Best products from r/bicycletouring

Nope....Jones bars are ten times better! Bought both at same time and the Jones Bars ultimately win for all kinds of reasons.

1. Trekking bars still bring hand/wrist numbness, and don't give you the true amount of positions Jones bars does with the sweep. If you like an even "more" upright position, then the Trekking bars don't truly do it like Jones and there really is no comparison unless you have tried both for yourself. I have extensively. ALWAYS have numbness with Trekking bars, once you get the Jones bars truly dialed in, I don't anymore. There is also a Jones Loop Bar that has an additional 2.5" rise if you want even more of an upright rise which I do. https://www.jonesbikes.com/jones-sg-2-5-aluminum-loop-h-bar/ I started withe Jones Bars, bought Trekking bar to try in comparison, used it for a little while, there are "some" things nicer about it, but overall, no way IMO. Trekking bar has been hanging on the wall since untouched. Probably should just sell it but it's nice having options laying around if you want to try different things I guess.
   
2. Trekking bars you can't hang last minute grocery bags off the ends of the bars where they are out of the way, Jones bars with the sweep you can practically hang half a grocery cart in bags off them if you want. If you use the bike for your utility/commuter you will love it from this perspective! Trekking bars has zero real estate to hang extra bags off from this capacity. If you have an Apocalypse bike or your "one and only" kind of bike person, then you will LOVE the Jones bars for all the added stuff and stability it gives you. It's funny because for this reason alone, I have never put the Trekking bars back on my bike.
   
3. Serendipity that I didn't expect was the added stability and how much more confident and comfortable you feel on them in all capacities, especially if you go off road from time to time and go downhill.
   
4. The only thing that they lack IMO is the additional stability if you want to "get down" on the bars in a crouched position with your hands forward like when you are on aero bars. The stability can get a little spooky and getting use to at high speeds and not for the tame. But I have found it is actually easier to utilize the entire triangle and sweep with your arms in a "triangle" position with your hands holding the most forward bars in the middle. I know Jeff sells an extension bar: https://www.jonesbikes.com/jones-gnarwal/ that you can add to it to get down on the bars better, but I can't speak for them having no experience around that component, but my "gut" says that it will still be kind of spooky at high speeds if you had to transition from that extension bar to the brakes suddenly at a high rate of speed.
   
   I personally would like to figure out a way to add aero bars in combination with the Jones bars and see how that would be on touring before I would add that extension bar, but that is me personally, and I am only talking from assumptions and own personal wants is all now.
   
   

5. The other great thing about Jones bars is get them, try them out, if you don't ultimately like them, they hold their resale value...in fact, it's difficult to even find them used at the time of my looking anywhere on Ebay, Craigslist nationwide, etc... so if you find out you truly hate them (which I don't think you will), you can simply resell them at close to cost probably.
   
   I personally wouldn't buy a Jones bars used because I would worry about the validity of the weld seams and possible accident crash, but that is not trusting humans more than the actual product. If I knew they were just descent used bars in no crashes, I would snatch them up if they were ascetically descent. They just don't seem to lose value and I would also guess that the other humans trust humans more than I do so I think throwing them on Ebay they would be snatched up. Even if I decided I didn't ultimately want them on my bike long term, I would still want them hanging on wall or sitting on a shelf somewhere to throw them on from time to time because shredding back country can be fun on them. I just love them for the extra stability. Even for stupid stuff like when you get to an area that is "too technical" for you, which happens to me often taking a hybrid bike off road a lot, it's like having a "walker" on extra stability moving through all that stuff. Like a "walker" old folks use LOL. That might sound silly, but if you are older and a bit more fragile, it's pretty nice using your brakes and your bike with extra wide stability when you have to push and pull manually through that stuff, and getting through some pretty gnarly stuff. Now of course if you have a rad bike that isn't a problem, and if you have a rad bike with Jones bars you are flying over that stuff...but if you have the "one bike" that does everything like me, then it's just an added serendipity bonus of having the bike even more stable when I have to do some serious push/pull kind of stuff from time to time.
   
