Review of my gear

What follows is a review of the gear I used on the 4,500-mile 3-month solo trip I took in the summer of 2019. In some cases I also discuss gear I tried but rejected. The organization of this post follows that of my page Complete List of My Gear (2019). See also How I Pack My Gear (2019).

As I wrote in Planning: Gear in January of 2019, my intention was to take a bike trip on which I do a lot of camping, rather than a camping trip on which I do a lot of biking. So in choosing gear I always looked for the lightest and smallest pieces required to do the job, and to take only what is essential.

Click on any of the links below to be taken to the appropriate section of the review.

1. Bike and Accessories
2. Clothing
3. Personal items
4. Electronics
5. Tools, Parts, and Supplies
6. Camping gear
7. Bags

1. Bike and Accessories

Bike

My 1989 Centurion Ironman, with its mostly Shimano Dura Ace Series 7400 components, served me well. Although it's not a typical touring bike, I felt comfortable riding it day after day. The 25mm Continental Gatorskin Foldable Tires served me well. I didn't have a single flat the entire trip, although I did have to replace the rear tire (read about it here). If I had switched the front and rear tires halfway through the trip I suspect the replacement would have not be needed. Because of the 25mm tires, the largest the frame will accommodate, I did my best to avoid riding on trails. The Holdsworth chainrings have 48 and 34 teeth while the cogs have 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 23, and 28 teeth. With a lowest gear of 34/28, I found I had to get out of the saddle for the steepest climbs.

My bike loaded with all my gear

Water bottles

I found that carrying two water bottles was both necessary and sufficient.

Lights

The Cygolite Streak 450 and Hotshot Pro 150 lights I installed shortly before leaving were substantially brighter than the Topeak WhiteLite II and RedLite II lights I had initially planned to take. I'm glad I took the brighter lights because there were a few times I rode after dark. For maximum visibility to drivers I used my lights throughout the day. On the afternoon of June 11th, as I was standing in line to check in at Peaks of Otter Lodge, I was told by two motorcyclists that they had seen me on the Blue Ridge Parkway as we were riding west into the afternoon sun. They said that I disappeared every time I rode into a shadow but they always continued to see my rear light.

The one feature of my front light that I don't like is its mini-USB port. The rear light has a micro-USB port, as do my keyboard, earpiece, and external batteries, so I needed to bring a cable with a mini-USB plug that works only with the front light. I probably should have carried a second such cable in case the first one failed. In the future I will take a mini-USB to micro-USB adapter so that I could use a cable with a micro-USB plug with my front light and leave the cable with the mini-USB plug at home.

Mirrors

The two CATEYE - BM-45 Bar End Bike Mirrors I installed in my handlebar ends added greatly to my comfort and safety. Although they are rather small, their convex shape allowed me to see a large area behind me. With their ball-and-socket joints I was able to adjust them so I could see what I need to see whether I was on the hoods or in the drops. I used the left mirror the most, but the right mirror was needed when the road curved to the right.

Air pump

With the Lezyne Digital Road Drive air pump I mounted to my seat tube I could easily top off the pressure in my tires each day. Its built-in digital gauge obviated the need to carry a separate gauge. I had initially planned to take the Lezyne Digital Pressure Drive air pump because the specs give a maximum pressure of 120 psi, but with it I found it difficult to reach my desired pressure of 100 psi for my rear tire. A representative of Lezyne recommended I use the Digital Road Drive pump instead with a maximum pressure of 160 psi. I wonder what is the meaning of the maximum pressure in the specs.

I did have a few problems with the pump I took. In several different ways it would become disassembled when I was getting ready to use it. I presume this was due to being exposed to moisture and humidity. The biggest problem was that one of its O-rings fell off and I didn't notice until the next morning. Without that O-ring the pump could not function, and without a pump I would have been in serious trouble if I got a flat. You can read about that here.

