Dave rides his bike to school

Hey everyone! You wouldn’t believe how much effort I’ve put into buying, preparing and packing all of the gear and clothing that I’m taking with me on my trip. All told, I’ve spent several weeks getting everything ready. Because there such a large number of things to keep track of, I’ve kept a pretty detailed list of everything that I’m taking. Here it is:

GEAR

Camping Stuff:
tent
tent footprint
sleeping bag
speeping pad
camping stool
first aid kit
towel
matches
camping stove
2 pots w/lid
1 potholder (pliers)
1 fuel canister (with 1 liter of gasoline for the camping stove)
1 cup
1 fork/knife/spoon
1 Leatherman
1 buckknife
1 small bottle of bug spray
1 small bottle of detergent
1 small bottle of dish soap
1 sponge

Bike Gear:
1 lock & chain
1 bottle of Tri-flow lube
1 patch kit
1 set of tire forks
1 hex wrench multitool
Adventure Cycling Association bicycle maps
2 pair reflective leg bands (for riding at night, if necessary)
2 spare bike tubes
3 water bottles
1 headlight
1 taillight
1 handlebar bag
1 saddle bag
1 B.O.B. trailer
1 helmet

Clothes:
2 short sleeve cycling jerseys
1 sleeveless cycling jersey
2 cycling shorts
1 cycling bib
1 pair cycling arm warmers
1 pair leg warmers
1 pair cycling rain pants
1 rain jacket
4 pairs of synthetic cycling socks
1 pair of cycling shoes
1 pair of waterproof cycling shoe covers
1 pair of cycling gloves
1 long sleeve synthetic wicking shirt
1 short sleeve synthetic wicking shirt
1 pair of cargo pants
1 pair long johns
1 hat
3 pairs of synthetic underwear
1 pair cotton socks
2 T-shirts
1 pair of running shoes
1 wool sweater
1 pair of flip flops

Personal Items:
1 toothbrush
1 tube of toothpaste
1 shaving razor
1 roll of floss
1 pair of scissors
nail clippers
1 chapstick
1 deodorant
1 bottle of sunblock
1 hand mirror

Electronics:
1 solar panel (12inches x 36inches)
4 AA batteries
1 digital camera (with extra battery and chargers)
1 mini camera tripod
1 cell phone (with extra battery and chargers)
1 foldable bluetooth keyboard (for writing on cell phone)

STILL NEED (as of 5/22):
spare BOB tire (16×1.75) — need to replace BOB spare tube… i got the wrong size
spare bike tire (700×28)
spare AAA batteries
bar soap
fuel

WEIGHT
me: 215 lb.
Novara Randonee bicycle (with 3 full water bottles, packed handlebar bag, and packed saddle bag): 43 lb.
packed B.O.B. trailer: 50 lb.

Total: 310 lb.
All weights are 5+-.

Hey everyone!  Welcome to my travel blog.  Over the next several weeks, I will use this blog to keep you up-to-date on my progress, as I ride my bicycle from San Francisco to school at the Kellogg School of Management (at Northwestern University) in Evanston, Illinois, which is just north of Chicago. 

I’m planning to ship my car and my things, and then hop on my bicycle and ride.  In concept, I’ll ride north across the Golden Gate Bridge, turn right when I get to Portland, Oregon, and then head east to Chicago, camping along the way.  I will pass through California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. Seems pretty straightforward, right?  I guess we’ll find out…

dave