Equipment

After years of backpacking and months of planning for this trip it was pretty easy to think of what I may want to bring along with me.  The hard part was keeping everything under 60lbs... concessions were made, priorities evaluated and re-evaluated while much advice was sought but in the end I came up with the following list.

For the bike I am having some pannier racks fabricated and then I'm modifying 4 army surplus bags with frames and hooks to act as saddlebags which will give me solid equipment that can be easily repaired on the road and not cost me $400.   The bike is a Motobecane road bike with carbon forks. I gave up my American Classic wheels for a set of Nuevations (http://www.neuvationcycling.com/wheels.html) with Continental Gator Duraskin tires.  For water i have a couple bottles mounted to the frame then a 100 oz mule pack from a friend.   For parts and tools I have a bit of everything from tubes to a really cool frame pump that folds out into a floor pump and a really bright red flashy light so no one runs me over.


As for the camping gear it was easy getting everything together after my trips to Alaska and the Rockies. Basically I am living in my uberexpensive fancy cycling panties (anything that costs that much and doesn't really leave anything to the imagination cannot be called shorts) with the exception of one set of normal cloths and a couple tshirts for those times when I have to be civilized.  I will have my tent and everything on the bike with me along with my kevlar french press and the current flavor of booze.  Whats the point of life if you can't enjoy the little things?  Especially if the little things include a 16yr old single malt scotch :)


If you are really curious on what all I am bringing below is a long and boring but detailed list:
Tent
Sleeping pad
Space blanket
Sleeping bag
MSR water purification system
MSR camping stove
Headlamp (runs off AAA)
Zip-ties
Duct tape
Mirror
Wet wipes
Disposable razor
T-socket (turns light fixtures into outlets)
Battery charger
Sunscreen
First Aid (and antibiotics)
Cameras
Tripod
Laptop
Gerber multitool
Frying pan
Pot (cooking.. just clarifying)
Brillo pad (to do dishes)
Matches and other pyro thingies
Kevlar french press (don't f*ck with my coffee..)
Whiskey (see coffee...)
Spices (salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, garlic, canine pepper, curry, basil, sesame oil, olive oil, ketchup.. obviously I like my coffee, whiskey, and food...)
Camp towel
1 pair jeans
2 tshirt
1 nice shirt
Flipflops
Ipod and Iphone
Pepper spray