In addition to our bicycles, there are a lot of other things that we carry that make our trip possible. We also have very strong environmental concerns and so carry gear and put things in place in order to lessen our impact as we travel.

This page includes individual gear lists along with reviews and explanations to key pieces of equipment.

If you have any queries about any of our gear or have reccomendations of what might be missing we would love to hear from you. Email us: emma@nicoandemma.com

Emma’s Gear:

Bike:

Cycle Clothing:

  • 1 x Pearl Izumi knicks
  • 1 x Scody cycling knicks
  • 1 x Btwin spinning knicks (emergency knicks)
  • 1 x Kathmandu long sleeve shirt
  • 1 x Exofficio long sleeve shirt
  • 1 x 3/4 Domyos lightweight pants
  • 1 x Keen Commuter II Bike Sandals – Women’s
  • 1 x Outdoor Research peaked cap with flaps
  • 1 x Bell helmet
  • 1 x High vis sash
  • 2 x Sports bras
  • 1 x Arc’teryx Gore-Tex jacket
  • 1 x Ray Bans polarised sunglasses
  • 1 x cycling glasses with interchangeable lenses

Other clothing:

  • 1 x Shorts
  • 1 x T-shirt
  • 1 x Long sleeved cotton shirt
  • 1 x Macpack lightweight Fleece
  • 1 x Flip flops
  • 1 x Flat shoes
  • 1 x Salomon hiking shoes
  • 3 x underwear
  • 1 x PJ’s
  • 1 x 3/4 sleeve Icebreaker top
  • 1 x Columbia zip off pants
  • 1 x Icebreaker cycle socks

Misc:

  • 1 x whistle
  • 1 x pocket knife
  • 1 x Bicycle multi-tool
  • 2 x Sea to Summit cordura stuff sacks, medium

Nic’s Gear:

Bike:

  • Black Surly Long Haul Trucker

Cycle Clothing:

  • 2 x Pearl Izumi Knicks
  • 2 x Exofficio Long Sleeve Shirts
  • 1 x Board shorts (for a little modesty — cycling knicks are not such a great look)
  • 1 x Shimano touring shoes
  • 1 x Bell helmet
  • 1 x High visability vest
  • 2 x Icebreaker cycling socks
  • 1 x Mountain Designs rain jacket

Other clothing:

  •  2 x Columbia “Titanium” Zip-off pants
  • 3 x T-shirt
  • 1 x long sleeved T-shirt
  • 1 x Quetcha short sleeve button down shirt
  • 1 x sweater
  • 1 x Flip flops
  • 1 x Salomon hiking shoes
  • 2 x Exoficcio boxer shorts
  • 1 x Icebreaker boxer shorts

Misc:

  • 1 x Leatherman tool
  • 1 x Whistle
  • 1 x Bicycle multi tool
  • 3 x Sea to Summit cordura stuff sacks, (2 medium, 1 small)
  • 2 x Sea to Summit lightweight daypacks

Shared Gear:

Camping equipment:

If you have used the original Therm-a-rest sleeping pads you know that they are pretty great in terms of auto-inflating and are also very comfortable, the drawback is they are bulky when deflated. These little guys are tiny when packed into their stuff sacks, they are also very light – 0.37kg for the medium and 0.4kg for the regular.

The Neo Air is more like a mini inflatable mattress, so takes a little bit of work when setting up camp but the payoff is a super comfortable nights sleep, no sore shoulder or hips digging into the ground. We haven’t had a very cold night as of yet, but the fabric of their construction reflects cold back to the ground and warmth back to the body, keeping us lovely and toasty… look forward to seeing how they hold up in colder climes.

