#GreatNorthRide — The Kit List!

Mmm. Kit list.

Packing for a long distance challenge is often a compromise between comfort and weight, especially when you’re loading up your road bike and turning it into a makeshift touring bike (again!). I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I’ve got the compromise entirely right yet but after a few days of packing — unpacking — repacking — muttering curse words at my panniers —unpacking — repacking… (you get the idea), here is the current kit list for my 6000km challenge!

A few items have been sponsored but nothing has made this list unless I would happily spend my own money on it.

Clothes

• 1 x Beanie
• 1 x Bike Helmet
• 1 x Bamboo Headband
• 1 x standard Buff
• 1 x Insect Shield Buff
• 1 x compression leggings
• 1 x Enso Sport skirt
• 2 x cycle shorts
• 1 x cycle jersey
• 1 x SueMe T-shirt
• 2 x Sports Bra
• 3 x Bamboo knickers (Fun Fact: According to my Instagram poll, 74% of you agreed with me on only taking 3 pairs of pants!)
• 1 x Natatio swimming costume
• 1 x Bamboo baselayer (Fun fact #2: this one has been coming on adventures with me since 2015 — an old favourite!)
• 1 x Bamboo leggings
• 1 x Bamboo t-shirt
• 2 x Bamboo trainer socks
• 1 x down jacket

In case you hadn’t guessed from the above, I’m a proud ambassador for BAM! Comfiest clothes, ever. Added bonus of the ability to be worn for several days at a time without getting too stinky! You can use the code “Kennington” to get 15% off.

• 1 x Mavic Scorpio MTB Shoe
• 1 x KEEN Terradora Ethos Shoes
• 1 x Flip Flops
• 1 x Waterproof jacket
• 1 x Waterproof trousers
• 1 x fleece trousers

Camping

• MSR Hubba Hubba Tent
• Silk liner
• Sleeping bag
• Inflatable pillow
• Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite sleeping mat
• Lifeventure Thermal Mug (this has also been going strong since 2015!)
• MSR Windburner stove
• MSR Guardian Water Filter
• Small sponge/scourer

Electrical

• MacBook Air 13 Inch
• PowerTraveller Falcon 21 solar panel
• PowerTraveller Mini G battery bank
• Additional 22000mAh Power Bank
• Headtorch
• GoPro Hero5 Session + pole
• iPhone 7 + mini tripod
• QuadLock bike mount
• SPOT Tracker
• Spare batteries
• Suunto Ambit 3 Peak watch
• Kindle

Other

• Murphy, Adventure Mascot (the small green bear in the third picture)
• 1 x Lacrosse ball (for rolling out tight/angry muscles!)
• Selection of teas kindly donated by Grizzly’s Blends (everyone knows that tea fixes everything!)
• Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack
• Travel towel
• Journal
• Sunglasses
• Cable ties
• Bike lock
• Gaffer tape (around one of my water bottles to save space)
• 2 x spare inner tubes, 1 x spare folding tyre, tyre leavers, bike pump, multitool
• Medical kit (various plasters/bandages/dressings, tick remover, KT tape, rehydration sachets, ibuprofen, sterile wipes. For more advice in this area check out Beyond First Aid and my blog here)
• AETHIC suncream
• Washbag (toothbrush, toothpaste, solid shampoo bar, small bottle of conditioner, solid soap bar — for washing me/clothes/cooking stuff, small bottle of moisturiser and also a tub of chamois cream)

That’s it! Anything you think I’ve missed? Packed too much of? Let me know! Say hi on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook.