From the 2016 tour, starting in the Pacific in Ocean City, WA and ending in the Atlantic in Ocean City, Maryland.

Below is the ridiculous amount of gear I brought on the 2016 trip. If it's struck-through, that means I would not recommend bringing. The text to the right of the struck-through text is what I would recommend bringing instead.

• Steel frame touring bike The fastest road bike you can afford and comfortably ride for 8+ hours day after day. I recommend mechanical over electronic setups so you don't need to bring a charger. Don't worry about frame mounts for racks or bags - you won't need them. Slight preference for hydraulic disc over caliper brakes, but skip mechanical disc brakes.

• Touring-specific wheels Any reputable wheelset is fine. Most manufacturers advertise the max load and kinds of impacts their wheels can withstand, so double-check that your bodyweight + ~25 pounds is under the limit. Wider tires are more comfortable, so ideally pick rims that can fit a 28mm+ tire.

• Touring-specific tires Any reputable road tire is fine (touring tires are too heavy). I like GP5000s or Gatorskins (ideally 28mm or wider). Do not go tubeless because you're f**ked if your tires unseat and you're far from an air compressor. Bring two replacement tubes and a couple patches just in case, and re-supply as you pass bike shops.

• Replacement spokes, chain whip, cassette removal tool  If you bring quality wheels you will almost certainly not break spokes, so you can save a couple pounds here.

• Other repair tools: multi-tool, flat kit (tubes, levers, tire boot), small hand pump, chain lube. Unless you're biking somewhere very remote, you only need enough tools to handle the most common issues. If you run into a bind, you can most likely hitch a ride to the nearest shop. Avoid stranding yourself with preventative maintenance: change tires and chains before you need to, start your trip with fresh cables, keep your bike clean.

• Four pannier bags and a backpack Frame bag customized to fit your bike's triangle, handlebar bag, saddlebag. If you're handy, make your own frame bag or consider hiring someone to make it for you. Splurge a bit here to get something waterproof that fits like a glove.

• Touring-specific saddle Use a saddle you love to train on. If you don't have a favorite, go for something firm (yes, firm!) and waterproof - I like the Specialized Power saddle. Test out some different options from friends before settling on one.

• Two One-person tent (or two if traveling with a companion), rain fly, sleeping bag, lightweight cot inflatable pad. Go for the smallest setup you can tolerate.

• An emergency blanket. It's a lightweight alternative to a ground tarp, plus designed to keep you warm or provide shade in extreme environments.

• Two One bike kit. Wash it nightly. Bring a small bottle of detergent and use a couple of drops. Don't skimp here, your butt will thank you.

• Two One set of comfortable clothes for changing at night. Wash in the morning after changing into bike kit, let it dry on the outside of your gear as you ride. Pack a lightweight rain jacket or wind breaker.

• Bike shoes. Use mountain bike shoes so you can walk around without needing to bring extra shoes. If you use road shoes, bring a pair of flip flops.

• Hygiene products: sunblock, body glide/chamois butter, small pack of baby wipes, bug spray, etc.

• Cooking equipment Just a spork. Eat at grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants. Skip the bulk, it's just not worth it. Get snacks to stick in your handlebar bag for eating on the go.

• Hydration: At least two bottles. Pack a tube of salt tabs to make chlorine-y water taste better and save you from cramps.

• Electronics: laptop (just no), smartphone, phone charger, portable fast-charge compatible battery, lightweight headphones (I recommend AfterShokz Aeropex). Charge the battery at stops and use the battery to charge your phone as needed. I recommend bringing a cycling computer for navigation - I've found Wahoo easier than Garmin for adding maps using a phone, but there are others on the market that likely work well, too. Bonus points for picking electronics that share the same cable port type.

• Quality front and tail lights. Even if you don't ride at night you'll want these for rainy days and tunnels, plus they don't take up much space. Ideally you can charge them with the same cable used to charge your phone.

• Bike lock. Skip it if you're riding with companions. Bring something light - you'll only ever be away from your bike for a few minutes at a time.

• Sunglasses. Get a pair with transition lenses to keep your eyes safe and happy in any amount of sunlight.

