Gear

Here is a (fairly) comprehensive list of what we started our journey with. Some things lasted the distance, some things were retired or changed earlier in the piece. For those things that we feel the need to comment on, see the separate page of Gear Impressions.

As always, any questions - please feel free to get in touch.

Neil and Gabby :)

Neil's Bike:   

* Standard Trek 3700 hardtail mountain bike, 21" frame, 2009 model (original crank broke in France, replaced by new crank set with slightly higher gear ratios, back rim cracked and replaced in Germany)
* Brooks B17 saddle
* Ergon GR2 handlebar grips  (replaced by Ritchey comp bar ends and standard bar grips)
* Schwalbe Land Cruiser tyres  (replaced by Schwalbe Marathons with kevlar guard)
* Old Man Mountain Ultimate Low Rider front rack
* Blackburn Explorer 2 back rack  (replaced with Tubus Cosmo)
* Altura Dryline panniers - 56l on the back and 32l up front
* Altura Dryline bar bag
* Zéfal mini pump with pressure gauge (replaced by Topeak Road Morph Master Blaster)
* Cateye EL530 front light
* Cateye LD1100 rear light
* Cateye Velo 5 computer (died after several months use, yet to be replaced)

Gabby's bike:

* Standard Trek 3900 hardtail mountain bike, 18" frame, 2010 model (replacement for the original 2009 model that was stolen from outside work in 2010 - and yes, it was locked, they left the lock)
* Sportourer gel flow saddle  (replaced by Brooks B67 in Germany after the gel began to disintegrate after 3500km)
* Schwalbe Hurricane tyres with kevlar guard
* Old Man Mountain Ultimate Low Rider front rack
* Blackburn Explorer 2 back rack
* Altura Dryline panniers - 56l on the back and 32l up front
* Altura Dryline bar bag
* Zéfal mini pump (replaced by Topeak Pocket Rocket Master Blaster)
* Cateye EL530 front light
* Cateye LD1100 rear light
* Cateye Micro Wireless computer


Tools:

* set of hex keys
* Topeak multi-tool
* puncture kit x 2
* Leatherman Blast multi-tool
* couple of different size Stanley screwdrivers - straight and philips head 
* couple of different size Park Tool spanners
* lubricant
* spare brake pads x 2
* spare tubes x 4
* wierdly shaped brush for cleaning muck out of fiddly bits like cassette, derailleurs and crank
* cable ties
* Proof Ride cream for Brooks saddle
* small pack of moist hand wipes (great for cleaning your hands after fixing a flat tyre)

 

Camping stuff:

* Vango Spirit 200+ tent and footprint (replaced by Nemo Losi 2P and footprint after 5 weeks)
* Vango PE groundsheet 200cm x 200cm
* Thermarest Prolite 4 sleeping mats x 2
* Thermarest Trekker chair x 2
* Exped fold drybag to keep the Thermarest stuff together and dry
* Mountain Hard Wear Stormlight mummy style down sleeping bag + Life Venture rectangular silk liner + Life Venture inflatable pillow (replaced by Cocoon inflatable pillow in Passau which lasted only four weeks) (Gabby)
* Mountain Designs Adela 800 mummy style down sleeping bag + Quechua rectangular silk liner + Life Venture inflatable pillow (replaced by Quechua inflatable pillow after 5 weeks) (Neil)
* Exped waterproof compression bag x 2 (for sleeping bags)
* Petzl Tikkina 2 head torch x 2

 

In the kitchen:

* MSR Dragonfly stove

* MSR fuel bottle 600ml x 2

* flint and steel (also some matches, just in case)

* MSR Quick 2 cookset which includes 2 different size saucepans, 1 lid with drain holes, 2 bowls, 2 insulated cups with lids

* MSR flex skillet

* small plastic chopping board

* grater with small and large holes

* citrus juice (rarely used, so it's getting left behind)

* Mundial 8cm paring knife

* knife sharpener

* 11cm knife with serrated edge

* corkscrew

* 2 small wooden spoons (with cut-down handles)

* MSR foldable spatula

* 2 sets stainless steel knife, fork and spoon

* 2 silver teaspoons (seriously - just the right size for scooping out grapefruit segments!)

* utility roll sewn out of on old tea towel with compartments to hold all the cutlery

* enamel plate

* tea infuser x 2

* 2 fine cotton tea towels

* small Life Venture sports towel

* Ortlieb foldable bucket/sink 10l

* sponge and dishwashing liquid

* clothes washing powder

* elastic clothes line

* Platypus collapsible water containers 2l x 3 and 1l x 1 for wine

* mushrooming knives x 2

* Food for Free by Richard Mabey

* Mushrooms - River Cottage Handbook by John Wright

* small first aid kit

* water purification tablets

Not going into food here - that would take a whole other page. But if you're interested in what we carry in our spice cabinet and pantry, have a look at this earlier post of ours - Food Glorious Food.

