Recommended by an experienced bicycle tourist
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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! -
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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! -
This is the saddle I have used for all my tours and I can safely report that I have never had any saddle soreness! The Brooks B17 is the stand out choice for a saddle that is well made and comfortable. Make sure you run it in first, to make sure it fits your bottom comfortably, before you go touring. Once run in just follow the care and maintenance instructions and it will last a long time. The version I have is the B17 Special but a cheaper Standard version is available for under £100 which delivers the same performance without the high level aesthetic. -
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. -
These are very well made panniers and are great for keeping everything dry. There's plenty of room in them and they have a separate compartment each. They are easy to fit to your bike rack and easy to carry around using a strap. I suggest a lashing strap which can be used for other things. -
These are great jackets for what they do. They are nice and light, pack up small and keep the rain out when it's pouring down. The additional visibility with the reflective fabric really stands out so I feel safer in bad conditions. Keeps the wind off nicely too and I've recently been through some filthy weather with one of these on and kept reasonably dry! Worth it and highly recommended. -
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. -
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! -
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. -
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I like to sip water when cycling to keep hydrated so a CamelBak is an essential item for me. The great thing about this design is that there is plenty of space to stow items like sunglasses, waterproof helmet cover, money, snacks etc. The 2.5 litre capacity is usually enough for a days ride for me. Highly recommended item you should take on tour. -
I bought a pair of these to replace my Shimano cycling shoes. I was looking for a trainer type shoe which could take cleats for SPD pedals but still be comfortable to walk in. I looked at the Shimano XM7 cycling shoes but in the end took a chance on a much cheaper cycling shoe. I wasn't disappointed at all with these. I did buy some gel insoles as well to make things more comfortable. Make sure you buy some cleats, they are easy to fit as well. -
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! -
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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've used this rack on all my bicycle tours and highly recommend it. It's really robust and can take a lot of punishment. It's really simple to fix your panniers to it quickly. There is a standard and disc brake fitting so make sure you choose the right one. -
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! -
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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. -
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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. -
I was recommended these bicycle tires as an alternative to Schwalbe Marathon for touring. I was looking for a tough tire for multiple terrains and a bit of puncture resistance. I have now used the same set for three tours now and have not had a puncture. They can take some pounding on broken roads and trails performing exceptionally well with no issues. These tires are a great investment and I thoroughly recommend them. RiBMo means "Ride your Bike More"! -
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! -
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 bought one of these to protect myself from dogs and bad drivers. Having tested it in Georgia and Azerbaijan I can safely say it works for both. Many savage dogs were stunned by its loudness and many wayward cars got to know I was there. Really loud! Get one! -
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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! -
I like to have a variety of positions for my hands for comfort when bicycle touring. I bought these butterfly handlebars and have toured with them ever since. I do tend to have preferred position but it's relief to be able to change it from time to time. Recommended for comfortable arms while cycling.