Gear, Bikes, Supplies, Food & More

There are soooooo many resources available when it comes to gear, bikes, supplies, food and all the other items you'll need for a bike adventure. This list by no means is meant to be exclusive or endorsing particular brands. These are the items that worked best for our group and you need to be sure that you do your research and find what works best for you!  Alright, now that's out of the way let's dive in...

Bicycles

My husband and I are hardcore Specialized brand loyal buyers - road bikes, cross bikes, mountain bikes and other gear. For us, these bikes are fabulous!

Cross bikes we used for our 2016 rides and for many, many trail training rides - I rode an Ariel and Nick rode a Crosstrail. These bikes are amazing on paved roads and gravel trails as long as the gravel isn't too heavy.  I honestly don't know how I rode this bike on the entire JWPT in 2016! There were points where I thought my bike frame would fracture in half from how much I had to wrestle through the different levels of terrain, but she hung with me and made it through to the end. These are great bikes for touring, but not necessarily for heavy gravel riding.

Mountain bikes we used for our 2017 rides and many training rides - I rode a Ruze Comp 6Fattie and Nick rode a Fuse Comp 6Fattie. We LOVE these bikes!! Smooth ride, single chainring for the gearing rather than 2 or 3 to prevent risk of cross-chaining, fast through heavy terrain, front suspension, 3-inch tires, etc. These bikes plowed through the rough terrain of the JWPT, climbed hills like beasts and sailed along on the paved Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes.

My mom rode a Santa Cruz Juliana in 2016 and 17. She had problems with the front shocks losing air this year (2017) when she was carrying a lot of weight on the front of her bike which means her front steering was incredibly unstable and she fell several times. This bike kills hills and is a great ride on gravel and road! However, it also falls a bit closer to the touring category and is challenged in heavy gravel. I think my mom was able to manage the bike because it has larger tires so it does better than my touring bike. My mom is looking at moving into more of a mountain bike for our heavier rides.

Sandy rode an older bike in 2016 that I'm not sure what the brand was, but it had larger tires so she was also able to manage the heavier gravel of the trail and she also had the lightest gear. For 2017 Sandy rode a Specialized Stumpjumper (I'm unsure of which model).

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So now you have a bike - congratulations! What do you put on it to make sure you have what you need to be safe and self-sufficient?  Let's talk accessorizing gear!...