   Jones Bars are so good IMO that I am actually building a bicycle around the bars themselves and would even look at his Bicycles now as well. He makes a great product in my opinion.
   
   Also, folks will recommend the Surly Moloko bars but they are a quite different feeling from Jones Bars and actually sit a little bit more forward, and the two front extensions on those bars don't really satisfy "getting down on the bars" long term from the tiny sample I had on them. They are good for crouching down into a head wind but you feel way more forward and not in a natural position I would want to be for many miles. You can use this: http://whatbars.com/ to put the bars on top of one another and see what I mean about how the geometry is different and the Moloko bars are more forward than I personally care for.
   
   The last thing I will say is the actual "setup" on the grips themselves...
   
   Jeff Jones sells: https://www.jonesbikes.com/jones-eva-h-grips/ which I originally liked. They were simple and nice and thick originally, they break down over time on thickness. The nice thing about these is that the grips put the brake levers all the way up by the welds as far up on the bar as you can go. I personally think this is the best place for the brake levers to go, and where your hands will sit the most, almost like as if you are on your hoods all the time.
   
   I have seen people use Ergon grips: https://www.amazon.com/Ergon-42410005-GP1-Grips-Large/dp/B00P49WLYK/ref=sr_1_2/133-5316717-0295105?ie=UTF8&qid=1550638621&sr=8-2&keywords=Ergon+grips like these, and they end up putting the break levers further down just outside the end of these grips. There is a big difference between where "these" grips would end on the bars versus where the grips I mentioned above would end. When people mount these types of grips with the break lever lower, IMO, they are doing themselves a big injustice and taking away from their hand positions, and force your hands to sit more down in the sweep than may need be at times.
   
   I found the perfect solution! Cut the Jones grips down (or a similar product) almost in half, and add them "plus" the Ergon grips on together. So you a "partial" Jones grip up high towards the weld and brake lever, and then have the bottom part of the handle the Ergon grip. Then you still have multiple hand positions, the comfort and beauty of the Ergon grips, and can still sit up by the welds like "as if" you are on your hoods and get to the break levers quicker because they are right by your fingers rather than all the way back down the bar by the end of the Ergon grips. You also now get your Jones grips to last twice as long because you only need "one" of them at a time because you are cutting them in half and more shelf life that way out of a pair too.
   
   The added benefit of setting up your bars this way and adding Ergon grips just takes the bars to another level for touring IMO. I have put on a LOT of miles on this setup and I will probably "always" setup any MTB, trekking, or touring bike with Jones bars with an MTB setup.
   
   Then the added benefit of it is that you can utilize MTB groupsets which opens your touring bike up to more options IMO.
   
   The "only" real downside that you can say about the bars is the "wideness" of them, especially if you hang a mirror off the ends of the bars. It will feel like a motorcycle wide kind of thing. Moving through doorways, down hallways, etc... I have to turn the mirror in and even without it, you are extremely wide. If you are trying to get down a narrow sidewalk with someone else wide passing, one of you is stopping for a moment. There are plenty of times I have had to stop the bike and pull over to let someone get through. On roads without shoulders, you will feel scary wide at times. However, I have learned to utilize this towards my advantage. Sometimes making yourself bigger is a good thing and with a mirror hung off it, it forces cars to go even a "little" wider than normal which creates an even safer buffer zone serendipity. I also honestly think just because of how wide you are, in those "close" spots where a car "might" still attempt to squeeze through not caring about your comfort or safety, it makes them second guess and actually sit and wait behind you "if" it is truly that tight and they shouldn't go around you anyway with a little love and patience. However, when you do get that one person who thinks its more important to watch the yellow line on their left rather than your safety and they do come extremely close, it can be unsettling how wide you are. I feel ten times more stable on Jones bars than I do normal bars anyway!
   
