Comments About My Gear and Equipment, etc.

1) Toiletries - I'd leave most behind, I hardly used any.

I used my shampoo (no other soap needed), but in the future I think I would try to purchase shampoo in my destination country rather than bringing it. I did use my razor occasionally, and my small deodorant, but I could go with an even smaller, sample-sized one. I used a lot of lipgloss (chapstick, or whatever you want to call it) for dry lips, but no other make-up.

I used a little bit of lotion, but I could easily bring a smaller quantity, and of course, my Ozonol - that's always a good choice to bring with me. I used my toothpaste and brush, I bring travel-sized versions of each which works well. I also used baby wipes, of course, and tissues.

2) Medications - probably didn't need as much as I brought, however ...

Going to France, I'd recommend bringing a pile of cold meds because getting such things in France is not easy, and they are expensive. But in all other places I've been meds are more easily available.

3) Tent - Rowan and I decided to buy one once we got to France, rather than bringing a tent with us. I didn't want the responsibility of selecting the perfect tent, and Rowan had very tight baggage restrictions on the flight he took. The weight of a tent would have put him over. As it was, our plan worked out very well. We bought the T3 Ultralight Pro from Decathlon when we landed in Dunkerque. That is a very nice little tent - we were quite comfortable in it.

4) Sleeping Equipment - My collection was good.

-- Foil bivy for cold nights in the tent. I used in under my thermarest mattress, however, I think I need to clean mine.

-- Two light sleeping bags. I could use a different method of folding them up.

-- Thermarest mattress

-- Three pillows - hey, it works for me!! Gotta be comfy out there! I also use one of my panniers as an additional pillow.

-- Sarong - which I use as a blanket, towel, skirt, etc.

-- Sleeping Bag Liner - I'd bring it again, but it was too warm for this trip.

5) Tools - I can likely get away with less than what I brought, especially if I'm travelling with someone who might have a similar set. But if I do downsize, I will still bring my little pliers - they were helpful.

Next time, when I decide to bring a padlock to use in hostels, I really need to remember to bring the key. There's no point hauling a 500 lb padlock around with you when you can't use it.

Next time, I also need to check on cell phone service overseas. There's also no point carrying a phone all over the countryside when there is no way on earth it will work.

6) Dishes - I've got new flat dishes that work really well. They are Orikaso folding dishes: www.orikaso.com

I also carry a regular mug and spoon. Both are easily accessible throughout the day in case I should suddenly need either.

7) Food - We buy it along the way. No point in bringing food from home.

8) Clothing - I will be making some changes in this category.

-- Jerseys - unless I'm riding an event for which I need a club jersey, I think I'd leave the jerseys at home. Instead, I'll bring a couple wicking T-shirts. I picked up a couple nice ones at Decathlon, and had one already. That way, I can go into grocery stores, cafes, etc., and look somewhat normal.

-- Sleeveless tops - unless I know it's going to be very hot, I think I'd bring just one in the future. When it comes to tops in general, I'll also make a note here that in most places I've been, it is possible to purchase what I need along the way. In fact, it is often tempting to pick up this or that, but if I've already brought my quota with me, I can't do that.

-- Long-sleeved tops - it was very nice to have the two long-sleeved tops, but probably only the black merino wool one was necessary.

-- Fleece jackets - I brought one hooded one with me, which was fine, but then I bought a very nice one from Decathlon which will likely accompany me on future tours. These jackets bunch up relatively small and are wonderful on cool days. For some reason I'm often cold on tours, and so I lived in my jackets. I'd likely choose just one for future tours.

-- Cycling shorts - just two pair, unless I'm doing an event.

-- Leg warmers - you betcha!!

-- Arm warmers - not sure whether I'd bring them again. I always bring them, I rarely use them. I seem to prefer using my merino wool top and fleece jacket.

-- Zip-off Pants - I'd bring 2 pair, instead of just 1.

-- Skirt - I would not bring a skirt in the future. Skirts are great ideas, but not good when it comes to real life. You can't ride in them, and I end up riding just about every day, even if it is just to the local museum or grocery store. I wore the skirt I brought on my first day and on my last day in Europe. That's it. I also found that my sarong worked well as a skirt when I felt like I wanted to wear one.

-- Loose shorts for over my cycling shorts - yep! I have found basketball and beach shorts seem to work the best. I like wearing something like these over my cycling shorts because I can go into places and look somewhat normal. They're also great night wear. I lived in the two pair I bought at one of the Decathlons.

