Adventure Cycling Association

Heavy in Houston asks: “I always overpack because I’m nervous I’ll need something I don’t have. How can I lighten my load both mentally and physically?”

You’re not alone. While I have been on tours with a few fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants folks, in my experience, the majority of pannier-toting bike tourists like to be prepared for anything. There’s nothing wrong with that, and it’s probably served you well in many aspects of your life. I get it; I’m a detail-loving planner, too! At the same time, one of the joys of bike touring and bikepacking is the freedom they give us from our day-to-day lives. And the last thing you want is to lose any of that joy by being weighed down both physically and metaphorically.

As cyclists, we’re fortunate that by distributing the weight on our bikes, a few extra pounds might not matter as much as it would for a backpacker. But even so, a lighter load makes it easier to get down the road and up those hills. More than that, being on the move involves a lot of packing and unpacking. The more stuff you have, the more stuff you need to keep track of and the less time you have for enjoying those quiet sunsets and hilltop vistas — or simply getting a solid night of sleep!

You’ve said that you always overpack, which makes me think that you’ve gone on bicycle tours before. That knowledge base is to your advantage. Have you considered making a personalized list of every item you brought on tour in the past? It may sound simple, but this is the time to catalog everything, down to the clothes and tools you’ve packed. In preparing for a recent cross-country trip with Adventure Cycling, several participants asked my co-leader and I what we were planning to bring. They were thrilled when we provided a very detailed list, right down to the number of charging cords and socks. (This is when I learned that my co-leader rides in sandals!)

For those who haven’t been on tour before, never fear. If you’re planning your own tour, Adventure Cycling has plenty of packing guides to get you started. And if you’re taking one of our guided tours, Adventure Cycling provides a detailed packing list when you sign up.

Once you have your list, carry it forward, modify it, and pare it down rather than starting from scratch each time you plan a new trip. To help me do this, I resist the urge to immediately get my gear and clothes clean and put away when I return from a tour. Instead, I dump everything out from my panniers (or duffles) and inventory what I packed and what I used. Do the same, and if you see something in your pile that you didn’t touch, take note. You probably won’t need to pack it next time. (The only exceptions I would make for this are rain gear and bike repair items. When I return from a tour and realize I didn’t need to use them, I count myself lucky and pack them again next time.)

As far as clothing, less is more. And honestly, there are only a few items that you really need more than one of, such as riding shorts. You can get by with two shorts and do some hand laundering each night. For these purposes, I always pack a gallon-sized Ziploc bag and a travel-sized bottle of liquid laundry detergent — instant washing machine! If you’re fortunate enough to have access to an actual laundry, those rain pants you hopefully don’t need can be worn while you’re cleaning all of your other well-used items.

The hardest part may be holding yourself to your packing list and not throwing in those “just in case” items before you head out the door. If you do discover you truly need something you didn’t pack, there will be stores along most routes. (Though it is a good idea to check your route first before you rely on this option.) If you could really use a warmer layer, buy a logoed fleece or beanie at the camp store. It will be a nice souvenir that you’ll treasure when you get home.

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E-commerce is also an option. My air mattress developed a leaky valve while I was on the Southern Tier in East Texas. I was hundreds of miles from an REI or other sporting goods store, and it didn’t appear that I could fix it. After a couple of nights of suboptimal sleep, I was able to have a replacement delivered to a RV park a few days up the road. For some items, you might also rely on the kindness of others, whether it’s your riding buddy letting you use an extra light or a stranger giving you some snacks.

While most of your gear will apply to all your adventures, your packing list will vary a bit from trip to trip. Funny story: On a four-week ride through Alaska and the Yukon, I packed all of my usual camping necessities. Including a headlamp. In June. It never approached darkness on that trip and my headlamp stayed in a stuff sack the whole time. While I didn’t need the light, I was grateful that I thought to pack a headnet to fend off the blood-thirsty mosquitoes, something that I wouldn’t need on a jaunt from home in Southern California.

Here’s another tip: don’t just write down your list. Lay your gear out all together before packing it away and take a photo or two. It may be several months before your next big trip, and those quick images can ease the packing anxiety next time around. For instance, you’ll clearly see exactly which long-sleeve shirt you brought along, and then remember that you liked the sun protection it provided and that your riding partner remarked on how visible it made you on the road. That one’s a keeper.

One of the joys of bike touring is stripping life back to the basics. We need to feed ourselves, regulate temperature, and get some rest each night, and when it comes down to it, that’s really it. I’ve been amazed at how little “stuff” I need, even for an 11-week trip across the continent. It’s almost a shock getting home and seeing how many things I own and definitely didn’t miss. When I’m on a self-contained bike tour, I truly have everything I need, literally within reach. If there is something I don’t have, I’ll make it work anyway.

Remember: It’s supposed to be an adventure. Trust that you’re a resourceful person and that even if you find yourself in a bit of a pickle, you’ll figure it out and it will make for a good story later.

Wishing you a wonderful tour, as well as some newfound levity both on the bike and in spirit.

Brielle Wacker led two epic cross-country tours with Adventure Cycling last year and is eagerly looking forward to many weeks on the road again this year. When not sleeping in her tent, she resides in Solana Beach, California.

Lead photo by Owen Thomas