• Helmet. I don't need to say it but: Always. Wear. A. Helmet.

Route

I recommend following the Adventure Cycle Association routes, especially if going solo. You're bound to encounter cyclists on the way (I met well over 100 cyclists on my trip), especially at ACA-endorsed camping sites. The routes often pass through National Parks (Acadia, Glacier, and Theodore Roosevelt on the Northern Tier route), which are both beautiful and top-notch places to camp.

The other benefit is safety. The ACA routes follow designated bike lanes and (paved) trails when available. People who live near these routes have learned to expect cyclists, so drivers tend to be more patient and businesses often cater to cyclists (bike racks in front of stores, more frequent bike shops, general interest in you and your trip).

I ended up following primarily the Northern Tier route with a variation near the Great Lakes to go through Milwaukee, Chicago, and Cleveland. I then took meandered to Pittsburgh and took the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath to get to Washington, D.C. I used Google Maps bike directions to fill the gaps between these established routes.

The ACA sells paper maps as well as downloadable GPX files that you can add to your bike computer. A quick Google search shows several (unverified) free versions.

Lodging

Part of the draw to bikepacking is the connection with nature, so suffice it to say that most bikepackers camp. Try to plan your lodging/distance goal for at least the next three days with contingency plans for weather. Depending on the location of campgrounds, you may need to increase or decrease your mileage a bit, but in general I was surprised how easy it was to find a place to (legally) rest near my goal distance per day - likely a perk of following a well-established cycling route.

I camped most nights, but I also had the pleasure of staying with hosts through a cycling-specific couchsurfing app called WarmShowers. It's a community full of cycling enthusiasts, many of whom are eager to help you on your journey. During my trip I met countless wonderful hosts, shared stories and laughs, enjoyed more than my fair share of delicious home-cooked meals, and, of course, took advantage of some warm showers! Some of my most memorable experiences on the trip were with hosts who went out of their way to make my trip special.

When all else fails, there are cheap motel rooms just about everywhere in the U.S. Some are so ratchet staying there could probably count as camping. But hey, a bed is a bed. And sometimes after a long day riding, a ratchet bed is just what the doctor ordered.

Food

Good food is a beautiful thing, but when you're in the middle of a bikepacking tour, that's not the time nor the place. Think of it as fuel, not food. It's not there to be savored, it's there to get you from point A to point B.

You'll need to fuel up, and a lot of it. To keep going day after day without risking bonking or substantial weight loss and injury, you'll likely need to consume more than double what you typically eat in a day (for me, north of 8,000 calories).

Rural areas rarely have many food options that are conveniently located on your route. I had most of my meals at grocery and convenience stores, sticking primarily to prepared foods or quickly prepared foods (ex: a baguette and jar of peanut butter or Nutella). For mid-ride snacks, I kept bags of gummy candy and mixed nuts within easy reach. If I stopped at a fast food restaurant, I'd fill my water bottles with the closest option to Gatorade.

While you will probably lose some weight during the trip, you don't want to lose too much or harm your body's ability to recover. Make sure you're staying on top of your nutrition to avoid bonking and provide the micro and macronutrients your body needs to perform for many days on end.

Training

If you're reading this it's because you're already a fairly committed cyclist. That's probably enough - you should never be riding hard while bike touring, so you don't need to train intervals, for example. You should do a dress rehearsal trip before a much longer trip, e.g. a 3-day long weekend tour with distance per day approximately the same as what you'll be doing on the longer tour. Test out your gear, see what works, what doesn't, and fix it.

Even well-trained cyclists probably aren't biking 700+ miles per week when not bikepacking. Your legs will adapt, but be patient. Over the first couple week or so, go a little easier up climbs than you think you can handle.

Side note: many blogs recommend pre-planning a rest day every six days or so. I think this is bad advice - don't adhere to a strict rest schedule. Listen to your body. If you need rest, take rest, otherwise carry on. Every body is different, and yours may need more or less rest. Personally, I felt like I could have gone the full trip with no rest days, but I ended up taking a couple to free up some time with friends. I mean, how often do you get to ride Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point with one of your buds??

What else?

What questions do you still have or would you like to know more about? Drop me a line and let me know!