cyclingthehimalayas.com : Mission Impassible!
Cycling in Central Asia, Cycling the Himalayas, Cycling in North India, Cycling in Nepal
Cycle Touring Equipment & Top 5 Essentials
1. Padded shorts/comfy saddle:
If you're bottom isn't comfortable you won't get very far,
especially on rough roads or long days in the saddle.
2. Variety of handlebar positions/grips:
Ergo grips ideal and uprights or butterfly positions will lessen the
strain on your whole upper body.
3. Eye protection:
Protecting your eyes from the sun, wind, rain, dust and especially flying insects.
4. Bungee Cords:
Great for tying/securing stuff to your bike but also make great makeshift washing lines,
coat hangers anything you can think of.
5. Kick Stand:
We didn't have a kick stand and we soon learnt how useful it would've been. Great for loading the bike. You'd be surprised how many streets have wide gutters on the sides making it impossible to lean the bike. It's not good laying down a fully loaded bike + it's not easy picking up a fully loaded bike when you're exhausted, avoid getting your shins cut to pieces by the front drive wheel and get a kick stand fitted.
Other cyclists we spoke to mentioned a few other accessories that they considered essential: Hat with sun visor, handlebar grip tape, pedal cages (not lock in).
Toby's bike & accessories
BMC Sportlite SE01 (hard tail) with Deore SLX components (gearing system immaculate after 4000km), Alex Rims, Continental Race King 2.2 tyres, front suspension Rockshock fork. I replaced the hydraulic disc braking system with a shimano mechanical disc braking system because any problem with a hydraulic system would leave me stranded in most places. I changed the tyres for the stunning and 'bullet proof' Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres, but carried a Continental Race King 2.2 as spare. In Central Asia the Marathons were great, but in the Himalayas i needed more grip and so put a Race King on the front, keeping a Marathon on the back. I never had a puncture - amazing with a load of around 20kg on the rear rack weighing down on the Marathon tyre. Ergon GP3 Handlebar grips were great.
Tubus Disco disc compatible rear rack (it was only compatible when using extra spacers. Pair of Ortlieb Classic rear panniers (It helped that luggage over the panniers were secured with bungees, securing the panniers better). Ortlieb handlebar pannier. 2 Elite Bike bottles + Elite cages. 20+25 litre stuff sacks. Bungee cords. Bike lights. Garneau bike helmet. Bryton E bicycle computer. Abacus Blaster 850 bike lock and a 7ft Kryptonite Kryptoflex lock. Puncture repair kit. Dry and wet chain oil. Top Peak multitool. 2 spare inner tubes. 3 pairs of plyers (inc. a flat end and a wire cutter). Adjustable spanner. Pedal removal spanner/tool. Spare disc brake pads. Spare brake and gear cables. Bicycle gloves. Padded shorts. An old rag!
Alpine gas camping stove and pot. Sleeping bag. Multimat (self inflates). Foam travel pillow. Sleeping bag liner. Solar Monkey solar charger. Multi electric plug adaptor. Mini Ipod + X-Bass speaker. Swiss army knife. Tough plastic double end spoon/forks. Tuperware or stainless steel containers. I also took a Travel Tap water filter but the design is very poor and i ended up just using it as a water bottle, without the crap filter.
Ian's bike and accessories
Surly Troll 2013 (chromoly frame helped to absorb the shocks of the Himalayan rough roads) with Avid mech disc braking system (which was excellent, only required one change of brake pads!), Alex Rims. Changed the tyres that came with the Troll (they punctured easily) to Marathon Extreme 2.25s which gave great handling on Himalayan rough roads/tracks. Swapped the unsuitable saddle for an unbeatable Brooks saddle. Swapped the Jones loop bars for Specialised Tin bars. On returning to the UK the bike needed major work done to make it roadworthy for the next trip. New wheels, front and back mechs, chain rings and brakes. The bike frame is great, i can only suggest that you avoid buying the complete bike and get it custom built. It might seem like a lot of money, but the rebuild added another £650 on to the cost of the bike which was in excess of £1250. The frame you can pick up for aproximatly £450.
S bend Tubus front rack and Tubus rear rack. Front pair Ortlieb classic panniers, they kept slipping off the Tubus S-bend rack and had to be secured by tying a strip of inner tube to be the bottom of the rack which goes under the pannier and the tube is looped and attached to the hook on the pannier. Rear pair of Ortlieb classic panniers. 40 litre stuff sack was big enough to contain 3/4 season sleeping bag, thermarest, pillow, Vango Banshee 200 tent (very waterproof) - over the rear panniers and attached with bungees.