How I Pack My Gear

After replacing my trunk bag it was time to revise my How I Pack My Gear page. This page describes the way I pack my gear for a trip of thirty days or more in which I will be camping and when the temperature might be as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit. If I won't be camping I eliminate the camping gear and the top-tube bag. If the trip is shorter than thirty days I eliminate other items. In colder weather I make needed adjustments. When I'm camping in warmer weather I use a heavy-duty sleeping-bag liner rather than a sleeping bag.

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 an outside pocket of the trunk bag, or mounted on 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 may, and do, carry camping gear.

The total weight of my four loaded bags is 19.6 pounds. The total weight of my bike and the four loaded bags is 48 pounds. As the song says, I'm travelin' light.

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 - 28.4 pounds
    • Handlebar
      • Mount for handlebar bag
      • Phone mount and phone
      • Left and right mirrors
    • Head tube
      • Front light
    • Down tube
      • Water bottle in cage
    • Seat tube
      • Rear rack
      • Water bottle in cage
      • Air pump
    • Left seat stay
      • Rear light
  • HANDLEBAR BAG - 6.6 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)
        • (2) bungee cords (when not in use)
        • Key holder
          • Key for handlebar bag
          • Key for trunk bag
      • Rain jacket (in a sock as a stuff sack)
      • Sunglasses, clear goggles, and reading glasses (each in a cloth bag)
      • Cutlery (in utensil 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 (in a 4" x 9" mesh zip case) (except one battery connected to phone)
      • 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
      • Tools (in a 3.5" x 5" mesh zip case)
    • Left outside zippered pocket
      • Cleat covers
Handlebar bag and its contents - 6.6 pounds
  • TOP-TUBE PACK - 0.8 pounds, including the snacks
    • Snacks
Top-tube pack - 0.2 pounds
  • TOP-TUBE BAG - 2.8 pounds
    • Air pillow and pillow case (in stuff sack of air pillow)
    • Tent body and rain fly (in stuff sack of air mattress)
    • Headlamp
    • 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 - 2.8 pounds
    • TRUNK BAG - 9.4 pounds
      • Main compartment
        • Clothing
        • Sleeping bag (or heavy-duty sleeping bag liner shown in picture)
        • Microfiber towel
        • Inside right pocket
          • Bluetooth keyboard and phone stand
        • Inside left pocket
          • Sewing kit, extra contact lenses, and extra shaving cartridge (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
            • Contact-lens cleaner (12-ounce bottle)
            • Flat zippered pocket
              • Spare cellphone and paper clip to change SIM card (in a ziplock bag)
        • Outside rear tab
          • ROAD iD tag
        • On top of trunk bag
          • Filled water bladder (secured with two bungee cords)
      Trunk bag and its contents - 9.4 pounds

      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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