Equipment: Nuts and Bolts
Tom's Setup
I am riding a Cannondale T2000 Touring Bike that I have had since the late 90s (1996 or so). I purchased it to replace a stolen Schwinn Voyager and use it exclusively for all my riding. It is very well geared for loaded touring as it has a lower limit 26-tooth granny up front and an upper limit 30-tooth cog on the freewheel.
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As you can see in the picture above, I went with front and rear panniers. I haven't used those front panniers and racks since 1988 when I went on my first extended tour in France. They are still in amazingly good shape, and the racks fit the Cannondale with little adjustment. Most of my load is on the rear wheel, but I did use the front panniers for light gear like my small airline pillow, my Thermarest, and a microfiber towel. In the small pockets are my cables and adapters for charging equipment, plus two battery sticks. In the other, I stored my Viso 360 light system in case we were delayed and needed to ride at night.
The rear panniers were divided between bike clothes on the left side and casual clothes on the right. I also packed rain gear, spare tubes, tools, lubrication, and a bike lock in various pockets. I like panniers with outside pockets as it helps organize the gear. Happy uses Ortliebs but is always losing stuff lol. I will let him defend that below. For waterproofing, I just pack in plastic bags. That has worked for many tours I've been on and am satisfied with that approach.
We planned to camp for both the experience and the economy. Three months on the road add up, and the tent, sleeping bag, and Thermarest come in at only about six pounds. I bought a Eureka Solitare for this trip and am pleased so far. It's small and more of a bivy tent, but I like the ability to roll back the rain fly and experience the stars and night air protected by a no-see-um netting.
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