   ​

What I carried, wore, and used:

• Capacity for .8 gallons of water (3 cycling bottles, and 1 48 fl oz bottle) - I generally left the 48 fl oz bottle empty (and used it as a space to store recovery powder)
  
  
• 1 day's worth of backup + snack calories in the form of gels, bars, and protein powder
  Sandals
  
  
• T-shirt and shorts
  
  
• 3 pairs of socks - also useful to isolate or shockproof stuff in a pinch
  
  
• 3 bib shorts, 2 jerseys, 1 wind vest - I didn't end up using the wind vest
  
  
• Leg warmers - mostly for nights and early starts
  
  
• Reflective track jacket
  
  
• Hoodie - can probably be substituted for a nice lightweight thermal base layer
  
  
• Rain jacket
  
  
• Chamois cream - Essential!
  
  
• Coolmax sleeping bag liner + SOL thermal bivvy: I was expecting 50+ degree nights, and this sub 1 lb combo worked worked ok for them, alongside the other clothing I brought. The SOL bivvy isn't very breathable however, so I'd probably substitute it for something else in the future. Drawstring bag with random stuff in it for a pillow.
  
  
• Sunscreen
  
  
• Bug spray
  
  
• Spare rack bolts
  
  
• Tubeless repair kit
  
  
• Spare tube
  
  
• Mini pump
  
  
• Multitool
  
  
• Misc bungie cords - These can be lifesavers. I used them to Mcgyver my rack when the top bolts fell out, and as improvised netting on top of my panniers to let my clothes dry in the sun.
  
  
• 2 drawstring bags for misc storage, and as a lightweight way to carry additional stuff on my back if necessary.
  
  
• Panniers, frame bag, top tube bag, handlebar bag, and saddlebag off Amazon. Nothing special here. No waterproofing because, hey, it's summer in SoCal.
  
  
• Axiom Journey Unifit Rack - absolutely amazing rack that can fit on pretty much anything. I used this to mount in to my aluminium seatpost, and my bike came with dropout eyelets.
  
  
• White Lightning Clean Ride lube - Had to be applied pretty frequently, but really painless to do so
  
  
• Speedplay Zeros + Keep On Kovers - Not really recommended because turns out, they're a real PITA to clean, and the cleats can't be used with two-bolt flush shoes. I used them because I had them on hand. The Keep on Kovers are essential if you want to use them for anything except road training + racing.
  
  
• USB lights
  
  
• Garmin Edge 810 - Turn off Bluetooth + the backlight to save an assload of battery. Be careful about accidentally discarding rides, and lock the screen whenever you put it in your pocket.
  
  
• Mounted iPhone 6 with Gaia GPS, Windy, Komoot, Spotify, and Google Maps for additional guidance, weather, music, and sanity.
  
  
• Pocketed Lumia 929 for the pretty pics
  
  
• 10,000 mAh portable charger, and lots of cables and bricks - I charged at every meal break and overnight when not camping. Never dropped below 50% charge
  
  All in all, I rode pretty lightweight, with room to take on additional storage throughout the trip, though I'm not sure of the final weight because I don't own a scale.
  
  I'd like to see in the future whether I could tour without a rack, and I think I can cut down on storage volume considerably by consolidating clothing (a single rain/thermal jacket, and jerseys with more of a street fit which can double as normal shirts) and using a walkable cleat system, as well as getting things inside a compressible stuff sack.
  
  General tips:
  
  
• The more planning done ahead of time, the cheaper sleeping will be. There are lots of warmshowers and couchsurfing hosts along this route in particular, and it's a pretty tight-knit community, so once you stay with one, chances are they can hook you up with another. Having said that, camping in hike/bike campgrounds is cheap and pretty simple. I've never seem hike/bike sites get full.
  
  
• I was fine with the pacing of this tour, but it is definitely a little intense. It also doesn't allow as much time for spontaneity or exploration: pretty much all your waking hours will be on the bike. I'd suggest a more relaxed pace if you can, though I was constrained by wanting to spend more time in the Bay, and needing to get back to work.
  
  
• If I were to do this tour again, I'd definitely try to spend more time along the coast. Looking forward to the 1 being open again.
  
  
• I was afraid that I'd be too tired for some of the later climbs based on how my legs felt some mornings, but they ended up not being so bad. Do keep an eye on grade though.
  
