Packing your bike

The trick: packing as little as possible. Not always the easiest when you are deciding what to pack. I've adjusted and readjusted the list below multiple times.

During my trip, I ran into a lot of people who wanted to have a chat. At the campsite, a grocery stores, the bakery or while riding. The two most common things those people asked me were: 1) "You are doing this on your own, like no one is with you?" and 2) "Is this, like these few bags, all the stuff you have?"

Both questions got the same answer: Yes... The first one, let's not say too much about that. Because why couldn't a 33 year old girl (yeah, I don't behave like a grownup), do this on her own?! Bad things happen in the world, but being too afraid about the chance of running into those bad things, then you are never going to get off the couch and out of your house. That second question, about how little stuff I was carrying on my trip, well there is more logic and reasoning to that. I summed it up for you in way too many words and pictures.

The bike

In April 2021 I bought a Checkpoint ALR 5 so I could hang out with my friends on the gravel paths. Immediatly I loved it! But I also missed the electric gearing and hated how heavy the bike was. So, while I was still working in the TREK store in Port Melbourne I put a pre-order in for an Checkpoint SL 6. It took till February 2022 to come in, but it turned out to be worth the wait. The RIVAL SRAM 1x drive train works means it has one chainring at the front and 12 sprockets on the cassette. The ability to go up and down the gears with this Di2 system, with just the control of one button on the left lever and one on the right is so damn easy. The battery of the gearing can be taken off the bike to charge and makes that with a spare battery, you'll never end up with a dead Di2.

I changed the handlebars on the Checkpoint straight away to the Salsa Cowchipper as they are a little bit more flared but with a small drop. Also changed the saddle to a women specific one that TREK doesn't sell anymore, but I am stocking three of them because... Once you have found a saddle you like, you don't want to change.

Before I left Australia for Europe, I had also asked the guys at ParkBikes, my favourite bike shop in Sydney, to change my front chainring. The bike comes with a 40 chainring, but I suck at hills and imagined I would need all the grandma gears I needed for doing steep inclined with a loaded bike. So I put on a 38 chainring and it helped way more with the hills than I would have thought. I literally only had to get off my bike once because I couldn't get up the hill in my entire trip!

At the start of my trip, my tyres were Schwalbe G-One Allround in 40. But they only made it the 1900km to Basel. There I got them changed to 35's of the same tyre. This new front tyre gave in way too quickly after only 300km. It just had a massive hole in it that wouldn't seal (yes, I ran the tyres tubeless the entire trip). So I got a random tyre fro a lovely mechanic in a bike shop in Friedrichshafen (a WTB Riddler). The rear one I got in Basel actually held it together all the way till after Hamburg (~4000km). There it just got a hole that I kept plugging with plugs till I got back to The Netherlands. I couldn't be bother to get another tyre put on.

This puiece of equipment has the biggest question mark for me. What to do on my next trip?! I need something that rolls fast, but still has some grip on rocky or loose gravel terrain. Guess we'll just keep thinking about this!

The cooking stuff

Food and cooking are definitely in my top 3 things in life for sure. Cooking while camping is a whole different kind of cooking. But I do think it's possible to make tasty and nutritious things on a one burner stove. Check out the on the road page for some photo inspiration of meals I had.

The key items of my 'kitchen' were:

- MSR PocketRocket 2. It folds up super small but still has the ability to control the flame. I put a small, 100gr, canister underneath it. This would generally last me about 2 to 3 weeks and I would try to get a spare one as soon as the current one was half way empty. Run out of it once and then it was a hard task to find a new one!

- MSR Piezo Igniter. This one was great, for as long as it lasted. It would give a small spark to light the fire without having carry another 'gas' item like a lighter. But for some unknown reason, it stopped working in the last month of my trip. Probably will just carry a normal lighter on my next trip.

- Primus Essential Trek Pot Set. For cooking, I wanted to have more than one single pot so I could use a pot to also mix things in or drink out. It also needed to be less than the diameter of a fork bag so I could slide it in there. It was a long online search, but eventually I found this Primus one and it was jackpot. It had 3 (!) pots that all fit into one. Still has enough space to slide a small canister inside as well as my burner and some small random items. The large pot was ideal to mix salads in, the small pot with lid was perfect for a soup or hot chocy and the top was the lid for the big pot as well as a frying pan.

