arctic-cycler.com

On 13 September 2014 I left on a two year bicycle trip from Eindhoven (where I had been living) to Adelaide, Australia (where I grew up). I arrived in Adelaide on 27 September 2016, after cycling 41483km. Before leaving I made a list of equipment that I took. Below, I have included this list, with comments – what I found useful from the original list, what I didn’t, and what extra things I acquired later.

Bike and accessories

• Bike: Koga Signature – Very good.
• Bike Panniers: Ortlieb. (2 front and 2 back, one 89 litre bag for on top of the panniers) – Very good.
  • Over the years I have used Jack Wolfskin and Agu panniers. All have not been entirely waterproof. I have not yet ridden in the rain with the Ortlieb panniers, but, from what I have heard, they truly are waterproof.
• Two water bottles (bidons) – Very good.
• 1 bike pump – I had quite a few over my two year trip, most of which were crap. My current one is good – Road Morph G.
• 1 heavy duty bike lock – Very good.

Electrical accessories

• Smart phone: Samsung Galaxy S4. – Very good.
  • I tracked my route using GPSLogger, and then importing the created .kml files to Google Maps.
  • I used this as my camera and video tool as well.
• Smart phone charger and battery packs: 3 spare batteries, and one external battery. – Very good.
  • Being away from civilization for several days at a time means I need extra power for the smart phone to be able to keep on using it.. Another advantage of the Samsung over the iPhone is that the batteries can be swapped.
• Samsung Galaxy S4 extra battery charger – Very good.
• Zzing charger (that collects power from the dynamo) – I replaced this with a SineWave charger. The Zzing was too big, bulky and switched itself on and off while being jiggled in my handlebar bag. 
• SineWave charger – Good. Only charges when cycling faster than 12 km/h which can be non-trivial on rough, steep roads or with strong headwinds. It cannot recharge my batteries as fast as I use them, but it helps.
• Mini tripod for camera – I ended up not using my camera, but rather just the smart phone.
• Cable for camera-pc connection – Also used to charge the GoPro.
• SD card reader – Important. Ones you buy in China only last a day at most. 
• Extra micro SD cards – Good.
• Smart phone waterproof holder for bike (Tigra) – Good. The plastic cover got so scratched I couldn’t see the screen any more. Still, this was after cycling over 40000km. 🙂
• Ear phones for smart phone – Like the SD card readers, they break regularly, and ones available in central Asia or China don’t last long.
• Webcam: Ion Air Pro: Due to a software fault, the camera regularly rebooted itself, and could not be used until the battery had decharged. After replacing it several times, I gave up and bought a GoPro.
• Webcam: GoPro Hero 3. Very good.
•  Camera
  • In the past I have taken an SLR camera. On the 40000km trip I took a smaller camera with the functionality of an SLR camera – a Canon S100. I found that I never learnt how to use it properly, and just used my smart phone.
• Camera charger – Not needed as I didn’t use the camera.
• Macbook Air 13 inch – Excellent.
• Macbook charger –  Very good.
• Macbook protective case – Very good.
• Macbook LAN plug – Almost never used it.

Camping Equipment

• Tent + footprint – Good. After much use, the outer tent sagged and touched the inner tent, making the insides wet with condensation. Otherwise good. I have now replaced it with a Mont Moondance 2.
  • Super light and compact tent. Nordisk Telemark 2
• Sleeping bag – Good.
• Exped mat – Good.
• Exped air pillow – Not worth it. Can use the sleeping bag casing filled with a jumper.
• Silk inner sheet – Good.
• Thermolite ‘Reactor’ inner sheet – Good.
• Tent repair kit – Good. I never needed it though.
• Aluminium mat for sitting on – Good.
• Water bag – Unfortunately, mine leaked.

Cooking Equipment

• 1 plate, cup and foldable bowl – I ate out of the pot.
• 1 pot set (2 pots and lid/pan) – Good.
• MSR Whisperlite international cooker – Good.
• lighter/waterproof matches – The lighter is good. Matches are useless when wet – even waterproof ones.
• 1 plastic cutlery set – Cutlery is important. I replaced pieces when they broke.
• 1 swiss army knife – Good.
• 1 small bottle olive oil – If you’re a good cook. I’m not.
• salt and pepper shaker – Not worth it.
• 1 small bottle detergent – Just use water.
• 1 scrubber – Use your finger or sand.

