KIT

We were obsessed with curating the perfect kit list leading up to the trip. And before we left in April, we spent an afternoon perfecting a series of knolling shots of everything we were taking with us. Evidence below. Like many other cycle tourists on their first round-the-world trip, however, we had packed far too much – we’d sent a lot home within the first few months. We carried on whittling away at what remained, until we had a bunch of stuff we would say we couldn’t comfortably do the trip without. So here’s the final cut. 

BIKES

• Surly Disc Truckers (50 cm & 54 cm)

• Shimano 105 groupset with 11-40t cassette and Wolf Tooth RoadLink

• Front wheels: Halo Vapour 32 spoke rim with Son 28 Dynamo hub and Cinq 5 headset plug

• Rear wheels: Ryde Andra 30 36 spoke rim with steel Hope hub (changed from Halo Vapour after 2 cracked rims)

• Tyres 2nd set: Schwalbe Marathon GreenGuard 26x1.75

• Tyres 1st set: Schwalbe Marathon Marathon Mondial 26x2.0 (replacements weren’t available in India)

• Brooks B-17 leather saddle with rain cover

• Brooks B-17s leather saddle with rain cover

• Shimano PD-A530 platform/clipless MTB pedals

• Tubus Logo Evo rear racks (silver & black)

• Tubus Tara Lowrider front racks (silver & black)

• Pletscher Twin kickstand (two-leg) with Surly kickstand plate

• Custom build @ Cloud 9 Cycles (London)

• Bike fit with Tony Corke @ Cloud 9 Cycles (London)

• Cycle Sure (UK bike insurance with unlimited time abroad)

PANNIERS & BIKE ACCESSORIES

• Ortlieb Bike Packer Plus rear bags (blue & black)

• Ortlieb Sport Packer Plus front bags (blue & black)

• Ortlieb Medium Rack Pack (yellow & red) (posted to New Zealand full of winter kit)

• Ortlieb Ultimate 6 handle bar bag (black)

• Ortlieb Ultimate 6 S Plus handle bar bag (blue)

• CatEye Volt 1200 front light

• CatEye Volt 800 front light

• 2x Bontrager Flare R rear lights

• 2x QuadLocks

• 4x 700 ml Nalgene bottles

• 2x generic 500 ml bottles

CAMP

• MSR Hubba Tour 2 tent (2.38 kg; fits 2 bikes in vestibule)

• MSR Hubba Tour 2 groundsheet 

• Vango Ultralite 900 sleeping bag

• Robens Caucasus 300 down sleeping bag

• Women’s Thermarest NeoLite sleeping mat

• Thermarest NeoLite sleeping mat

• 2x Sea to Summit Premium silk liners (long rectangle)

• Sea to Summit Aeros Premium inflatable pillow

• Half-sized regular pillow

KITCHEN

• Primus Omni-Fuel I stove and 1 L fuel bottle

• Primus Omni-Fuel I maintenance kit

• Primus ETA pans (1 L, 1.8 L, 3 L)

• Platypus Gravity Works 4 L water filter (bacteria)

• SteriPen Quantum Rapid 4 L water purifier (viruses)

• 2x Primus bowls (pack in pans)

• 2x Lifeventure spoons

• 2x mugs

• MSR chopping board

• MSR knife

• MSR grater

• Spatula

• Tin opener

• 3x clip plastic tubs (1 for butter, 2 for overnight oats)

• IKEA food clips, food bags, lighters

WASHBAG

• Kathmandu wash bag

• 2x microfibre towels

• Dettol soap in soap dish

• 2x roll-on deodorants 

• 2x toothbrushes in cases

• Toothpaste and floss

• Shampoo and conditioner

• Suncream

• Moisturiser 

• Brush and bobbles 

• Beard comb and beard oil

• Tweezers

• Nail clippers

• Razor

• Epilator

STUFF

• LifeSystems Traveller first aid kit and various medicines

• Doxycycline antimalarials, Jungle Formula Deet roll-on and antihistamine bite cream

• 2x Ortlieb 10 L water pouches

• Penknife

• Trowel (outside toilet)

• 2x On-Guard Gold Standard locks (for insurance)

• Padlock

• Whistle

• Binoculars

• Passport copies

• Passport photos

• Notebook and pens

• Playing cards

• Small sewing kit

• Amazon Basic packing cubes

• Dry bags (Vango & Alpkit)

BIKE TOOLS

• Puncture repair kit and instant stick patches 

• Tyre levers

• Lezyne Micro floor pump with gage

• Topeak Alien II multi tool

• 10 mm Allen key

• Tiny screwdriver for Shimano 105 shifter

• NBT2 (cassette remover)

• Bike oil

• Bike grease

• Reusable cable ties 

• Electrical tape

• Superglue 

BIKE SPARES

• 4x inner tubes

• 8x spokes and nipples

• 2x Shimano 105 chains

• 4x gear cables

• 4x brake cables

• 4x brake pads

• Quick Link

• Various sized M5, M6 nuts, bolts and washers

• Various Ortlieb panniers spares (clips, screws etc)

• Steel hose clamp

• Cable caps ends