I’m going on a big biking/surfing trip to the states next week and am suddenly worried about packing.
What do I need obviously i’m taking my bike/surfboard/tent but after that any tips for what I need, I cant take a massive tool kit so what do I take? Do I take spare tyres tubes? (do they have shops over there?) how do I pack my bike bag properly? I hope air Canada doesn’t snap my carbon rims like they did to that guy the other week.
Any tips?

Thanks

do they have shops over there?

What America?
Nah no bike shops there.

Less tax and depending on the exchange rate better to get any spares when you need them, get some tubes when you get there.

Packing the bag? Follow the instruction normally what bag?

But at least rotors off.

What America?
Nah no bike shops there

I realise they do have shops – it was a joke!!

Why take rotors off???

because they get bent.

Where are you planning to go, California is a bit draconian with camping in National parks. Nearest National camp ground to Santa Cruz is New Brighton which is quite a trek from Pleasure Point. Miles away from Cowells and Steamers.

You can camp near Rincon,

South of L.A. you can camp near Swamis, and Trestles

Travel light, virtually go feral. Small stove etc

Any thing you need you can get.

My mates all think my bike packing is OTT. But, from memory….

rotors off wheels.
frame/fork spacers to stop them getting crushed
rear mech off, wrapped in bubble wrap & taped inside rear triangle
chain shifted onto big ring to protect teeth
handlebars off & taped along top tube.
Whole thing wrapped in copious amounts of bubble wrap/grey plumbers pipe lagging using masking tape and/or large re-usable zip ties. Take enough tape so you can re-pack at other end.

I also had a large block of dense white packing form that I cut into shape so the BB rested on it and supported the bike off the floor. A simiar piece supported the rear dropouts & the fork dropouts.

I used a Brand-X bike bag lined with a cut down bike box for rigidity & protection that I got from Halfords.

If you are taking pads, you could wrap them with the bike as a bit of extra protection.

Spares – depends where you are going really and the availability of parts.
I would take:
rear hanger
a few spare powerlinks for the chain
brake pads
Brake bleed kit if you have one (but that was due to paranoia over tempremental Avid brakes.