Adventure Possible

Trial & Error in a Life of Adventure

Subscribe by Email to AdventurePossible.com
  • Life of Adventure
  • Books
  • Sponsorships
  • Weekend Adventures
  • Appalachian Trail
  • Bike America
  • RV’ing
  • The Kelleys
You are here: Home / Adventure Travel Checklists & Tools / Self-Contained Cycling Gear Checklist & Budgeting Calculator

Self-Contained Cycling Gear Checklist & Budgeting Calculator

October 10, 2015 by Mark Kelley 3 Comments

Share adventure with others

  • Tweet

Bike touring and campingSelf-contained bicycle touring provides a great opportunity for adventure.

Not only does cycling allow you to cover more ground faster than other modes of adventure travel such as foot or paddling, but also you keep adventure travel costs low by carrying camping gear, food, and supplies on the bike.

Bicycle touring may require some upfront investment if you don’t have access to a touring bike and touring gear, but beyond a couple potentially big ticket items like the bike, self-contained cycling gear has modest costs and overlaps with typical backpacking gear.

Below is a list of typical gear and supplies required for self-contained cycling.

Let us bring you adventure every day.

Like AdventurePossible.com on Facebook.

Download Self-Contained Cycling Gear Checklist or Checklist plus Budgeting Calculator

Self-contained Cycling Gear Checklist (Word document)

Self-contained Cycling Gear Checklist plus Budgeting Calculator (Excel spreadsheet)

Self-contained Cycling Gear Checklist

Cycling Related

  • Maps / guidebook
  • Touring bike with rear rack
  • Panniers (rear) with rain covers
  • Panniers (front) with rain covers
  • Handlebar bag
  • Fenders
  • Cycling jersey
  • Cycling shorts / pants
  • Cycling socks
  • Cycling shoes with pedals
  • Bike multi-tool
  • Tire irons
  • Helmet
  • Spare bike tubes
  • Spare tires (if needed)
  • Bike pump
  • Catchall bucket for unexpected repairs
  • Catchall for spare bike parts
  • Bike lock
  • Bungee cords and such
  • Electronic devices (i.e. speedometer)

Camping Related

  • Tent or hammock
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping pad / pillow
  • Cooking stove (with fuel)
  • Pot and utensils
  • Camp shoes
  • Camp shirts
  • Camp shorts / pants
  • Waterproof, breathable rain jacket
  • Warm jacket / synthetic fleece
  • Flashlight / headlamp
  • Water bottles / hydration system
  • Water treatment
  • Assorted dry bags, ditty bags, heavy trash bags, zip locks
  • First Aid Kit
  • Sunscreen and lip balm
  • Bug spray

Can you think of something that should be on a basic list for self-contained bicycle touring? If so, let us know in the comments.

Share adventure with others

  • Tweet

More adventure, please!

Filed Under: Adventure Travel Checklists & Tools, Cycling Checklists and Tools

Comments

  1. Lillian Schaeffer says

    January 20, 2016 at 3:14 pm

    Thanks for sharing this great checklist of biking necessities! I’ve done some cycling in the past, but I want to get more serious about it this year, so I want to purchase all the necessary gear. I didn’t realize there were special socks for biking, but I’ll be sure to grab some of those as well!

    Reply
  2. Pat o DEA says

    December 14, 2017 at 12:51 pm

    First timer on a coast to coast with no unsupported touring experience , using adventure cycling maps . Will those maps be enough to guide me across the USA

    Reply
    • Mark Kelley says

      January 6, 2018 at 7:54 pm

      I was similarly inexperienced, and the Adventure Cycling maps got me across the country without assist from smartphone / GPS.

      Reply

Share your comments... Cancel reply

Subscribe to Adventure Possible

Click to Buy eBook

Buy This eBook from AdventurePossible.com ($4.99)

Based on the actual adventure and transformation of Mark Kelley, publisher of this website, who struggled mightily on his hike through the rugged and remote 100 Mile Wilderness on the Appalachian Trail.

Once reached Amazon Top 20 Best Seller List for Adventure Travel eBooks.

Buy It Now. Support Adventure Possible. ($4.99)

Meet the Adventure Possible Family

kelley family photo

Hi, My Name is Katie and I Married an Adventurer.

Quitting My Job

How can we afford to quit work and to travel for a year?

Are we investing for the future while we travel long term?

How much does it cost to RV around America for a year?

Adventure Possible in the News

Live a Life of Adventure in 15 Steps

Our family has adopted an approach to modern life that builds adventure into life's trajectory. We call it the Adventure Possible Life. In a … Read More

Main Navigation

  • Life of Adventure
  • Books
  • Sponsorships
  • Weekend Adventures
  • Appalachian Trail
  • Bike America
  • RV’ing
  • The Kelleys

Dream Big

  • Live a Life of Adventure
  • RV across America
  • Bike across America
  • Hike the AT

Resources

  • Checklists & Tools
  • Adventure Sponsorships
  • Weekend Adventures

Shop

  • Shop
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • My Account

Get Involved

  • Contributing Writers
  • Buy our Books
  • About The Site
  • Meet the Kelleys

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Search

© 2013-2016 ProTrack Marketing LLC. Raleigh, North Carolina. Google+ Publisher.