  
• Having said that, maybe don't try to climb Mt Tam the day before you start a tour. (Eh, who am I kidding, that was a great groupride and I have no regrets).
  
  
• Tubeless tires are awesome. I didn't flat once, despite some definitely sketchy shoulders. The pressures they run at are also easily achievable with a mini-pump.
  
  
• Mr guy on a fancy tri bike definitely does not know how to signal or paceline, and will not call out when passing. Pretty entertaining to keep pace with on a heavy touring bike though.
  
  
• Maybe the real tour was... the friends you make along the way! For real though, having conversations with other people who love to ride bikes, be they hosts or others on the road, was the easiest way to bounce back from feeling down.

Welcome! First off, I don't have a lot of experience touring, but I've some, and a lot of thinking!

The tent itself looks fine. I have a North Face Stormbreak 2, which is actually on sale right now!. I've been really happy with it, and North Face has great customer support. It weighs about the same (5-6 lbs). Some people are really picky about weight, and some don't care that much (I'm in the latter category); it's really up to personal preference. Lighter tents can get very expensive, especially 2 person (nice to have even when touring solo).

As far as packing goes, the most obvious and pretty simple way is as you described: simply strap it to the top of a rack. However, I've actually packed mine by separating the fly and tent itself in different front panniers, and strapped the tent poles to my top tube (exhibit A). This method worked well. If you don't want a full front rack, you could always buy 2 Cargo Cages, electrical/gaft tape them to your fork, and strap in some smaller dry bags (I do this on my Pugsley set-up, but without the tape because I have mounts). Easily fit your tent + some other goodies in there.

I don't have much experience with handlebar space, but I've gotten some stuff to try. You could always look into some cheap straps to just buckle your stuff to the handlebar, but I'm not sure how well this would work. Dedicated handlebar bags are expensive, so your best bet would be to MacGuyver something.

I hope it was helpful. I just like to talk about touring :)

EDIT: The north face doesn't include a footprint, but as a lot of people will tell you, some Tyvek works great as a tent footprint, and it's super cheap. Amazon.

Sorry not get back to you sooner was really busy yesterday. The 96 model think would have had cantilever brakes as stock, V-brakes were brand new when this came out, and prety sure the Indy forks didn't come out on bikes until 97 model year.

So parts list of stuff to buy

Cassette:

https://www.amazon.com/SunRace-8-Speed-Nickel-Plated-Cassette/dp/B00DI65HGU

Chain:

https://www.amazon.com/X8-99-Bicycle-Chain-32-Inch-Silver/dp/B0013BV540

You might want to buy two you will want to carry a spare chain on tour

Tires:

https://www.amazon.com/Maxxis-Crossmark-Black-Fold-Tires/dp/B00GHTQ7Q4?th=1&psc=1 (might find cheaper elsewhere, but you want the dual compound/DC ones with the EXO casing ideally - there are cheaper options for tires that would work than these but I think it's one area it's not so good to cheap out on)

Shifters:

https://www.amazon.com/SHIMANO-SL-M360-Acera-Shifter-Speed/dp/B001ON6VIW

(or find some vintage 8-speed XT/LX ones from eBay, they are a little nicer)

Brake pads:

https://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Compound-Mountain-Linear-Threaded/dp/B001CLSWKQ

These should make a decent improvement to braking power especially in the wet, you could bring the old pads on the tour as spares/backups if they still work OK and have life left (always want to have at least a pair of spare pads)

New cables:

https://www.amazon.com/JAGWIRE-MOUNTAIN-SHOP-KIT-Derailleur/dp/B01DJGUEE8

You'll need at least new inner cables to install new shifters, and probably a good idea to replace the housing too, though you need either really good cable cutters or a Dremel/rotary tool with a cut-off wheel to cut housing, or get a bike shop to cut it to length. Not suggesting white colour that was just the first link I saw though it might look pimp.

