Packing for a Cross-Country

Packing for a Cross-Country

There's an old saying that the secret to packing for a long cross-country ride is to dump all the stuff you think you need to take in one pile, and all the money you think you need in another pile, then get rid of half the pile of stuff and double the pile of money. There's a lot to be said for that. However, the real secret is to take everything you need and nothing you don't. Sound a little too simplistic? Think about it a minute. For example, do you really need to take a 20-ounce bottle of shampoo when you're only going to wash your hair three times? Take what you need, and leave the rest of the bottle at home.

Small nalgene bottles are great space savers For packing toiletries, think in quantities that you'll actually use. Sample sizes are usually available in discount department stores and can really save some space. If your regular brand and it isn't available in a sample size, just repackage in a sturdy container. "The Container Store" is a really great resource for just about any size bottle you can think of. Don't get the cheap plastic kind you find at discount stores though as they are normally too big and almost always leak. Look for the sturdy Nalgene type. They cost a little more, but they last for a very long time and are worth the extra pennies.

Toiletry bag Once you've trimmed down your bottle sizes, put them into a breathable bag you can stow in the corner of a saddlebag. These are easy to grab when it's time to hit the shower. Since they are made of a mesh, the stuff inside dries quickly and easily. You can fit a week's worth of supplies into a very small place with these. Once you've assembled your kit, you can store it under your bathroom sink so it's ready to go anytime you are.

Clothing is bulky. There's not a lot you can do about that. However, you can do laundry when you stop for the night. A word of warning though - not everywhere you plan to stop will have laundry facilities nearby. If there are facilities, they will normally have detergent singles you can buy, so this is one item to leave off your list. How many changes of clothing you can take depends upon your available storage space, but don't forget to take something to wear when everything else is in the wash.

The most space consuming items you'll take will be your riding gear. You'll be wearing most of this, but you'll still need to stow at least part of it when you stop during the day. A great way to keep it from walking off is to thread a coiled cable through sleeves or buckles and padlock the cable to your bike. You can find these cables in the bicycle department of your favorite store. Also, a pair of handcuffs available on eBay work quite well for securing your helmet.

Bungee cargo net. The last thing to stow, and that's so it's quick and easy to reach when the need arises, is your rain gear. Frogg Toggs are my favorite as they are lightweight, comfortable and they breath so you don't get damp and clammy when you're stuck in your rain for an extended period of time. They aren't perfect, but you can comfortably wear them all day long. A cargo net made of bungee cord works great for tying down rain gear to a sissy bar or to the top of a tour pack so you can get to it without getting the rest of your gear wet when the rain begins to fall.

Regardless of what you take, the most important thing to remember is to carefully secure everything. Leave nothing to chance. A dangling shirt sleeve, a loose strap, a shifting bag, or anything that can get into the moving parts of your bike can ruin a trip in a hurry. Take an extra few minutes to make sure everything is right, and do a walk-around at every stop to make sure nothing has shifted.

Lastly, don't forget to double the pile of money. ;)

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