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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!
Thanks for dropping in!