Rear rack

The Delta Post Haste rear rack that I mounted to the seat tube allowed me to carry a trunk bag over my rear tire. In an attempt to reduce weight I tried both the 11-litre and 16.5-litre Ortlieb seat-packs, but their stuff-stack nature did not provide the organization offered by my trunk bag.

Phone mount, case, and cover

The Quad Lock Out Front Mount takes little space on my handlebar and is easy to install or remove. The companion case makes it easy to attach and detach my phone, which is held securely. I've had one crash and two minor falls while using the mount and case and all three times the phone stayed attached to the mount. The cover keeps my phone dry in the rain. The touch screen of the phone can be operated when the cover is installed but of course it's difficult to do that once the cover is wet.

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Lock

The 60-inch OTTOLOCK allowed me to lock both wheels and the frame of my bike to a picnic table or tree at night.

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2. Clothing

Bike Clothing

Shirts

I took one black and one white Lavento compression shirt, black for cool days and white for hot. If the humidity is not too high, they dry overnight after being wrung by hand. I find these shirts comfortable, even when they're not completely dry or when worn in the rain.

Shorts

Last summer I had Miguel Llaguer Restituyo at Alteration Specialists make me two pairs of shorts based on the design of a pair of Ergowear compression shorts from a few years ago (the newest design no longer fits properly). I've been wearing Ergowear shorts or something similar since 2010, after trying a pair of Specialized bib shorts which, like all standard cycling shorts, make no provision for male genitals and whose chamois felt like a diaper. My custom-made shorts have a pouch for my genitals and no chamois. So that my shorts would exactly match my shirts, for each pair of shorts I supplied Miguel with a black shirt of the type I wear so that he could refashion the shirt into a pair of shorts.

Throughout my 4,500-mile ride last summer I was always comfortable in the saddle and never developed any saddle sores. Because my custom shorts were made from the same material as my black compression shirt, they dry just as quickly as the shirts and feel comfortable even when they're not completely dry or when worn in the rain.

Socks

My two pairs of Swiftwick PURSUIT Zero socks are comfortable to wear even when wet. If the humidity is not too high, they dry overnight after being wrung by hand.

Shoes

For my 4,500-mile ride last summer, two of my friends independently advised me to take mountain-bike shoes rather than road-bike shoes. I did not follow their advice. Instead I started my trip with the pair of Sidi Genius 5 road-bike shoes I've worn for several years. After riding through (and often walking up) the Blue Ridge Mountains, I decided to buy a pair of mountain-bike shoes. I ordered a pair of Sidi Trace shoes in the same size as my Genius 5 shoes. Unfortunately the former is sized slightly larger than the latter, which caused me a great deal of pain you can read about here. I then ordered a pair of both Sidi Trace and Sidi Drako one half size smaller. They both fit and I decided to keep the Drako shoes due to their greater breathability and ability to replace their parts.

Genius 5

Drako

I find the Drakos substantially warmer than the Genius 5 shoes. I like that in cold weather but not in the summer. I also find that while the Drakos make walking outside somewhat easier, on a wet floor they are not as secure as the Genius 5 shoes with cleat covers. For both of those reasons I might use road-bike rather than mountain-bike shoes next time I tour, even if there's going to be a lot of steep climbing.

Helmet

I continue to find the Specialized Propero II helmet very comfortable.

Gloves

I love the fit and feel of my Specialized Body Geometry Sport Gloves but they are no longer available. Specialized Body Geometry Sport Gel Gloves appear to be very similar, BUT THEY ARE SIZED SMALLER THAN BODY GEOMETRY SPORT GLOVES. I'm yelling at you, Specialized!

Rain jacket

The Bontrager Race Stormshell rain jacket, now discontinued, kept me warm during cool weather, both on and off the bike. The Bontrager Circuit Stormshell appears to be similar.

Bontrager Race Stromshell

Off-bike Clothing

For wearing while off my bike I took only one short-sleeve wool shirt, one pair of convertible pants, two pairs of underwear, and one pair of shoes, all of which I would wear every day. I did a lot of research to make sure I would be comfortable in, and enjoy wearing, these items.