Our touring bike set-up for 2016:
  • Standard water bottle holders - you can have right or left pull and just find one/two or more that work easily for you.
    • I used a water bottle adapter because my bike frame is not quite large enough for two water bottles to sit one upright on the seat tube and the other on the downtube. This is great because you can choose where you put it on the bike and it can be tightened and adjusted as needed. This also doesn't screw into your frame or damage it. $8.42
  • Handlebar bag - I bought this through REI and love this sweet bag. Lots of pockets, easy to access and mount on your bike, and a cute little rain cover that's bright yellow. $59.95
    • Nick did not have a handlebar bag, rather used a small top-tube bag that he used for snacks and such.
  • Front & Rear Panniers - We both used these, all bright yellow for greater visibility. Purchased through REI and we use the Ortlieb panniers. They are phenomenal! Waterproof, durable, tough, able to withstand a serious beating. Front = $160 for a set; Rear = $180 for a set
    • My mom used two Thule rear panniers in 2016/17 and in 2017 she added two salsa panniers on her front rack.
  • Racks - We used the topeak explorer mtx rack for our rear panniers. With this rack we were able to lash a Camelbak between the two rear panniers to carry extra water and a few extraneous items. We used the Thule Pack n Pedal rack for our front panniers and added the Thule Pack n Pedal Side Frames so our panniers would fit. Both racks work great, but you definitely need to check screw tightness when you are riding as frequently the screws work loose on the Thule rack and need to be re-tightened. I bought both racks through REI, but they do not carry the side frames so I purchased those through Amazon. Topeak = $44.95; Thule Rack = $99.95; Thule Side Frames = $19.95
Our mountain bike set-up for 2017:
  • Defiant Geissler II Feedbag - we used two of these per bike and they are fabulous! They can fit up to a Nalgene size water bottle and we went with the grey bags to help reduce how hot the water would get. They are also lightly insulated so that helps keep the heat down. If you are using a regular size bike water bottle I was actually able to fit my trash under the water bottle and my cell phone next to the water bottle for easy access. Bungee closure makes it super easy to open and close while riding. The fabric is SUPER durable and the bags are water resistant, but I don't know I would call them fully waterproof. The mounting is a little wonky, but with some finagling you can make them work well. $49.95 each
  • We also used Defiant for making some incredible custom frame bags. You send in pictures, bike measurements, size and color requests and they will make a bag that works for your bike. Nick's was pretty easy and straight-forward, but mine was a little wonky with how I have a curved top tube and how the gap between my top and drop tubes greatly tapers at the front of the bike. The Defiant crew made it work though and the bag is fabulous! Waterproof, durable, easy open/close straps, easy access and inside pocket for extra storage. For mine I did have to add additional length to the securing strap, but this was easy to do and we made the bag work. What's great about Defiant is that you provide that feedback and if someone orders a similar bag in the future they will adjust accordingly. $169.95
  • Handlebar Stabilizer Harness and Burra Burra Drypack 23 - this setup is fabulous! Super stable, waterproof, lightweight, easy to mount, easy load/unload, exterior pocket for little items to easy access. If you were looking for something that the whole thing dismounted at a time (remove frame and bag) this might not be the best option. However, we liked having the harness in place and just being able to place the bag rather than having to mount and remount a harness each time. Harness = $90; Drypack = $45 *these prices were from Specialized, however, your local bike shop may carry them at a lower price or comparable price and it's always great to support local businesses! We purchased ours through Pacific Bike & Ski.
  • Burra Burra Stabilizer Seatpack - Nick used this option for his rear bag and absolutely loved it. With the stabilizer bar this doesn't move around and wobble back and forth. It has a bit of lashing on the outside which he used to strap his camp crocs to the outside of. Over super rough terrain he experienced having to tighten the bag securing straps frequently, but overall it did not have many issues with loosening. $140 *this price is from Specialized, however, your local bike shop may carry this item at a lower price or comparable price and it's always great to support local businesses! We purchased through Pacific Bike & Ski.
    • I went with a Thule pack n pedal rack on the back of my bike and used my 2 small panniers again this year and definitely regretted that decision. The rack torqued terribly and was challenging to fit to the bike. For future expeditions I will be looking into purchasing a seatpack as well.
  • Anything Cage HD  and Anything Bag - in order to try and find additional packing spaces due to not having panniers on the front of our bikes we opted for these excellent cages and bags. We definitely used the cages with the little bottom lip and held the bags much more easily. To attach the cages to our bike fork we used Anywhere cage mount 3-bolt system. The bags are incredibly durable, waterproof and easy to mount into the cages. They did not weigh down the front of our bikes or impact our steering, except in super rough terrain we noticed the cages slipped and we had to do some repair/remounting work. You will also want to protect the fork of your bike with a piece of rubber that we used electrical tape to hold down and then cinched with the clamps & zip ties. Cages = $35/cage; Bags = $32/bag; cage mounts = $15 for set of 2 *you can buy cages and bags from multiple places, but for the cage mounts you need to use the link in this paragraph.
General Gear used:
