Bike Touring & Bikepacking Gear I Can NOT Live Without!

[@SheelaghDaly]

What are some of your "must-have" bike touring or bikepacking gear items?

[@marcellopacifici]

A part from the obvious gear (bike, tools, sleeping stuff...) I can't live without my Moka pot ☕

[@SheelaghDaly]

@@marcellopacifici Oooh that sounds like an excellent addition! We use an aeropress but a moka pot really does make a lovely cup of coffee :)

[@hubihub525]

I can fully recommend a leather saddle and ordinary clothes. But for long bike tours I normally use special pants because the saddle is pretty slippery.

[@SheelaghDaly]

Ahh that’s interesting about it being slippery - thanks for mentioning that!

[@rickheasman8547]

Would love to see a review of the Ortlieb handlebar bags .

[@SheelaghDaly]

Thanks for letting me know! Great to know that’s of interest Rick :)

[@jasonm4695]

me too!@@SheelaghDaly

[@vincmer]

Sheelagh is it posible for you to make a video about What you put in your handlebar bag and how and why? I really like your video’s and I just started bike touring myself and your video’s are really helpfull. Greetings from the netherlands

[@SheelaghDaly]

Absolutely! I have a bike tour coming up in May and I'll put it on my list to show how I organize things in my handlebar bag :) To give you a quick idea -- I usually have my camera wrapped in a buff, a couple quick and easy snacks like bars, candy or a small bag of chips, sometimes an extra layer or rain jacket if the weather calls for it, and occasionally my multitool, especially at the start of the trip when I'm making more small adjustments to get things feeling right. Thanks so much for the kind message and good luck on your bike touring!

[@tomsitzman3952]

Most riders put in the handlebar bag often used items and things specific for the days journey.

[@travelspot06]

I am still working out my kit for bikepacking but one of my must haves is condensed expandable wet wipes. It is so nice to wipe down at the end of the day but they do not take up much room or weight!

[@katjasendmayr1342]

Wow... I don't think I have similar products on my bike tours... but maybe it's an inspiration...

[@SheelaghDaly]

Everyone is so different! I’m sure you have an awesome set up that works for you 😄

[@anujkerketta2947]

Very informative

[@kathrynalexandre]

Super helpful and love the bloopers 😜great to know you can use that shampoo/body wash for so many purposes. I'll definitely look into that!

[@SheelaghDaly]

I bet you will love Carina Organics! Super natural ingredients and they’re made in Vancouver! And now you know how robust the bottles are cause I dropped that guy a whooooole lot 😂

[@kathrynalexandre]

@@SheelaghDaly haha you totally did!! Even better 😂

[@tomsitzman3952]

Can't go wrong with Dr Bronner's do everything liquid soap, with or without scent. You can even use it to brush your teeth, I would rather be wet and warm than warm and with sweaty feet. My go to socks are seasonal weight Alpaca. They keep your feet warm when it is cold and cool when it is war, due to their natural thermal range. Even when wet they only retain 15% moisture and still retain 80% of their thermal warming. Instead of a racer style padded short, I prefer to tour in a lightly padded undershorts that I wear under my outer layer. for in town and touring I wear casual street clothing. I have no desire to dress like a racer.

[@SheelaghDaly]

I love Dr Bronners! Thanks for sharing your faves :)

[@kelvingrover4043]

God bless you on your journey.from the Pacific Northwest

[@Radekulis82]

Hmmm. Nice vid. I'm so long on bike ,for so many years, twice around Europe, this May trip from NY to LA , Always used Ortlieb bags, and never have a problem with them. After so may years on saddle but never used bike shorts, good saddle (brooks)and I don't have any pain(sores) on my butt. I always used normal clothing,but always used 5 Ten shoes , I just love them. Have a nice day

[@SheelaghDaly]

Thanks for sharing your experiences and favourites! Hope you have a great trip!

[@Bike4adventure]

great video! I dont bike pack yet, but even for some of my rides this gear would be useful.

[@SheelaghDaly]

I'm so glad! Wishing you some great rides ahead! :)

[@sfdint]

Them's some pricy shorts! I tend to spend on bikes and travel and economize on kit. Are they really noticeably superior?

[@SheelaghDaly]

I know! But when I think about the fact I've gotten several years of use out of them and they show very little wear, it feels worth it to me. I'm in bike shorts, sitting in a saddle the majority of the days when I'm touring, so it's probably one of the best things for me to invest in because it's my daily comfort. Of course everyone's experience will be different, but I've tried a LOT of shorts and haven't found another pair that comes close!

[@sfdint]

@@SheelaghDaly Makes sense!

[@rachelo6673]

Interesting tidbit about UA seamless underwear… I always thought wearing underwear in bike shorts would cause chaffing.

[@SheelaghDaly]

Yes that's definitely a possible concern with underwear and cycling shorts! I find the UA underwear is the perfect compromise for me because it's moisture wicking and seamless (to help avoid the usual concerns of wearing underwear with cycling shorts) but they're much easier to wash and dry regularly on the road than padded shorts. So no chaffing, and I feel fresher :)

[@travelspot06]

@@SheelaghDaly I was going to say the same thing; I just started doing longer rides, but I have been wearing my bike shorts with no underwear (because that is what I thought I was supposed to do), but I do feel a little less than fresh at the end of the day and putting them back on the next day is not always fun. Thanks for the tip!

[@merlintoth2995]

Bike shorts are meant to be worn without underwear. That's the whole idea behind the research into soft and absorbent chamois materials. That's something we pointed out to new club members at orientation evenings.

[@SheelaghDaly]

True! Personally though I find on a long trip with limited access to properly cleaning and drying my clothing, I prefer to wear a moisture-wicking, seamless underwear that is easy to wash and dries quickly. That way I can get by with just 2 pairs of cycling shorts and still feel fresher each day as my underwear is easy to wash and dry more regularly. But that's just my personal preference. That's super cool you're providing new club members with helpful information and support!

[@merlintoth2995]

@@SheelaghDaly Yes, I can understand that. If it works for you, why not.

[@hoser7706]

Wait a minute, are you wearing underwear inside your chamois lined cycling shorts!?

[@arcoulant87]

Bike bib shorts no underwear !

[@417cycleguy]

Wait a minute Underwear ??? What are you doing wearing those under armor underwear under your cycling chamois shorts?!?!?!?!?!

[@SheelaghDaly]

Haha I know it goes against what a lot of people do, but I actually prefer it :)

[@IvarTheBonerless]

Bike shorts with underwear? If you're worried about the shorts getting dirty you can just wash them as easily as the underwear and since you bring two pairs of shorts anyway that shouldn't be a problem.

[@SheelaghDaly]

Personally, I’d rather wear underwear because they can dry easily overnight and be ready for the next day’s ride, whereas cycling shorts tend to need more time. So I’m gonna keep rocking the moisture-wicking, seamless underwear with my cycling shorts!