- Cutlery was a bit of a funny one. I started with this plastic spork. That lasted pretty long to be honest, but I one night forgot that it is of course not really heat proof. So I stirred in my put with the fork end and melted the whole thing. So then I went and bought a proper set of cutlery, the Primus Field Cutlery set. This worked a lot better and having seperate utensils was a lot easier than one spork.

- Opinel Pocket Knife. The best for any task. That's all I can say. Just get it.

- Tupperware container. I had one that fitted exactly in my fork bag. It was super handy to store left over food. If I didn't have any food left over, it was filled with some kitchen things to create more space in the fork bag.

- Salt & chilli flakes in a small jar

- Olive oil in a small bottle

- Dishwashing soap, sponge and a small cloth for drying/cleaning.

The bags

Starting to plan this trip and what to take with me, I did ask Google about a lot of things. But the most helpful thing was my mate Mark. We went on a couple of small trips in Australia at the end of 2022 and start of 2023 and he just gave me bags to try. Then after trying he told me 'You can take them with you to Europe, just make sure to return them to me in person...' Well, won't say no to that as I loved them.

I ended up with no panniers on the back of my bike, which I realized during my trip was almost a given with the bike packers. Do I regret that? Absolutely not. I managed fine with the space and adding panniers would have given me additional space and extra added weight. Of course, extra space would have been helpful, especially for storing more food. But the extra added weight it would have given, glad I didn't have that when I was struggling to get up those 22% inclines in the Czech Republic.

So what bags did I end up taking? Let's start at the front of the bike and make our way to the rear.

Handlebar bags

On my handlebar, I had a small, Rockbros 5L, bag that rested over the front roll. It was one that Mark donated and apparently, it was an AliExpress special. It was the perfect bag for storing my valuables, cutlery, tentpoles tentpegs and a few snacks. However, it was a bummer that it didn't have small side pockets or something because it wasn't the easiest to open and close when it was full. But I did overstuff it a lot of times when I was searching for space to put food. For my next trip, I got this Acepac handlebar bag and am curious to see how it compares.

Underneath this small bag, I had another Mark special. It's just a 15L 'dry' bag with on either side a set of clips to close it by rolling it up. This bag was not fully waterproof, which just meant I had to ensure whatever was in there that couldn't get wet, was in a dry bag. The bonus was that if this bag got wet, the material it is made of only took a few minutes to dry as the fabric was super light. This bag I stuffed with a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, pillow, fleece jacket, towel, washing line, extra gas cannister (if I was carrying one) and sometimes some cans of food. Still deciding whether I am going to replace this one for a waterproof one. I would definitely recommend a roll that has the ability to open from both ends as it makes searching for items on the go a lot easier.

These two bags were attached to my handlebar via the EXP Series Anything Cradle from Salsa. Attaching the bags this way versus for example using an Ortlieb roll makes a difference in the way that you can still place your hands in the middle of the handlebar. There is space between the cradle and your handlebar, which also means space for a bike computer with an out-front mount.

Forkbags

On my front fork I had on either side more Salsa bags, the EXP Series Anything cage. In these two I stashed my tent on one side and on the other side cooking stuff, plus some extra food. Strapping the cylinder bags (and the front roll one) with Voile Straps, with an extra one to attach my shoes and bike lock on either side. All these were Mark specials (thank you, I LOVE YOU!!). But I would 100% use these Salsa solutions again.

The last bags attached to my handlebar were the very overpriced Wizard Works Voila Stem Bags, but spent the money on them because the splatter design is just so cool! You can definitely find cheaper feed bags like this. These kinds of bags are absolutely ideal for things you need quick and easy access to while riding. Which most of the time meant I had snacks in there and my phone. They also were surprisingly waterproof!

Frame bags

I also have a frame bag underneath the Bontrager Adventure Boss Frame Bag. That one just stored some very random bits and pieces like a first aid kit, a spare battery for my gearing, two chairs (aka garbage bags), contact lenses, a bike pump, electrolytes and some more crap. It's a bit of a bummer that this one isn't super waterproof because at one point I stored some tampons in there and you know what happens with those and liquid...