You will need more than just bikes and bike specific gear for your trip. Much of this gear I have used interchangeably between bike/backpacking and camping. 
  • Tent - we used our 3-person backpacking tent (Big Agnes Copper Spur 3). It's lightweight, easily packs down small and light, can be dispersed between two riders to distribute weight. You will have to purchase the footprint separately. We love this tent!
  • Sleeping mats - I have not decided if I will be replacing my sleeping mat or not because I can fit it easily into my bags and I love my mat. The mat I use is an REI Co-op AirRail 1.5 - there is a women's version of this mat, but it is a bit short for me so I use the regular one.  I am looking at Big Agnes mats, which fold smaller and lighter than mine; however, I still need to try this mat before I would purchase it. Nick's mat folds down incredibly small and is very light. He uses an Exped SynMat 7 with built-in pump; this means he has to pump up his mat, but it's fairly easy and doesn't take long.
  • Sleeping bags - I LOVE my bag and I tend to freeze at night so I'm loathe to replace it, but I am looking at some new bags that are lighter and fold down much smaller while still providing a great amount of warmth protection. The bag I currently use is a Sierra Designs Women's DriDown Eleanor - this bag is no longer available at REI. The bags I am looking into are Nemo Bags. Nick sleeps very warm and doesn't really use a bag, rather more of a light sleep sack - REI Co-op Siesta 30 Sleeping Bag  If he needs to be warm he can add a liner or wear more layers.
  • Pillows - everyone needs a splurge item! 😉 When you spend long hours beating your body to bits on the trail, a good night's sleep is paramount and having a pillow can be incredibly helpful.
  • Water filter and Water storage - water is limited on the JWPT and may be on other trails you ride. It's important to have a very good water filter and to be careful where you obtain water from. I use the 4L Platypus which definitely takes more time to setup and such, but it's a nice respite from riding so enjoy the break! Last year we used Camelbak's to carry our extra water, but this year we invested in heavy duty dromedary's that could hold up to 6L of water as we knew we'd be riding portions of the trail which would have little water and we wanted something more rigorous than our Camelbak bladder.
  • Stove - my only challenge with stoves is that you have to carry fuel which adds weight; however, after a hard day of riding there is nothing better than a hot meal to warm up with and to help you sleep. This is not a splurge item for me, rather a necessity. We love our Jetboil Flash Cooking System which allows us to have hot food in approximately 2 minutes.
  • Toiletries - I have my list of absolute essentials and a couple splurge items.
    • Essentials: toothbrush, floss, toothpaste, contact solution, contacts/contact solution/contact case, glasses/glasses case, comb, some type of baby wipe/cleaning cloths, sea to summit camping soap (I love one that has citronella and lavender), small camp towel, sunscreen, bug spray, chamois butter, some type of healing salve.
      • For bug spray I use DoTerra's Terrashield and it works fabulously!
      • Chamois butter - I find that DZNuts Bliss works best for me. Nick uses the Glide stick.
      • Salve - I make my own homemade salve that I absolutely love and works beautifully. It's very nice to have some type of salve to put on each night - scrapes, scratches and all the spots the chamois butter can't protect.
    • Splurge: face lotion, camp washcloth
  • Enjoyment items - I love to read and on my bike rides there is no exception. I take my Kindle with me so I have access to read in the evening or during a day where we are riding lighter or taking a break. I am also a certified naturalist and trained in Ethnobotany so I love to collect plants - for this I take a journal that I can press plant specimens in.
  • Storage bags - we use lots of stuff sacks to compress our gear down as small as possible and organize everything. Favorites - OR Ultralight Ditty SacksOR Dry Ditty Sacks, and I also have multiple single ditty sacks in varying sizes. For my sleeping bag I use the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Compression Dry Sack. For electronics, my mom found an amazing bag to keep her satellite tracker in - Seattle Sports E-Merse DryMax Clear Bag. This was perfect for storing the tracker in a place where it was still transmitting our route and protected from the rain.
  • Bowl and cutlery - we love the collapsible Sea to Summit X-Bowl and Snow Peak Titanium Spork.
  • Electronics - you definitely need some sort of communication system when out riding. I firmly believe that one of the essentials in  outdoor recreation is letting people know where you are. Share your itinerary online and approximations of when you will arrive at destinations; have a contingency plan in place if you don't arrive at places when expected so someone checks in to make sure you are okay; carry a GPS unit or satellite tracker that can convey an emergency signal if you are in true need of immediate assistance; and carry a cell phone that you can text and call from to check-in. We also carried ways of recharging our electronics - backup battery(ies); plug-ins; and solar charger.
    • DeLorme inReach SE 2-way Satellite Communicator - this device has been utterly fabulous on both of our trips. We have used it to communicate directions, let people know when our day is done, and this year we used it when we had no cell service and were in need of immediate medical assistance. This device can send out an SOS as well when you have no cell service and you have an immediate emergency. This does require a membership and you can pay for different levels of subscription.
    • Garmin Edge Explore 1000 - you can upload maps, keep track of stats (elevation, mileage, speed, time moving, etc.), and send out an emergency alert if you run into difficulty. Our only complaint with this is that the battery dies very quickly when you used consistently and if you are trying to send out an alert you need cell service which can be challenging.
