleeping bag in unexpected cold weather, reflect body heat from the ground if my sleeping pad has not enough r value, can be used as a improvised tarp to give me some more space in front of my tent, can warm my cold feet for hours if I add a bottle of warm water.... I coud go on for hours. To prevent the space blanket from ripping I encircle it with a light tape, this will hold for years.
Hi,Mike ! I took with me a Portable Sewing Box . I think it's good to have one because any time you can have some problems with your clothes and i think it's a must-have . Zip ties as well, these are light and so useful when something is broken. Thanks !
Hi Mike, my essentials include an old credit or store card with about a metre of duct tape on it, zip ties, sewing kit, good stylish protection glasses to keep your eyes safe from roadside and other debris and flies. not the closed ones - they steam up, the wrap around ones that look like shades. In the winter my small stainless steel flask allows me hot brews whilst cycling, I'm on holiday with no rush so I'm not bothered with skeleton kits - I go for comfort. 4 panniers and bar bag, then tent and sleeping bags on the rear, clothes on the front - black bag used, red bags fresh - (waterproof stuff-sacks). snacks are in the bar bag and drinks on the tubes. I try for 40 - 60 km a day but it's not a rule, I don't make hard and fast plans, I'm on holiday! First aid bag for small journeys, first aid box in the trailer for more than a week.
Hi Mike, good tips. Al these items I have with me. Earplugs are really a must have if you're light sleeper such as me. Regarding the powerbank, you also need a good charger with it, a 10 watt charger will load your powerbank a lot faster then a 5W one.
@@BikeTouringMike I have this charger: us.anker.com/products/powerport-atom-iii-slim-four-ports It doesn't weigh much and I can charge multiple devices at once, including my iPad. With these modern Gallium nitride chargers you get a lot of power in a small form factor. BTW I forgot to mention duct tape is always handy to have with you.
A couple tips from my backpacking gear. A Deuce of Spades trawl (from Amazon) for burying any deposits (weighs 17 grams). Also if dry your wipes they are half the weight. Just add a little water and they are good to go.
Three thing to add to Mike's list I carry a Spray bottle filled with water, I have 500 ml and a one cup spray bottle to chose from. It is my emergency water supply as well as my shower. A little ware goes a long way in a dry camp and there are no wet wipes to dispose of. On the road a squirt to the face cools me off. and washes the salt off my eyes and face. A trick I learned from a Kindergarten teacher. I like self darkening glasses. I only need to bring one pair of glasses and they adjust to the sun light, Since Covid I have discovered many uses for my cloth face mask. It works great on the road for dust and allergies and at night blocks out camp ground lights or a full moon. I have seen people wearing them, out for a walk on a winter day.
My "always carry" items are some duct tape, a small folding knife, zip ties, emergency blanket, and/or a fire stick or waterproof matches. Been enjoying your videos ....
Very good points. Never thought of a power bank that way. Am also in the market for a pillow. Perfect timing. Just got the bike out and outfitted. Going for a test ride today. 30 F here. Take care, Al
Hi Mike. Great video as always. One item to add is a light weight tent peg hammer. I always see people roll into the campground and they search for a big rock to pound in their tent pegs. I have heard many swear words over this. REI has a great very light weight (but strong) hammer and I love it. I would add this to the list! Thanks again for all your great videos. P.S. the red light is also really great.
Thanks for the tips. The powerbank tip is especially good as it is tempting to buy a huge capacity unit. Better to have a couple of the type you mention. recharge time is a killer. Also, thanks for the tip on the tent lamp. I have gone to Decathlon to buy that. Please do share any more tips you have. Useful for a novice like me!
Great ideas! My Lexan/plastic spoon has been on 30 years of adventures. Inexpensive and very light. If you eat out of a bowl you can tie them together.
Well it isn’t the most sexy item but I do believe it is an essential. When you go for number 2 in the great outdoors I have bought the Tentlab deuce. Really lightweight to make a little hole to put your toiletpaper in. 1. Dig a small hole. 2. Go for number 2. 3. Burn your toiletpaper in this hole. 4. Cover up the hole. Basic but vital bushcraft tip to show your love and respect to nature. ❤️🌳
I'm taking a powerbank for the first time this year. I've got a dynamo but it's not enough. I've met some guys who use solar and I did think about it but they're bulky. The powerbank is relatively heavy but small. I usually go in a hotel like once a week and I can re-charge overnight.
