My life weighs 85 lbs. That’s 30 lbs. for the bike and racks plus another 55 lbs. of crap that will be my entire existence when I leave for my round the world (RTW) trip. I’ve named my bike “Muffin Top” because of the way it’s been overpacked. There are some extra items thrown in so I start off with a worst case scenario, pushing me to train with a bit of extra weight before I leave.
My life in 85 lbs.
I’ve lived a pretty spoiled adult life. For a lot of years, I bought every new gadget I could, every book I thought I might ever want to read, every DVD of every movie I’d ever heard of. Now, Goodwill is ecstatic that they are the proud owners of a Salad Shooter, George Foreman grill and 2 copies of Smokey and the Bandit – The Ultimate Edition.
Going from a 2 bedroom home filled with every convenience imaginable to living only on what I can carry on my bike is one of the scariest and (hopefully) most liberating things about the trip. About 5 years ago, I stopped the most egregious of my spending habits to begin saving money but I’m still used to a lot of things that make my life a pretty soft one.
So – what’s coming with me?
First up, the cycling gear. This has been the toughest part to plan. Unlike a pair of pants or toothpaste, choosing the wrong gear can be painful, challenging or even deadly if it fails at the wrong time. This is not a bike you’re going to want to enter into any races.
- Cannondale T2000 touring bike – I’ve had this bike for about 9 years, but haven’t ridden it much since I bought a new road bike in 2006. A touring bike is built to be especially sturdy and with a longer wheelbase so that you can load panniers on the back without your heels bumping into the bags on every pedal stroke. For bike geeks, here’s the basic set-up:
- Mavic A719 36 spoke wheels that can support some serious weight.
- Ultegra shifters, Sugino Triple Crank (48-36-26) and 9 speed (12 -34) cassette
- Front and rear Tubus racks, which can support a combined total of about 120 lbs of gear. Since there’s 55 lbs. on them so far, I can still kidnap a small child, strap him to the bike and be okay.
- Ortlieb Bikepacker Classic Panniers (front & rear). Waterproof, sizable without being huge. Bright canary yellow for maximum visibility and the possibility of being mistaken as a taxi.
- Trunk pack, handlebar bag & seatpost toolbag. To hold the stuff I need immediate access to – camera, bike lock, food, maps, notepad & paper, condoms (that’s called the power of positive thinking, folks)
- Tools & spare parts: 4 tubes, multi-tool, patch kit, pump, spokes, tire, cable ties, duct tape, lights, crescent wrench, Swiss army knife (I’m assuming when I’m in Switzerland, it’s just called a “knife”)
- Bike cover, for those nights when it might have to sleep outside
- Garmin Edge 705: GPS, speedometer & cycling computer. I may be leaving most of my worldly goods behind, but I still have a geek streak. The GPS capabilities are less important that the ability to track all of my riding and then upload the data into my computer so I can report mileage, speeds and most importantly, exact road maps of where I’ve ridden.
Since I’m staying in hostels and room rentals, there’s no need for tent and other camping gear. I hope. I may regret that on a cold night when I couldn’t quite make it to the next town before dark.
Training with the load on the bike starts this weekend. It shouldn’t be that bad – I just have to imagine I weigh 240 lbs.
Good luck with it. Looking forward to following along.
Thanks! Same to you – I’m just anxious to get started!
.-= Joel´s last blog ..Muffin Top – Packing List Part 1 =-.
I wish you all the best. It’s an amazing experience travelling the world with no set schedule!
.-= Catia´s last blog ..Packing List for Round the World Travel =-.
I can’t wait – I’m a chronic planner so I’m consciously leaving a lot open on this trip to go with what makes sense along the way.
But I’m studying as much as I can so I at least know my options and (some of the)potential challenges.
.-= Joel´s last blog ..Muffin Top – Packing List Part 1 =-.
ah traveling the world with no set schedule is the only way to do it in my opinion!! for some reason, i have a feeling my “year long” trip is going to go over that… no limitations!!
.-= floreta´s last blog ..How to Learn a New Language in Adulthood =-.
