What kit and why?

Much of the same kit runs through the wild, bikepacking and cycle touring kit lists. This cycle touring kit list is perfect for 10 days, 10 weeks or 10 years... The kit and bike setup Darroch uses for a cycle touring trip is based on comfort and the ability to spend as much time off road as it is on. To allow you to disappear into the wilderness for extended periods without worrying about food, medical and or mechanical issues carry plenty of dry foods, a practical medical kit, tools and spares to deal with most problems.

Darroch currently uses a mix of Alpkit, Revelate frame bags and a BOB Yak Trailer on a Salsa El Mariachi. Some of the manufacturer and model information is listed for reference.

Some of the key things to consider on a trip are:

• Comfort - Some might think this odd but being comfortable both on and off the bike is important. You are going to be on the bike for a long time and need to ensure that your bike/kit set up is right, you are warm and dry when off the bike and eat/drink well. On longer trips taking some home comforts can really make a difference, Darroch always takes a chair and depending on where he is going and in the past taken a laptop, fishing rods, small table, local history and wildlife books.
• ​Eating/Drinking - You are going to need to eat a lot and will drink more than you think. Equally get to know and use the local foods as it will make life easier and more enjoyable. Ensure you plan your food accordingly and understand where you will replen clean water. Dehydration and hunger are a horrible combination when it is dark, you are tired and looking for somewhere to pitch your tent or find shelter. Eating well will ensure that you get the most out of the trip and maintain good physical condition throughout.
• Equipment Maintenance - You'll be taking your bike to muddy, dusty and gritty places that want to break your bike. The bike will provide feedback through noise and vibration. Keep on top of cleaning the drivetrain and other moving parts. On longer trips you will need to take some extra spares, tools and bike lubes. Get to know the bikes you are riding and likely points of failure this will help you put together a kit that will keep you on the road instead of wasting time looking for a bike shop for minor repairs...
• Health - Your body will degrade very quickly on the bike if you don't look after it. Carry your prescribed meds and any other regular meds you need. Their will be chaffing, abrasions and rashes which can be managed with chamois cream, sudacream and antiseptic cream. Your feet and groin will get damp and without being cleaned, dried and some airing will cause discomfort and irritation. Certain parts of your body will get tight and ache, some basic stretches throughout the day will help. Cover up or use sun screen, bad sunburn can lead to other complications and is a hassle to manage.
• Morale - Its great to have something that adds to the enjoyment of a trip! It comes in many forms; music, chocolate, reading material, whisky, good food and anything else that flicks your switch. The sun doesn't always shine so if you are caught in our tent during a storm its good to have entertainment!

Bike Accessories

• *Helmet
• Front/Rear LED Lights - USB rechargeable lights save carrying additional batteries with numerous charging options now available.
• Lock - Kryptonite Evolution Mini 7 Lock and 4 Foot KryptoFlex Cable. A small D-Lock allows you to anchor the bike to an immovable object.
• Ergon Handlebar Grips - Grips with multiple hand positions alleviate pain and soreness in hands and wrists on longer trips.
• Seat Bottle Cage - This allows the use of a frame bag to carry items you want easy access to.
• Drink Bottles - Standard bottles work well, they made need to be secured with small elastic tethers on router roads.

Handlebar Bag / Harness
Sorting your tent and sleeping system on the handlebar bag keeps it in one place, easily accesible to set up camp or to dry your anything if required during a stop or break. Ensure that your sleeping bag and tent are separately water proofed as tents will pick up damp even on the driest of nights.

• *Cycle Computer - Cateye Micro Wireless

• *Satellite Tracker/Beacon - Spot Messenger
• *Smart Phone / Mapping - iPhone SE
• Dry Bag - Ortlieb Dry Bag 13 Litre
• Tent - Macpac Minaret
• Sleeping Bag - Mountain Equipment Xero 250. Stored in a goretex compression sack.
• Silk Liner - Adds a season(ish) to your bag. Stored in the sleeping bag.
• Sleeping Mat - Thermarest Neoair

Cockpit Bags - Alpkit Stem Cell Bags
These are great places to store things you need frequent access to during the day.

• Stem Cell Bag 1 - Sunscreen, Contact Lens Fluid, Sudacream, Insect Repellant
• Stem Cell Bag 2 - Muesli Bars and Nut Mix

Top Tube Bag - Alpkit Fuel Pod Medium
A good place to store small tools and functional equipment you use frequently.

• ​*Multitool - Crank Brothers 19 Function Multitool
• *Headtorch - Petzl Zipka Plus
• *Lighter - Disposable. I always carry one on the bike and one in my pack.
• Patches - Self adhesive are best. I carry a couple of packs on the bike.
• Knife - Crkt M21 G10 Folder
• Titanium Spork

Frame Bag - Revelate Salsa El Mariachi
Using the various section dividers on standard frame bags or bespoke frame bags you can separate functional equipment ensuring easy access and separation where required.

