With our route finding trip to Europe now just weeks away (yes I’ll be posting photos and updates when I’m out there!) my mind is now turning on what to pack. 

Everyone will have in their own mind of what works for them but for those new or less experienced please find below our helpful list. It’s geared up for travelling Europe where roadside assistance (assuming you signed up to this) along with staying in hotels so we’ll be leaving the full long way down kit at home.

Clothes

It seems obvious but actually think about how much you need to take. Us bikers seems to be terrible for packing too many things and getting home to have never used half the things. So think about every single item of clothing you add into your bag. If you are taking shorts do you need also need to take jeans. I spent years taking jeans to wear when it was cooler or wet but on those days I still wore shorts. Do you really need a new t shirt everyday or a couple of off the bike ones and then some on the bike ones which are going to get stinky very quickly when hot on the bike. Look at poss taking base layers which can be washed and dried within one evening at a hotel. 

Same goes for shoes, I spent years taking walking shoes that don’t compact down thinking they were a jack of all trade and could go exploring down tracks to actually realise that wherever I went trainers would work just as well and squished down nicely in my panniers. 

Also look at the waterproof set up you have for your riding gear and can you reuse it. I have a Held Rainblock two piece suit I used for waterproofing when on the bike but it also doubles up as a coat for when I’m off the bike. 

Just think smart 

Electronics 

I’ve already done a blog post on using a EU usb plug to cut down on space but the same space saving goes for the kit you are taking. I Renn going on tour with a mate who took his whole laptop kit so he could edit videos on the tour. Only issue was we didn’t see any of the videos till a month after we got back.  

For any electronics you take take the right cables but see if you can slim them down 

Wash bag 

Yes we are all smelly bikers but we still take a wash bag. Again with this though less is more. Do you need your electric tooth brush or will a manual one be fine for two weeks. Shower gels and shampoos, I can’t remember the last hotel I stayed in that didn’t provide them. As such I only take a very small travel shower gel for emergencies and use the hotels for the rest of them. 

Items for the bike

Given my above of slimming down this is where I probably go overboard especially with roadside assistance being available but I very much like to solve things myself and not wait around. As such for the bike I take;

• Puncture repair kit - A puncture will always happen at the most inconvenient moment so I always have one of these. It allows me to carry on the journey before looking at if I need the tyre professionally done or replaced. I use the string type but there are others available. Key things with this is to know how to use it!

• Disc Lock - Whilst I generally try to be sensible where parking the bike I always take an alarmed disc lock and warning cable so I know that it’s on the bike. Security when out and about it never going to be as secure as what you have at home but anything you can do it improve it helps and make the thieves choose another bike 

• Tool Kits - I have an Oxford tool kit which has Allen keys, adjustable spanner and mini socket set. I’m never going to be doing full on repair but again the aim is to keep me going till a proper garage or hotel. Make sure the tools in there actually fit your bike though and you’re not lugging round a load of tools that you can’t use!

• Bulbs - Less of an issue with more modern LED bikes but I still carry a basic bulb set. Yes you can get bulbs from petrol stations but in some countries it a requirement to carry them and safe any faff if you have a bulb that goes. Again though only carry bulbs that relate to you bike 

• Duct tape and zip ties - The fix anything kit. Always recommend to help get you out of sticky situations and have been used multiple times. I also carry a ratchet strap for similar reasons 

• Bike Oil - This is one of those things that may not be needed but I always carry a litre of oil around just in case

• Scott Oiller Oil - As I’ve got a scotoiler on my bike I always have a small top up for the longer trips 

• First Aid Kit - You never know when you’ll need one and again some countries make you carry one to certain requirements. Again though think what you need in them and what you can easily get elsewhere. Eg I take some paracetamol just in case of illness but the rest of my first aid kit is more of a basic trauma kit. Items like a tourniquet and serious bleeding wound packing. Things that will save lives of a biker. I’m not going to be sticking plasters in someone and if I need a plaster I’ll go and buy one when I’m out there. 

• On the topic of first aid I’d strongly recommend doing a biker down course. Well worth an evening of first aid at bike crashes 

• Documents - I always take photo copies of the bikes v5, insurance, MOT and DL. Always hand in case you are stopped by the local plod. 

• Spare Key - Some may say this is being stupid but what would you do if you were to loose your key up the mountain. As such I always take the spare key for the bike and panniers and then normally when I meet up with friends we swap round the keys so someone else has it. 

And that is everything I take. Everything on the bike less is more. Lugging heavy panniers and top cases up multiple flights of stairs is not fun and trust me you will somehow always be in the room furtherest away from reception