Like many armchair travellers when not thinking about sailing I’m thinking about cycling. Looking ahead to 2024 is no different.

UPDATE 30/12/24

I have long considered doing the Mawson Trail but have prevaricated for many reasons, mainly because I am a social chap and shy away from going alone. I read a friends post last night and remembered he had cycled the Mawson back in 2019. I had a read of his post and thought it was about time I puckered up my ass cheeks and committed.

I reckon July is the month, or therabouts. That should give me plenty of time to work out logistics, gear up and train a bit. Anyway, on with the original post…

The other day I watched a video by Tristan Ridley.
He listed all the gear he carries when bikepacking (YouTube has a whole crazy subsection of the gear people pack). I already have my awesome Thorn Nomad II Rohloff and some great gear but there are a few things missing. So, here is my mostly Australian-centric bicycle shopping list inspired by my own needs wants and Tristan’s video…

Clothes

• Got x2 long sleeve merino shirts + a long sleeve rashy for the sun
• DOMYOS zip pocket shorts I just ordered a pair of these to go with the pair I already got from Shein.
• merino socks - Darn Tough Woolie Boolie
• arc’Teryx Atom LT Hoody $400… shit. I will pedal harder to keep warm instead
• rain jacket w/ armpit zips for ventilation
• DHB merino leg warmers

Tent

• I already have a pretty good tent, if a little bulky.
• Tristan is keen on the Durston X-Mid 1p Solid with Z-Flick adjustable carbon poles

Bike Luggage

• My Carradice front panniers are awesome if a bit hefty, I suppose they could be replaced with something lighter but I don’t think so.
• A backpack (Flow 35) for the rear carrier is a neat solution

Brain Bucket

• Giro Fixture Mips

Wash Kit

• toothbrush etc
• microfibre towel

Utility Kit

• don’t forget the zip ties
• Gear Aid Tenacious tape here and here
• spare brake pads
• Tubolito ultralight innertube + patch kit - see this review
• got tyre levers
• assemble my spare nuts and bolts
• find some loctite or super glue

Sleep & Shelter

• I already have an excellent Sea to Summit Spark SPIII Sleeping Bag
• inflatable mattress with repair kit (will try repairing my existing one first)
• Thermarest NeoAir Xlite
• or, Forclaz Trek 700 Air XL {ultra compact} from Decathlon
• pillow, sea to summit aeros or Forclaz pillow from decathlon
• bivvy instead of tent, Ferrino Rider Pro [Mummy] - I imagine sleeping in this would be like an expensive bin liner

Cooking and Hydration

• DIY pot cosy to fit my cooking pot
• If my stove is dodgy, replace it
• windscreen (bit of bendy aluminium), got fuel bottles, got old microfibre teatowel somewhere, lighter, dish brush, salt-pepper + spices
• plastic for chopping board, metal stove base
• Nalgene HDPE water bottles
• Sawyer Squeeze water filter (better than mini)
• Platypus 2L water bladder x2 + tubing for gravity filtering

Lighting

• A back-light that runs off the dynamo, SON make a nice one which SJS sell
• 2x 20,000mAh power banks
• I have owned an AY-UP light for years. It is the absolute best. Today I ordered the headstrap so, now I can stick it on my noggin.
• Petzl Aktik Core head torch
• or, Lezyne Multi Drive 1000

Other bits

• Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HV pump
• Park Tool AWS-11 multitool - I already have something similar.
• Abus Bordo Lite 6055 folding lock 85sm
• Quad Lock phone mount
• Garmin Edge 530 GPS unit
• or, Vestergaard Lifestraw
• dental floss and needle to stitch up tyre wall tears
• Fuji XT4 mirrorless camera + 35mm f2 prime + Fujinon 16-80mm f4 - Ha, as if.
• Rode SmartLavPlus lapel mic - maybe if I ever get serious about the 2 Wheeled Ute ( #🚲ute ) podcast…

I am not really much of a shopper which is lucky because my little town of Broken Hill is not known for it’s shopping emporiums.

Everything I buy owns me as much as I own it.
For example, a cheap rice cooker I bought from Kmart many years ago…
The rice was not cooked to perfection, far from it. In addition it spat sticky rice goop in a 1 metre radius when used. I owned it for years secretly hoping it would explode so that I could get a decent one. Eventually I bought a CUCKOO 3-Cup Micom Rice Cooker (RTFM) which seems to cook the rice beautifully without spitting rice glue. Should have done that years ago.

I often draw a blank when I try to think of an online shop to buy stuff. Quite plainly I am thick. Here are some of the shops I just acessed for this list

• Pushys
• 99bikes
• Decathlon
• Snowys
• Paddy Pallin
• Ryda
• Ultralight Hiker
• Wild Earth
• Find Your Feet
• Kathmandu
• Campbuddy
• Oz Backcountry
• Omafiets
• Wildfire Sports

These companies make cool stuff.

• Lezyne
• Petzl
• Isobaa
• Mountain Laurel Designs
• Tier Gear
• Orb ultralight
• Durston Gear
• SJScycles/Thorn (UK)
• Sawyer

Just a few mention-worthy resources, blogs or review sites. I could write another bloody huge list to expand upon like-minded people running useful sites.

• Bicycling Australia
• Australian Hiker
• 2 Mums and a Dirttrack
• Toms Bike Trip
• Halfway Anywhere

Oh, and not forgetting Tristan Ridley who inspired this post.

Feck me, it’s looking like a link-farm around here. I really waste my time hard on the weekend.
Move along now, nothing more to see here.