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Had to lighten up!
After the first month of this trip we had already revised our gear
... twice. The weight factor was critical for our comfort while
on the bikes. We quickly realized that comfort off the bike was
not as important as we had at first imagined. Here is a list of
items that we decided that we just don't need right now:
Sent back home not to be used again unless we need them:
- 2 Thermarest chairs
- 2 Camp pillows (clothes work fine as a pillow)
- Extra lens for film camera
- Power strip for electronics (what was I thinking)
- Spare SPD pedals and shoes for Lisa (she wanted to see if she
could live without clipping in)
- Two spare bottom brackets and a bb tool and wrench (we will
have them sent if needed)
- 4 caribiners (I kept one just because I like to say "would
you hand me my biner?")
- 2 extra T-shirts that Lisa decided she could live without
- 1 Crank extractor tool
- 1 set of spare headset bearings
- 1 set of spare needle bearings for the Cannondale Headshock
- 2 sets of cable housings
- 1 Extra foldable tire
These items were sent ahead to the Ecuador office of the South
American Explorers Club:
- 1 of the sleeping bags (we figured we could share a bag through
Central America)
- 2 pairs of Goretex rain pants
- 1 Long sleeve zip-t (Lisa)
- 1 Fleece jacket (Chris .... I am getting this back in Guatemala
because it is cold)
- 1 Capilene thermal underwear bottoms
- 1 Goretex gloves (Chris)
- 1 Neoprene socks (Chris)
- 1 Set of heavy socks (Chris)
- 1 Long sleeve casual shirt (Lisa)
- 1 Wool hat (Chris)
- 2 Balaclavas
There are several items that have worked extremely well so far
and several items that have failed miserably. We will continue to
update this list for the benefit of others:
Works Great:
- Shimano Sandals - I find them extremely comfortable in
nearly every situation we have encountered so far. In the smoking
hot weather wear light socks and the sweat evaporates as quickly
as it is created. In the cold, I wear warm wool socks and even
if they get wet, my feet stay warm. I have worn them on 8 hour
riding days as well as 2 hour insane single-track downhills. 5
Stars!
- Arkel Panniers - After 10 days of searching through the
pockets, the location of all of our things becomes committed to
memory. These bags are bombproof, easy to use and when combined
with the rain covers, extremely weather wise. 5 Stars!
- Marmot Screech Tent - Huge for a two-man tent. The construction
is precise and the amenities (burrito bag, 8 internal pockets,
tons of mesh) are great. To be perfect I would change two things:
a) a larger vestibule, b) a second door. 4 Stars!
- Arc'teryx Beta Lt. Rain Jackets - Incredibly
- Ziploc Bags - Lightweight, reusable, waterproof and dirt
cheap! 5 Stars.
- Lonely Planet Guidebooks - We tried a few of the other
guidebooks and none could touch the thoroughness that Lonely Planet
commits too. 4 Stars!
- Fuji Velvia Film - 50 ISO is not for all situations,
but when it is, nothing delivers brilliant colors like Velvia.
5 Stars!
These things don't work great:
- Patagonia Capilene T-shirts - Good God what is that smell!!
These things stink and to Lisa and I they are the equivalent of
wearing a plastic bag. 1/2 Star!
- Mavic 221 Rims Laced with 15 ga. double-butted spokes -
These rims are not that great to begin with, but loaded touring
is a long way past their usefulness. 1 Star!
- Specialized King Cobra Helmet - The molded plastic thing
that supports the helmet against the rear of your head broke -
in 5 places. Then to make matters worse, it wouldn't stay properly
duct-taped. 1 Star!
- Cannondale Mountain Bikes for Touring - As a mountain
bike, riding the trails and enjoying the outdoors, I love my Cannondale.
Unfortunately, south of the Rio Grande their aren't many folks
who have heard of CODA parts, let alone sell them. When we do
it again, we will make sure we get bikes with universal parts
that everyone has heard of. 4 Stars for riding, 1 Star for touring!
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