The equipment list will be the same as in 2012 with the exception of the following -
Additions
Olympus digital dictaphone - when I typed up my notes in 2012 it would usually be at the end of the day with the netbook balanced on my knees in the tent and I was aware that I often forgot things that I should have included. I'll keep the dictaphone in my handlebar bag and stop and record a few words as situations arise and use them to jog my memory when I type.
Insulated water bottle bag - We got one of these because we like to take a bottle of frozen water to the beach with us when we're in Majorca. They're very light and work really well. It's dawned on me that one of these will solve the problem of my drinking water heating up to about 30deg C when I'm riding along!
2014 Equipment List
I know that some of you lightweight cyclists out there will be saying “I had less stuff when I moved house!”
Bike and Bags, etc
Bike: Saracen Skyline – now about nine to ten years old but still going strong – hopefully!
Gears: Triple chainset 22, 32, 42 with an eight speed 11 to 32 rear cassette. Chainset fitted with American Chain Watcher which stops the chain coming off when dropping onto the smallest chainring.
Wheels & tyres: 700c with 37mm Continental Touring Plus tyres
Tecktro brakes with soft linings
Gel saddle
Bottle cages for 2.5 litres of water (+ a 1.5 litre bottle in the rear pannier pocket once the weather heats up)
Halfords rear rack with Altura 20 litre panniers (40 litre total)
Rear top bag bought from Milletts in their closing down sale (Not sure of the volume but it’s big!)
Front rack – make unknown – taken off the rear of another bike and fitted on backwards, with 4 litre polythene icecream tub used as a ‘munchie box’ for snacks on the go plus holding items that I want close to hand
Lowrider racks fitted with Altura 16 litre panniers (32 litre total)
Halfords handlebar bag
Sigma Sport cycle computer
Homemade twin front light and three rear lights
Halfords centre stand (modified to increase strength)
Blackburn rearview mirror
Camping Equipment
Tent: Eurohike Tay 2 man
Sleeping bag: Halfords 2 season
Pillow case (filled with clothes, towel, etc at night to create a pillow)
Airbed and repair kit
Groundsheet used to cover the bike at night and in front of the tent as a living room extension during the day
Camping Gaz stove plus gas and lighter
Can opener
Backup food (mainly dried noodle, pasta, and couscous meals)
Corkscrew
Food bags
Coffee, sweeteners, dried milk
Plastic plate, bowl, mug, glass (Can a plastic glass be called a glass?)
Leakproof screwtop container for liquids
Saucepan
Tea towel
Wooden spoon
Knife, fork, spoon, sharp knife
Salt and pepper
Scourer
Washing line and pegs
Clothes
Cycling cape (DayGlo yellow)
Cycling jacket
Cycling trainers
Helmet
High vis vest (Usually draped over my rear rack bag)
Lightweight casual outfit
Reading glasses x 2
Sun glasses x 2 (different strengths)
Cycling gloves x 2 pairs
Handkerchiefs x 3
Mosquito headnet
Swimming trunks
Tee shirts x 2
Tracksuit bottoms
Pants x 3
Shorts x 3 (2 padded)
Socks x 3 pairs
Cycling shirts x 2 (Hi Vis)
Base layer (top & bottom in case it turns cold)
Sandals – lightweight plastic for wet grass and dodgy showers!
Lightweight dressing gown – for late night visits to the toilet block!
Toiletries
Folding combined brush and mirror
Comb
Deodourant
Ibuprofen
Insect repellent
Cod liver oil capsules
Moisturiser
Multi vitamins
Nailbrush – very small – came out of a Christmas cracker!
Disposable razors
Shampoo – also used as travel wash and washing up liquid!
Soap
Shoe horn – makes getting my trainers on much easier when I’m in the tent (without undoing the laces!)
Suntan cream
Toilet paper
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Towel
Scissors
Nail Clippers
Aftershave – small sample bottle
Tools/Spares
Bike oil
Cable ties
Duct tape
2 bike pumps (1 normal size & 1 mini with gauge)
Puncture repair kit
Tools (pliers, wire cutters, adjustable spanner, multitool, spoketool, chainlink extractor, rear cassette removal tool and chain whip, etc.)
Spare spokes (3 sizes)
Tyre valve adaptor
2 inner tubes
Latex gloves
Gadgets, etc.
AA & AAA batteries (spares for lights, camera, mp3, & dictaphone.)
Binoculars – small
Calculator – solar powered
Camera (Fuji FinePix S4080 bridge)
Mini tripod
Compass
Emergency ‘phone charger
Mp3 with headphones
HP Netbook (Upgraded to increase speed)
Iphone 4 & charger
Thermometer
Olympus Dictaphone
Paperwork
Blood donor’s card (showing blood group)
Camping Card International – acts as ID at campsites, instead of depositing passport, and gets discounts
Driving licence – for additional ID
Maps of Uk, France & Spain
Michelin Guide to French campsites (ridiculously heavy!)
Money & bankcards + photocopy
Passport + photocopy
Pen & notebook
Phrasebooks
Travel insurance - Karen insisted - apparently she wants to make sure she's got enough money to get my body home!