I use a solar powered power bank from Amazon that I have attached to the rear rack so it stays charged while I’m riding and also charges my cell phone and additional smaller bank strapped to my recumbent trike boom that powers my bike computer and front light.
Great to hear that you found it useful. What I forgot to mention in the video is that you need a Usb C-charger with at least 10W output to be able to fast charge your powerbank. I brifly showed mine in the video, but didn't talk about it. I just use my Samsung S20 charger for the job.
Purchase your wet wipes ahead of time and open the package to dry out. A few dribbles of water on a dried out wet wipe brings it back to life and you have a dry wipe to dry the crevices.
Thanks Mike, used your affiliate link for the Treklology pillow. Was debating using an existing pillow but is very large and this looks like a better solution for a lot less space at a super reasonable price and I like the idea of the strap to the pad to hold it in place. I do wonder how that works though, do you then place the pad inside your bag or the mummy top over the top of the pad/pillow combination, which of course would keep body oils off of the pillow as well.
Hi Mike, Ive enjoyed your touring videos - motivation to get out for 'training' during lockdown. This is a good list - the red light at night is a new idea to me. Instead of wet wipes I usually carry a damp flannel in a ziplock bag and rinse it out whenever I get the chance (usually when getting drinking water). But I have sterile wipes in the first aid.
Mike, check out the Uribag. Great for when you need to leave a message in the middle of the night and don't feel like getting out into the cold with the bears and the bulls. Compact, light weight, and won't break and cause a splash.
An excellent suggestion for colder months indeed. I reuse old nut bags, as they are often made of heavy duty plastic, they self-stand, closed shut with dual zipper, can be folded real small and we throw them in the bin anyway.
Hey Mike...was hoping someone would've already hit this one, but when it comes to camping, I always bring along a folding shovel to bury any deposits. Not the classiest, but you know what I mean. Thanks for the video Mike, hope all is well.
Hi Mike! Great video, you got me sold on the inflatable pillow ;) Working on a similar video (w2w) at the moment so really interesting to see yours. Thanks and Tailwinds, Eric
Some great tips. Unfortunately I've already bought all my devices for this years excursions, but I'll keep your advice in mind while using them incase I want to make any changes next year. Cheers!
First of all I want to go back to Norway and do a long (about 14 day) tour along the Arctic Coast. But I really want to go to some warmer climate to do some cycling as well, but I realize that it will probably have to wait for another year.
When bike camping you are almost always in a tent. What about the tent pegs and specifically pounding them into the ground? Almost everyone I see tries to step on the pegs or looks for a rock to pound them into the ground and then perhaps when it does not go well they use bad language. I found a very light weight high impact (looks like something out of your tool box) hammer from REI. It is very light weight and your can really beat on the tent pegs without damaging the hammer. I cannot do without this wonderful tool! P.S. got the Sea-to-Summit pillow and it is really great. Get this pillow. You get what you pay for. Forget about the other pillows in my opinion.
Great advice once again. I’m that guy snoring 50 yards away! Is the red light useful when loitering outside a French massage parlour?? Spring has sprung here we had 24 degrees this week. Much love Ed
Hey Mike, I've read elsewhere that baking soda, mixed with a bit of water, could be a great substitute for a deodorant. Have you tried it? Wet wipes, especially those daisy scented ones, are believed to attract bears to your campground. Would love to hear your take on that as well.
Hi Mike, I wonder why you don't bring a solar panel anymore? Specially for wild camping I find my solar panel essential. I use it as a windshield aswell while cooking. Without solar panel I woud get real problems on biketours.
Haha, at the moment I usually have a eanie or a buff on my head when I commute to work, since it's so cold in the mornings. But I usually don't pull it down over my eyes ;-)
Seems like your problems are my opportunities. I always think camping is good for me because it's impossible to sleep until 14:30 in a tent, it will be baking hot and too noisy long before that.
It's harder to stay alert if you're tired all the time because you don't get good sleep. The real danger is not when you are snug in your tent at night. It's when you are rolling down the road where anything can come flying at you at any moment.
Small USB fan. I can sleep in a hot tent as long as I have air blowing on my face. Otherwise torture. Also lightweight folding chair - weighs 1 lb. (.45 kg). Sounds frivolous but worth the extra weight.
There are also those that have a 2A input (USB A) that are about twice as fast, so that might be a good option as well. Bust the PD ones are the best, but can be a bit more pricey.
@@BikeTouringMike i saw him previously in a video of the Bicycle Touring Pro, when he and his friends came for a visit on their Sweden tour. older video, but youtube suggested me that recently. Always a joy to see a random cat appear in youtube clips that are about something else.
