So when this VTXL ride is over, I like to do a concise (for me) review of my trip's gear. What I loved, what gear I need to change. Stuff I didn't need. Anything I wish I brought
Things I need to replace to lower the weight of my bike and gear.
- An Enlightened equipment or outdoor vitals Rain jacket would save half a pound. I also need smaller, lighter goretex pants too, which would save weight.
- The double wall stainless steel food container I brought weighed 13.5 ounces empty! Not worth the weight at all, I'll replace with a small used peanut butter jar.
- I brought the insulated stainless jar with the idea of saving warm/cold food for dinner at camp later. But food stops were often a half day earlier or more.
- no more bluetooth keyboards, they break too easy while bike touring
- more fitted long pants for cycling that are ventilated
- trying a pair of pine colored vent lightweight slim fit xl pants from https://ketlmtn.com
- if a new phone also has satellite messaging leave garmin inreach gadget at home
- leave my sleeping earbuds at home, didn't use/need them
Things I wish I'd had
- the single ear muff hearing protector for sleeping
- a selfie stick tripod for the camera for photos/videos.
- my cycling windbreaker vest with mesh back (will see what it weighs). Perfect for cold downhill runs, but prevents getting too hot on long uphill climbs during cold mornings
- metamucil? I was burning an extra 3,000 calories per day. So pizza, burgers, fried chicken will be needed. I need a way to get fiber when bike touring.
Things I liked
- my bike! the new seat and suspension post were awesome! (new vs the Erie Canal trip)
- bringing my protein powder mix really helped soothe my muscles. A scoop with water before bed and again with breakfast.
- my uv arm sleeves. worked well in the morning.
- the front rack with nano panniers. might do a different front rack truck bag
- the crazy creek longback ground chair. comfy spot to sit, snack, and monitor the water filter
- the tent on the handlebar cradle, don't change it
- the rear rack bag system. Awesome!
- carrying the long tent poles on the rear rack worked well
- the ursack kevlar bag kept critters out of my food. A smaller one would be nice
- the cnoc bag, sawyer squeeze water filter and backflush syringe
- the Shokz open fit 2 earbuds. great for music on quiet backroads and useful for voice to text writing
- my Sleep setup, the air mattress, usb air pump, pillow and quilt
- the 20,000 mah battery bank
- but once a week, I'll have to stay at a hotel to charge it overnight. all portable batteries take 5-8 hours to charge via usb C.
- my little red plug usb wall charger for quick charging phone/bike computer at convenience store stops.
Things to buy, fix, or make
- The second one liter bottle doesn't work on the downtube holder I have. It squeezes the bottle too much leaking 1/3rd of the water out of the screw on top
- get a dictation app that works offline or a new phone with the functionality built in.
- chop up ridewithgps routes into 2-3 days at most.
- fix garmin edge 1040 barometer port or replace it
- buy a new weather cover for garmin edge if barometer is fixed.
- get a new one if it stays broken
- orange crocs for better visibility with drivers coming up behind.
- lighter rain jacket and pants
- smaller kevlar food bag?
- make a new fanny pack with lighter fabric
- metamucil or similar fiber powder.
- my idea of bringing beans to cook for fiber won't work. I need too many calories when biking all day
- bring 2 long usb c cords for using the wall charger, not 1 long, 1 short
- the ear muff, make an elastic band to keep on head when sleeping, integrate with eye mask?
Things that were just ok
- the Kindle. nice to have, but could I just live with my phone? Saves phone battery a lot though. depends on how much time I want to spend pedaling each day I guess. I like reading when wild camping, keeps me off the phone saving its battery
- my spd bike shoes/pedals. I think I was getting numb feet. improve it
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