Clothing

• Thin pullover
• Middle thickness pullover (you can wear the thin one, the middle one or both together - this gives you more flexibility rather than taking a thick pullover)
• Cycling nicks x 2
• Cycling jerseys x 2
• Cycling shoes
• Clothes to wear when off the bike
• Helmet
• Gloves
• Shower proof coat

Accessories

• First aid kit
• Sun screen (small container)
• Insect repellent
• Bike lock
• Maps and guides
• Water bottles

Camping equipment (if required)

• Lightweight tent
• Sleeping bag and sleeping mat
• Small cooking stove and fuel
• Cooking and eating utensils, spices and dried food (keep food to a minimum and buy fresh food when you stop to keep your load light).
  

Tools

• Give your bike a thorough service before you go
• Pump
• Tyre levers
• Chain lube
• Patch kit
• Spare tube (and tyre, depending on how far you are going)
• Valve cover with attachment for removing valves
• Spare valve
• Double-length chain link pin
• Allen keys
• 15mm spanner (for pedals - especially needed if taking your bike by plane or bus)
• 8mm spanner (for other nuts and bolts)
• Spoke tool
• Multi-tool (with knife, pliers, phillips and standard screwdrivers)
• Chain tool
• Any spare parts you may need from a bike shop, depending on how far you're going.

Carrying the load

Even with a reduced list you will have a fair load to carry. Try and balance your load and position it low.

Most tourists use panniers, specially made bike bags that sit on either side of the bike. Good panniers are worth the extra expense because they have a long life and you can use them for shopping and commuting as well. Poor panniers swing into your spokes, tend to fall off the rack and wear out quickly. Some touring clubs hire panniers to members.

Some cycle tourists use rear panniers alone. Some use front panniers as well because this spreads the load and makes riding easier (but resist the temptation to carry a larger load).

Bar bags mount on your handlebars and can be useful for holding things you need quick access to such as a map, snacks and camera.

Bike trailers are increasingly popular. They keep the load very low and the handling characteristics of the bike hardly change. However they can be awkward to take on trains or planes.

Cycling with a backpack is usually a bad idea. If you wear the backpack the load is high, uncomfortable and makes you hot. If you strap it to the bike the load is still high and makes the bike unstable.

Route planning

Plan you route according to your personal interests. Search the web or talk to other cycle tourists who can give you tips about good places to visit. Some possible attractions might include historical sites, wildlife, forests, gemstones, swimming and fishing. You will want to consider what is a comfortable distance for you to ride each day and how hilly the route will be.

There are many books and guides for cycle tourists available at your local bike shop, map or travel book shop.

Roads

Guidebooks and maps can help you plan which roads to take.

When selecting roads major roads often have a good surface, a better grade and a shoulder to ride on, but are often very busy. Quieter country roads can be hilly and rough but are often more scenic.

Be careful when seeking local advice as it can be misleading because people tend to think from a motorist's point of view.

Maps

Maps of a scale of 1 : 100 000 or 1 : 250 000 will be better for cycle touring. Any regional maps showing topography will be useful, the more local roads shown the better. On a map without contours you can get an indication of the steepness of roads by how much they curve. Straight roads are generally flat, curvy roads will generally be hilly.