    • Backup batteries - we especially needed backup batteries this year because of Nick's CPAP machine. When we bring backup batteries we prioritize what needs to be charged in case we don't end up at a place to actually plug-in and charge. Our priorities go to the Satellite Tracker and Nick's CPAP. One of the tricks that helps reduce battery loss is to sleep with your electronics so they stay warm. I put mine in the bottom of my sleeping bag so they stay warm and it reduces battery loss significantly. I also make sure to put my cell phone in power save mode, airplane mode, and turn off all the apps. Two batteries we use: mophie Powerstation and Anker External Battery.
    • Bike electronics:
  • My husband has sleep apnea and the first year we rode (2016) he did not have a CPAP machine which caused very little sleep for both of us and anxiety for him. This year we remedied the situation by him finding a portable CPAP machine that he could carry in his backpack. It is not lightweight but it's manageable and the battery lasted four days. Our only complaint was that it caused serious rain-out in our tent due to the increased humidity. You will need a doctor's note to approve a portable CPAP as an "additional" machine and also get your insurance to potentially cover some of the cost. This was originally a barrier for us doing overnight outdoor recreation and was extremely important to add to our gear list and he is very happy with it. The machine he uses is a Transcend Auto CPAP machine and he also added on the Transcend Multi-Night Battery to extend the life of the charge to the machine.
  • Bike repair and tools:
    • Tires: when you go for a long ride there are so many options for tires to help with punctures and such. My mom rides tubeless which means she has to carry a backup tire and tube in case she ends up with a slash flat - knock on wood, this has never happened. She has not had any issues with her tires except when they were refilled/re-coated prior to our ride and they were leaking horribly, but the bike shop was able to fix this. Nick and I have opted not to use tubeless tires and have two different setups between our cross and mountain bikes. For my cross bike I used Schwalbie Marathon Plus 40mm tires, puncture resistant tubes (I can't recall the name), and then used Stan's No Tubes Tire Sealant in each of my tires. When you ride in Eastern WA there is a horrible plant called goat's head and will destroy your tires if you are not prepared. For this year's ride, our bike tires are already double-walled which essentially makes them puncture resistant. All we did was add Stan's to the tires. Just FYI, when you add Stan's to your tires you will need a tool to remove the valve stem - Park Tool Valve Core Remover.
    • Tubes: we took 1-2 extra tubes for backup as a part of our repair kit, but we just used the regular tubes that would go with our bikes. For my 2016 ride, I did not take extra tubes that were puncture resistant, rather just 4 regular tubes.
    • Misc. Tools:
      • Bike pump - if you have large tires you need to be sure to get a pump that is a quick pump and will fill the volume; otherwise, you will be pumping for hours!
      • Tire Levers - you need tire levers to make your life easier when having to remove your tire.
      • Patches - I love the Super Patch that are pre-glued so I can just peel and stick them rather than carrying glue and sandpaper and such.
      • Topeak The Mini Plus 18 bike tool - this has been a fabulous tool for both Nick and I that has helped us many a time. This also comes with a little neoprene bag to store the tool in.
      • We took our valve core remover and 2 bottle's of Stan's as a part of our repair kit as well.
      • Chain oil and rag - find a good oil that keeps your chain clean and lubricated. On the trail the dust and grit buildup on the chain can be tremendous. You will have a much better ride if you take care of your chain! You'll need a good rag that doesn't have lots of fuzzies to clean the chain as well.
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You've got your gear, your bike and now you're ready to set out on your adventure or training ride. Basic necessities of life require food, water and shelter. I will make a small disclaimer here - food is a passion of mine. I spent most of my grad school work focusing on food spaces (http://foodspaces.blogspot.com/), participating in food activism and attempting to create food change in my workplace and community. I also love gardening, food preservation, canning, teaching about food, collecting plants and making plant infusions (honey, bitters, salves, oils, etc.). This is a topic I am super passionate about and it has carried over into what I/we eat when we are participating in outdoor activities. I believe in healthy, whole food, natural food, natural ingredients and well-rounded foods. That being said, definitely find foods that work for you! Let's talk food!...
  • Food storage - for most of my snacks, meals (unless in bags that you can cook in), and such I put things in ziploc baggies and then put certain foods in larger bags (i.e. all breakfasts in one bag, gels in another bag) and then put all my food in a stuff sack. We also carry a bear line to tie our food up in a tree and away from our tent.
  • Snacks - there are about a billion options for snacks and I am pretty picky about what snacks I'm willing to eat. My body is already working super hard burning calories and pedaling my bike or backpacking and I want to put foods in it that are replenishing and easy to digest.
    • Trail mix - I make my own using mixed nuts, dried unsweetened cranberries, chocolate chips, raisins, and sometimes banana chips. I usually buy these ingredients at the bulk foods section at my local QFC or from Trader Joe's.
    • Dried fruit - love dried apricots or mango from Trader Joe's
