Gear

Figuring out what gear to bring on a long bicycle tour can be a daunting task. We've compiled a detailed list of just about everything we brought; we hope it helps! Now that we are on the road we're doing our best to keep this list up to date with the gear we've purchased along the way. If you're looking for something you saw in a photo or mentioned in our journals and you can't find it here, just drop us an email and we'll add it to this page and let you know exactly what it is too!

The items we have chosen are not always the cheapest but the last thing we want to be worrying about while we are on the road is our equipment. You could certainly spend a bit less and as is often the case with any interest, quite a bit more. We feel that this listing should give a good idea of what one can expect to spend in preparation for a two-person multi-year bicycle tour while bringing mid-range to high-end gear. Thankfully, with few exceptions, all of our gear is standing the test of time.

We purchased almost everything online with 20%+ coupons from great retailers like Nashbar.com and Backcountry.com. All listed prices include taxes and shipping where applicable.

Lastly, we feel it is worthwhile to mention that our component selections were equal in cost to the Surly LHT Complete with the exception of the Chris King headset and handbuilt wheels which we felt were very important for touring. You absolutely can build a custom touring bicycle for a competitive price if you wait for the right deals.

bike / seat
frame / fork	Surly Long Haul Trucker (52cm)	$450
paint (metallic green)	All Pro Powder Coating	$80
seatpost	Thomson Elite	$55
saddle	Terry Liberator X Gelread review
	Brooks Champion Flyer Sread review	$90

drivetrain
crankset	Shimano Deore LX FC-M580 (44-32-22)	$105
cassette	Shimano Deore LX CS-M580 (11-34)	$33
chain	SRAM PC-991	$36
front derailleur	Shimano Deore LX M581	$20
rear derailleur	Shimano Deore LX RD M580-SGS	$43
pedals	MKS Sylvan Touring	$23
clips	Power Gripsread review	$25

controls
headset	Chris King 1-1/8" NoThreadSet	$100
stem	Nashbar Adjustable	$15
bars	Nashbar Trekking	$15
bar tape	Fizik	$16
brake levers	Shimano Deore LX BL-M571	$40
brakes	Shimano Deore LX BR-M580	(2x) $30
brake pads	Kool Stop Salmon	(2x) $5
shifters	Silver Downtube	$42
steering stabilizer	Hebie Stabilizer 695	$15

wheelset » show old wheels
wheel build/spokes	Velocity USA	FREE
front/rear rim	Velocity Chukker (40h)rear rim failed, read here	(2x) FREE
rear rim	Velocity Psycho (36h)	FREE
front hub	Velocity Front ATB Disc Hub	FREE
rear hub	Velocity Rear ATB Disc Hub	FREE
tires	Schwalbe Marathon XR 26"x2.0"	(2x) $70

touring stuff
cycle computer	Cateye Micro Wireless	$35
front rack	Tubus Tara	$85
front panniers	Ortlieb Front Roller Plus (black)	$120
rear racks	Tubus Cargo	$107
rear panniers	Ortlieb Back Roller Plus (black)	$175
racktop bag	Ortlieb Rack Pack Medium (black)	$67
handlebar bag	Ortlieb Large Handlebar Bag (black)	$105
fenders	Planet Bikes Cascadia (silver)	$36
water bottle cages	Forte Strada Lite Stainless Steel	(3x) $8
water bottles	Polar Insulated 24oz (blue)	(3x) $8
tail light	Busch & Muller 4D Taillight	$30
$2,541

bike / seat
frame / fork	Surly Long Haul Trucker (52cm)	$450
paint (two tone black)	All Pro Powder Coating	$40
seatpost	Thomson Elite	$55
saddle	Brooks B-17 Standard	$70

drivetrain
crankset	Shimano Deore LX FC-M580 (44-32-22)	$105
cassette	Shimano Deore LX CS-M580 (11-34)	$33
chain	SRAM PC-991	$36
front derailleur	Shimano Deore LX M581	$20
rear derailleur	Shimano Deore LX RD M580-SGS	$43
pedals	MKS Sylvan Touring	$23
clips	Power Gripsread review	$25

controls
headset	Chris King 1-1/8" NoThreadSet	$114
stem	Dimension 35° Riser	$30
bars	Modolo Gran Fondo (43cm)	$50
bar tape	Fizik	$16
aerobars	Profile Design Airstryke	$50
brake levers	Cane Creek Drop V (linear pull compatible)	$40
brakes	Shimano Deore LX BR-M580	(2x) $30
brake pads	Kool Stop Salmon	(2x) $5
shifters	Silver Downtube	$42
steering stabilizer	Hebie Stabilizer 695	$15