Tools:

You could get a tool kit like one of these

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CW911XW/ref=emc_b_5_t

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CW911XW/ref=emc_b_5_t

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/nz/en/x-tools-bike-tool-kit-18-piece/rp-prod40997

Or you could buy a multitool that would be good for bringing on the tour

https://www.amazon.com/Vibrelli-Bike-Multi-Tool-V19/dp/B06XGWMGB9

And extra stuff like cassette tool and chainwhip and tire levers individually:

https://www.amazon.com/Oumers-Freewheel-Sprocket-Lockring-Maintenance/dp/B07GSRJGP3

https://www.amazon.com/Schwalbe-1847-Bicycle-Tire-Levers/dp/B000UAQL6C

That might be the way to go.

That's not everything you'd need to go touring and stuff like the bars and saddle are a lot about personal taste but should be good to get you started.

Apologies for using amazon.com links I'm too used to helping Americans on here but hopefully can get them on the .ca site. Chain Reaction that I linked the toolkit from (would be confident that's the best out of those three kits I have some of the tools from it) in the UK can be a good place to order stuff from

Just got back from a Portland-SF ride, 14 days, 797 miles. I rode a Kona Dew commuter, my dad rode my Specialized Tricross, and we had zero bike issues whatsoever - not even a flat tire. The roads are in good shape, so you can do that ride on pretty much any bike. Just make sure its comfortable.

For breweries - we weren't as concerned with them as you seem to be, and didn't spend time at any of them, but would have if we had planned them out a bit more in advance. The North Coast Brewery in Fort Bragg is easily visited from Highway 1, they did tours and had a taproom and pub. If you can book in advance, the Anchor Brewery in SF offers tours for free on weekdays.

You'll meet lots of great people in the summer time. Most of the state parks along the coast offer hiker-biker campsites, $5 a head, which is great for catching up with other bikers. If you want an extremely detailed guide to these places and a route, you want Bicycling the Pacific Coast as your guide. We met a few others with this book and those who didn't have it were envious.

The Oregon coast was beautiful. Fog usually hung around until at least 11am. One night we went to bed under clear skies and woke up in a 2" deep puddle - the rain can hit at any time. The north California coast was all fog. When we split from 101 to follow hwy 1 along the coast, we didn't see the sun for three days. No rain though. Good luck!

Two sets of whatever clothes you wear whilst riding. Wool socks.

Wet weather gear, at least a waterproof shell for your top.

One set of civilian/camp clothes. I like slip-on shoes like Sanuks, but whatever floats your boat. I hear flip-flops are popular.

Tools. Allen wrenches and small fixed wrenches for anything you might have to adjust immediately (brakes, fenders, racks, derailleurs, etc). A flathead and a #2 phillips screwdriver, or a multitool with those. Tire levers, patch kit, pump/CO2. Tire boot maybe? I've never needed one, but they seem useful. Spoke wrench, replacement spokes or a one of these sweet things, anything else relevant to your setup for on-road fixes.

Tent/shelter, groundcloth, sleeping bag. Sleeping pad?

Fuel bottle, stove, water pot, spoon. Water filter? I like bringing chopsticks, they're small and help flip things while cooking, but pocket rockets are more for boiling than cooking, right? I don't really know.

Camera. Notebook and pencil. E-reader or book maybe. Soap and a toothbrush.

Try to pack less than you need and pick up things on the way. Better to save the weight.

I've done this route before. The Northern section is really great, but it can get a little hairy once you get into California. Take all the detours you can, it can be pretty heavily trafficked. The lost coast section near Klamath is really cool if your bikes can handle it. Stop off at casinos for free coffee. Bring a kite, they're a lot of fun. Get lost in the redwoods if you can, try to plan a couple days. There's a great swimming hole (or at least there used to be) along the avenue of the giants near Miranda with a big tree sticking out of the water that you can dive off of. You've got to be a little more serious about planning your days as you get south, it gets more built up.

There's a great book that lists routes, good hiker-biker spots, local history, and activities along the way.

Adventure cycling makes some maps with milages and elevations that list campsites, etc. They're expensive new, but you can get used copies.

I would agree with what people have been saying here. I just rode the Astoria to SF portion, and even in August the weather is pretty mixed.

