I hope this helps. But a word of caution: I travel with very little, partly because I don’t like carrying a lot, and partly as a matter of principle—because these moments in nature are also a return to simplicity and a reminder that we don’t need much to be happy. Here’s what I usually pack for a 3- to 5-day trip.
Clothes
- A pair of cycling shorts (yes, just one): I rinse them in the evening when I can, or I wipe the chamois with a wet wipe (the only time I buy wet wipes—an environmental no-no). I’m a huge fan of Rapha cycling shorts; the cargo style has side pockets, which are great for your phone and other small items.
- A comfortable sports bra: same deal as with the cycling shorts—rinse it in the evening. I like Salomon sports bras because they dry very quickly.
- A T-shirt: I like to be comfortable; my favorite T-shirt is from Café du Cycliste—it’s super breathable and has cycling pockets in the back for snacks.
- A pair of leggings: I wear them over my cycling shorts if it’s cold in the evening, and they also double as my pajamas. I love the Salomon ones—they have no seams, nothing that itches or rubs, and they don’t lose their shape.
- A long-sleeve T-shirt to wear as a second layer and as a pajama top. Patagonia is my go-to—it dries very, very quickly when I wash it.
- An ultra-light down jacket: I’ve had the same one for years—a Patagonia that weighs next to nothing and keeps me warm in the evening, at night, or on descents.
- A Gore-Tex jacket that often stays at the bottom of my pack but is there just in case of heavy rain or cold weather. Patagonia again for the brand—I use it for all my sports, from running to mountaineering.
- A pair of socks that rinse out easily—Rapha is the brand.
- A pair of long gloves for descents; the rest of the time I ride without gloves (which I don’t necessarily recommend—if you fall, it’s not pretty; I speak from experience). I have an old pair of Decathlon gloves that do the trick.
- A Buff that doubles as a towel, neck warmer, beanie, and headband.
- Shoes: I have a pair of Rapha Explore shoes; I often don’t bring any other pairs—I walk in my clipless shoes. It’s not very stylish, but it gets the job done. I’ve sometimes brought a pair of flip-flops—I have a soft spot for Zero Shoes, which bend in every direction and weigh next to nothing.
- A cap because it makes me look like a cyclist! And also because my helmet doesn’t have a visor, so I wear the cap underneath it.
- A pair of sunglasses—I love my Rapha ones, which I use for all my sports.
Toiletries / First Aid Kit
- Basic kit with: band-aids, antiseptic, elastic bandage, matches, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, Micropur when the water is questionable.
- A kids’ toothbrush—it’s really small—and a micro-tube of toothpaste
- Same goes for soap: tiny bar (I cut off a small piece at home and put it in a little box; it doubles as laundry detergent)
- Spare contact lenses and solution (tiny bottle)
- Duct tape—I fix absolutely everything with it, even my tires!
- Knife: my old Opinel from when I was a kid goes everywhere with me.
Tools
- Basic multi-tool (check that it fits all the bike’s screws) + a small pair of pliers
- inner tube + tire lever + tubeless sealant + repair patches, in case of a flat
- tweezers for nasty thorns stuck in the tire
- pump
- derailleur hanger: yes, they do break—and out in the middle of nowhere, you’ll be glad you have one
- brake pads—same thing; after hours of downhill riding in the mountains, there’s often not much left, and they start squeaking!
- a quick-release chain link, a derailleur hanger remover, a valve
- a rag: Jojo’s the one who got me started on this. You’re glad you have it when you need to do some bike maintenance! A small piece is enough.
For sleeping
- we use the saddle bag as a pillow—one less thing to pack
- An ultra-light and ultra-compact sleeping bag—I have a blanket from Sea to Summit, sort of a half-sleeping bag—which means I often sleep fully clothed because it’s not super warm.
- Half-mat—which just supports the sensitive areas, from the shoulders to the hips—from Therm-a-Rest
- A bivy bag: Well, I’m going to replace mine because it’s way too heavy, so I don’t recommend it. I don’t really like sleeping in a bivy because it gets really foggy, but it’s much lighter than a tent and much more compact.
Where to sleep?
- Well, wherever we can—some spots are well-suited for it, others…
- Near lodges and mountain huts: very comfortable; you can get a hot meal and take shelter if it rains.
- At campgrounds: the best—a decent shower and usually flat ground.
- We’ve also tried ruins (a bit creepy, though), alpine pastures (I was afraid of a nighttime cow attack), and the sides of trails (we’re really scrappy there).
Food
- I always have some with me—usually nuts and dried fruit, dried bananas…
- I buy whatever I find in the villages and try not to carry too much. I’m not picky about food at all—I eat whatever’s available, and that’s fine with me.
- Jojo and I often stop at a little restaurant we stumble upon by chance—it’s pure bliss!
- Plenty of water: especially in the summer, remember to check the map for water sources before starting your day. I’ve even ridden with four water bottles in the Alps on stages without any springs. In that case, I have one bottle on the frame, two on the front fork, and one in my bag or in the back pocket of my shirt. We often add some Gu tablets because they provide a few calories and electrolytes; we’ve tested them on ultra-distance bike rides and runs, and they work for us.
Electronics
- My phone, which also doubles as a GPS, is mounted on the handlebars with a QuadLock mount. I use Komoot and Iphigénie, and I download the maps in advance so I can use them offline. Sometimes I also carry a paper “Top 25” map—that’s a habit from my days as a seasoned hiker. I have a big phone from a brand everyone knows: so it also doubles as an office (I work on it—emails, coaching programs, blog, book, training materials, etc.), a camera, and an e-reader.
- The phone charging cable; I take every opportunity to maximize my battery life (breaks at cafés, etc.), and I also have a solar charger (which doesn’t work very well, so I don’t recommend it).
Bags
- I try to limit myself to three: one for the frame, one for the saddle, and one for the handlebars—plus, often, a fanny pack around my waist
- Frame bag: food + first-aid kit
- Handlebar: tools
- Saddle bag: clothes + sleeping gear
- Waist pouch: documents + money (by the way, remember to bring cash and a checkbook, since some off-the-grid shelters don’t accept credit cards).
A bike:
Well, yeah, you’ve got to think about it!
- It’s worth giving it a thorough check-up before we leave. And here, I have to admit I’m not up to the task at all—my bike is squeaking, and I’m telling myself it’ll work itself out as I ride. Luckily, Jojo keeps a regular eye on it.
- I have a gravel bike, a Kona, which I love. I like the idea of using the same bike for everything: so I go everywhere on it, which means that, yes, I sometimes have to push it!
In this little list, I say “I,” but really mean “we”—because Jo and I have tested all this gear together. Even though solo adventures are still important to both of us, we love adventures as a pair, and that’s how we fine-tune our gear a little more each time.