These are just five of the things I like to bring on my bike tours. Do you have any smart gear that I might have missed bringing? If that is the case I'm curious to read about your gear. Feel free to share your experiences below!
Wet wipes is an excellent idea. I use the heavy duty floor wipes as they are bigger and stronger.
Hi Mike,
I always bring a space blanket with me. It can reflect the sunlight in summer and make my tent cool and dark for a better sleep, push the temperature rating of my sleeping bag in unexpected cold weather, reflect body heat from the ground if my sleeping pad has not enough r value, can be used as a improvised tarp to give me some more space in front of my tent, can warm my cold feet for hours if I add a bottle of warm water....
I coud go on for hours. To prevent the space blanket from ripping I encircle it with a light tape, this will hold for years.
Hi,Mike ! I took with me a Portable Sewing Box . I think it's good to have one because any time you can have some problems with your clothes and i think it's a must-have . Zip ties as well, these are light and so useful when something is broken. Thanks !
I'm doing a video in similar fashion about tools and repair kit I bring, and zip ties are defenitely making it on to that list.
Hi Mike, my essentials include an old credit or store card with about a metre of duct tape on it, zip ties, sewing kit, good stylish protection glasses to keep your eyes safe from roadside and other debris and flies. not the closed ones - they steam up, the wrap around ones that look like shades. In the winter my small stainless steel flask allows me hot brews whilst cycling, I'm on holiday with no rush so I'm not bothered with skeleton kits - I go for comfort. 4 panniers and bar bag, then tent and sleeping bags on the rear, clothes on the front - black bag used, red bags fresh - (waterproof stuff-sacks). snacks are in the bar bag and drinks on the tubes. I try for 40 - 60 km a day but it's not a rule, I don't make hard and fast plans, I'm on holiday! First aid bag for small journeys, first aid box in the trailer for more than a week.
Hi Mike, good tips. Al these items I have with me. Earplugs are really a must have if you're light sleeper such as me. Regarding the powerbank, you also need a good charger with it, a 10 watt charger will load your powerbank a lot faster then a 5W one.
You're spot on there. Dang it, should have mentioned it in the video. The one that I briefly showed is actually 18W, so it's super fast.
@@BikeTouringMike I have this charger: us.anker.com/products/powerport-atom-iii-slim-four-ports
It doesn't weigh much and I can charge multiple devices at once, including my iPad. With these modern Gallium nitride chargers you get a lot of power in a small form factor. BTW I forgot to mention duct tape is always handy to have with you.
Hand Sanitiser. Yes, the Covid one. But it also works well for cleaning your hands after fixing a puncture or maintenance - and other hygiene stuff.
These videos are awesome Mike! They are so wholesome and just calming to chill out after a long day. Keep doing what you’re doing!!!
Sunglasses and lip balm are my must have items!!
Not in Wales 😂
Hahaha, that beanie part got me good. Your videos are so helpful and entertaining!!
A couple tips from my backpacking gear. A Deuce of Spades trawl (from Amazon) for burying any deposits (weighs 17 grams). Also if dry your wipes they are half the weight. Just add a little water and they are good to go.
Three thing to add to Mike's list I carry a Spray bottle filled with water, I have 500 ml and a one cup spray bottle to chose from. It is my emergency water supply as well as my shower. A little ware goes a long way in a dry camp and there are no wet wipes to dispose of. On the road a squirt to the face cools me off. and washes the salt off my eyes and face. A trick I learned from a Kindergarten teacher. I like self darkening glasses. I only need to bring one pair of glasses and they adjust to the sun light, Since Covid I have discovered many uses for my cloth face mask. It works great on the road for dust and allergies and at night blocks out camp ground lights or a full moon. I have seen people wearing them, out for a walk on a winter day.
I put my rear panniers on top of each other for a pillow. With the hood of the sleeping bag it's perfect.
My "always carry" items are some duct tape, a small folding knife, zip ties, emergency blanket, and/or a fire stick or waterproof matches. Been enjoying your videos ....
Hi, are there any from this list that you have never used? cheers
Very good points. Never thought of a power bank that way. Am also in the market for a pillow. Perfect timing. Just got the bike out and outfitted. Going for a test ride today. 30 F here. Take care, Al
Hi Mike. Great video as always. One item to add is a light weight tent peg hammer. I always see people roll into the campground and they search for a big rock to pound in their tent pegs. I have heard many swear words over this. REI has a great very light weight (but strong) hammer and I love it. I would add this to the list! Thanks again for all your great videos. P.S. the red light is also really great.