As someone else posted, this is definitely the bible: https://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Pacific-Coast-Complete-Canada/dp/0898869544

It maps out every day for you, with most rides being between 45-65 miles, which always felt manageable. The campsites are social places and cheap, which will be a nice start to your ride, but I imagine they will be a lot quieter at that time of year.

You could save this ride for the end of this world tour, if it has an end. It might be a nice way to see it out in spring/summer. Most people tend to go south to north, I met quite a few going the other way too. The winds aren't as bad as they are made out to be, though I believe the shoulders are often a little better heading South.

Maybe consider checking out Japan/S.Korea after Australia. That will be decent to ride from March going forward, wild camping is easy, scenery is beautiful, both countries are very safe (aside from the occasional low flying missile from North Korea...).

An Ogre is an extremely versatile bicycle and the people who use them come in all shapes and sizes. It's a lot of bike for the price, and a great choice for returning to the world of biking.

You could configure it with a do-it-all build, or select components that excel at road touring, expeditions, commuting, etc.

I only recommend investing in a great saddle. Something like the Brooks B67 suits an upright riding position. Which I, personally, love for touring. Combine a B67 with Soma Oxford handlebar and you've got a winning combo! The handlebar upgrade lends itself well with an ogre because the equipped shifters and brake levers are compatible.

I've met lots of people with dragonfly stoves - it presses home though why the whisperlite is named as such. the noise THE NOISE that a dragonfly makes..
this (control) is a real problem with whisperlites though - if i want to apply less heat than the lowest working setting (will vary with fuel type and quality), i tend to just hold the pan above the flame - practical enough when frying eggs, perhaps less so with more elaborate cuisine.

an inexpensive way to have a gentle simmer - buy (or better, make your own) spirit burner; very light and inexpensive so no biggie if you decide you don't like it. they don't have the grunt that petrol or gas stoves have, but i was impressed with how good they actually are. (something like www.amazon.co.uk/Trangia-Spirit-Burner-With-Screwcap/dp/B000AR7970 or home-made - http://www.instructables.com/id/Can-Stove/ ) a spirit stove is hardly an encumbrance, so you can simmer your dinner on it, while making tea AT THE SAME TIME. (my god, the luxury)
a small bottle of ethanol is useful to have in any event, for lots of things, not least cleanly priming your whisperlite, or getting the f*cker to light at all if you're using paraffin or diesel.

The Pacific Coast bike tour is one of the most traveled bike tours in America. I'm a huge proponent of it. If you google pacific coast in this subreddit, you'll see a ton of results and information.

Not only that but there are maps and a book.

The maps: https://www.adventurecycling.org/

The book:
https://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Pacific-Coast-Complete-Canada/dp/0898869544/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517787322&sr=8-1&keywords=bicycling+the+pacific+coast

I recommend the book. My GF and I did the full tour in 6 weeks about 2 years ago - and we took our time. Many of the folks we met were doing it in 30 days. It's about 1800-2000 miles. We started in Vancouver, many start in Seattle.

I've ridden bits and pieces of the same route several times now. Feel free to ask me any questions - I love discussing the coast tour/best campsites/best routes, etc. (see my profile, that's all it is :-)

I'm not sure how flexible your itinerary is, but I'd highly recommend reversing course and touring from Vancouver to LA. There are two main reasons, 1) Wind! Winds typically blow north to south during the best touring season and this can severely impact your milage. I can cross Oregon comfortably (not going for any records here, I'm an old man) in 5 or 6 days (but more is more fun) heading north to south, but I'd expect it to take at least 10 days in the other direction.

The second reason is that you'll get a very different experience with other people on tour. Especially through Oregon, where there are established hiker-biker camp sites at intervals designed for bike tour (always $5, no reservation necessary). If you are touring from North to South, you will inevitably meet many other folks touring the same route. The option to cycle solo and avoid the other tourers always exists, but if you are going the wrong direction, then you'll miss out on meeting some of the most interesting bike tourers I've met anywhere.

And a final bonus consideration, the view! If you are traveling south, you've got the ocean on your immediate right and the views are unimpeded by the road.

