First long trip, What to take, tools etc?

[Bullitt]

Interesting. Im going to have the same issue at christmas. Though I have the advantage of a pretty reasonable pack rack and bags for both sides of it.

Was considering wearing a small back pack just for the odd light thing that didnt fit in there. Didnt want it heavy as I knew itd make riding uncomfortable. So even that is a bad idea...hmmm.

[McDuck]

Doesn't it suck when you have a brain explosion, post something then realize you look like a moron?

[James Deuce]

You DON'T look like a moron.

You'll extend your learning process if you don't ask, and in the world of bikes that can, really, really, REALLY hurt.

[McDuck]

true.............

[paturoa]

I think you will have to take a fecking truck!!!! - here is the list so far:

Cellphone
Credit/Debit Card.
Your bike tool kit under the seat
Pack wets and spare gloves if you have them.
spare clothes, jacket etc
at least one bungy cord
take oil, just in case
take an empty backpack for any purchases
Cableties
soft carry-on luggage that can be bungied to the back seat
a bottle of JD
tube of 'Knead It' or 'Fix It'
duct tape
Make sure you take money
take the car
take care of itself
Wallet
Keys: Keys to bike, keys to flat/house
thermals
glove liners
spare gloves.
Spare clothes:
Jeans
T-Shirts
underwear
sox
Sneakers
Tolietries
Towel
toothbrush
Tools
a roll of duct tape ( it think we already have one of those)
plastic sealable compression bags
small ratchet-ties
2-cents worth of experience (scummy version lol)
a small webbing tie down the ones that are sprung lock
a sports abd (bag??)
Tank bag
Toliet Paper
a quickie ( !!!????!!!)
a tyre pressure guage
spare visor
a 250 ml bottle of water
or my 1 litre camel back
baby wipes
a bum bag
small duffel bag bungied on the back
side bag
shit loads of bike mags
cargo net
hammock that was my cargo net
a trailer/van/truck
a rubber chicken
a large wad of paper towels

And my contribution .... Condoms!

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Basic Bike Tool Kit .

If your bike has a tool kit then this and a roll of duct tape will be enough if it requires more than this then call that trailer.

If you don't have a tool kit, you can get some really good multi tools, then throw in a couple of spanners, and duct tape.

I also usually either carry a couple of bottles of water or a hydro pack, for both drinking and cleaning the visor.

The main thing is to stay warm, especially hands, so good gloves are estential (heat grips are worth there weight in gold)

[kerfufflez]

I think you will have to take a fecking truck!!!! - here is the list so far:

Cellphone
Credit/Debit Card.
Your bike tool kit under the seat
Pack wets and spare gloves if you have them.
spare clothes, jacket etc
at least one bungy cord
take oil, just in case
take an empty backpack for any purchases
Cableties
soft carry-on luggage that can be bungied to the back seat
a bottle of JD
tube of 'Knead It' or 'Fix It'
duct tape
Make sure you take money
take the car
take care of itself
Wallet
Keys: Keys to bike, keys to flat/house
thermals
glove liners
spare gloves.
Spare clothes:
Jeans
T-Shirts
underwear
sox
Sneakers
Tolietries
Towel
toothbrush
Tools
a roll of duct tape ( it think we already have one of those)
plastic sealable compression bags
small ratchet-ties
2-cents worth of experience (scummy version lol)
a small webbing tie down the ones that are sprung lock
a sports abd (bag??)
Tank bag
Toliet Paper
a quickie ( !!!????!!!)
a tyre pressure guage
spare visor
a 250 ml bottle of water
or my 1 litre camel back
baby wipes
a bum bag
small duffel bag bungied on the back
side bag
shit loads of bike mags
cargo net
hammock that was my cargo net
a trailer/van/truck
a rubber chicken
a large wad of paper towels

And my contribution .... Condoms!

Hehe, don't forget the spare tyres.

And my contribution ... a map.

[Unit:Me]

It's easy to overload yourself with crap you never use.

Most vital tools:

1. Cellphone
2. Credit/Debit Card.

Everything else is a luxury.

You can probably ditch the cellphone too.

Drink lots of water. Only have one coffee/caffeinated drink during the trip. Stay away from complex carbs/refined sugar. Eat regularly and eat light.

Your bike tool kit under the seat is good enough for simple things you can sort on the side of the road. If you don't have a tool in there that can make a temporary repair, you're probably going to be looking for a trailer/ute anyway.

Service the bike before you head off if it hasn't been done recently.

Clean the bike and check that everything works as it should before you set off.

Lube the chain at the beginning of each leg of your journey.

Check your tyre pressures.

Pack your clothes in plastic bags in case your luggage leaks.