Thanks for the tips. The powerbank tip is especially good as it is tempting to buy a huge capacity unit. Better to have a couple of the type you mention. recharge time is a killer. Also, thanks for the tip on the tent lamp. I have gone to Decathlon to buy that. Please do share any more tips you have. Useful for a novice like me!
Yep never go without the earplugs Mike , I also have a PD powerbank great piece of kit . Hope you are well .
Baby wipes, the ones with oil in it, are also great for cleaning your bike chain.
Great ideas! My Lexan/plastic spoon has been on 30 years of adventures. Inexpensive and very light. If you eat out of a bowl you can tie them together.
I carry some nitrile gloves for essential maintenance and a small tube of superglue which can help with cuts and cracked skin, better than plasters.
Disposable gloves is a good idea for the really dirty repairs. Super glue is a bad idea for skin. Plasters weight next to nothing.
Well it isn’t the most sexy item but I do believe it is an essential. When you go for number 2 in the great outdoors I have bought the Tentlab deuce. Really lightweight to make a little hole to put your toiletpaper in. 1. Dig a small hole. 2. Go for number 2. 3. Burn your toiletpaper in this hole. 4. Cover up the hole. Basic but vital bushcraft tip to show your love and respect to nature. ❤️🌳
Toilet paper is obviously degradable.
Awesome tips I’m a newbie and tips / hacks are always welcomed.
That's what I'm hear for. Glad you liked it!
I'm taking a powerbank for the first time this year. I've got a dynamo but it's not enough. I've met some guys who use solar and I did think about it but they're bulky. The powerbank is relatively heavy but small. I usually go in a hotel like once a week and I can re-charge overnight.
I use a solar powered power bank from Amazon that I have attached to the rear rack so it stays charged while I’m riding and also charges my cell phone and additional smaller bank strapped to my recumbent trike boom that powers my bike computer and front light.
We purchased two of the Trekology pillows 4 days ago....!
Good reviews and good price so looking forward to using them...👍🏽
😴😴
Haha, what a coincidence! We'll they have gotten some good reviews, so I got great expections for it.
Good information. Especially about the power banks. Thanks.
Mike you read my mind! I hav been looking into power banks. Your video was exactly what I needed. Thanks
Great to hear that you found it useful. What I forgot to mention in the video is that you need a Usb C-charger with at least 10W output to be able to fast charge your powerbank. I brifly showed mine in the video, but didn't talk about it. I just use my Samsung S20 charger for the job.
Purchase your wet wipes ahead of time and open the package to dry out. A few dribbles of water on a dried out wet wipe brings it back to life and you have a dry wipe to dry the crevices.
Thanks Mike, used your affiliate link for the Treklology pillow. Was debating using an existing pillow but is very large and this looks like a better solution for a lot less space at a super reasonable price and I like the idea of the strap to the pad to hold it in place. I do wonder how that works though, do you then place the pad inside your bag or the mummy top over the top of the pad/pillow combination, which of course would keep body oils off of the pillow as well.
Hi Mike, Ive enjoyed your touring videos - motivation to get out for 'training' during lockdown. This is a good list - the red light at night is a new idea to me. Instead of wet wipes I usually carry a damp flannel in a ziplock bag and rinse it out whenever I get the chance (usually when getting drinking water). But I have sterile wipes in the first aid.
Mike, check out the Uribag. Great for when you need to leave a message in the middle of the night and don't feel like getting out into the cold with the bears and the bulls. Compact, light weight, and won't break and cause a splash.
Hi Paul, bedankt voor de tip! Heb hem direct besteld! 😃 Ik hou van kamperen, maar plassen midden in de nacht grrrrr.... Ben heel benieuwd!
An excellent suggestion for colder months indeed.
I reuse old nut bags, as they are often made of heavy duty plastic, they self-stand, closed shut with dual zipper, can be folded real small and we throw them in the bin anyway.
Depending on regulations, I like a stout knife which can be used like a hammer via the butt end. Heavy but useful for many things.
Thank you Mike.
Hey Mike...was hoping someone would've already hit this one, but when it comes to camping, I always bring along a folding shovel to bury any deposits. Not the classiest, but you know what I mean.
Thanks for the video Mike, hope all is well.