I found this book of limited use when I was actually on the road, but I got some great advice from it while I was in planning stages: http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Pacific-Coast-Vicky-Spring/dp/0898869544/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393962849&sr=8-1&keywords=cycling+the+pacific+coast

I rode from Newport, OR to San Francisco a few years ago. We used a book called "Bicycling the Pacific Coast."

I highly recommend it. I lays out some easy ride days (50-60 miles) and has useful information about the state camp grounds, and even some restaurants and stores along the way.

On a personal note, if you find yourself with some time in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, make sure you see Fern Canyon. It was unbelievable. One of the highlights of my trip for sure.

Have fun and hydrate!!!

2. Keep all of your valuables (electronics, passport, wallet, etc.) in an easy-to-remove bag. I use a small ulock and try to lock my frame to something and then run a small cable lock through the handles of panniers. My wheels have anti-theft bolts on them, so they're not easy to steal. Keep in mind that most theaves are opportunists and want something quick and easy--so don't make your bike quick and easy. For grocery stores: some stores will let you roll your bike into the entrance area or leave it leaning near the cash register.
   
   
3. Personally, I like a warm meal / coffee especially when the weather is wet. If you're on the fence, I'd suggest buying a Trangia alcohol stove ($20!) and you can always ditch it if you're not using it. I use it in conjunction with the Vargo Hexagon Wood Stove but you can get a smaller/lighter pot holder. The stove is light, runs silently and the fuel is cheap and easy to find.
   
   
4. This time of year is a good time to get apparel on sale. Check out brands like Pearl Izumi or the house-brand at Mountain Equipment Co-op (if you're Canadian.) For touring you can usually skip a proper jersey and instead do a merino t-shirt, you don't really need the pockets since you've got bags with you.

I highly recommend taking staying on the coast from Astoria until SF. As you approach Humboldt take the Newton B Drury scenic parkway. Prarie Creek Redwoods State Park has some great jeep roads you can ride down....then there is a bike path all the way into Arcata. Here is a video of some of it - including some good times on the Oregon Coast. I wrote a short story about my solo trip called Coasting:A Dubious Bike Ride From Washington to California. I hope that helps! Have fun!

Enjoy, I rode this section early April 2015. Should be even more beautiful in June, too! Consider getting this book before you go: https://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Pacific-Coast-Complete-Canada/dp/0898869544

Note that some specific details are beginning to be outdated. Still, it is basically the bible of the west coast bike route!

P.S. If you can ride like that in training you're good to go. I find a pace of 50 miles a day while touring to be my personal favorite amount. Everyone is different though, so you'll find your balance after a few days. Consider a day off halfway through your first week to let your body catch up to the new lifestyle.

That bike should work fine, assuming it's all running well. Do you plan to camp or stay in motel/air bnbs? Also are you planning to make and haul your own food? Or just buy as you go? If youre buying all your food and sleeping indoors and you wanna go really light weight you could just get a rack and strap a duffle bag to it with everything you need. If you have camping and/or cooking gear your best option would just be a couple panniers and some sort of bag on top. If money is a factor something like this should work decently well (just don't expect it to last forever). After that all you really need is some basic tools (pump, multitool, tire levers, etc), a way to carry water, spare tubes/patch kit and camping/cooking gear if that's what you're doing. Beyond that most things are comfort and preference.

I toured with this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NGD61GU/ref=twister_B00TGTITKO?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 $40

It kept my phone, gps and even ipad alive. No more scrambling to charge battery bank when it's empty. Just sling it over bags in the back and it's trickle-charging all day. Build quality is so-so, but it's pretty great for what it is. A++ would buy again.

Here's a picture of it: http://i.imgur.com/m399U6U.jpg

Edit: People seem to complain about solar panel sucking seem to be using small dinky ones. I think 14W panel is the minimum you want. On a clear sunny day it would charge 10000mAh battery bank to the full. That's your full iPhone charge and then some.

Personally I used this guide book to find both our route and our nightly campsites: https://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Pacific-Coast-Vicky-Spring/dp/0898869544, but it looks like it hasn't been updated since 2005. Like https://www.reddit.com/user/tony3011 mentioned, it would be prudent to call ahead. You might also be able to get some good, up-to-date info by looking at some trip journals at https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/locales/?locale_id=51157&doctype=journal.

