Two Wheeling West

The Gear

Bike, bags, racks, clothes, tools, parts…

Bike = heavy.

I had a very comprehensive bike fitting completed at FitWerx in Waitsfield, VT.  Given my size, and apparently slightly short arms for my height, I would need a fully custom touring frame for a perfect fit. Not going to happen right now, graduate school bills are looming… We found that the Surly Long Haul Trucker was close enough, and FitWerx built up the bike.

Frame: Surly Long Haul Trucker, 56cm

Components: Shimano Deore XT

22-32-44 crank, 11-32 cassette, and SRAM chain with Powerlink connector - I’m a big fan of SRAM chains. They have held up well for me and the Powerlink connector makes breaking the chain a breeze. Dura Ace 9 speed bar-end shifters since they are basically indestructible.  I love the STI shifters on my road bike, so I wasn’t sure if the bar-end shifters would annoy me.  After just a few rides they have really grown on me - far more comfortable and easy that I expected. update 7/1/09: The gearing is working out very well; I’ve used within 2 gears of my very top hear, and I’ve gone all the way down to my very lowest gear.  I quickly found a few favorites for various terrain (big ring, one up from middle cog for cruising), and I haven’t once wished for anything bigger or smaller.

Wheels: 700c Mavic A719 rims with Deore XT hubs

Hand laced with DT Competition Spokes, 36 per wheel.  update 7/1/09: Still true after 1500 miles!

Tires: Panracer T-Serv ProTex tires, 700 x 32c Update 7/1/09: 1 flat in 1500 miles, these things will roll over just about anything!

Pedals: Crank Brothers Smarty SL pedals

Saddle: Specialized Avatar 143 Saddle Selle SMP Glider

The craziest looking saddle I’ve ever been on, the most expensive by far, and definitely the best. It’s a hard saddle, which has taken some getting used to, but I wouldn’t swap it for anything else I’ve tried. My sitbones fit on the saddle perfectly, and I’ve never felt pressure where I don’t want to feel pressure, regardless of how long I’ve been riding. Highly recommended, go find a demo saddle to ride and give it a try!

Computer: Cateye Micro Wireless

Kickstand: Pletscher 2-leg kickstand

Yes, I have a kickstand on my bike, and it’s amazing (thanks Stretch)! It clamps to the chainstays and folds up under one side. When down, the kickstand holds the rear wheel up a few inches off the ground like so (not my bike).  Great kickstand, contact KHS Bicycle Parts for a European top mount (ask for Thorsten), they have a few in stock. The top mount from Europe has two plastic pieces that fit over the top of the chainstays perfectly, and it fits onto the part with the legs perfectly. The US version comes with a lousy mounting system - it won’t stay put, and it’s hard to get the kickstand tight without damaging the frame.

Tools/parts/bike misc

1 tire, 3 tubes, patch kit, tire levers, Blackburn frame pump, digital tire pressure gauge, 3 spokes (mounted on frame), spoke wrench, set of fold-up allen keys, brake pads, brake cable, derailleur cable, small pliers, spare chain, rubber gloves, 3 rags, Tri-flow chain lube, zip ties, 2 box wrenches (fits fenders and racks), 6′ steel cable + lock, 2 water bottles + cages,

Racks and bags

Camping

Tent: MSR Hubba

Freestanding 1-person tent - great size for me (6′).

Sleeping bag: Kelty Light Year 40 degree down

I absolutely love my Western Mountaineering 20 degree bag, but it’s a little too warm for this trip. Down is amazing, and it’s not that hard to keep it dry - get a down bag next time, you’ll never go back to synthetics.

Sleeping bag liner: Cocoon silk mummy liner

Highly recommended - keeps the sleeping bag much cleaner.

Sleeping pad: Big Agnes Air Core mummy

Wow, 2.5″ thick and really comfortable - I can sleep on my side without my hips hitting the ground. Takes some effort to inflate, but what else am I going to do at night?!

Stove: Snow Peak Giga Stove GS-100

Pot: Evernew 1.3 L non-stick titanium

I used this pot when I hiked the AT, so the non-stick coating is a little worn, still works pretty well though.

Clothes

Helmet: Bell Mountain bike helmet with visor

Glasses: Oakley Half Jacket with dark gray and yellow lenses

I’m wearing daily contact lenses as well.

Shirts: Icebreaker Hopper t-shirt, Ibex long sleeve shirt

Both shirts are 100% merino wool; these are outstanding shirts, I wore one for my entire AT hike, and still have it today. Wool breathes reasonably well and doesn’t absorb odor, so it doesn’t stink after a few days.

Jacket: Showers Pass Double Century

Wore it in the rain at the 5 Boro Bike Tour, NYC in May, and kept me (well, at least the top half of me) warm and dry. Back vent is awesome, highly recommended jacket! Update 7/1/09: I’ve had plenty of rain, and this jacket worked extremely well. One of the cords to tighten the jacket came loose, and Showers Pass quickly agreed to fix it without charge whenever I want to mail the jacket back to them.

Shorts: Gore Power Short, Pearl Izumi Attack Short

The Gore shorts are a little shorter than most others, but overall, outstanding shorts.

Leg Warmers: Adidas (can’t find name, they were inexpensive)

Gloves: Specialized BG Gel Gloves + thin full-finger glove liner

Socks: Smartwool PhD Cycling Ultra Light Micro (2 pairs)

Excellent fit, nice and snug - Smartwools are worth every penny.

Shoes: Adidas El Moro with Superfeet blue inserts

Heavy, especially when wet, but very comfortable on bike and off.

Misc: Ex Oficio synthetic boxers (2 pairs), 1 pair nylon gym shorts, 1 cotton t-shirt

Personal, tech, first aid, misc tools…

First aid

Neosporin, band-aids, tape, gauze, blister pads, Aquaphor, Chamois Butt’r, Bag Balm

Drugs

Advil, Sudafed, Benadryl, Zyrtec, Immodium, DayQuil, NyQuil

Tech

cell phone + charger + extra battery, small radio + earbuds

Misc personal/tools

Small mirror, contact lens solution, whistle, lighter, Leatherman Micra (awesome!), SPF 70 sunscreen, MSR Packtowel, bandanna, 50′ parachute cord + carabiner, several sil nylon stuff sacks, Petzl Tikka Plus headlamp