The Cycling Adventurer

Globe

   Perth-Adelaide 1997

Equipment List   

Home  |  About Me  |  Touring  |  Ultra-Cycling  |  How-To...  |  Advocacy  |  Sailing  |  Links  |  Contact Me

Index  |  First  |  Previous  |  Next  |  Last

More on Packing Lists

Getting it all together and packed away

My starting point for my Perth-Adelaide trip was to draw up an inventory of equipment, using my previous knowledge of camping out, research and what I thought was plain common sense. The wish-list worked out to be:

 

   Camping Kit      
 
   Candle  x 1  For emergency illumination and fire-lighting  
   Compass  x 1  If I became lost on any side tracks or roads  
   Fishing Tackle  x 1  For emergency and pleasure  
   Nylon Cord  x 5m  For hanging out clothes and emergency lashings  
   Sleeping Bag  x 1  Borrowed, with hood, Hollofill, 2.1kg weight  
   Sleeping Bag Liner  x 1  Heavy cotton, to protect the sleeping bag  
   Sleeping Mat  x 1  For insulation and comfort  
   Spare Batteries    AA and C for torch and bike headlight  
   Tent  x 1  Three-person for me and all gear except bike  
   Torch  x 1  Eveready Scout  
   Whistle  x 1  To attract attention if lost or in an emergency  
 
   Clothing      
 
   Bike Shorts  x 2 pr  Chamois padded, of course  
   Cap  x 1  Sun protection and to prevent sweat into eyes  
   Cotton Shirts  x 3  Natural fibres better for warmth and coolness  
   Handkerchief  x 1  For blowing the nose  
   Bandana  x 1  Additional sun protection, especially nape of neck  
   Mittens  x 1 pr  For warmth, but discarded early  
   Casual Shorts + Belt  x 1 pr  For casual wear, sent home early  
   Socks  x 3 pr  Cotton mix preferred  
   Sports Shoes  x 1 pr  Adidas ATP Tours (leather uppers, breathable)  
   Tracksuit Bottoms  x 1 pr  Double layer for warmth, wind protection  
   Underpants  x 2 pr  For the evening under tracksuit bottoms  
   Waterproof Jacket  x 1  Netti yellow for rain/wind protection (sweaty)  
   Waterproof Trousers  x 1 pr  Cheap Rainbow, also includes sweatiness  
   Washing Powder  x 1 pkt  Used bar of Sard Wonder Soap  
   Windcheater  x 2  Settled on taking one  
 
   Cooking Kit      
 
   Cooker (gas)  x 1  Single burner, gas cartridge  
   Cutlery  x 1 set  Fork, dessert spoon, teaspoon and knife  
   Dish Detergent  x 1 btle  Not taken.. sand just as good or better  
   Foil  x 1 roll  For damper (not used)  
   Folding Knife  x 1  For slicing, whittling and protection  
   Gas Cartridge  x 1  Spare for cooker  
   Matches/Lighter  x 1  For lighting cooker and fire  
   Mug  x 1  Enamel for durability  
   Pot/Pan Set  x 1  Three items in bag, stainless steel  
   Tea Towel  x 1  Useful even if only occasionally  
   Waterproof Matches  x 2 pkts  Kept in reserve for emergencies  
 
   Food   Replaced as required en route  
   Beef jerky  x 1 pkt  Not taken  
   Coffee  x 1 jar  Stored in plastic container  
   Cooking Oil  x 1 pkt  Small tub of margarine unless weather very hot  
   Dried Meals  x 4 pkt  Pasta and soups  
   Flour  x 1 jar  Not used  
   Honey  x 1 jar  Used constantly for sweetening  
   Meat  x 1 pack  Wrapped frozen BBQ packs keep two days  
   Milk (condensed)  x 1 tube  Great with coffee  
   Milk (powdered)  x 1 jar  Not used  
   Muesli Bars  x 20  Replenished often, eaten during "hourly" breaks  
   Nut-Fruit Mix  x 1 pkt  Expensive but a treat  
   Pasta  x 1 pkt  Carbohydrate source and for bulking up meals  
   Rice  x 1 pkt  Carbohydrate source and for bulking up meals  
   Salt/Pepper  x 1 jar  Salt for sweat loss and pepper for seasoning  
   Water purifier tabs  x 1 pkt  Not used  
 