    • Marcona almonds & dehydrated edamame - I LOVE these mixed together! You can find these ingredients at QFC, but they are much cheaper at Trader Joe's. It's fun to mix up the flavors of marcona almonds.
    • Peanut Butter - we use the Justin's squeeze packets - peanut butter, peanut butter with honey and almond butter. We are looking at other options as the Justin's brand contains palm oil and this is a pretty controversial ingredient (Why not palm oil?). I'm looking into Wild Friend's as a replacement.
    • ProBar - so many options! We love these for multiple options - meal bar for a heavier snack; bolts for quick energy replacement (caffeine free or not); fuel bar's for a sweet treat.
    • Honey Stinger - I do not really enjoy the bolts from ProBar, but I do love Stinger. They are easier on my stomach and I love that they are honey based. I have a heart arrhythmia and need to stay away from the caffeine based products so Honey Stinger is perfect for me. I love their caffeine free energy chews and gels and their waffles which are a fun sweet treat.
    • Moon Cheese - this stuff is weird, but good weird! I prefer the Gouda and cheddar flavors.
    • Epic Bars - I love almost all their flavors and the bars are not so big and heavy that it feels impossible to finish. I cannot eat one of these a day, but I do like a couple on my long rides.
    • Tanka Bites - I don't enjoy Tanka bars, they are too heavy for me, but I do enjoy their bites. 
    • Crackers - usually turn to crumbs, but still nice to have to eat with your peanut butter.
    • String cheese - individually wrapped these will last for your whole trip if they are cheeses like skim milk or cheddar. They will definitely get oily/greasy, but as long as they remain unopened and can be kept as cool as possible you should be fine the whole time. We haven't had a problem, but definitely do what feels comfortable for you when incorporating dairy into your snacks.
    • A note on chocolate - we took some chocolate covered apricots and other chocolate snacks, but these turn into massive chocolate 'plates' that are pretty unappetizing. When I make my trail mix I make sure my chocolate chip ratio is low so that if the chips melt it makes super yummy clumps of fruit/nuts/chocolate.
  • Supplements - Nick and I do not use any supplements in our water or electrolytes. My mom uses them and they help her tremendously. I find they upset my stomach and I cannot stand the taste of any electrolyte I've ever tried.
  • Meals:
    • We would have breakfast, stop for a mid-morning snack, stop for lunch, stop for a late lunch snack and then when we stopped for the night we would have dinner. Throughout the day we would intersperse lots of small snacks during some of our stops.
    • Breakfast - good ole' oatmeal, cranberries and coconut sugar. I've tried a couple of different varieties (quick rolled, quick steel cut, etc.) and haven't had the best of luck except with the quick rolled oats, but they are super heavy. Nick really likes the McCann's Instant Irish Oatmeal and would use two packets - one plain packet mixed with one flavored packet. This is a hearty way to start the day and while it definitely gets old after several days it's still the easiest way to start the day and can also take care of getting those stalled bowels moving in the morning! 😉
    • Lunch - my mom would make a meal in the morning and put it in a thermos to have a heavier lunch and higher calories. Nick and I did not train by eating meals in the afternoon and found this did not work for us the one time we did try a meal in the afternoon; we would simply eat a variety of snacks for our lunch using a mixture of heavier and lighter snacks.
    • Dinner - the big meal! I have tried a variety of prepared meals and also making my own. My best meal results are from the following experiences:
      • Good To-Go - we definitely have struggled with the length of cooking time, spiciness (can be off the charts!!), requiring far more water than required, and palate-ability (some meals can remain chewy despite much cooking). However, I do love the herbed mushroom risotto. The classic marinara with penne is also pretty good.
      • Homemade - I have made some of my own mixtures that can work and I enjoy having different varieties. Plus they are fairly inexpensive.
        • Mac-n-cheese - I take two Annie's Mac-n-Cheese microwave cups, empty them into a baggie and add 2 tbsp. homemade dehydrated kale. This one is challenging to cook as you need to let it sit and steam a bit. I use my jetboil to cook it all in and then I just have to take a little extra cleaning time at the end. I have two favorite flavors - real aged and white cheddar and I mix the two flavors together for one meal.
        • Homemade kale - I buy two bunches of curly leaf kale, cut out the stems, rough chop up the leaves; then I mix the chopped leaves with brewer's yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, turmeric, and cumin. Massage the leaves and seasonings together until kale begins to wilt and soften. I then layer it in a dehydrator and dry for approximately 8-12 hours until leaves are crispy. Yummy!!
        • Mixed dinner - about 1/2 - 3/4 cup instant mashed potatoes (Honest Earth is an okay brand); 1/4 cup dehydrated vegetable soup mix (I find this at PCC in the bulk foods section); 2 tbsp. TVP (Bob's Red Mill TVP); 1/4 cup homemade kale. Mixed with lots of water and let sit for about 5 minutes, this is a super filling and yummy meal if I do say so myself!
      • MaryJane's Farm - these meals are our new favorites! Quick cook times, water called for works, extremely tasty, not super spicy, vegetarian, and excellent protein levels. When you shop on the website go to 'meals', choose which meal you want and we used the 'Outpost' size. This is perfect for one person, definitely filling, but not overly so. This is probably what we're going to go to for most, if not all, future dinner meals. We didn't do any of the breakfasts and several of the dinners because they require a skillet and this takes too much time and dishes.


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