CONEJO VALLEY CYCLISTS

CVCer Reine Wiley doesn’t just ride 10,000+ miles year in, year out: She also leads bike tours for small groups going long distances. Over the course of these tours, Reine has compiled a list of tips about preparing bike and body for each event. In this first installment, Reine discusses bikes and packing essentials. (Photo at left by RaeLynn Milley)

When packing for a bike tour, there’s a simple guideline to follow: “He that packs light but smart, will finish with a smile.”

EQUIPMENT

Your bike: Both the quality of bicycles and equipment, and the quantity of information and fitness, has increased dramatically over the last several years.  We will expect you to come with your bike in good, safe riding condition, and know how to ride it, because you have already put in many miles getting ready for the Tour.  Of course, while on the Tour, you will learn more tips and tricks on how to improve your riding and your bike, so that you can thoroughly enjoy the touring experience.  Here are a few things to keep in mind:

The Basics

• Always have a full size pump, patch kit, and tire lever or QuickStik, plus one or two spare tubes, packed on board— AND know how to use them (since flats are inevitable, you’ll learn that skill soon enough!).  A small multi-tool for tightening bolts, adjusting screws, is also necessary.  Xtra tire, and spokes and brake and gear cables, two large water bottles are a minimum, and a small rag plus a mini-bottle of chain lube are also needed for a multi-day trip.  Most anything else you might need can be found along the way.

Mountain bike or road bike?

• Due to the popularity of mountain bikes in the last several years, many people who have them want to know if they are suitable for touring.  Although mountain bikes are not ideal, they’re close, and one key change can make them “suitable”: swap out the existing fat, knobby tires, and replace them with the skinniest smooth tires that will fit on your rims.  If you don’t already have them, add handlebar extensions so you can change your hand positions around, and get more aerodynamic.

• Thankfully, in the last few years, road bikes have become more and more like the best touring bikes of 25 years ago.  Ideally, this includes triple chain rings, which provide a wider gear range– just the thing for carrying gear up long hills.  Whatever style bike you have, take it by your local bike shop and ask them if you can fit lower gears on it.  While you’re there, tell them what you are planning to do, and ask for a quick inspection and their advice on any work or modifications that need to be done.

Caution:  if you’re thinking of getting a new bike, buy at least six weeks before the start of the tour.  Anything less and you are asking for trouble and disappointment. Make sure whatever you get has eyelets/braze-ons for attaching a rear rack.

The Importance of Tires

• Poor or wrong tires can make a fancy bike ride like a garbage truck, and suck energy out of you with every pedal stroke.  Shocking as it may sound, $35 for a single tire can be the best investment you make for your bike.  Once you bite the bullet on cost/quality, think about size:  remember that any size tire, properly inflated (which is usually 10-15 pounds below whatever is marked on the sidewall), will have roughly the same rolling resistance.

• Where the difference in size becomes important is, a larger tire will be remarkably more comfortable, which can be a BIG plus after 50 miles on the road.  But the larger tire is also heavier, which (again) over 50 miles takes a toll.  By now you should know the recommendation:  Put in your own miles, and find out what works best for you.  One caution:  if you keep getting lots of “snake bite” flats, the tire is not big enough and/or inflated enough for your weight and riding style.

PACKING

Packing your stuff: This is probably the one thing that makes this tour so unique, and causes the most questions.  For now, we’ll just say, “Give it a try.”  The biggest hurdle is to BELIEVE that you don’t need all the stuff you are convinced you need.  We imagine more stuff will give us security or protection or relief.  Nope: it’s just more stuff you will have to drag up the hills, and at the end of the day you’ll say to yourself, “What was I thinking?!”

We can tell you the essentials, but then you will have to adjust that based on a few simple things like, do you get cold easily? Hot easily? Then you may want to add a few items, or change a few (for example, a sleeveless jersey with a mesh back for hot days).  This short list is based on striking a balance between being “comfortable” when riding (that is, you’re not carrying so much stuff you have to stop and rest every five miles) and “comfortable” in the evenings when you’re off the bike.  Since you will spend about 5-7 hours in riding gear, and maybe 4-5 in “evening dress,” the balance is tipped in favor of being on your bike.  That means some evenings your comfort level may be less than perfect, but you can manage— and we’ll share a few tricks on how to maximize your experience with what you do decide to take with you.

No matter what you choose to bring, ask these questions:

• Can this item do double-duty?  Can I use it in combination with something else to get the effect I need?
• If I leave this behind or break it, can I get another one on the road?
• Do I care if this gets worn out, torn or lost? (If so, leave it home)
• Is there a more lightweight version of this?
• Is there a smaller, more compact version of this?

Of course, the best test of all is to ride a lot and get familiar with what you genuinely need.  Then you can customize this list to your own specific needs.