My most recent addition to this equipment thread can be found in following post written immediately prior to me setting off to cycle the Hebridean Way in August 2021:
The following post about the electronic kit I am taking with me on the 2022 ‘Grand Tour’ of France, Switzerland and Germany was published in June 2022:
The following was written at the start of my trip to Spain and Portugal in the summer of 2019:
The free time afforded by the ferry crossing from Plymouth to Santander has, as promised, allowed me to write the list of equipment that I photographed a few days ago. I did leave one item back in Britain, but which one?


- Maps
- Cycling gloves
- Disposable razors
- Toilet tissues
- Sun protection cream
- Soft fibre trek towel
- Tent (Vango F10 Xenon 2+)
- Survival bag
- Toothbrush
- Deodorant
- Insect repellent
- Toothpaste
- Shaving gel
- Bar of soap in plastic Tupperware container
- Micro fibre sleeping bag liner
- Sleeping bag
- Camping mat
- Tent groundsheet / โfootprintโ
- Antiseptic gel
- Camera stick / tripod
- Sunglasses and micro fibre bag
- iPhone charging cable
- Rechargeable bike lights (and mount)
- Power bank
- Waterproof bags (various sizes)
- Collapsible camping pot
- USB stick
- Earplugs
- Charging cables (USB & micro USB)
- Train tickets
- Head torch
- Spare AAA batteries (for head torch)
- Wind โmuffโ / โdead catโ for Zoom audio recorder
- Zoom H4N Pro audio recorder (For the podcast)
- Earphones for Zoom audio recorder
- Earphones for iPhone
- Spare battery for Canon DSLR camera
- Continental plug adaptor
- Canon DSLR camera USB battery charger & cable
- Toiletries bag
- Plastic mug (University of York / Wentworth College)
- Collapsible bowl
- Gas burner and bag
- Canon EOS 80D DSLR camera
- iPhone X and Quad-lock bicycle case / mount
- Money
- SD cards for DALR camera
- Canon EOS 80D DSLR camera lens zoom attachment
- First aid kit
- USB charging plugs
- Microphone for Canon DSLR
- Cycle helmet
- Tool kit โwaterโ bottle
- Cateye cycling computer
- Wristband key ring for Koga immobiliser
- D-lock
- Spare inner tube
- Metal tie cable
- Tyre removal levers
- Key for Koga immobiliser
- Various bike tools
- Cycle Touring Festival water bottles
- Bank / identity / EHIC cards
- EU passport
- Whistle
- Swiss Army knife
- Lighter
- Coffee pot
- Notebook
- Tea towel
- Plastic cutlery
- Metal knife
- Camping gas
- Topeak โtablet holderโ (for maps)
- Security cable with Koga immobiliser connector
- Bike pump
- Carabiners
- Small bungies
- Chocolate
- Mixed nuts and dried fruit
- Hand warmers
- Rice
- Pen
- Wet food mixture
- Porridge oats
- Coffee
- Energy bar
- Spaghetti
Archive: 2015 List
Note: For a specific electronic / photographic kit list, please follow this link.
Although most of it is not new, it’s taken me about a week to assemble the cycling gear in the picture below. The task was not made easier by the fact that I had already packed up the contents of my flat in Reading into lots of boxes prior to my move north, but enough of my whinging and on with the details.
To make life even easier, here is an annotated version. The numbers refer to the list below.
