I’m lining up a 3 day London to Paris with some friends for next Easter, and thoughts are already turning to kit. I will take my road bike, and want to carry as little as possible, with as much doubling up/efficiency as possible of kit.

Interested to know people’s minimal kit specs for hopefully mildish weather hotel touring. Any thoughts more than welcome!

our kit list for a 3 month lightweight tour

http://pompinos.blogspot.co.uk/index.html#114629864850657923

Camping

2 man Go Lite Den 2 Tent
2x Thermarest 3/4 sleeping matts
Custom double duvet
JagBag double silk sleeping bag liner

Cooking & Food

Titan titanium pas (1.2l, 0.9l, lid)
2x titanium sporks
MSR pocket Rocket stove
200g gas canister
Full set of folding plates/bowls/mugs
4x 750ml water bottles on bike
lighter & matches

Bike gear & tools

2x On-One Pompinos
Topeak mountain morph pump
Kryptonite cable lock (10mm x 6′)
Cateye 7 computer
2x Carradice Super C saddlebags
1x Altura Bar bag, 1x Karrimor Bar bag
2x rear LED lights
Spanner, bike tool, tyre levers, repair kit, spare cleats & bolts, Chain tool, spare links
Spare brake cables, spare spokes, zip ties, pva tape, rag, silicon lube

Clothes (each)

Riding shoes, convertible for walking and bar flying
Flip flops
2x pairs socks
2x pairs riding underwear
Underwear for off bike
2 ride tops
1 off bike top
1 pair convertible trousers
1 pair of overshorts
Montane Litespeed splashtop
Swedish Down Smock
Bike gloves
Sunglasses
Helmets

Toiletries

Shampoo
Sunscrean
Aftersun
Bio soap
Bar of soap
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes

Stuff

2x Penknives
Sony SW radio
Digital Camera
Phone
Phone 9v power converter
note pad
Pencils
Silva 7 Compass
Travel towels
Spanish phrase book
Candle
Medipac
Bag straps
Map
Needle & thread
2x LED Headtorch

2x people, camping, total of 2x 18L + 6L each.

Post a change of kit to destinations with return postage inside.

I did this on my (solo) LeJog ,but I wasn’t going out anywhere at nights so didn’t need much “off the bike wear” :-).

SPD shoes rather than silly penguin road shoes 😉

That is very interesting, Stoner – quite a bit could be lost from that for one on a short non-camping trip without a doubt. Though crucially I’d have to add at least one gear cable!

FH – agreed about shoes, thinking that would be worth doing to avoid taking a second pair if nothing else.

for shoes I took some SPD boots that I looked fine when off the bike – if they have a big sole then the cleat is sufficiently recessed that you’re not tottering about on it in the evenings. Flip flops take up the least space (or espadrilles maybe)

for a week away every september i take

1 pair of shorts
1 pair of undies
1 t shirt
1 pair of flip flop

to be worn of a evening.

That’s pretty much what I’m thinking, Ton – plus my cycling jacket that should be plenty for April!

For 3 days you should get away with next to FA.
Oh,and as you are in a group ,don’t double up,share stuff out .

that is what i take mate….ride in the same gear everyday, normal spare on the bike (2 tubes, multitool) and the clothes for the pub.

i travel very very light.

Did a lightweight LEJOG last year with two mates (Damitamit off these parts, who normally beats me to these threads!). Because we’re a bunch of saddos I’ve still got the kitlist we made for each of us. Here’s mine. Everything carried in a 10 litre drybag bungeed to a rear rack+a medium sized saddlebag.
10 litre drybag
Saddlebag
Bungee
Rear LED light
Front LED light
USB wall plug
Micro usb cable
Phone
Chamois cream
Hayfever tabletsx14
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Soap
SPF lip/face stick
Earplugs
Debit card
2x750ml bottles

Spares and tools shared between three of us:
Pump (on frame)
Chain lube
PTFE lube
4xinnertubes
Powerlinks
Rag for chains etc
Spare bolts for rack/mudguard eyelets
Duct tape
Tyre Levers
Zip ties
Multitool
Patch kit
Tyre boot
Spoke key

Clothing
Merino baselayer (for on bike as well if needed
Compression tights (base layer on bike for wet days)
Light shorts
Flip flops (hardly used these in the end – expendable if you where MTB SPD and associated shoes)
Boxers

Bike Clothing
Bibs
Knee warmers
SS Jersey
Helmet
Arm Warmers
Roadie cap
Buff
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof gilet
Merino socksx2
Shoes
Overshoes
Normal gloves
Waterproof gloves
Leg warmers

I think we can do better than that david jey 😉

My list with weights:

Loving those, chaps – good work!

I’m hoping the 8L bag I’ve just kickstarted + plus jersey pockets (potentially + small saddle pack) will suffice…

Depends, do you intend on a) sleeping in a hedge or b) a hotel (b&B, hostel etc).

If A then all the above that’s already been suggested.
If B then a credit card.

It’s Kent, not Kamchatka!

Definitely (b). My working list so far is:

Riding

1 x bib shorts
1 x short sleeve top
1 x arm warmers
1 x [windstopper/waterproof]
1 x socks
1 x cycle shoes
1 x helmet
1 x yellow lens glasses
1 x cycling gloves
1 x [phone/GPS navigator]

Non-riding

1 x lightweight shorts
1 x merino tshirt
(no jacket – cycling jacket)
1 x boxers
1 x [lightweight compact shoes – may not be needed, could use MTB spds]

Tools

1 x multitool
2 x tubes
1 x pump
10 x zipties
3 x pairs powerlinks
1 x tyre lever
10 x patches
Cleat bolts
Brake Cable
Gear Cable
[spokes?]
2 x bottles

Other

Usb power pack + leads + plug adaptor
1 x cheap light phone
1 x bank card
1 x passport
Toothbrush
1 x deodorant
[train etc. tickets]
[drinks tabs?]
[food?]
[first aid kit?]
[camera?]

A van and driver?

Minimal list?

1. bike

Minimal list?

1. bike

Over-packer, all you need is a pair of pants.

I did a 10 day tour of Slovenia including several days in a row off road and took less tools.

bike mini tool
power link
spare tube
patches etc
some cable ties

then:
Thermal coffee mug with plunger built it (most important bit of kit)
phone
charger
tent
smallest therma rest I could get
sleeping bag
1 pair lightweight trousers with zip off legs
1 t shirt
1 lightweight fleece
2 pairs of boxers
2 pairs cycling shorts
2 cycling tops
1 thermal top
1 waterproof jacket
2 pairs of socks
small mp3 player
cycling shoes
sandals
credit card
passport

edited to add I took a small torch too I think

Like it, chaps – keep them coming.