PACKING FOR A BICYCLE TOUR: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

By Bill -


You want to travel the world by bike, but you’re unsure about WHAT to pack… and HOW exactly you should pack it all on your bicycle.
In this article I will demonstrate to you how I pack my current touring bicycle (a Co-Motion Pangea), my four Ortlieb panniers and my single Ortlieb handlebar bag. Inside the bags that hang off my bike are everything I need to survive for months at a time – as you will see in just a moment.
It should be noted, however, that this is just ONE WAY of packing your belongings for a long-distance bicycle touring adventure. WHAT items you choose to pack and HOW you choose to store your particular belongings is going to depend on:
  • Where you are going in the world
  • What the road conditions are like in that area (paved roads vs. dirt/mud/ice/snow)
  • How long you are going to be traveling (a couple days vs. several weeks or months)
  • Where you will be sleeping at night (camping vs. staying in hotels)
  • Personal preference
  • And a number of other factors (which I lay out in further detail inside The Bicycle Traveler’s Blueprint)
In the video above and in the notes below, you are seeing the way I have chosen to pack for my current 13+ month bicycle tour across Europe and Africa. What you pack for your own bicycle touring adventure and how you choose to pack your belongings on your bike may vary greatly. However, there are a few points worth noting in the video above, so no matter where you plan to travel with your bike in the world or how long you plan to be on the road, you are sure to gain an important piece of information from this article.

GEAR SELECTION (WHAT TO PACK & WHAT TO LEAVE AT HOME)

A detailed breakdown of everything I’m currently carrying with me on my bicycle can be accessed in this article: What to Pack for a Year-Long Bicycle Tour. If you are wondering what sleeping pad I use or which type of cameras I am traveling with, that article will tell you everything you need to know.
The important thing to note in this video is that I am carrying a lot of electronic items with me – way more electronics than the average bicycle traveler will (or probably should) carry with him.

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