How I Pack My Gear - Cross Country 2024

This page describes the way I packed my gear for my Cross Country 2024 trip.

I will be camping when the temperature might be as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Many days it will be in the 90s during the day but until I get to Pueblo,  Colorado, there could be temperatures below 50 during the riding hours.

I pack according to the adage A place for everything and everything in its place, and choose the places in order to make accessing items as easy as possible. Here are two rules I follow:

  • Items needed during the riding day must be in the handlebar bag, in the saddle bag, on top of the trunk bag, or mounted to the frame of the bike.
  • The top-tube bag may carry only camping gear

According to these rules, the handlebar bag may, and does, carry items not needed during the riding day, and all three bags other than the saddle bag may, and do, carry camping gear.

The total weight of my bike and the loaded bags is 61.6 pounds. This is the heaviest I've ever ridden my bike.

See Complete List of My Gear for a list of my gear organized by type, rather than by where packed, including links to the specific items I own. The links in the outline below refer to lists on that page.

See also Review of My Gear.


How I Pack My Gear

  • BIKE - ?? pounds
    • Handlebar
      • Mount for handlebar bag
      • Phone mount and phone
      • Mount for bear-spray cage holding bear spray
      • Left and right mirrors
    • Left fork blade
      • Front light
    • Down tube
      • Water bottle in cage
    • Seat tube
      • Rear rack
      • Water bottle in cage
      • Air pump
    • Left seat stay
      • Rear light
    • Under rear rack
      • Spare tire in a custom-made bag
  • HANDLEBAR BAG - 7.8 pounds
    • Main compartment
      • Zippered pouch
        • Wallet
        • Change purse (3" x 4" mesh zip case)
        • Pen with rubber tip for phone screen
        • Bluetooth earpiece (when not in use) in a small bag
        • 6 mm hex key
        • Key holder
          • Key for handlebar bag
          • Key for trunk bag
        • Velcro strap
          • Cutlery in utensil bag
      • (4) bungee cords in a bag (when not in use)
      • Rain jacket in a sock as a stuff sack
      • Sunglasses, clear goggles, and reading glasses in a bag, each in a cloth bag
      • Cable lock
      • First-aid kit
      • Camping supplies in a 3.5" x 7" mesh zip case
      • Bike parts (all except inner tubes) in a 4" x 9" mesh zip case
      • (2) inner tubes
      • Biking supplies (all except shop gloves and rag) in a 4" x 9" mesh zip case
      • Shop gloves and rag (in a ziplock bag)
      • Electronics accessories (except one battery connected to phone) in a 4" x 9" mesh zip case
      • Water bladder (when not filled) in its stuff sack
      • Water filter cap in a zip-lock bag
      • Velcro strap
        • Battery connected to phone
    • Right outside zippered pocket
      • Headlamp
    • Left outside zippered pocket
      • Tools in a 3.5" x 5" mesh zip case
Handlebar bag and its contents - 6.6 pounds
  • TOP-TUBE BAG - 3.0 pounds
    • Air pillow and pillow case in stuff sack of air pillow
    • Tent body, rain fly, and sling for contact lenses in stuff sack of air mattress
    • Clothesline
      • Footprint folded in eighths wrapped around air mattress folded in quarters rolled around pump for air mattress
      • Light sleeping-bag liner in its stuff sack
      Top-tube bag and its contents - 3.0 pounds
      • SADDLE BAG
        • Cleat covers when not in use
      Saddle bag and its contents
      • TRUNK BAG - ?? pounds
        • Main compartment
          • Clothing
          • Sleeping bag (or heavy-duty sleeping bag liner not shown in picture)
          • Microfiber towel
          • Inside right pocket
            • Bluetooth keyboard and phone stand in a plastic bag
          • Inside left pocket
            • Sewing kit, backup monthly contact lenses, and extra shaving cartridges in a 3.5" x 5" mesh zip case
            • Key holder
              • Key for handlebar bag
              • Key for trunk bag
          • Outside right
            • Large zippered pocket
              • Toiletries in a 7" x 9" mesh zip case
              • Insect repellent
              • Sunscreen
              • Flat zippered pocket
                • Emergency-cash purse (3" x 4" mesh zip case)
            • Velcro straps
              • Tent pole, stakes, and lines in tent pole bag
          • Outside left
            • Large zippered pocket
              • One-month supply of daily contact lenses in a 7” x 7” resealable plastic bag
              • Two cups (96 servings) of powdered electrolytes in a 7” x 7” resealable plastic bag
              • Liquid chlorophyll in a 3” x 6” resealable plastic bag
              • Flat zippered pocket
                • Spare cellphone with activated SIM card and paper clip to change SIM card in a ziplock bag
          • Outside rear tab
            • Satellite communicator
            • ROAD iD tag
          • On top of trunk bag secured with two bungee cords
            • Filled water bladder in a 3L stuff sack
            • Jacket, fingered gloves, tights, socks, long-sleeve wool shirt, and cap (when not worn) in a 5L stuff sack
        Trunk bag and its contents

        See Complete List of My Gear for a list of my gear organized by type, rather than by where packed, including links to the specific items I own. See also Review of My Gear.

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