 

Electronic bits and pieces:

* Nikon D3000 DSLR with 18-55mm lens
* extra battery for camera
* Kingston 4GB memory card
* Nikkor 55-200mm zoom lens
* Hoya UV filters on each lens
* Kenko polarising lens, which we keep forgetting to use
* Gorillapod tripod
* Samsung NC10 Plus netbook in neoprene case
* La Cie Rugged 500GB portable hard drive in Case Logic case
* ipod shuffle & ipod nano (barely used and not while riding because you'd miss out on all the wonderful sounds around you, birds singing, trees rustling in the breeze as well as the traffic noises)

 

Climbing gear:

* i-bbz Triple crash pad (purchased in Noisy-sur-École and will be left here when we leave)

* Neil's shoes - Five10 Moccasym slipper for the harder stuff and for extra grip; La Sportiva Mythos  for more comfort on the long circuits

* Gabby's shoes - Five10 Anasazi velcro for harder stuff, extra grip and extreme discomfort after 20 minutes wear;  Quechua cheapies for circuitwork and comfort but unfortunately not grip.

* chalk bags

* Fontainebleau Climbs by Jo & Francoise Montchaussé and Jacky Godoffe

* Foret de Fontainebleau  mini carte de randonnée  IGN  1:25 000

Neil's clothing:

On the bike:

* Sugoi padded bike shorts

* Sugoi padded under shorts

* Madison Touring shorts with detachable padded inner

* Sombrio MTB shorts

* Sugoi merino l/s jersey

* Gore Alp X socks x 2 (for cooler weather)

* B twin light socks

* short sleeve jerseys - B twin & Sugoi

* North Wave short finger gloves

* Altura Pocket Rocket rain jacket - black

* Zephyr 2 helmet (replaced by lighter, better ventilated Brenda helmet in Germany)

General:

* Walking pants - Mountain Hard wear

* couple of t shirts

* long sleeved Craghopper Bear Grylls shirt

* Helly Hansen thermal underwear - top and bottom

* woollen ski socks

* Hagloffs Naja soft shell windstopper

* beanie crocheted by Lisha

* woollen gloves

* swimming shorts

* Merrill Gore-tex walking shoes

* Shimano cycling sandals

* Life Venture Extra Large sports towel

* face washer

Gabby's clothing:

On the bike:
* Sugoi padded under shorts
* Pearl Izumi mountain bike shorts with detachable padded inner
* B twin padded bike shorts (replaced by IXS shorts with better quality padding) (IXS shorts weren't very good after 50km - replaced by Ziener shorts with much better padding in Switzerland)
* Gore Sportive Tights
* B twin short sleeved jersey
* North Face Vapor-wick t shirt
* Domyos aerobic singlet top
* Nike sports bra top x 2
* Gore Alp X socks x 2 (for cooler weather)
* Pearl Izumi light weight socks  x 2 (for warmer weather)
* Altura short finger gloves (replaced by Altrix gel shock gloves in Budapest)
* Pearl Izumi cyclone long finger gloves
* silk glove liners
* Windstopper ear warmer
* Altura Pocket Rocket rain jacket - red
* Zephyr 2 helmet (replaced by lighter, better ventilated Trek helmet in Germany)

General:
* Walking pants - Craghoppers and Mountain Hard Wear
* couple of t shirts
* Icebreaker body fit 200 long sleeve t
* Helly Hansen lightweight long sleeve t
* Helly Hansen lightweight long johns
* North Face Windwall hooded fleece jacket
* Rojo beanie
* Icebreaker merino gloves
* cheap cotton scarf
* cotton skirt
* couple of singlet tops
* one pair bra & undies
* bikini & sarong
* Teva sandals
* Salomon Gore-tex walking shoes
* Life Venture Medium sports towel
* face washer

All clothes were chosen to be quick drying, wherever possible. The synthetic quick drying fibres tend to fold up smaller than natural fibres like cotton as well.

Toiletries:

* Lowe Alpine toiletry bag (hangs up so you can use the mirror for shaving or putting in contact lenses)
* toothbrushes & toothpaste
* soap
* nailbrush (great for cleaning bike grease off your fingers before touching those contact lenses)
* deodorant
* moisturiser
* lip balm (with UV protection)
* sunscreen
* shampoo & conditioner
* shaving stuff
* hairbrush & comb
* nail clippers
* contact lenses & solution
* Moon cup