   First Aid Kit      
 
   Adhesive Bandage  x 1 roll  Binding joints, protecting chafe oints, dressings  
   Antacid Tablets  x 1 pkt  Easing indigestion  
   Antihistamine Tablets  x 1 pkt  Easing hayfever, symptoms of colds, wind irritation  
   Anti-diarrhoea Tablets  x 1 pkt  Easing the obvious  
   Antiseptic cream  x 1 tube  Savlon for saddle sores, chafe, cuts, abrasions  
   Anti-tinea cream  x 1 tube  For feet and groin  
   Contain  x 1  Plastic lunchbox  
   Cotton swabs  x 20  Cleaning wounds and applying disinfectants  
   Disinfectant  x 1 btle  Clean cuts, abrasions  
   Elastic bandage  x 1  dressings, bleeding, snake bite  
   Gauze bandage  x 1  For dressings  
   Murine Eyedrops  x 1 btle  Easing eye irritations caused by wind or dust  
   Nurse's scissors  x 1 pr  For dressings, cutting away clothing  
   Panadol/Aspirin  x 1 pkt  Relieving mild pain  
   Scalpel blades  x 2  Emergency use  
   Shock blanket  x 1  Silver lined to reduce effects of shock  
   Sterile swabs  x 2  Dressing wounds  
   Triangular bandage  x 1  Arm slings and bandaging  
   Tweezers  x 1  Removing splinters, fragments from wounds  
 
   Mechanical Kit      
 
   Allen keys  x 1 set  To fit all appropriate bolts on bike  
   Chain links  x 2  In case of chain breakage  
   Chain lubricant  x 1 can  RP7 (WD-40 alternative)  
   Cloth gaffer tape  x 1 roll  A fix-all for emergency repairs  
   Containers  x 2  One under seat for tools, one in pannier  
   Gear set remover  x 1  Essential for replacing spokes  
   Inner tubes  x 2  For quick return to pedalling after a puncture  
   Tube repair kit  x 1  For later repair of damaged tubes  
   Chain breaker  x 1  Best option for repairing chains  
   Link pins  x 2  Best option for repairing chains (!!??!!)  
   Screwdrivers  x 2  Philips head and flat head  
   Spanners  x 7  includes cone and shifter spanners  
   Spokes  x 6  Ensure they are of correct length for both wheels  
   Spoke spanner  x 1  For replacement and on-road adjustment  
   Tyre levers  x 2  To ease tyre replacement  
   Tyre liners  x 2  To reduce of punctures by thorns, glass  
   Tyre pressure gauge  x 1  Lightweight plastic dial gauge to 120psi  
   Tyre pump  x 1  Compact double-action mini-pump  
   Wire  x 1 roll  Emergency repairs  
   Water bottle cages  x 2  Standard size  
 
   Riding Kit      
 
   Aero bars  x 1 pr  For variation of hand position and improving running  
   Panniers  x 4  "Recycled" backpacks, tie-down clips and straps  
   Bike Computer  x 1  Speed, trip distance, odometer, wards off boredom  
   Front bar pack  x 1  Insulated, for storage of valuables  
   Gloves  x 1 pr  No fingers, padded palms  
   Headlight  x 1  Includes 2 C-sized batteries  
   Helmet and peak  x 1  Peak optional if cap worn under helmet  
   Pannier racks  x 2  Alloy front cheap steel modified for rear  
   Mirror  x 1  As essential as a helmet  
   Reflectors  x 2  White front, red rear  
   Rear light  x 1  Rear  
   Water bottles  x 7  Up to 2 x 1 litre, 2 x 800ml, 2 x 750ml  
 
   Toiletries Kit      
 
 Aspirin  x 40  Post heart attack medication  
   Comb  x 1  For hair!  
   Condoms  x 10  Just in case (not used)  
   Deodorant  x 1 btle  Roll-on and to smell nice  
   Face washer  x 1  especially for road grime and grit  
   Insect repellent  x 1  Roll-on Rid, for mosquitos, march flies, black flies  
   Isowipes  x 1  For when showers not available  
   Needle and thread  x 1  Running repairs to lots of things  
   Razor, brush  x 1  Not needed, grew beard instead  
   Soap  x 1  Essential, must be compatible with washing hair  
   Toiletries bag  x 1  Essential  
   Towel  x 1  Essential  
   Vitamin tablets  x 40  Half of one taken every day  
   Sunscreen  x 2  Stick and cream, essential  
   Tissues  x 4 pkts  Used to blow nose, wipe backside  
 
   Writing Kit      
 
   Camera  x 1  Have it checked and know how to use before leaving  
   Film  x 2  Replacements available on the way  
   Notebook  x 1  For notes and keeping journal  
   Pens/Pencils  x 3    
 
 

Index  |  First  |  Previous  |  Next  |  Last

Top of Page

© 1997-2006 Rowan Burns — The Cycling Adventurer
This page last updated on 29-10-06