Good suggestion
Hi Mike! Great video, you got me sold on the inflatable pillow ;) Working on a similar video (w2w) at the moment so really interesting to see yours. Thanks and Tailwinds, Eric
Some great tips. Unfortunately I've already bought all my devices for this years excursions, but I'll keep your advice in mind while using them incase I want to make any changes next year. Cheers!
Always take a magnetic compass - Keep it away from Ortleib handlebar bags though..
I keep reding that young people don't carry a compas. Cound crazy to me
Thanks for the pillow recommendation 👊🏻
Helpful tips thanks Mike!
Useful tips, Mike!what about new traveling? where u want to go?
First of all I want to go back to Norway and do a long (about 14 day) tour along the Arctic Coast. But I really want to go to some warmer climate to do some cycling as well, but I realize that it will probably have to wait for another year.
@@BikeTouringMike i see.i want to try Austria and Italy this summer but not sure due to covid.Good luck to you!
When bike camping you are almost always in a tent. What about the tent pegs and specifically pounding them into the ground? Almost everyone I see tries to step on the pegs or looks for a rock to pound them into the ground and then perhaps when it does not go well they use bad language. I found a very light weight high impact (looks like something out of your tool box) hammer from REI. It is very light weight and your can really beat on the tent pegs without damaging the hammer. I cannot do without this wonderful tool! P.S. got the Sea-to-Summit pillow and it is really great. Get this pillow. You get what you pay for. Forget about the other pillows in my opinion.
A hammer isn't necessary. You can push them in with your feet if you're careful.
Great advice once again.
I’m that guy snoring 50 yards away!
Is the red light useful when loitering outside a French massage parlour??
Spring has sprung here we had 24 degrees this week.
Much love Ed
Hey Mike, I've read elsewhere that baking soda, mixed with a bit of water, could be a great substitute for a deodorant. Have you tried it? Wet wipes, especially those daisy scented ones, are believed to attract bears to your campground. Would love to hear your take on that as well.
Good tips, thank you.
Hi Mike, I wonder why you don't bring a solar panel anymore? Specially for wild camping I find my solar panel essential. I use it as a windshield aswell while cooking. Without solar panel I woud get real problems on biketours.
Lint from the clothes dryer. Great for starting a fire.
Great hack! Never thought of trying that.
You’ll nearly always find lint in the seams of your pockets (unless the clothing is brand new). Enough to assist in making a fire.
@@richardbinstead9368 Or in your navel. 🥴
Do you ever ride off in the morning with your Beanie still in place?
Only joking obviously....another great vid.
Haha, at the moment I usually have a eanie or a buff on my head when I commute to work, since it's so cold in the mornings. But I usually don't pull it down over my eyes ;-)
Thank you for this.
Seems like your problems are my opportunities. I always think camping is good for me because it's impossible to sleep until 14:30 in a tent, it will be baking hot and too noisy long before that.
All agree except ear plugs and black bonie, you must stay ALWAYS alert what is going on around you
It's harder to stay alert if you're tired all the time because you don't get good sleep.
The real danger is not when you are snug in your tent at night.
It's when you are rolling down the road where anything can come flying at you at any moment.
A mp3 speaker to keep yourselves motivated, nothing like 1940 bluestohelpwith the mountainclimb
Small USB fan. I can sleep in a hot tent as long as I have air blowing on my face. Otherwise torture. Also lightweight folding chair - weighs 1 lb. (.45 kg). Sounds frivolous but worth the extra weight.
Hi mike how are you today my friend?what about rain equipment!
My hack for a portable pillow: the inside of a bag-in-box wine box. It is inflatable with my mouth.
My power bank is 20000 ma, after this i look at it, its 5 w in and out. Now i know why take 24h charge, i will look at out w now
There are also those that have a 2A input (USB A) that are about twice as fast, so that might be a good option as well. Bust the PD ones are the best, but can be a bit more pricey.
what a lovely cat. what is its name?
His name is Blixten which means Lightning in english. It's kind of an ironic name since he is 12 years old a bit chubby and very slow. 😉
@@BikeTouringMike i saw him previously in a video of the Bicycle Touring Pro, when he and his friends came for a visit on their Sweden tour. older video, but youtube suggested me that recently. Always a joy to see a random cat appear in youtube clips that are about something else.
Haha, funny coincidence! Darren had to use a lint roller for about 10 minutes after Blixten sat in his lap for most of the evening. :-)
Mike would you like to do a video chat?let me know when ok?
Lol so many pillowws"
Nowadays, black beanie can be replaced by a mask.