Northern Tier Ride Prep: What’s In the Bag?

One of the most frequently asked questions about riding coast to coast is, “What’s in the bag?” So here goes:

Tom’s Panniers (38 pounds)

Rear right:

REI Co-op Half Dome 2 man tent
G4Free camp chair

Rear left:

Kelty down sleeping bag
REI Air Rail 1.5 sleeping pad

Front left:

The “kitchen”, includes 2 mugs, 2 bowls, 2 sporks, coffee filter, spatula, cutting board, knife, MSR pan, MSR whisperlite stove with wind shield, soap, scour square, pan grabber, P-38 can opener, lighter
1 liter fuel can
Flask

Front right:

Clothing bag including 3 jerseys, 2 cycling shorts, Chacos sandals, 2 pair socks, 1 pair Smart Wool socks, stocking cap, gloves, fleece, rain jacket, cycling leggings, arm sleeves, cycling shoes, convertible pants, shorts, 2 short sleeve t-shirts, 1 long sleeve t-shirt, 2 underwear, baseball cap, head buff
Bath bag includes camp towel, tooth brush, tooth paste, dental floss, shampoo, liquid soap, deodorant, razor, shaving cream

Handlebar bag:

Electronics bag including chargers for phone, Garmin 1000 GPS, portable charger, shuffle, charging cord for front and rear bike light
Sunglasses case
Bike lock
Tire pump
Rag with chain lube
Head lamp
Suntan lotion, chap stick, bug juice
Duct tape, bungee cords
Snacks
Passport

Strapped on back between rear panniers:

Tent poles wrapped in tarp

Seat bag:

Multi tool
2 spare tubes
2 CO2 cartridges
Tire levers
Patch kit

Helmet

Cycling shoes

Cycling gloves

Water bottles – 3

Front rechargeable light

Rear rechargeable light

And the second most frequently asked question regarding bags is: Why is Tom carrying twice as many bags as Deb? Answer? Because if Deb carries equal weight she won’t get to Maine until two weeks after Tom.

Deb’s Panniers (24 pounds)

Rear right:

Cycling clothing bag including 1 short sleeve jersey, 2 sleeveless jerseys, 2 bike underwear, 2 shorts, arm sleeves, cycling leggings, 2 pairs cycle socks, 1 pair Smart Wool socks, bright orange cycle vest
Camp clothes bag including 1 sleeveless shirt, 2 short sleeve T-shirts, 1 long sleeve T-shirt, black running shorts, khaki convertible shorts/pants, pink anorak, Marmot raincoat, 2 underwear, 2 jog bras, 1 extra bandana, gloves, stocking cap
Food bag

Rear left:

Kelty down sleeping bag
REI Air Rail 1.5 sleeping pad
North Face fleece
Solar lantern
Bathroom bag including hair brush, toothbrush/paste, floss, soap/shampoo combo, moisturizer, wet wipes, razor, deodorant
2 gallon water bucket (I never go camping without it. Serves as a laundry bucket, ice chest, dish pan, etc.) #BestGadgetEver
Camp towel
ACA route maps

Handlebar bag: