The Equipment

As I am riding solo, with no porters, compadres or butler in tow, I am going to need to carry everything I might need along the way, that won't be readily available at all times. Against this I need to balance the additional weight, and for this reason I have invested in some proper gear, that ought to keep me warm, dry & comfortable while not weighing me down yoo much either.

My equipment list:

• Two saddle bags
• Front & rear LED's
• Trip computer / speedometer
• Dip bars & cycle gloves
• Toe-clip pedals
• Two 750ml water bottles
• Pump
• Puncture repair kit
• Spare inner tube
• Two cycle tee shirts (bright red figure hugging efforts, hilarious)
• Two cycle shorts (baggy, none of this lycra crap) with nappy enhancement to protect my vitals
• High visibility shower proof jacket (highlighter yellow)
• Helmet
• 4 pairs of socks
• 2 boxers (commando is the way fwd in the nappy shorts, apparently)
• PJ bottoms & tee shirt, in case I get cold at night
• spare tee shirt, sweatshirt, pants & light shoes to wear as an alternative of an evening
• Swiss army knife
• Bicycle multi-tool
• Pliers
• Sun tan lotion & sunnies (ever hopeful)
• Plasters & pain killers
• Phone, ipod, camera & chargers
• Maps & compass
• Shower cape & rope (makeshift tent if it pours down with rain)
• Toothbrush (had to add this after Adelle pointed out it was missing....) & toothpaste, hair gel (aerodynamics), deodorant, erm, bar of soap, vaseline (as generously provided by my colleagues for the event)... anything else?

All my clothing is fully breathable and meant to keep the sweat off my body; the jacket & shorts also have vents, which I have found extremely useful when skiing to cool down when on the go (no I don't know what cycling across britain in early summer has in common with hooning down a slope in the alps in the middle of winter either, but it seemed like a good idea at the time)

Someone also suggested bringing a few spare spokes along but to be honest I wouldn't have the first clue what to do with them, so I decided to save the weight and drop the idea (I'm sure they weigh at least 15g, or 2/3oz each!).

Altogether, the gear adds quite alot of weight to the bike, as well as the additional wind resistance offered up by the saddle bags. It makes a considerable difference to your average speed, and to the way your legs feel at the end of a long day.... justifying a higher calorie intake!!