• Bike Maintenance:
  • Patches - Self adhesive are best. I carry a couple of packs on the bike.
  • Inner tubes x 2
  • *Tyre levers - A lot of tyres are hard to get on/off rims these days. Carry a solid set as flimsy ones will snap!
  • Spare chain links (Quicklinks) - Make sure you have the right speed. 1,9,10 or 11 speed.
  • Spared brake pad(s)
  • Spare SPD cleat(s)
  • *Tyre boot - Cut an old toothpaste tube into a square. Can be used as a tyre boot to get you home with a slashed tyre.
  • Cable ties - Assorted
  • Duck tape - Wrap it round an old credit card to save space.
  • Assorted bag of bolts, elastic bands, bits and bobs..
  • Chain lube - Sometimes handy on a long wet/muddy ride
  • Grease - Decant into a small plastic container
  • Spare gear and/or brake cable
  • Adjustable spanner - If you are riding a Shimano Alfine this maybe useful.
  • Bob Yak Trailer - Spares
• Cooking/Food:
  • Porridge Oats
  • Milk Powder
  • Dried Cranberries
  • Cous Cous
  • Rice - Uncle Bens Boil Bag
  • Baby Bel Cheeses
  • Chorizo
  • Dried Mushrooms
  • Fresh Chillis

Trailer Bag / Panniers
The debate between panniers and trailers comes down to personal preference. Our slant is the trailer allows you store kit in one place as opposed to multiple panniers and the trailer can be carried on your bike across technical off road and mountain trails providing greater mobility.

• Utility Straps - For strapping pack onto trailer
• Tripod Seat - Whilst this might seem an unnecessary luxury, sitting on the floor can be cold and uncomfortable after a hard day cycling.
• Clothing
  • Down Jacket
  • Base Layer
  • T-Shirt
  • Polo Shirt
  • Trousers - Walking
  • Running Shorts
  • Underwear
  • Socks
  • Trail Shoes
  • Flip Flops
  • Travel Towel - Small microfibre towel
• Cooking
  • Ortlieb Folding Bowl - Packing cooking kit in bag, washing, water transport
  • Platypus Platy Bottle 2Ltr - Compact lightweight spare water storage
  • Gas Stove - Jetboil PCS
  • Spare Gas Canister
  • Gas Stove Spare - Alpkit Kraku - Small stove for cooking one pot at a time and as a spare
  • Pot - Jetboil 1.5L FluxRing Cooking Pot
  • Coffee Press - Jetboil
  • Thermal Mug
  • Wine Glass - GSI Glacier Stainless Steel Nesting Glass. Trust us it makes the wine taste better...
  • Small Cooking Tongs
  • *Lighter - Disposable. I always carry one on the bike, in my pack and in the trailer!
  • Brew Kit - Large assortment of hot chocolate, tea bags, fresh ground coffee, instant soups
  • Chicken/Beef Stock Cubes
  • Pepper Mill - GSI Outdoors
  • Sea Salt - Mini Plastic Bottle
  • Olive Oil
• Washkit
  • Toilet Wipes - Double up as wet wipes
  • Soap
  • Deodorant
  • Tweezers
  • Nail Clippers
  • Talc Powder
  • Toothbrush/Toothpaste
  • Washing line
  • Sewing Kit
• *First aid kit
  • Assorted Plasters
  • Butterfly Stitches
  • Zinc Tape
  • Gauze Pads
  • Alcohol Swabs
  • Parectomal
  • Betadine Solution
  • Sudacream - For your seat/posterior issues!
  • Vaseline
  • Canisten Cream - Athletes foot cream
  • Spare Contact Lenses
  • Prescribed Medication

Equipment in the pack strapped to the trailer
From a security perspective it makes sense to carry your valuable

• *Lighter - Disposable. I always carry one on the bike and one in my pack.
• *Pump - A small pump might be light but try pumping up a 2.4" 29er up with it when you are cold, wet and tired!
• Multitool - Gerber/Leatherman style tool with a decent set of pliers.
• *Mobile phone - Programme in emergency phone numbers i.e local mountain rescue
• *Photo ID - Driving license
• *Credit/Debit Card and Cash
• *Overseas trips - Passport, European Health Insurance Card, Private Health Insurance Details
• Diary/Notebook
• Ipad Mini - Offline mapping, music, podcasts, movies etc
• Earphones
• *Spare batteries - Get in the habit of carrying spare batteries for your electronics. Try and buy electronics that take the same battery size.
• Solar Charger - Powertraveller Powermonkey Extreme 5V and 12V Solar Portable Charger - Yellow 
• *Map
• *Map case - Ortlieb Document Bag A4 which fits an OS 1:50k folded.
• Headnet - If you are somewhere with biting insects
• Warm Hat
• Buff
• Arm Warmers
• Leg Warmers
• Waterproof Jacket
• Spare Gloves
• Gore Waterproof Shorts
• Pertex Top
• Emergency nutrition - Bury a couple of energy gels and a muesli bar in your pack. They'll be 'nectar' when you need them.

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