Short-sleeve wool shirt

The Wool & Prince short-sleeve wool shirt fit me perfectly and looked elegant. Wool & Prince advertises that this shirt can be worn 100 days without washing, so I didn't wash it during my 4,500-mile trip. When I returned home after 90 days it was surprisingly fresh.

Convertible pants

The North Face convertible pants fit me perfectly and look dressier than camping pants. My only complaint is that, despite having lots of pockets, there is no left rear pocket, the usual place I carry my wallet.

 

Microfiber underwear

My two pairs of black Ergowear microfiber underwear served both as underwear and as a swimsuit. This underwear is amazingly comfortable and dries overnight after being wrung by hand. In order to reduce my load, I had originally taken only one pair, but after using it to swim I realized I needed a second pair and so had it sent from home.

Shoes

I tried four different pairs of shoes before settling on Softstar DASH RunAmocs. The RunAmocs dominated the others in terms of comfort, elegance, weight, and ease of packing. Because of the way the front of the shoe tapers without any toe box, it was a challenge to know what size to buy. One of the elves at Softstar (the people who work at Softstar call themselves elves) advised me that the soft leather of the DASH RunAmocs would stretch to accommodate my feet, and that I could enhance the stretching by stuffing the fronts with washcloths. I also used shoe trees to enhance the stretching.

The DASH RunAmocs were comfortable to wear even when wet, which was often the case when I was camping. I always wore them without socks.

Swim goggles

Because I wear contact lenses I need to wear goggles when swimming, which I did 17 times on my trip in the summer of 2019. My Speedo Vanquisher swim goggles are both comfortable and light.

Cap

I took a Specialized Element Hat to wear not on the bike but while sleeping in the cold, so it could be considered camping gear rather than off-bike clothing. I used it no more than three times, and sent it home after riding through the Blue Ridge Mountains, the only place I encountered cold weather.

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3. Personal items

I will not comment on my wallet, contact lens cup and case, extra contact lenses, sunglasses, clear goggles, reading glasses, snacks, or supplements.

One 3" x 4" mesh zip case as my change purse (which I carried in my handlebar bag) and another as my extra-cash purse (in which I stored a few hundred-dollar bills and hid deep in my trunk bag) both worked well.

The Shimano cleat covers were essential for protecting the cleats on my Sidi Genius 5 road-bike shoes. On wet floors I found walking with them more secure than walking with my Sidi Drako mountain-bike shoes.

Although rather small, the 22" x 12.5" REI microfiber towel was adequate to dry myself after taking a shower.

I hardly ever used sunscreen so the 3-ounce bottle I took was more than sufficient.

Sawyer Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin is supposed to be just as effective as Deet but less toxic. I found it effective in keeping mosquitos away while blogging outside at night, and always washed it off before going to sleep because it is toxic. The 3-ounce bottle I took was more than sufficient.

For the first portion of my trip, which included climbing through the Blue Ridge Mountains, I took just a 3-ounce bottle of contact lens cleaner. A bottle that size lasts only ten days and is more expensive per ounce than a 12-ounce bottle, so after leaving the Blue Ridge Mountains I carried a 12-ounce bottle. In case I needed to rinse my lenses I took a 1.69-ounce bottle of saline solution, which I used almost not at all.

My folding toothbrush was both small and effective. A 2-ounce bottle of Eco-Dent tooth powder was more than sufficient for the 90-day trip, and much lighter than the amount of toothpaste I would have needed. Assuming that I would use 18 inches of floss each night, I calculated that the 55-yard container of loss I took would last me 110 days. Unfortunately my assumption was wrong, because I used about 24 inches of floss each night, so I had to replenish my floss when I was in Pittsburgh. Next time I will confine myself to using 18 inches.

I had initially planned to take shampoo in addition to a 3-ounce bottle of Dawn dishwashing liquid for washing my hands and body, but in order to reduce my load just before I left I chose to omit the shampoo. Dawn worked well for all my washing. I needed to replenish it twice, both times from the supply of my hosts at home stays.

