Sunday, August 19, 2012

What I Take On A Long Bike Ride

As I approach that classic age of 60, I find myself making a lot of lists for the things I do.

Today I made a list of stuff I need to take on our September 14 - 17, Route 66 Bike Trip from Prescott, Arizona to Topock, Arizona (Colorado River).

Just thought I'd post it here in case this kind of information interested anyone.

List of Bike Stuff I will take on the trip (with brief commentary).
(The * indicates items that can be shared so that we do not duplicate items and increase individual weights.)

Pedals (which I transfer from and to whichever bike I am riding. My bike shoes clip into these pedals)

Big Sunglasses (They make me look like Willie Wonka. But they are almost goggles. Provide great shielding from wind and sun)

Regular Sunglasses (For when I am not on my bike and don't want to look like Willie Wonka)

Birk Sandles (When not on my bike and trying to cool off my feet)

Elastic Knee Braces (So far in my training over these past few months my knees haven't bothered me. But just in case......)

Regular Hat (When not on the bike and wanting to look like a tourist)

Bike Shoes(So I don't have to walk funny on the pavement and trip on stairs)

Jersey (Bike Shirt) (I have a special Canada Jersey, courtesy of Bro Mark, I am saving for this trip)

Spandex Pants (If I didn't wear these I'd be like Superman without his cape)

* Chain Oil 

Headlight (We don't plan on night riding. But we didn't on our last trip either. Guess what happened and who didn't have headlights)

Red Rear Flashing Light (So I don't get run over if we ride early in the morning or late at night)

Heart Rate Monitor (So I can confirm how hard I feel like I am pedaling)

Heart Rate Strap (So the Heart Rate Monitor can work)

Odometer (So I can verify how far I still have to go after I am exhausted)

Backpack (To carry a bunch of the lightweight stuff on this list)

Helmet (So as not to increase my current level of questionable brain functioning in event of falling off my bike)

Gloves (Padded gloves essential!)

Regular Short Pants (So I don't have to walk around all evening in Spandex)

Bike Socks (Avoiding and minimizing blisters)
Windbreaker (Just in case it gets cool on this trip -- which I highly doubt)

* Aleve (for my achy joints)

* Ibuprophen (for my achy head)

* Extra Tube (2) (Easier to put in new tube and patch old one after I get to the motel and go swimming)

* Extra Tire (In case I run over something incredibly sharp)

* Patch Kit (To patch the punctured tube at the motel)

* Tool Kit (To change the flat tire on the side of the road and/or make seat adjustments, etc)

* Bike Lock and Key (So no one runs off with my bike when I am eating Tacos)

Rack Bag (The bag which which sits on the rack over my rear tire carries the heavier stuff on this list. Light stuff goes into my backpack)

Handle Bar Bag (For my iphone, ear buds, power bars, chapstick, wallet, kleenex, etc.)

Water Bottles (2)

Dental Floss (To get the Taco chips out of my teeth)

Tooth Brush (One of my life goals is to die with all my original teeth)

Tooth Paste

Razor

Small Note Pad

iphone

 * iphone Charger

Identification (Wallet)

Money (for food and lots of Powerade)

Small Shampoo

Small Body Wash

*Tums (If I eat too many Tacos, which I usually do)


Kleenex Packet

Lightweight Long Bike Pants (Which I doubt I will need because it probably won't be cool or cold at all)

Splash (Windbreaker) Pants (As per above)

Plastic Bags for Icing Knees (at the motel each evening, which I hope I don't need to do on this trip)

Sunscreen (Because I can sunburn in the shade)

*Extra Batteries (for Heart Rate Monitor and Odometer) (You just never know)

Butt Butter (A happy bum is essential for four days of riding in a row!)

Wet Wipes (For cleaning dirty hands and other things)

Off Bike Shirt (So I'll have something to wear while my bike shirt is drying after washing it every night)

Sleeping Apparel

Chapstick (Essential. Discovered on last trip that sunburned/windburned lips are quite painful!)

If any of you Readers have experience in this matter of what to take on a bike trip, please share what you have learned that works well for you.

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