I know! I was toying yesterday with what it would take to extend for another year. With some luck and some hard work, I’ll keep going for 2 years and more!
.-= Joel´s last blog ..Muffin Top – Packing List Part 1 =-.
It just dawned on me that you’re biking it. Whoah. That’s crazy, but fantastic. I kinda think a tent and sleeping bag is a good idea. You never know. Something to think about.
And as for condoms, sometimes wishes become glaring reality. Boo ha!
.-= Nomadic Chick´s last blog ..Gypsy Wednesday – My Travel Pillow Book =-.
Well, the biking’s honestly not actually going to be all that challenging. I’ll be using the bike as a tranport between stops, but my stops are 30 days long (give or take – we’ll see how it goes). Then I use the bike (unloaded) to do day trips or weekends to nearby towns.
Nothing too strenuous – I’m not above taking trains for stretches where necessary. It’s not too painful until I get over 100 miles a day (probably about half that when I’m loaded up).
.-= Joel´s last blog ..Muffin Top – Packing List Part 1 =-.
When I was in Iceland I met a lot of bikers making their way around the country. Thought it was such a neat idea. Can’t wait to see you get started!
There are so many cycle tourists out there doing long term travel on nothing but the bike. Definitely even less expensive than hostels if you don’t mind camping everywhere. I’m not quite ready to make that kind of plunge yet. I like a shower and walls when I travel.
I’m thinking about doing this myself, #1 on my bucket list is to cross a country on a bike. I should probably start by purchasing a bike first though. I might have to direct some questions your way before I attempt such a feat.
.-= Cornelius Aesop´s last blog ..2012 A New Beginning =-.
Ask away – I’m not a technical expert on bikes, but I’m learning bit by bit. Last year, I ripped apart the touring bike and re-built it with all new parts to teach myself the basics.
I’ve done some tours through the US and Europe, though, so however I can help I’m happy to!
I am in awe. I feel the need to cleanse my house.
.-= Candice´s last blog ..A Newfoundland Language Lesson: Using the Word “B’y” =-.
haha – me too. I think I packed the wrong way – like Michaelangelo I just looked at all my stuff and chipped away the parts that didn’t look like travel.
I have two sales in my future – yard sale for the basics in a few weeks, then a bigger sale to get rid of all my furniture and big stuff. I’m storing only a few things that would be expensive to replace when I get back and that fit into a 5′ x 5′ storage locker (dress clothes, a couple pieces of furniture, some books, maybe one of my TVs).
.-= Joel´s last blog ..Muffin Top – Packing List Part 1 =-.
Umm…wouldn’t it be kind of painful to bike RTW? That seat doesn’t look like it’s got enough cushion. Lol
.-= Monica´s last blog ..What Was The Destination That Challenged You The Most? =-.
lol, no, not at all. I’ve ridden over 200 miles in a day and while it’s tiring, it’s not painful. Your body adjusts. You can’t keep that pace up every day, but I won’t be. That’s the beauty of staying put and doing day trips.
Super seo information,I have blasted this post to my twitter account to give you some free traffic, thanks you.
Biking around the world is such an awesome challenge. I really like the configuration and look forward to reading more. Best of luck to you!
.-= Keith´s last blog ..A Tale of Two Travel Archetypes: Breadth and Depth =-.
Thanks Keith – I’m sure we’ll bump into each other somewhere around the planet. It’s not all that big. Heck, I’m in Madison next month!
I love equipment posts because I’m always interested to see what everyone else is doing. Biking it would be a whole new experience for me. Good luck on your journey!
.-= Mike´s last blog ..Book Review: Lost on Planet China: One man’s attempt to understand the world’s most mystifying nation, by Maarten Troost =-.
I’ve been toying with the idea of not taking any supplies with me and just unbuilding my fixed gear and taking that round the world with me instead of clothes.
Don’t think Kirsty is to keen on the idea though.
I’m seeing a LOT more fixed gear bikes around here. Example, I just went to a Cake show (they suck btw) and there had to be at least 10 fixies parked outside.