wheelset » show old wheels
wheel build/spokes	Velocity USA	FREE
front/rear rim	Velocity Chukker (40h)rear rim failed, read here	(2x) FREE
rear rim	Velocity Psycho (36h)	FREE
front hub	Velocity Front ATB Disc Hub	FREE
rear hub	Velocity Rear ATB Disc Hub	FREE
tires	Schwalbe Marathon XR 26"x2.0"	(2x) $70

touring stuff
rear racks	Tubus Cargo	$107
rear panniers	Ortlieb Back Roller Plus (black)	$175
racktop bag	Ortlieb Rack-Pack Medium (black)	$67
front rack	Tubus Tara	$97
front panniers	Ortlieb Front Roller Plus (black)	$135
fenders	Planet Bikes Cascadia (silver)	$36
water bottle cages	Forte Strada Lite Stainless Steel	(3x) $8
water bottles	Polar Insulated 24oz (blue)	(3x) $8
tail light	Busch & Muller 4D Taillight	$30
$2,516

the essentials
tent	Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3	$400
tent footprint	Big Agnes Footprint	$47
sleeping bag	Big Agnes King Solomon (doublewide)	$255
sleeping mats	Exped Downmat 9read review
	Therm-a-Rest ToughSkinread review	(2x) $100
dry sacks	Outdoor Research Hydroseal DryComp (leaky @ 1yr, replaced with ortlieb rack packs)
towels	MSR Packtowl Personal (body/hand/face)	$30
survival knife	SOG Seal Pup Elite E37	$60
shovel	U-Dig-It Stainless-Steel (sent home, never used it)
fire starting	"Survival" Fire Steel	$8

cooking
stove	MSR WhisperLite International	$64
oven	Campers Oven (we designed it!)	-
oven pan: flat	Parrish Magic Line 6 Inch Round	$6
oven pan: pie	Fat Daddio's 6-Inch Mini Pie Pan	$10
fuel bottle	MSR 22oz Fuel Bottle	$10
water filtration	Katadyn Pocket Water Microfilter	$191
cutting board	Large Green Cutting Board	$15
cookware	GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless MD read review
	GSI Outdoors Pinnacle 2Lread review	$60
cooking utensils	GSI Outdoors Spatula/Spoon/Salt n' Pepper (spatula melted, shakers far too small)
silverware	Snowpeak Titanium Spork	(2x) $7
cups	Snowpeak Titanium Single Cup Iread review
dishes	Sea to Summit X Bowl	(2x) $12
dishwashing	Shaklee Get Clean Dishwash Concentrate	$8
$1,379

gps stuff
gps unit	Garmin GPSMAP 60CSxread review	$250
mount	Handlebar Mount	$15
gps tranceiver	Spot Satellite Messenger	$95

electronics
laptop	Lenovo x200s (4GB/64GB SSD/9-Cell)	$1,800
netbook	HP Mini 5101	$495
webcam	Logitech Quickcam Pro For Notebooks	$60
wifi finder	ZyXEL AG-225h	$50
storage	Seagate FreeAgent Go	$120
laptop case	BUILT Cargo Small	$30
netbook case	BUILT Laptop Sleeve 10"	$20
cellular phone	Unlocked Nokia 6100	$65
global cellular service	Mobility Pass	$30

power
plugin adapter	Conair All-in-One	(2x) $15
campsite mains adapter	"Commando" 3-Pin Plug to Single Outlet Socket	$15
extension cord	40ft Green Extension Cord	$15
outlet splitter	Leviton Tripler	$3
battery charger	La Crosse Technology BC-700	$30
rechargable batteries	Sanyo 2700mAh NiMH AA (4 pack)	$13
portable power	Solar Gorilla(broke @ 1 month, company sent power gorilla to replace)
	Power Gorilla	$200
$3,355
Note: I (Tyler) run a small software development company in the USA. For basic mobile journaling there are numerous great/affordable netbooks available like the ASUS Eee PC or the Dell Mini 10. I will be providing support for my clients and doing development on the road so we needed something with a bit more oomph than a netbook. Update: We've purchased a HP 5101 netbook in addition to our Lenovo laptop. It has been difficult for us to keep up with our journals using one computer since I am often programming.