Pack what you think you'll need and then take all the multiple items out except for underwear and socks. You'll be left with 2 t-shirts, a jersey, and a toothbrush.

Pack wets and spare gloves if you have them.

Most of all, stay off the main roads as much as possible, unless boredom and square tyres are a personal goal.

one of the best sensible posts Ive read in a long time. I frequently do big Ks, just did 400ks today. Mind you Im on a Ks eating machine, but the principles are still the same. Just be a friendly, can you help me kind of person, have cash and phone back up (my insurance has a rescue me with a tow truck option added), take your time and enjoy the ride. Stay dry, warm, and well fed. Know where the next service station is, and your next bed, and you'll be fine.
Today I carried a spare visor (cause I rode up during the day but will ride home at night in the rain), water bottle, wet weather gear, lipstick, purfume, hairbrush, spare socks and undies, gardening gloves and trail, (doing some work on my mothers garden), three sets of shoes, jeans, beer, oh and I checked my oil pressure, made sure the chain was well lubed, just had a service, spare gloves. Just remember, NZ is a relatively small place, and we all speak the same language and you dont need to carry your passport to cross any borders. Its all sweet. And if you get really really stuck just find an internet cafe and log on to life (Kiwibiker), someone out there will be logged on waiting to rescue you

[McDuck]

one of the best sensible posts Ive read in a long time. I frequently do big Ks, just did 400ks today. Mind you Im on a Ks eating machine, but the principles are still the same. Just be a friendly, can you help me kind of person, have cash and phone back up (my insurance has a rescue me with a tow truck option added), take your time and enjoy the ride. Stay dry, warm, and well fed. Know where the next service station is, and your next bed, and you'll be fine.
Today I carried a spare visor (cause I rode up during the day but will ride home at night in the rain), water bottle, wet weather gear, lipstick, purfume, hairbrush, spare socks and undies, gardening gloves and trail, (doing some work on my mothers garden), three sets of shoes, jeans, beer, oh and I checked my oil pressure, made sure the chain was well lubed, just had a service, spare gloves. Just remember, NZ is a relatively small place, and we all speak the same language and you dont need to carry your passport to cross any borders. Its all sweet. And if you get really really stuck just find an internet cafe and log on to life (Kiwibiker), someone out there will be logged on waiting to rescue you

Lol isnt that what cell phones are for?

[sunhuntin]

Lol isnt that what cell phones are for?

you can leave the makeup out of your kit, lol. btw... you are NOT a moron. there are no stupid questions. had you not asked, you might have loaded your backpack up and worn it, and been totally stuffed before you were even halfway there, never mind the ride back.

maps are a bloody good idea... i collect maps, and when i go down south, i will have one major south island map, and small district maps with close ups of through town routes [ie, blenheim, chch, etc] im also taking a spiral map book for chch, which features close ups of the different suburbs.

id advise you to pick up a district map for wellington and also a city map for welly in case you dont know where to go. go to your local i site, they have free maps there... i go for the jasons ones, though they are flimsy and rip easily, but thats ok, since you dont pay for them.

[McDuck]

Cool.
Oh and dont borther with AA maps, they are crap.

[Swoop]

One of the very few things that will fit under the seat of a modern bike, is a visor cleaner. Quite handy if you are caught without any liquids. A small sponge and squeegy to keep the vision clear.

Available here.

[The Pastor]

I'll agree to that! those are pretty good, but the plastic in the bottle is shit!


Im doing a short ride over the weekend (1000km spred over 2 or 3 days).

This is what i am going to take

Myself
bike
chain oil<--- very important
tool kit
number 10 and 8 spaners
tyre inflate can <--- most important
that glass/visor cleaner thing <--- very important
wallet (cards+ cash)
towel and toothbrush
set of warm clothes <--- important if u dont have rain gear, trust me if you get caught in the rain for an hour at 2 am you'll want some dry warm gear to defrost in.

most of that will fit under my seat, i borred indys saddle bags so we will see how they go.

[McDuck]

I am getting up quite a shopping list...

[McDuck]

I'll agree to that! those are pretty good, but the plastic in the bottle is shit!


Im doing a short ride over the weekend (1000km spred over 2 or 3 days).

This is what i am going to take

Myself
bike
chain oil<--- very important
tool kit
number 10 and 8 spaners
tyre inflate can <--- most important
that glass/visor cleaner thing <--- very important
wallet (cards+ cash)
towel and toothbrush
set of warm clothes <--- important if u dont have rain gear, trust me if you get caught in the rain for an hour at 2 am you'll want some dry warm gear to defrost in.

most of that will fit under my seat, i borred indys saddle bags so we will see how they go.

I am on an L plate....