I have (obviously) not included the bike itself – a 2010 Ridgeback Panorama, the four Ortlieb Roller Plus Panniers or any clothing. So, here’s what there is. All the links are to the manufacturers’ websites if possible, failing that, a supplier:
- Exped dry bags
- Waterproof Ortlieb map holder
- Robens Osprey 2 tent
- Mountain Equipment sleeping bag
- Decathlon sleeping bag line
- PowerMonkey Extreme rechargeable battery and solar panels
- Kryptonite locks – D lock and cable with padlock
- Water bottles
- Tigra iPhone 6 mount
- Lifesystems ‘camping’ first aid kit
- MSR Windboiler stove
- Thermarest camping mat
- Bar of soap in plastic box
- GoPro Hero 4 Silver, case, mounts including handlebar mount
- CatEye rechargeable lights with USB charging cables
- British passport
- Adaptors for continental Europe
- Wayfayrer emergency food rations
- Emergency Andrex toilet tissue
- Hand cleanser
- Washing tablets
- Below The Belt waterless shower
- Plastic mug (University of York c. 1990)
- Merrell sandals
- Keen Arroyo SPD cycling sandals
- Bendable ties
- Victornix Swiss Army Knife
- Knife
- Camping light
- Spare batteries for camping light
- Stone sunglasses and bag
- Lifeventure camping towel
- iPhone 6
- Chiba fingerless cycling gloves
- Heavy duty bags (not waterproof)
- Mini can of deodorant
- Mini can of shaving gel
- Tupperware style boxes (waterproof)
- Colgate toothbrush
- Lighter
- Micro SD converter
- Chain repair tool
- Gorilla tripod
- Carabiners
- Hand warmers (gel)
- Wallet
- Bungee
- Identity bracelet
- Topeak Bicycle pump (with card to remind where the lock position is!)
- DEET insect repellant
- Nivea sun protection spray
- Kask cycling helmet
- Colgate toothpaste
- Tyre removal / replacement levers
- Spare brake pads
- CatEye cycling computer
- Bike spanner
- Spare spokes (three sizes)
- USB cable for ???
- Small bungees (to secure maps to board on handlebars)
- Business cards
- Multi-tool
- Tie wraps
- Bag for hygiene products
- Disposable razors
- ‘Water’ bottle for tools
- Schwalbe spare inner tubes
- Finish Line Bicycle Lubricant – Wet
- 15mm spanner (for removal / attachment of pedals)
- Spare cables
- Spare links for chain
- Alight Mayfly chair
- Maps: Marco Polo / Michelin
- Swatch watch
- Mini iPad and USB charger
- SD card cable for iPad
- 16GB SD cards for camera
- Canon EOS 100D SLR camera with ‘flat’ 40mm lens and cables
Comments welcome!
For purposes of comparison, here’s an article I wrote prior to the Mediterranean trip in 2013. Quite a bit of kit has survived to travel with me and Reggie (the bike) once again in 2015…
Hello Andrew,
Enjoyed reading yr Le Grand Tour story in Cycle. Stories like yours are inspiring
You completed that adventure in 54 days I notice.
I was supposed to be going on my first big cycling trip from St.Austell in Cornwall to Porto Cheli in mainland Greece. A distance of 2300 miles ( 3700km ). I had estimated about 35 to 40 days to get to my friend’s place, cycling about 60 miles per day. When there I was going to plant approx 200 trees in his new garden, plus carry out landscaping work to help me finance the whole trip, adding another 4 to 8 weeks before returning by a similar route, via ferry across to southern Italy, across Switzerland, then up through France to one of the ferry ports & finally back home into the UK.
However, I’m pretty sure that the European Schengen agreement would mean only being allowed 90 days freedom to travel without any visa’s/restrictions etc, in any 6 month period.
Have I got this correctly ?
Also I would like to buy a handle-bar map case, as depicted in the photos on your Koga bike, set up for Le Grand Tour.
Am I correct to assume it’s your Topeak tablet holder which you’ve listed in your brilliant ( & helpful ) numbered kit list ?
Forgive me if I missed it; what does Reggie weigh?? (empty weight, Reggie alone)
To tell you the truth I don’t know! I’m guessing about 15kg? Have a look on the Ridgeback website for the specification for a Ridgeback Panorama World. Hope that helps. Cheers, Andrew
Hi Andrew.
Was this gorilla stand ok for your trips? Wouldn’t you prefer the larger one?
Hi Johnny
Although It’s in the picture, I don’t think I took it with me. I can’t ever remember using it…
Your equipment photo is a work of art! Bravo ๐
Thanks. It took a while to take… ๐