I have traveled a fair amount in my life. More than some, not as much as others. For an American born in the latter half of the 20th century I would say I have traveled a medium amount. I have driven and flown and taken ships. I have packed everything I needed onto a bike and ridden for a week in the wilderness unsupported. I had trouble, however, packing for this particular cycling tour from Burlington, Vermont to Quebec City, Canada.
The trip meant I would be riding my bike, so I obviously needed bike clothes, including cleated shoes and helmet, bike computer for navigation, light, first aid kit, chamois cream (more on this elsewhere) and a basic set of bike tools.
Weather might be an issue, so I needed rain gear. I was also going to be driving the sag wagon on alternate days so needed non-bike clothes for that and some fancier clothes for dining in fancy restaurants with fancy people.
It was a nine day trip, so I needed to bring my shaver and other toiletries. I’m blind as a bat so my regular glasses are a necessity in addition to prescription sunglasses and a separate pair of glasses that fit under the face shield of my helmet, all of which have cases.
My iPad and my ridiculously gigantic iPhone were required to take pictures along the way for the tour company and to document everything for my own purposes.
And, here’s the kicker, all of this needed to fit in one carry-on sized case, with another little shoulder sack for things I needed to be within easy reach. Yikes.
Cycling and Other Pastimes 