This is my tiny bit of luxury, while I was in Asia, I found that I am quite fussy when it comes to pillows (or all of the pillows in Asia are constructed to double as a dining table — hard and really high) so this takes a little space in the pannier but it is wonderful to have a proper pillow in the tent. Nic uses a stuff sack full of clothes…

Cooking equipment:

Electronics

  • 1 x HP Mini computer + charger
  • 1 x SteripPEN Classic water sterilizer
  • 1 x iPhone 3Gs
  • 1 x Cannon Powershot S95 camera, charger + extra battery
  • 1 x Triumph Professional Oral B electric toothbrush + charger (our dentist insisted!)
  • 2 x USB battery packs + connecters
  • 3 x iPhone charger cables (they seem to multiply!)
  • 2 x USB battery chargers
  • 8 x AA rechargeable batteries
  • 12 x AAA rechargeable batteries
  • 2 x Petzle Tikka XP 2 LED headlamp
  • 1 x mini speaker

Water

We have the capacity to carry up to (almost) 18 litres of water, this may seem excessive, especially considering that up until we are in Africa we will have very easy access to bottled water, but making a quick calculation allowing for each of us to have two bottles of water per day for at least 365 days, that is (a conservative estimate of) 1460 water bottles that we will not be using! Woo!

It was no more than happenstance that led us to having two different brands of collapsible water bottles, but also now allows us to have an opinion.

Without question, the Platypus bottle is the one I would choose. The seams are much wider than on the Source bottle, the plastic seems to be a little more flexible than the Source which also has a funny angled top which to me just lends itself to creating more moving parts, so it feels that the Source bottle has more points of failure.

Both bottles stand up well when full and in reality, neither has given us any problems.

Toiletries:

  • 50+ sunscreen
  • 50+ face sunscreen
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Face cleanser
  • Soap
  • Exfoliating gloves
  • Toothpaste
  • Moisturiser
  • Face moisturiser
  • Nail clippers + emery board
  • Diva Cup

If you are a boy then perhaps you should tune out now, but for me, this is one of my crucial pieces of equipment. I will not go into specifics (you can look into that here) but with this little gizmo tampons are blissfully a thing of the past. Girls, you should all try these even if you aren’t cycle touring!

  • Floss
  • Eurostyle chamois cream
  • Hairbrush

First Aid Kit:

In my opinion our first aid kit is a little over the top, but Nic having been at Outward Bound for so long insisted that everything is essential. I tried to cull when we were leaving Spain, but all of the things ended up back in the kit…

  • 1 x First Aid and Survival in Mountains and Remote Areas by Dr Jim Duff and Dr Peter Gormly
  • 1 x Emergency Action Notebook
  • 1 x scissors
  • 1 x Emergency blanket
  • 30 x Katadyn water purification tablets
  • 6 x Opsite Post-Op adhesive dressings various sizes
  • 4 x Melolin wound dressings various sizes
  • 2 x Primapore adhesive dressings
  • 3 x Tregaderm transparent dressings
  • 3 x surgical sponges
  • 2 x Klosure-srips skin closures
  • 1 x triangle bandage
  • 1 x 30ml plastic vial saline solution
  • 1x roll Leukoplast 5cm x 5m
  • 1 x roll Leukosilk 5cm x 5m
  • 20 x adhesive plasters various sizes
  • 20 x Gastrolyte rehydration tablets
  • 1 x tube Am-o-lin cream
  • 1 x tube Voltarin cream (local pain relief)
  • 1 x tube Betadine antiseptic ointment
  • 1 x tube Eurax cream (for itches)
  • 1 x syringe
  • 1 x resuscitation face shield
  • 1 x bandage heavy cotton 7.5cm x 2.3m
  • 1 x bandage crepe 10cm x 1.5m
  • 1 x bandage cotton 4cm
  • 1 x pair latex gloves
  • 1 x thermometer

Bicycle Spares:

  • 2 x Derailleur housing
  • 3 x Derailleur cables
  • 3 x Brake cables
  • Assorted nuts and bolts
  • 1 x pack Park Tools emergency tyre boot
  • Chain links
  • 2 x Shimano chains
  • 20 x cable ties various sizes
  • 4 x spare inner tubes
  • 4 x hose clamps
  • 4 x sets brake pads
  • 2 x Fibrefix emergency spokes
  • Loads of tube patches and glue
  • 2 x bottles chain lube
  • Rags

Tools:

  • 1 x Stein mini cassette lock
  • 1 x Adjustable spanner
  • 1x BBB spoke tensioner
  • 1 x Park CT-5 chain breaker
  • 1 x multi socket wrench
  • 1 x set Allen keys
  • 2 x sets tyre levers
  • 1 x Park chain/sprocket cleaning brush
  • 1 x can Btwin chain degreaser