Cross-Country Packing 101

How do you fit everything you need for 3 months on the road, on a bike in one 20-gallon bin? Just the right combo of stuff sacks, Ziplocs, strategery and full-on shoving got everything I need into a bin weighing less than 50 lbs. With 35 of us on the trip and one van/trailer, we can't afford to bring on too much extra "stuff" - just the essentials (ok, and a Frisbee and a bocce ball set). Needless to say, this is a lot more than what I would bring if the trip was self-supported. Here's what it looks like:

Clothing:

• 1 pair jeans
• Bathing suit
• Sweatshirt
• 2 t-shirts (this was especially tough)
• 1 pair sneakers
• Pajamas
• 2 pairs shorts
• Chacos (duh)
• Hat
• 1 skirt
• Versatile "sport" dress (comfy!!)
• Socks, sports bras, etc. (2-4 each)
• Lightweight buff

Cycling Clothing:

• 3 pairs cycling shorts (1 bibs, 2 shorts)
• 1 Under Armor layer
• Rain jacket
• Rain pants
• 4 pairs cycling socks
• Cycling shoes (MTB style)
• Cycling gloves
• 1 pair arm warmers
• Cycling sunglasses

Personal Items/Equipment:

• Sunscreen, lotion, chamois butter, etc.
• Toiletries
• Giant bottle of ibuprofen
• Cliff/Luna bars
• Quick-dry towel
• Journals and a book (Travels with Charley)
• Sleeping bag, Thermarest, camp pillow
• Headlamp
• Compression sacks
• Mesh laundry bag
• Frisbee, travel bocce ball set
• Ipad, phone, chargers

Cycling Equipment:

• Bicycle (boxed up for the train)
• 2 water bottles and cages
• Camelbak backpack with safety triangle attached
• Seat bag
• 4 spare inner tubes (I'll need more than that)
• 2 spare spokes
• Patch kit, bike tool tire levers
• Helmet (DUH!) with mirror
• Mini-pump
• Cycling computer
• Lube, degreaser, rags cleaning tools
• Bike lock
• 2 spare tires (foldable Gatorskins)

I think that does it. To this list, I'll add two Bike & Build jerseys (must be worn every day) and a Bike & Build t-shirt for build days. 

Packing: BEFORE

Packing: AFTER!!!