My Gear List
My First Bike: Bruce
My 1991 GT Tachyon, affectionately known as Bruce, was intended to be my touring companion. Once I took him out for some fully loaded weekends I quickly began to realize that the gearing wasn’t adequate and the braking system wasn’t strong enough to support a fully-loaded rig through the rockies. Some issues could be fixed but not without sacrificing things I loved about this bike, and frankly it would be too much work and not enough time to do it all. So I got a new bike! Click here to watch a video about Bruce, this cool and quirky bicycle.
My Second (and ultimate) Bike: The Wall Climber aka The Trucker
Enter the Surly Long Haul Trucker, time tested and truly a bomb proof cycle touring rig. Gearing that got me easily over every hill, all the components I needed for cages, racks, and fenders, and a comfortable, more upright position for those long days. Not an ounce of regret taking this baby. Many thanks to Topanga Creek Outpost for all their help!!
The Rig.
Frameset
Size: 26" wheels
Frame: Surly Long Haul Trucker, 100% Surly 4130 CroMoly steel. Main triangle double-butted. TIG-welded
Fork: Surly Long Haul Trucker, 4130 CroMoly, lugged and brazed. Proprietary sloping crown with threaded eyelets, tapered and butted curved blades with mid-blade rack eyelets, dual dropout eyelets
Seatpost Clamp: Surly Stainless, 30.0mm
Components:
Headset: Cane Creek 40, 1-1/8˝
Brakes: Tektro M730, silver
Brake Levers: Tektro RL520
Shifters: Microshift BS-T09, 9-speed shifter, friction/index adjustable
Stem: Promax 31.8 4 bolt
Handlebar: Salsa Cowbell
Grip/Tape: Green Brooks leather, baby
Saddle: Matching Green Brooks B17
Seatpost: Promax 27.2 300L offset
Pedals: Reversible Platform Clipless Pedals (not recommended)
Drivetrain
Crankset: Shimano Sora Triple 50x39x30T 9 speed
Bottom Bracket: Shimano BSA
Front Derailleur: Shimano Sora R3030 9 speed
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore M592 9 speed SGS
Cog or Cassette: Shimano HG200-9, 11–36t
Chain: KMC X9 EPT
Wheels
Front Hub: Shimano T610 36h QR
Rear Hub: Shimano T610 36h QR
Rims: Alex DH19 36hRims
Add-ons
Fenders:
Tubus Touring Racks
My Gear List
The Gear.
Everything I carried, minus the food.
Panniers.
2 Ortlieb Sport Roller Classics (front wheel)
2 Ortlieb Back-Roller Classics (rear wheel)
1 Ortlieb Ultimate Six Classic (handlebars)
1 Hexo Plus drone backpack, eventually replaced with a smaller 5L day pack from MEC.
1 Raincover for the backpacks
Clothing.
1 T-shirt (wool blend - on the bike)
1 UV shirt (Nylon/Polyester blend - on the bike)
1 T-shirt (cotton blend - off the bike & for sleeping)
1 Light shirt (cotton blend - off the bike)
1 Long-sleeve shirt (cotton blend - off the bike)
2 wicking base layers (On the bike)
1 Arc’teryx jacket
1 Showers Pass rain jacket
3 pairs of socks
2 pairs of underwear
3 bras
1 pair of longjohns (for sleeping)
2 pairs of cycling shorts
1 pair of Zoic shell for over the cycling shorts
1 pair of lightweight hiking pants
1 pair of Showers Pass rain pants
1 Baseball hat
1 pair of Tifosi sunglasses w/mirror
1 Neck buff
1 Bandana
1 Reflective vest
1 pair of arm warmers
1 pair of Keen sandals (off the bike)
Dishwashing gloves – for rain!
1 pair of cycling gloves
1 pair of cycling shoes
1 helmet
Camping.
MSR Hubba Hubba NX2 tent
Tent footprint
Sleeping Mat
Sleeping bag w/compression sac
Rain tarp (excessive but proved to be useful)
Inflatable Pillow
Quick-drying Towel
1.5 Gas canisters
Jetboil
Spoon/Fork combo
Survival knife
Leatherman knife
1 5L MSR Hydration Reservoir
Collapsable bowl
Cup
Mini Cutting board (doubled as a plate/clean surface for food)
Dish Soap
Cleaning pad
Whistle
Clothesline/Paracord
Lighter, waterproof matches (remove emergency fire starter)
Laundry soap
Body Soap/Shampoo
Bicycle Lock
Waterproof sac for storing my sleeping bag, mat, and pillow
Toiletries.
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Extra Hair Ties
Mini hair brush (with handle broken off)
Tweezers
Skin cream
Sunscreen
Towel tabs!
Razor & razor blades
Shampoo Soap Bar
Water treatment drops
Women Specific:
P-style
Diva Cup
Tools.
19-piece Bike Tool
1 Pump
Emergency Spoke kit
Spare rack screws and washers
Spare fender screws and washers
Spare tubes (3)
Patch kit
Tire levers
Spare brake pads
Spare chain links
Spare tire
Spare rack screws
Chain Lube
Degreaser
Old toothbrush
Rag
WD40
Extra Shoe laces
Replacement cleats
Compass
Thermometer
Duct Tape
Electrical tape
Zip ties
Rubber bands
Bungee Cords
Seam sealer
Gadgets.
Headlamp
Solar inflatable Lamp
Schmidt’s Son 28 dynamo hub
iphone
InReach Satellite Tracker
GoPro Hero4 Silver, 3 spare batteries, charger, waterproof cases
Sony mirrorless a5100 camera
2 Lavalier microphones
SD cards
Garmin Forerunner 310 XT
Cheap backup bike computer
USB front and rear bicycle visibility lights
Battery-powered front and rear visibility lights for my helmet
Voltaic 10W Solar panel & V72 Universal Battery
RAVPower bank
Charging cables
Hexo Plus Drone*
Drone spare battery*
Balance Charger/Discharger* to connect the drone batteries to my solar charger at night
Large Tripod
A few GoPro accessories (tripod, selfie-stick, windsock, chesty, etc.)
Pocket Radio
*Had to send it home after a month. Using it in windy conditions, near water, with traffic all around, proved to be more trouble than it was worth, sadly.