camera equipment
camera	Nikon D60 w/ Kit Lens (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX)
	Nikon D700 (bought used after year one)
wide angle lens	20mm f/2.6D
standard angle lens	50mm f/1.4D
telephoto lens	70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED
lens reverse ring	Nikon BR-2A(mounts 20-50mm prime lenses in reverse for macro photos)
camera case	ThinkTank Digital Holster 10read review
	ThinkTank Digital Holster 40

tyler's clothing
baselayer: bottom	Under Armour Bottoms	(old) $0
baselayer: top	Under Armour Top	(old) $0
boxers	Smartwool Microweight Boxersread review	(4x) $25
short sleeve shirt	Smartwool Microweight NTread review	(2x) $30
long sleeve shirt	Smartwool Microweight Crewread review	(gift!) $0
long sleeve shirt	Smartwool Midweight Crewread review	$60
shorts	Pearl Izumi Slice Ultrasensor	(2x) $55
shorts	Arc'Teryx Palisade Cropper	$85
pants	Denim Jeans	(old) $0
pants	Russel Cotton Lounge Pants	(old) $0
socks	Smartwool PHD Cycling Ultra Light Micro	(3x) $9

tara's clothing
baselayer: bottom	Patagonia Capilene 2 Bottoms	(old) $0
baselayer: top	Patagonia Capilene 2 Zip Neck	(old) $0
underwear	ExOfficio Give-N-Go Boy Cut Brief	(4x) $15
bra	Patagonia Barely Bra	$22
sports bra	Patagonia Active Mesh Bra	$21
tank top	Sugoi Fizz Tank	(gift!) $0
riding jersey	Gore Contest (lamest shirt ever: didn't breathe and got smelly fast)
short sleeve shirt	Smartwool Lightweight Sport NTSread review	$35
long sleeve shirt	Smartwool Microweight Crewread review	$60
hoodie	Patagonia Cotton Fleece Hoodie	$50
capris	Shebeest Shindigger	(2x) $35
riding shorts	Craft Hot Shorts	$40
pants	Convertible Cargo Pants (these old things tore apart in england)
pants	Mountain Hardwear Mesa	$50
dress	Icebreaker Saturn Dressread review	$45
skort	Shebeest CycloSkort	$10
socks	Smartwool PHD Cycling Ultra Light Micro	(3x) $9

outerwear / protective
helmets	Giro Xen	(2x) $70
rain jackets	Showers Pass Elite 2.0	(2x) $170
jacket (tyler)	Gore Cosmo Windstopper	$140
jacket (tara)	Gore Fusion Windstopper (Zipper broke @ 8 months. Gore never responded to requests for help.)
	Zoot ULTRA Softshell Thermal Jacket	$180
hat (tyler)	Hand Knitted Hat by Tara	(priceless)
hat (tara)	Knitted Hat from United Colors of Benetton	$15
shoes	Keen Targhee II	(2x) $75
sandals	Keen Venice H2	(2x) $40
$1,982

tools
frame pump	Topeak RoadMorph G	(2x) $25
pocket knife (tara)	Benchmade Mini-Griptilian	$50
pocket knife (tyler)	SOG Mini X-Ray Vision	$70
vise grips	Irwin Curved Jaw Locking Pliers w/ Wire Cutter	$10
chain tool	Park CT-5	$5
cone wrenches
multi-tool	Park AWS-10 (also carrying a few full size allen keys)	$10
cassette removal	Unior Cassette Lockring Remover	$10
lubrication	Park PolyLube 1000	$5
miscellaneous	show list » gorilla tape (duct tape) cable ties 100ft nylon cord assorted nuts/bolts assorted bungee cords & netting mini crescent wrench	$10

stuff
headlamps	Black Diamond Icon	(2x) $40
tent lights	Sunsei 24000 Solar Powered (sent home, not useful enough)
bike lock	Kryptonite Evolution 4 Disc Lock	$33
lock cable	Kryptonite KryptoFlex 1007 Looped Cable 7'	$8
first-aid kit	REI Hiker	$30
travel chairs	Walkstool Comfortread review	(2x) $45
daypack	GoLite VO24	$80
all purpose cleaner	Shaklee Basic H2 Concentrate	$12
toiletries	show list » baggies of re-rolled toilet paper w/o the cardboard roll toothbrushes w/ travel caps and toothpaste fingernail clippers mini bottle of concentrated cleaning solution (Shaklee Basic H2) mini bottle of dr bronners mini soap container and soap deodorant UPDATE: all of this was gone in a month, why did we bother?	$5

women's stuff
menstruation	Diva Cup	$15
adventure peeing	Whiz Freedom	$15
contraception	Paragard Copper IUD	$0

spare parts
tires	Schwalbe Marathon XR 26x2.0 Foldable (now riding these)	(2x) $55
tubes	Continental Light 26"	(2x) $5
patch kits	Park Super Patch Kit GP-2	(4x) $2
shift/brake cable/housing	Local Bike Shop Stock	$10
hub bearings	50 3/16" (front) / 50 1/4" (rear) (now using cartridge bearing hubs)
spokes	Fiberfix Kevlar Spoke	(2x) $7
brake pads	Kool Stop Salmon	(12x) $5
chains	SRAM PC-991 (used to replace old chains @ roughly 10,000km)	(2x)$36
derailleur hanger	Wheels Manufacturing Emergency Hanger	$15
$866