-- Socks - at least a couple pair of wool socks, and maybe a light, little pair for warm days.

-- Shoes - I have to find something very light, yet comfortable, for walking ... and yet something that dries quickly if I get them wet. Some sort of sandals. The ones I brought with me were comfortable, but not particularly light or quick-drying, and they are falling apart.

My cycling shoes, on the other hand, are great! Lake mtn bike shoes work very well for me.

-- Cold weather and rain gear - I had my trusty rain jacket with me, and a pair of splash pants. Then I purchased a pair of rain pants in France, which I like a bit better than the splash pants. I guess I'm still on the lookout for the perfect pair of rain pants, and in the process I have acquired about half a dozen pair of possibilities, but none are quite "it" yet.

I brought my nylon booties, which were fine, and bought a pair of gaiter-like booties in France which could be interesting on rainy rides. They come right up to my knees. The one problem with them is that they seem to have the tendency to fall down.

As for accessories, I had my headband ($1 at the Dollar store), balaclava, helmet cover, a couple pair of mini-gloves ($0.50 each), my polypro gloves, and my short-fingered cycling gloves. I brought a pair of rain gloves which are cold. They block the rain all right, but my hands get cold in them. I didn't use them. I have since purchased a pair of water-resistant overmitts which I hope will solve my wet, cold hands problem.

A few other comments ...

The weight of the bicycle and gear was about 67-68 lbs when I travelled to Europe. Machak weighs 27 lbs, so the remaining 40-ish pounds was gear. The total weight was likely over 70 lbs by about halfway through the trip because of all the things I bought. Note to self: Don't bring so much next time, so that when I buy stuff, I can cart it around easier. I'd really like to aim for a total weight of about 60 lbs (33 lbs of gear). I think I'd find it so much less work, and make touring so much more enjoyable.

I'd also recommend to myself, and anyone about to embark on a tour, to build up my/your upper body strength before the tour. There is A LOT of lifting and carrying that goes on during a tour. It's also not a good idea to crash and separate a shoulder a few months before a tour for this very reason.

You lift your stuff onto the conveyor belt to check it in before the flight, you lift it off the conveyor belt at the other end. And if you end up coming back through the Toronto airport, you carry it all across to customs because you discover they charge for trolleys, and you don't necessarily have the right change ... a Looney. (Toronto is the only airport I've ever encountered that charges for their trolleys). Or if you land in Heathrow, you discover that you can use the trolleys up to about 100 ft from the train, and you've got to carry everything that last little bit.

You (and/or the friend with you) lift everything up the steep, narrow stairs of trains to hang it in little rooms, or lean against it in the entry ways. You carry everything up and down flights of stairs at train stations to cross the tracks so you can catch the train going the correct direction, or to get off the train and into the town. You carry everything up long flights of stairs to the 8th floor of hostels, and back down again the next day. And you end up walking and pushing the bicycle and panniers up a hill sooner or later along the way.

Along with the thoughts about carrying stuff, I definitely need a better way to carry my gear in my panniers on flights. If you've followed any of my other info about touring here, or on some of the forums, you'll know I use a canvas laundry bag with a shoulder strap, and I put my full panniers in it, and check that. It works to keep my luggage under the 1 bag limit and keep everything together. It seems quite durable. And my bag cannot be confused with anyone elses when it comes around on the baggage carrousel. But it seems extra heavy, bulky, and awkward for carrying any distance.

Rowan puts the empty panniers in his bike box, and carries everything in a duffle bag which folds down to practically nothing. I'd really like to find something like that, but perhaps something that could also be used as a backpack.

Next time I go to Europe, I'd also like to do a bit more research. This time we planned to go to the Ieper area, and enjoyed that. And we planned to be in the area for the PBP, of course, but after the PBP we just sort of winged it. Well, we discovered all sorts of things!

I'd really like to research the canal towpath system a lot more. We were on one for a while, and it was great! But from one of the signs we saw, and from what people told us, there are hundreds of kilometers of canal towpaths in France and Belgium.

Also, we found the Rhin Route, finally, but I'd like to look into it further and see if it is worth cycling ... and which direction, from where to where, and all that information.

In addition, I think on a future trip to Europe we'd look into getting rail passes. We ended up using the trains a lot more than we thought we would. They're quite convenient for getting cycletourists from one part of the country to another very quickly. We bought our tickets as we went, but I think we could have saved some money with a rail pass.