Recommended by an experienced bicycle tourist
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If you are cycle touring and wild camping this tent is a very good choice. You can fit two in reasonably comfortably or use it for one person and enjoy the space. Well made and lightweight. -
Keeping your hands dry when cycling is essential. Once they get wet, the continual airflow over your hands will make it very uncomfortable – same with your feet. These gloves have served me well in the wet and cold. Being fully waterproof, they are warm, breathable and have a good grip. Another great feature is that I can still use my iPhone while I'm wearing them, as opposed to removing them each time I need to use it. -
Due to the frequent daily dog attacks we get in the Caucasus I carry an equestrian whip to ward off chasing dogs. This one is 110cm or 3'6" with short lash, so snarling dogs can be engaged and kept at the safe distance away whilst you pedal like hell! Just make sure you fix your whip in a place where you can draw it out quickly and you'll feel much safer! -
I've realised that when cycle touring the only reason I take a plug adaptor is to charge my tech using USB. This tends to be my Apple charger with single USB port so you have to be on the ball when charging and queue for charging. A USB Plug Travel Adaptor with 4 Ports is a good buy since you can forget about your plug adaptor and USB plug and just take this one. Not only is it compatible with EU and US plugs it also has a UK adaptor so you can use it all the the time not just on tour. -
Power Banks are an essential item these days if you use your iPhone or Android phones for leisure. I use my iPhone for navigation, route mapping, photography, videos, social media etc so it’s on most of the day running down the battery. This smaller 5,000mAh Power Bank should enable you to charge your phone a couple of time with a full charge over night. If you don't want to carry a larger Solar Power Bank or you are not that power hungry with your tech then a few smaller ones might be the solution for you. I picked the red one for visibility purposes when you drop it! -
A Power Bank is an essential item these days to keep your iPhone or Android charged. I use my iPhone for navigation, route mapping, photography, videos, social media etc so it's on all the time draining the battery. A big Power Bank should keep you in power all day with a full charge over night. I don't normally go for gimmicks but this one has a torch which is useful and solar charging. Solar charging is usually a bit disappointing at the moment but a trickle charge when you are riding or walking helps top it up. If you end up in an emergency situation the solar might just help! -
These trousers are great for hiking and bike touring alike. I've used them for both. For ultra marathons it's good to know you can whip the legs off if it's too hot for trousers – I've not had to do that yet but you never know. They pack up really small so ideal leisure trousers for hiking and camping. They are very strong and tear proof so they'll last for years. -
A First Aid Kit is an essential item for dealing with anything from grazes, bites, cuts etc you may encounter when on cycle tour. It needs to be compact and lightweight so a hiking style one is ideal. This one has most things you may need for typical needs on tour. Don't risk not taking one! -
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In conjunction with your cycling overshoes and cycling shoes, a pair of waterproof socks are a good investment. If your expecting rain then stick them on to ensure your feet don't get wet. Wet feet are not pleasant at all on cycle tour so keep your feet nice and dry with these socks. -
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These are a great addition to your bicycle touring kit list. Cycling shoes are notoriously non-waterproof, so apart from spraying with Scotchguard, what can you do? A pair of overshoes will keep the rain off and keep your feet warm too. They never can be 100% watertight since the cleat and heel positions are open. However if you silicone up any holes in your shoes in these places they'll do just fine. -
A head torch is a really useful item to take night hiking or on cycle tour. I first bought one for my 100km 24 hour walks, so I know they are good in the dark and don't eat up batteries too quickly. They are useful for hands free stuff like riding in the dark, setting up camp, collecting fire wood, navigating etc. They usually have three settings for brightness so you can adjust to conditions and manage your battery life accordingly. You can use it like a normal torch too so you can save weight by bringing only this and your front light. Worth every penny! -
Lights are an essential item for cycling safety. You may not be cycling at night but during the day and dusk you need your lights. Keep your rear light on all the time – LEDs enable you to do this without burning batteries. These lights are very compact and light and easily fit to your bike. I also bring a head torch which can be used as an additional front light if we run out of daylight before we get to our destination. Stay safe and get some! -
I never cycle without a pair of mitts on and a gel pair will give you that extra comfort to avoid numbness in your hands. A pair of silk inner gloves are useful too if it gets a bit colder and a full set of cycling gloves for cold and rain. That's your hands sorted! You really do want comfortable hands on tour so go for these! -
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I hate getting my hands cold on tour and you'd be surprised how cold it can get sometimes. Your hands are right out in front and I usually wear cycling mits with exposed fingers. I have silk inner gloves which can be used with the mits but if you want real comfort get a pair of these. They are fully waterproof and hi viz. Well worth carrying in your saddle bag in my opinion. -
The Topeak Hexus II Bike Multitool is a really useful tool to keep in your saddle bag. It's got a whole load of different tools and great for tightening up loose bolts, fix your chain, reassemble your pedals etc. I use it right from the break down and boxing of my bike to the disassembly and reboxing and everything in between. I highly recommend taking one as I have used it on every tour. -
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I have always used cleats to attach myself to my pedals. All the additional power you get on the upstrokes is certainly worth it (reportedly up to 10%). When touring you can be in and out of the SPD pedals a lot, so I use these Shimano SPD pedals because they are quite large and can be used with normal shoes too. They are easy to pedal without fully clipping yourself in which is useful in towns. Thoroughly recommended so get some additional power. -
I bought a Dawes Discovery 301 for my London to Paris ride and I still use it for touring today. It can take a lot of punishment and is still nice and quick on the flat. The gear ratios give you plenty of scope from steep inclines to fast flat roads. Mine does not have disc brakes but the latest model has two. The price is really good too so you re getting a lot for your money whilst not worrying too much about the replacement cost! Give it a try! -
I've had one of these camera cases for years and I thoroughly recommend them. My mini tripod legs fits in to where the SD card goes so it's easy to stow it. I use the strap mainly but there is a belt loop too if you prefer. It's easy to open when riding too. Very good quality and a good price. -
This is the the perfect sleeping mat for cycling. It is comfortable, lightweight and packs up small. You don't want to be messing about with punctures or mattresses losing air so best keep it simple. I highly recommend this one since it folds up in to an nice block with no space lost. Go for it and sleep tight! -
Another simple accessory which can help make your touring life easier. This cargo nets work well with my Topeak Super Tourist back rack and you can stuff a surprising amount of kit under them. Stowing kit under them is easy and stays put. I recommend one for your cycling tour. -
Silk inner gloves are a good tip for keeping your hands warm with minimal bulk and weight. I've used silk inner gloves since my early motorcycling days where I'd always keep a pair in my leather jacket. On cycle tours I've used them under my mits when it was cold. A really versatile accessory you should take with you. -
A simple but effective idea which you miss if you haven't got one. Nice and bright too which helps when cycling in the rain. I stow mine in my CamelBak backpack and bring it out when the rain comes. An inexpensive item to keep the rain off your head. -
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These tripods are an absolute must for getting group photos. It can grip to branches, posts, rocks etc. Really lightweight and portable. Stick your camera on timer and get shooting! -
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With such fantastic scenery to see on our bike tours I like to take lots of photos. My Nikon SLR is not really very practical being too bulky and heavy so my snap camera is what I took along. With iPhones taking such good photos you might wonder why I need a camera at all. The reason is that I like to take photos when riding so an iPhone would be too difficult to operate whilst moving. The answer is the Sony DSCWX350 with a lanyard attached to it to avoid dropping. The battery lasts a long while and it has a decent 20x zoom. Consider getting this camera tripod too. Worth every penny!