Bike & Gear

The Bike

Odd people name their cars, even odder people name their bikes. It makes it all that much sadder when they get stolen, but adds a lot of personality. The bike’s name is Bruce, due to it’s resemblance to a certain comic book character. It’s lame, I know but I don’t care. Bruce is 2007 Trek 520, purchased specifically for the trip after selling off my other bikes. The 520 has a great reputation and is one of the best mass produced touring-specific bikes that you can buy. It wasn’t my first choice when I began planning this trip, but now I am extremely happy with the ride and the quality of the build, I have no doubt that Bruce is up to the task, probably more than I.

For those of you who care, here are the specs:

Frame: Butted Cro-Moly STEEL

Wheels: Bontrager Maverick 36h rims, Shimano Deore LX hubs, Bontrager Hardcase Racelite tires

Drivetrain: Deore LX rear, Shimano 105 Front, 11-32 SRAM PG970 cassette, Shimano Ultegra 52/42/30 crankset

Brakes: Avid SD5, Dia-Compe levers, Kool Stop MTN pads

Shifters: 9 Speed Shimano Dura Ace bar end

Headset: Cane Creek SC1

Handlebars: WTB mountain drop bars

Stem: Thomson x-2

Seatpost: Thomson Elite

Saddle: Brooks 17

Pedals: MKS platform

Unnecessarily Detailed Gear List

(Click to enlarge, at your own risk)

This is everything that I will be starting out with, subject to change as the situation calls for:

Bike Maintenance:

-1 Topeak Alien multi-tool

-2 4mm Allen wrenches

-1 mini cassette cracker tool

-1 bottle ProLink lube

-spare brake cable

-spare shifter cable

-2 sets spare Kool Stop MTB brake pads

-1 SRAM PC970 chain

-2 SRAM chain powerlinks

-3 spare tubes

-5 spare spokes

-1 Fiberfix emergency spoke kit

-patch kit

-presta valve adapter

-Topeak road morph frame pump, with gauge

-1 mini Inovations C02 pump, 3 16gm cartridges

-Brooks proofide

-Brooks saddle tension wrench

-cable combination lock/large amount of trust

-rags

-2 water bottles (Kleen Kanteen + Polar Bottle)

-Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance book (I know most will say this is unnecessary weight, but it is like a safety blanket.)

Clothing

- new shiny pair of Oakleys to replace my 7 year old pair

-6 pairs of wool socks, varying warmths, lengths, brands

-5 pairs underwear

-2 pairs synthetic gym shorts

-1 pair Chrome brand cycling shants

-2 off-the-bike t-shirts

- 1 smartwool midweight jersey

-1 Columbia SPF protection long sleeve shirt

-2 Under Armour short sleeve shirts

-1 heavyweight Carhartt thermal shirt

-1 pair HotChillys thermal underwear

-1 Marmot lightweight waterproof rain jacket

-1 pair Carhartt cold weather waterproof/breathable gloves

-1 Carhartt head/face warmer combo

-1 pair flip flops

-1 pair Asics running shoes, for on and off the bike

-1 helmet

-1 pair Rockgardn full finger cycling gloves (these gloves SUCK, but I will use them until they fall apart)

Camping

-REI halfdome 2hc tent (great size for one person + all gear)

-tent footprint

-REI Zephyr 15+ sleeping bag

-Thermarest lite 3/4 length sleeping pad

-full size camp towel, wash cloth camp towel

- titanium fork and spoon

-water purification tablets

-emergency pocket saw

-1 mini Leatherman multitool

-1 Leatherman pocket knife

-small bottle pepper spray

-waterproof matches

-Light My Fire fire starter

-8oz. flask, for emergency use only of course

- huge bag of trail mix

-ridiculous amount of Cliff protein bars

-assortment of hammer gel

-extensive first aid kit

-emergency wind up radio/flashlight/widget

Personal/Hygiene/Other

-Brave Soldier sunblock

-Deodorant spray (times like these I wish I wasn’t allergic to anti-perspirant)

-2 bottles Purrel hand sanitizer

-UV protection lip balm

-bottle Brommer’s multi use soap

-toothbrush

-toothpaste

-mouthwash

-floss

-daily vitamins

-toilet paper

-nail clippers

-Spare batteries for camera/lights/cycling computer

-Passport

-insurance doumentation

-small amount of cash

-agenda/address book

-space pen (amazing)

-stamps

-copies of credit cards/documents

-Toshiba 14″ laptop (not the wisest choice I know, it will be lucky to make the trip unharmed and un-stollen..but i’m risking it.)

-Half of my Adventure Cycling maps, with plans to have the other half sent to me mid-way

-Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 digital camera, several memory cards

-MP3 player

-Cell phone/charger

-pocket photo album

-polar bear mascot

-Rotating book (check book section for more details)

All of this weighs in at an overweight 65 pounds, dispersed in A set of Ortlieb backpacker plus panniers, an Ortlieb large size rack pack-stacked on a Tubus Logo rear rack, and an Arkel big bar bag.