Between my top tube and my seat post, I had another small storage unit: the Acepac Tube Bag MKIII. I filled this one with some bike mechanics stuff, a cloth and some repair kits for my sleeping mat. Again, not the most waterproof one and I kind of hated at the start that my thighs slightly hit the bag every now and then. Probably will try to just leave more stuff at home and find a spot for the items I need to take in the frame bag.

Saddle bag

The last bag on the bike, I absolutely loved! If you're looking for a saddle bag, this is the one!! Why? Well, because the biggest win here is that it will never sway left to right due to the way it's attached to the bike. The Revelate Spinelock has a special attachment system that you screw onto your saddle rails. Then a pin goes through that bit and the other side of the attachment on the top of your bag. A few more straps that attach the bag to the system on your saddle and you're in business. This bag won't move even when you're dancing on the paddles trying to make it up a steep incline. It is fully waterproof, had an air vent in it to ensure you can let all the air out and make it as small as possible and heaps of handy spots on the top to turn the bag into your drying rack. I had the 10L version, but there is also another bigger one that is 16L.

The camping stuff

During my 105-day trip in 2023, I camped 73 nights. There were a few nights spent with friends/family, a few in a hotel, some with Warm Showers hosts and a night in a Czech Pension.

Most of the nights in my tent were epic. I loved getting woken up by the light instead of an alarm. The fresh air coming in without having to open windows. The sounds of the birds or the winds through the trees. Of course, some nights were terrible. Especially those where it was two degrees, where the rain was just absolutely non-stop or when it felt the wind was going to blow my tent away.

Tent

My tent for this trip was another Mark special. He gave it to me before I left Australia and he told me,

'It's the cheapest one you can find on AliExpress, but see if you like it'

And boy, I liked it!! And would recommend it to anyone who was asking about it on my trip.

It's an older version of this Flame's Creed LanShan, but it's the same setup consisting of a waterproof, outer shell, a mesh inner tent, a tent or hiking pole and 10'ish tent stakes.

The things I love about this tent:

- You set it the outside first by just pushing 4 stakes into the ground and then lifting the outer tent up with one pole. This means that even if it's pouring rain, your inner tent stays dry. I often also just put it up quickly to shelter in there till the rain had slowed or stopped.

- It is so light and small! The inner and outer tent both fit in only one of my fork bags. The pole and stakes needed to go in another bag though. But this is way smaller than most of the 'lightweight' tents.

The things that are not that great:

- Because it is so lightweight, it isn't warm in there. Which is fine when it's nice weather, but I had some really cold nights and those weren't great.

- It's a bit fiddly to get the tension on all four corners correct so that the outer tent isn't pulling one way and has slack in another corner.

Sleeping stuff

Of course, this sleeping in a tent business is never going to be as comfortable as your bed at home. But I was pretty okay with my setup.

I had a Rab Neutrino 200 sleeping bag, which definitely was way too cold for me at the start. I am always cold, and this lightweight one was a struggle when temperatures were in the single digits. Which I could have obviously expected with a comfort rating of 4º and being a cold sleeper. But for the majority of the trip, it was absolutely great.

I used a sleeping bag liner at the start for extra warmth and then, when it got hot, to sleep with my sleeping bag open.

My sleeping mat was the one thing that caused me headaches on my trip in 2023. The ThermaRest NeoAir UberLite had a lot of benefits: super small, really light and comfy. But it started to slowly leak only three weeks into my trip. I managed to fix the smallest holes around the valve multiple times with it's own repair kit and later with the Exped field repair kit with some nifty UV light activated glue. Would totally recommend that repair kit as it worked so quick! The mat also started to buldge at the feet because the horizontal lines between the top and bottom bursted. As soon as I got back to The Netherlands, I went into the store I bought the sleeping at and got a warranty replacement. I did go with a slightly different one. The ThermaRest NeoAir XLite has a higher R-value (better in the cold) and it is a bit bigger because the fabric it's made of is sturdier.

A pillow was the last sleeping item I brought. The one I used was a SeaToSummit Aeros Premium pillow. It did the job but definitely not as great as a normal fluffy pillow.