Clothes

• Trekking pants: (light, fast dry, zipper to turn them into shorts if the weather is right) – Good.
• Fleece – Good.
• Rain coat (Gortex) – Good, although for me, as I sweat a lot, it has to be very very cold before this actually keeps me dry (I get wetter from the sweat).
• Down jacket – Good.
• 2 cycling shorts – Good.
• Lycra long running pants (wear over the cycling shorts in cold weather) – I didn’t use them. My legs never get cold.
• Cycling gloves (for stopping blisters on the hands) – Good.
• Warm waterproof gloves – Good.
• Inner gloves – Not so necessary.
• Buff – Multiple uses – for sand and wind, as a tea-towel, and as a sweat-rag – needed all the time in the tropics.
• Waterproof gaiters (to stop the shoes from getting wet) – Didn’t bother. Shoes get wet anyway.
• Waterproof pants. I get wetter from the sweat than the rain.
• Cycling tricot (1x short sleeve, 1x long sleeve) – Good. I was given quite a few on the way.
• Helmet – I wore occasionally. It is compulsory in Australia which I think is why few people cycle here.
• 3 underpants – Good.
• 2 t-shirts – Good.
• Trekking undershirt – Good.
• singlet – Good.
• Teva Sandals – Good.
• Warm, waterproof, hard soled, light weight hiking shoes (can cycle in them, can be evening shoes, and can do short several hour hikes with them on the cycle trip)- Good.
• Nike light weight running shoes – Good.
• Socks (2x warm wool, 1x cooler) – Good.
• Towel (small flannel towel – super compact) – Good.
• 1 cap – Good. Less use if you must wear a helmet (in Australia).
• 1 pair of sunglasses – Good.
• Small, compactable pack to be used as rucksack for short hikes are errands to the shop etc. – Good.
• Long sleeve inner layer for upper body – Good.
• Paper thin rain coat layer (for warm rain) – Good.
• Bathers – Good.
• Mosquito net for cap – Good.
• Fluorescent rain vest – Good.

Food

The list below depends on which country you are and what you can find. When I left Europe, I took the items in the list below.

• Muesli bars
• Bananas
• Apples
• Dried apricots
• Dried pasta/sauce mix
• Müsli
• Powdered milk

Repair Kit

• Multitool – Good.
• Oil – I don’t have any oilable parts (as I have no chain).
• Puncture repair kit – Good.
• 5 spare spokes – Good. Didn’t need them though.
• 1 replacement inner tube – Good.
• 2 replacement tyres (Schwalbe Marathon Mondial Double Defense (foldable)) – Good. 
• 1 set of brake pads – Good.
• 1 extra carbon drive (instead of the chain) – Good.
• Rohloff oil kit – Good.
• 1 spanner – to remove the pedals – Good. The pedals got so stuck, though, I still couldn’t remove them.
• Super glue – Used it to fix my broken sandals. 
• Duct tape – Useful for all sorts of things.
• Cable ties – Useful.
• Pliers – Useful
• Velcro – Didn’t use it.
• Hose clamps – Didn’t use them.

Miscellaneous

• Waterproof bag for miscellaneous use – Good.
• 2 heat pads (it can get cold at high altitude) – Didn’t use them.
• Maps (for when the smart phone doesn’t work) – Nice to get a bigger picture of the overall route.
• Tissues – Can be useful
• Toilet paper + alcohol hand wash – I did it the Indonesian way (only using water).
• Ear plugs – Useful
• Sun screen – Good.
• Universal sink plug – Never used it.
• Portable kitchen sink – Never used it.
• Pen – Useful
• Torch – Got a head torch.
• Medical kit – Good.
• Needle and thread – Good.
• DEET insect repellant – Good. I bought a lot of it in Indonesia. Lots of mosquitos, and it is very cheap.
• Passport – Important.
• Plane tickets – No flights.
• Money – Useful.
• Credit cards – Useful.

New things I bought on the way

• In the tropics, it is impossible to sleep in a tent – it is too hot.
  • Hammock and mosquito net (for putting up between 2 trees, or other things. Quite comfortable.
  • Mosquito net (can be hung up almost anywhere). – Good.