How I Pack My Gear (2019)

This page describes the way I packed my gear for my 4,500-mile trip in 2019.

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. My handlebar bag contains gear I need throughout the riding day, my top tube bag contains gear I use only when camping, and my trunk bag contains gear I need only at night after riding or in the morning before riding.

See Complete List of My Gear (2019) 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.

Ready to depart on May 28th, 2019

How I Pack My Gear

• BIKE - 30.2 pounds
• Handlebar
• Mount for handlebar bag
• Phone mount and phone
• Left and right mirrors
• Head tube
• Front light
• Down tube
• Water bottle in cage
• Bike tracker
• Seat tube
• Rear rack
• Water bottle in cage
• Air pump
• Left seat stay
• Rear light

• HANDLEBAR BAG - 6.0 pounds (items needed throughout the riding day)
• Main compartment
• Zippered pouch
• Wallet
• Change purse (3" x 4" mesh zip case)
• Cable lock
• Sunglasses, clear goggles, and reading glasses (each in a cloth bag)
• Cover for cellphone (when not in use)
• Rain jacket (in a sock as a stuff sack)
• Batteries (for charging electronics), cables, and adapters (in a 4" x 9" mesh zip case)
• Parts and Supplies except for tubes, shop gloves, and rag (in a 4" x 9" mesh zip case)
• Tubes (2)
• Shop gloves and rag (in a ziplock bag)
• Cutlery (in a bag)
• First-aid kit
• Snacks
• Right outside zippered pocket
• Tools (in a 3.5" x 5" mesh zip case)
• Left outside zippered pocket
• Headlamp
• Bluetooth earpiece

Handlebar bag and its contents - 6.0 pounds

• TOP-TUBE BAG - 3.0 pounds (items needed only when camping)
• Tent except for pole, stakes, and lines (in its stuff sack)
• Air mattress and air pillow (in stuff sack of air mattress)
• Footprint (wrapped around air mattress and air pillow)
• Light-weight sleeping-bag liner (in its stuff sack)
• Cap (wrapped around light-weight sleeping-bag liner)

Top-tube bag and its contents - 3.0 pounds

• TRUNK BAG - 9.2 pounds (items needed at night or in the morning)
• Main compartment
• Clothing
• Bike
• Shirts (1)
• Shorts (1) 
• Socks (1 pair)
• Off-bike
• Short-sleeve wool shirt
• Convertible pants
• Underwear (2)
• Shoes
• Swim goggles
• Heavy-duty sleeping-bag liner and pillow case (in stuff sack of sleeping bag liner)
• Microfiber towel
• Supplements
• Bottom side of top
• Finger-nail clipper, toe-nail clipper, and file (in case slipped into pocket and attached with velcro)
• Inside pouch
• Bluetooth keyboard and phone stand (in a plastic bag)
• Clothesline (in its stuff sack)
• Extra contact lenses
• Extra shaving cartridges
• Emergency-cash purse (3" x 4" mesh zip case)
• Space emergency blanket
• Outside left
• Velcro pocket
• Cleat covers
• 12-inch bungee cord when not in use to stabilize trunk bag
• Water-bottle carrier
• Contact-lens cleaner (12-ounce bottle)
• Outside right
• Zippered pocket
• Toiletries (in a 7" x 9" mesh zip case)
• Contact-lens cleaner (3-ounce bottle)
• Contact lens cup
• Contact lens case
• Saline solution
• Folding toothbrush
• Tooth powder
• Floss
• Scrub brush
• Skin protectant
• Razor
• Velcro straps
• Tent pole, stakes, and lines (in bag that came with the tent pole)
• Outside rear zippered pocket
• Liquid soap
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen

Trunk bag and its contents - 9.2 pounds

See Complete List of My Gear (2019) 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.