Miscellaneous
First aid kit
Head light – as a torch and extra front light when cycling at night
Long cable lock
Needle & thread
Whistle
Insulated water bottle bag
Earplugs (for when sleeping on the ferry or noisy neighbours on campsites)
Drysack x 2
Panel of bright yellow plastic for GB & Ecosse stickers
Additions
Olympus digital dictaphone - when I typed up my notes in 2012 it would usually be at the end of the day with the netbook balanced on my knees in the tent and I was aware that I often forgot things that I should have included. I'll keep the dictaphone in my handlebar bag and stop and record a few words as situations arise and use them to jog my memory when I type.
Insulated water bottle bag - We got one of these because we like to take a bottle of frozen water to the beach with us when we're in Majorca. They're very light and work really well. It's dawned on me that one of these will solve the problem of my drinking water heating up to about 30deg C when I'm riding along!
2014 Equipment List
I know that some of you lightweight cyclists out there will be saying “I had less stuff when I moved house!”
Bike and Bags, etc
Bike: Saracen Skyline – now about nine to ten years old but still going strong – hopefully!
Gears: Triple chainset 22, 32, 42 with an eight speed 11 to 32 rear cassette. Chainset fitted with American Chain Watcher which stops the chain coming off when dropping onto the smallest chainring.
Wheels & tyres: 700c with 37mm Continental Touring Plus tyres
Tecktro brakes with soft linings
Gel saddle
Bottle cages for 2.5 litres of water (+ a 1.5 litre bottle in the rear pannier pocket once the weather heats up)
Halfords rear rack with Altura 20 litre panniers (40 litre total)
Rear top bag bought from Milletts in their closing down sale (Not sure of the volume but it’s big!)
Front rack – make unknown – taken off the rear of another bike and fitted on backwards, with 4 litre polythene icecream tub used as a ‘munchie box’ for snacks on the go plus holding items that I want close to hand
Lowrider racks fitted with Altura 16 litre panniers (32 litre total)
Halfords handlebar bag
Sigma Sport cycle computer
Homemade twin front light and three rear lights
Halfords centre stand (modified to increase strength)
Blackburn rearview mirror
Camping Equipment
Tent: Eurohike Tay 2 man
Sleeping bag: Halfords 2 season
Pillow case (filled with clothes, towel, etc at night to create a pillow)
Airbed and repair kit
Groundsheet used to cover the bike at night and in front of the tent as a living room extension during the day
Camping Gaz stove plus gas and lighter
Can opener
Backup food (mainly dried noodle, pasta, and couscous meals)
Corkscrew
Food bags
Coffee, sweeteners, dried milk
Plastic plate, bowl, mug, glass (Can a plastic glass be called a glass?)
Leakproof screwtop container for liquids
Saucepan
Tea towel
Wooden spoon
Knife, fork, spoon, sharp knife
Salt and pepper
Scourer
Washing line and pegs
Clothes
Cycling cape (DayGlo yellow)
Cycling jacket
Cycling trainers
Helmet
High vis vest (Usually draped over my rear rack bag)
Lightweight casual outfit
Reading glasses x 2
Sun glasses x 2 (different strengths)
Cycling gloves x 2 pairs
Handkerchiefs x 3
Mosquito headnet
Swimming trunks
Tee shirts x 2
Tracksuit bottoms
Pants x 3
Shorts x 3 (2 padded)
Socks x 3 pairs
Cycling shirts x 2 (Hi Vis)
Base layer (top & bottom in case it turns cold)
Sandals – lightweight plastic for wet grass and dodgy showers!
Lightweight dressing gown – for late night visits to the toilet block!
Toiletries
Folding combined brush and mirror
Comb
Deodourant
Ibuprofen
Insect repellent
Cod liver oil capsules
Moisturiser
Multi vitamins
Nailbrush – very small – came out of a Christmas cracker!
Disposable razors
Shampoo – also used as travel wash and washing up liquid!
Soap
Shoe horn – makes getting my trainers on much easier when I’m in the tent (without undoing the laces!)
Suntan cream
Toilet paper
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Towel
Scissors
Nail Clippers
Aftershave – small sample bottle
Tools/Spares
Bike oil
Cable ties
Duct tape
2 bike pumps (1 normal size & 1 mini with gauge)
Puncture repair kit
Tools (pliers, wire cutters, adjustable spanner, multitool, spoketool, chainlink extractor, rear cassette removal tool and chain whip, etc.)
Spare spokes (3 sizes)
Tyre valve adaptor
2 inner tubes
Latex gloves
Gadgets, etc.
AA & AAA batteries (spares for lights, camera, mp3, & dictaphone.)
Binoculars – small
Calculator – solar powered
Camera (Fuji FinePix S4080 bridge)
Mini tripod
Compass
Emergency ‘phone charger
Mp3 with headphones
HP Netbook (Upgraded to increase speed)
Iphone 4 & charger
Thermometer
Olympus Dictaphone
Paperwork
Blood donor’s card (showing blood group)
Camping Card International – acts as ID at campsites, instead of depositing passport, and gets discounts
Driving licence – for additional ID
Maps of Uk, France & Spain
Michelin Guide to French campsites (ridiculously heavy!)
Money & bankcards + photocopy
Passport + photocopy
Pen & notebook
Phrasebooks
Travel insurance - Karen insisted - apparently she wants to make sure she's got enough money to get my body home!
Miscellaneous
First aid kit
Head light – as a torch and extra front light when cycling at night
Long cable lock
Needle & thread
Whistle
Insulated water bottle bag
Earplugs (for when sleeping on the ferry or noisy neighbours on campsites)
Drysack x 2
Panel of bright yellow plastic for GB & Ecosse stickers