I took the same Rubbermaid scrub brush I use at home to clean my hands and fingernails, except that I cut off the handle in order to make it easier to pack. It was still rather large, and my toiletries bag was quite stuffed, so next time I will look for a smaller brush.

The Rubbermaid scrub brush with and without its handle

Aquaphor skin protectant was useful for preventing saddle sores. The 1.75-ounce tube was more than sufficient.

The handle of the Defender razor feels substantial despite weighing only 1.2 ounces. For decades I have used an electric shaver so before my trip I practiced using the Defender razor and quickly learned how to get a close shave with just water and no soap or shaving cream. I shaved after every time I showered, which was every day except for the few times I stayed at campgrounds without showers. Each of the cartridges lasted about a month. The handle comes with a plastic cover to protect the blades.

I like the case of the FIXBODY Nail Clipper Set I took, and the fingernail and toenail clippers were ok, but before departing I replaced the file with a better one.

Fortunately I did not need to use any bandages, Poison ivy wash, or Doxycycline monohydrate pills (for ticks). The roll of 1-inch CoFlex tape I was given by the woman who drew my blood in Atlanta was useful when my left foot hurt from new cycling shoes that didn't fit. You can read about my use of the tape here. 

The GSI Outdoors 3-Piece Ring Cutlery Set I stored in a bag is light (1.3 ounces) but more flexible than I would like. After my trip I returned that set and replaced it with the GSI Outdoors Glacier 3-Piece Stainless Cutlery Set (2.7 ounces). Perhaps I would prefer the TOAKS Titanium 3-Piece Cutlery Set (1.7 ounces).

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4. Electronics

Cellphone and phone stand

Although rather small, I found my iPhone SE entirely adequate for navigation, phone calls, texting, paying bills, maintaining a spreadsheet of my itinerary, and blogging. The small and light iPhone Kickstand was useful when blogging. 

Bluetooth earpiece

I used the single-ear HIFEER Bluetooth Headset whenever I needed to hear navigation instructions in a noisy environment. It was comfortable to wear and because of its IPX5 rating could withstand even a downpour.

Bluetooth keyboard

With its full-size keys and their comfortable action, the iClever Bluetooth Keyboard (9.8 ounces) was a pleasure to use for my daily blogging. Although I touch-type pretty well, the backlight was helpful for my blogging which I often did in the dark. In order to reduce my load, I had initially taken the lighter Logitech Keys-to-Go keyboard (6.35 ounces), but I couldn't get used to its smaller keys and stiff action, so half-way through my trip I replaced it with the iClever keyboard. I had also considered Apple's Magic Keyboard (8.2 ounces), but rejected it because it does not fold and with its size of 11" x 4.5" would be harder to pack than the iClever keyboard which folds to 6.5" x 4.5".

iClever keyboard open for use

iClever keyboard partially folded

Bike tracker

I had hoped that the Boomerang CycloTrac would alert me if someone tampered with my bike and tell me its location if it were stolen. I found the instructions confusing and after I finally set up the device it continued to tell me my bike was somewhere long after I had left that location. I contacted the manufacturer who eventually determined that my unit was defective. This bike tracker was a waste of time and money. It was nine ounces of dead weight.

Batteries, cables, and adapters

The Anker Astro E1 battery is small (3.8" x 1.7" x 0.9") and light (4.2 ounces). I found that two of them were sufficient for charging my iPhone, earpiece, keyboard, bike tracker, and front and rear lights. To connect the batteries to my two adapters or to the devices being charged, I used one USB-to-micro-USB cable that fit only my front light, and two USB-to-micro-USB cables, that worked with my rear light, earpiece, keyboard, bike tracker, and batteries. I had initially taken a 3-foot USB-to-lightning cable to charge my phone, but when it started to fail I replaced it with a more durable 1-foot Anker Powerline II Lightning Cable, which was just long enough to reach from a battery in the handlebar bag to the phone on the handlebar so that I could charge the phone as I rode. Because of the importance of my phone I should probably carry a second cable to charge it in case the first one fails. Or I could take a lightning to micro-USB adapter so that I could use a cable with a micro-USB plug with my phone.