Washing line and more

There were a few other camping items that I took and absolutely would recommend:

- Washing line. The one I have is from de decathlon. It's 5m long, has hooks on either end so you can attach it to literally anything and you don't need pegs because of the little bead system.

- Chairs. Well, in my case they were just a couple of garbage bags. But damn, they really work to make sure you don't get a wet butt, get itchy from freshly cut grass or get bitten by a nest of ants.

- Mesh veggie nets. I used these vegetable nets to decipher which of my undies and socks were dirty and which were clean.

Clothes and shoes

The fine line between bringing too much and not enough is very thin with clothes. I tried to bring pieces of clothing that I could wear in different situations. Of course, you're not going to go to the pool in your cycling bibs and ride your bike in your swimmers. But I think what I packed in the end worked well for the trip. I only bought one pair of thin, long pants at the Uniqlo in Strasbourg because it was still so cold and I got sick of wearing my leggings every moment I wasn't riding my bike.

Cycling items

2x Attaquer race bib

3x Attaquer socks

2x Decathlon mesh undershirt

2x Decathlon merino t-shirt

1x Northwave Corsair cycling shoes

1x Decathlon rain jacket

2x Sports bra

1x Long sleeve jumper

1x Thin gloves

1x Buff

1x Oakley sunnies

1x Kask Mojito helmet

Best cycling bibs I have ever worn. Plus this brand started in Sydney. Worth the money..

These shoes were super handy. Almost looked like a sneaker and definitely walked like that. They were completely ruined by the end of my 2023, but I immediately bought a new pair because I loved them.

1x Decathlon fleece sweater

1x Black yoga leggings

1x 7/8 casual pants

1x Uniqlo casual lightweight pants

1x Black sport shorts

1x Cotton t-shirt for sleeping

1x Teva's

1x Short sleeve summer dress

1x Denim thin button down shirt

1x Short jumpsuit

2x Casual t-shirt

1x Bra

6x Undies

1x Batoko swimmers

Casual items

The most fun swimmers made from recycled plastic. Unfortunately, I lost mine at the campsite in Gransee because I left them in the shower and then the owners said they never found them...

All the other things

There were a lot more random items, but you can check those on the complete list. But want to highlight a few here that I think were a winner and I would recommend.

- Decathlon foldable backpack. This made doing groceries right before hitting the campsite so easy.

- SeaToSummit Airlite quick drying. Look, it was not the best for drying myself and that crazy amount of hair on my head. But it did dry so damn quickly and packed super small.

- Garmin Edge bike computer. Of course to keep track of all the kilometers I was riding, but also to navigate. It didn't like the endless rain I had in 2023, so I have upgraded from a 530 to an 840 for future trips.

- Anker PowerCore. A powerbank is a must. There aren't a lot of opportunities to charge your phone and other device. Sitting next to your item that is charging in the toilet is sometimes needed. But it worked well for me to leave the powerbank charging overnight in a dark toilet block so that I could use it the next couple days to charge my phone, e-reader and Garmin.

- Bontrager Mini Charger floor pump. Great small pump that even has a pressure gauge and a foot so you're not standing pumping there with two hands like a crazy person.

- Roll of toilet paper. You never know when a campsite isn't going to have any toilet paper and I can tell you that you then really are going to have a shitty time...

- Ziplocks. Can never have enough of these to ensure you can pack away items that need to stay dry. Next trip I will invest in some silicone ziplocks because the normal plastic ones tear way too quick for some items.

- Plugs. If you are running tubeless tyres like I did, you absolutely need to bring plugs. And I would recommend a lot of them. It might be a while before you can find a bakeshop and a new tyre, and then you will need more than one plug to get yourself there.

- E-reader. I loved being on my own, but your own company might get boring. You won't have enough battery to spend all hours watching Netflix on your phone or scroll to social media. I spend hours reading books on my trip and would highly recommend an e-reader. Their batteries also last forever, so there is no need to worry about running out of battery on it after a good day of reading.

- Litelok GO Flexi-U. You're going to need a bike lock. You'll need one that your insurance acknowledges, but also one that isn't weighing a thousand kilos. I went with the Litelok one after a lot of researching the lightest lock that my insurance would accept. I would definitely recommend this one as it was handy to carry, locked my bike to almost every pole and was for sure not as heavy as most of the U-locks.