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5. Tools, Parts, and Supplies

Tools

All of my tools served me well, weighed only 9.5 ounces, and fit in a 3.5" x 5" mesh zip case. From the Prestaratchet Multi-tool Kit w/Tire Lever Handle, the ten drivers I took (hex: 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8; flat: 1/8, 3/16; Phillips 1) were sufficient for all my needs, with one exception. When I switched from road-bike to mountain-bike shoes, I bought a set of long-arm hex drivers from Ace Hardware in order to use the 8mm driver to change my pedals. I never had a flat so I didn't use the Prestalever Quick-on / Quick-off Tire Levers, but I have used them and they work well. I needed the 5mm hex bit from the Prestacycle Professional 6 piece 50mm 1/4″ Hex Bits Set in order to reach into the brake levers when they required adjustment. I also used that bit as a handle for the PrestaRatchet Chain Accessory, which I used to shorten new chains before installing them. The wheels I built shortly before departing (my first set!) never needed truing, so I didn't use the spoke wrench. When I broke a chainring nut and needed to replace it I added a Park Tools CNW-2 Chainring nut wrench to my toolkit, but I will leave it at home on my next tour. The Aven 4.5 in. Chain Nose Pliers with Smooth Jaws were useful for replacing a valve core when it came loose (I think I also used them for something else). When that happened I added Stan's NoTubes Core Remover Tool to my toolkit. After I returned home, David Finlayson, President of Prestacycle, explained that the PrestaRatchet Chain Accessory can be used to remove or install valve cores, so I will no longer carry Stan's NoTubes Core Remover Tool with me.

All the tools I carried

Parts

Given that I had no flats, my two spare tubes were more than sufficient. I never had to replace the CR1220 batteries for my air pump. Several times I replaced the CR2032 batteries for my headlamp. Carrying Wippermann Connex Links obviated the need to carry chain pliers. I never used my Presta valve adaptor but was glad to have it just in case my pump failed and I needed to fill my tires at a gas station.

Supplies

All the supplies functioned properly and I wouldn't make any changes.

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6. Camping gear

Tent

My NEMO Hornet Elite 1P tent is light, easy to set up and take down, and packs small. It kept me dry in the rain and retained a fair amount of heat on cold nights. On warm nights when I knew it wouldn't rain I would sleep without the rain fly. I found it sufficiently roomy for me (5'-11") and the gear I would store in it (handlebar bag, trunk bag, helmet, and cycling shoes). Its fabric is delicate so one must be gentle opening and closing the zippers, and the NEMO Hornet 1P footprint is necessary to protect it from any sharp objects on the ground. The tent is semi-free-standing, which means it can be set up without any stakes in the ground but in that case the foot is not as wide as it could be.

The inside of the tent has loops on the top of the bug screen through which I rigged a clothesline for use when it was raining.

Items hanging from the clothesline

The NEMO Hornet Elite 1P tent has been replaced by the NEMO Hornet Elite 1 tent.

Air mattress and pillow

I found my Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad comfortable once I learned to not inflate it as fully as I could. It helped to insulate me from the cold of the ground. At 5'-11", I found size regular (72" x 20") sufficiently long and wide. With all the air removed it packed quite small. I also learned to not fill my size medium Exped AirPillow UL to its fullest capacity. A silk pillow case my wife made for me added to the comfort of the pillow.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad

Exped AirPillow UL

Sleeping-bag liners

I had initially planned to take the REI Co-op Helio Sack 55 Sleeping Bag, but I decided against it because it would occupy too much space in my trunk bag and I expected there would be very few nights cold enough for it to be needed. In place of a sleeping bag I used two sleeping-bag liners, the heavier Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme Sleeping Bag Liner and the lighter Cocoon Silk Mummy Liner. The volume of the two liners is substantially less than that of the sleeping bag and offered several options depending on the temperature. I could sleep in both liners, just the heavy liner, just the light liner, or on top of one of the liners into which I had placed the air mattress. Fortunately there were only a few nights I was cold sleeping in both liners wearing all my off-bike clothes including my rain jacket.

Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme Sleeping Bag Liner

Cocoon Silk Mummy Liner

Clothesline

The Sea to Summit Lite Line Clothesline was useful for drying my clothes overnight. I could run it between two trees or between a tree and a picnic table.

Headlamp

I found the Petzl e+LITE Headlamp useful inside my tent but for walking around outside I sometimes found it not bright enough once its batteries started to drain. With a rating of IPX8 it is not vulnerable in the rain.

Space emergency blanket

I never used the Space emergency blanket.

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7. Bags

My handlebar bag, top-tube bag, and trunk bag, with their loaded weights of approximately 6, 3, and 9 pounds, provided an excellent distribution of weight, making my bike easy to handle. Furthermore this setup is much more aerodynamic than one involving panniers.

My bike loaded with all my gear

Handlebar bag

I use my Ortlieb Ultimate 6 L Plus LARGE (8.5 L) Handlebar Bag to hold gear I need throughout the riding day. It easily connects and disconnects from its mount attached to the handlebar. With a rating of IP54, it protects its contents from the rain. I used the zippered pocket inside its main compartment to carry hold my wallet. I used its two outside zippered pockets (not waterproof) to hold my tools, earpiece, and headlamp. I left at home both the insert (for dividing the main compartment) and the shoulder strap.

Top-tube bag

I use my Ortlieb Top Tube Frame Pack to hold gear I need only when camping. With a rating of IP67, it protects its contents from the rain. Initially I found myself bumping my knees against the bag as I pedaled, but soon I improved my pedaling and would no longer bump into the bag. At rear strap that attaches to the top tube, I wrapped electrical tape around the bag in order to prevent the strap from sticking out and rubbing my right leg. I was able to pack and unpack the bag with the tape in place, but was unable to remove the bag without removing the tape, so I kept the bag on the bike throughout the entire trip.

Trunk bag

I use my XLC trunk bag to hold gear I need only at night after riding or in the morning before riding. I attached the trunk bag to the rear rack with the bag's three velcro straps designed for that purpose, and stabilized it with a 12-inch bungee cord run through the two loops on its front end, around the seat tube, and hooked onto the rails of my saddle. The bag is not waterproof so I lined it with a plastic bag.

I love that this bag makes possible the organization of its contents through the use of its velcro pocket, water-bottle carrier, two zipped pockets, and pair of velcro straps on the outside, along with a pouch in the main compartment and a pocket on the underside of the cover. It was necessary, but a nuisance, to use a plastic bag to protect the contents of the main compartment, and this bag does not have the durability of the bags made by Ortlieb. In fact, several repairs of the bag were necessary both during and after my trip. Before departing I tried both the 11-litre and 16.5-litre Ortlieb seat-packs, but their stuff-stack nature did not provide the organization offered by the trunk bag. That organization is also lacking in the Ortlieb trunk bags.

I've been told that XLC went out of business so their trunk bag is no longer available. I will continue to repair as needed the one I have as I continue to search for a replacement of higher quality. I plan to encourage Ortlieb to make a bag based on its design, preferably with a means for easy attachment to, and removal from, the rear rack.

XLC trunk bag with its main compartment expanded

Mesh zip cases

I used six Walker mesh zip cases of various sizes to organize my gear. One 3" x 4" case served as my change purse and a second case of that size served as my emergency-cash purse. A 3.5" x 5" case held my tools. A 4" x 9" case held my batteries, cables, and adapters, and a second case of that size held my parts and supplies. A 7" x 9" case held most of my toiletries. All these durable cases served me well.

Walker 3" x 4" mesh zip case

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See also Complete List of My Gear and How I Pack My Gear.