Edit: Also, I would guess that the Adventure Cycling Association maps have fairly comprehensive and up-to-date info about hiker biker campsites.

I was looking for something budget friendly and easily packed with me. I saw that it also was very open to allow for a greater view of nature and the sky while I was out on my tour. I actually also have the solitaire in my wishlist. Have you used it before? I definitely want a solo tent as I will be solo-touring, and do not need any extra space. Unless my bike wants to sleep with me on a cold night, haha.

Another tent I was looking at was:
http://amzn.com/B0056SOA48

That's definitely a steal. Have heard good things about these Tubus racks.

However, anyone have experience with an Ibera PakRak:

http://www.amazon.com/Ibera-Bicycle-Touring-IB-RA4-Frame-mounted/dp/B002T5H8MW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1458744660&sr=8-4&keywords=tubus+rack

Looks like a good deal. I'm looking for a rear rack that can accept panniers.

Right now, I have this Topeak Explorer rack on my Schwinn Varsity:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FIE3WI?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01

My bike is a commuter but I am planning on taking it on some short weekend / week-long tours this summer, hopefully going for a month long tour at the tail end of summer.

Thanks for any insight, everyone! Cheers!

http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Pacific-Coast-Vicky-Spring/dp/0898869544

Not sure this book has the area listed because I don't have it downloaded anymore, but its useful for finding the best sites on the west coast. Highly recommend it.

Just got back from Europe, we had helmets but mostly kept them for bad road/weather conditions. Not sure there's a really good reason not to wear one, and as someone else said it's not that heavy so definitely worth at least bringing, I think.

As for 'tools', definitely remember to bring some oil & rag to lube your chain. If it's raining or you're going over sand it can dry out your chain pretty quickly. I don't know how long your tour is, but maybe a chain whip/spare spokes? If you don't want to carry thall of that, http://www.amazon.com/FiberFix-Emergency-Spoke-Replacement-Kit/dp/B001GSMQZC is what we carried, which seems like it should be good enough to get you to a shop to have it replaced.

Do you need one that flashes colours? Also the second one has a failsafe clip incase it somehow falls out of whatever it is you have it on. Bit out of your price range but I have this one BoomBOTTLE.
edit: Second one is also water resistant, thats a huge bonus. Batteries are roughly the same but the second has 500mah more but uses wifi which I am sure is more energy hungry than bluetooth.

Can’t help with sleeping bag but just picked up this tent and really like it.

https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-Mountaineering-Lynx-1-Person-Tent/dp/B00BMKD1DU

Also that’s such a fun trail ! Make sure to bring a front light for the pawpaw tunnel.

I bought these for a week-long tour coming up shortly.

14W solar panel, weighs about 17 oz. My intent is to strap this to my back rack. We will be heading southwest, so the panel may see some shading by my body in the afternoon. Will see how well it works. Anker has a similar version that weighs about 4 oz less.

http://www.amazon.com/X-DRAGON-Sunpower-Technology-Smartphones-Foldable/dp/B00NGD61GU/

10000 mAh battery, weighs about 6 oz.

http://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Portable-Ultra-Compact-Fast-Charging-Technology/dp/B0194WDVHI/

Panel puts out 5V 2A in direct sunlight.

Battery will charge in about 5 hours in direct sunlight and optimal angles; realistically I seem to get around 75% of a charge in a full day of sunlight.

I can get about 3 full charges of my phone (iPhone 6 plus) from the battery. Most days I need to charge about 60%, so a fully charged battery will give me 4-5 days of recharging.

That means a typical day in good placement will give me enough charge to charge my phone for 3-4 days .. with clouds and rain and less attentive placement, realistically I do a little better than "break even".

If you have access to power every few days - and it's not inconvenient to charge the battery for a few hours - then realistically you could just skip the solar completely. A battery and an AC wall charger will be much lighter than a solar panel.

Edit: I've been charging my phone exclusively by solar, for the last month or so .. just leaving the panel outside at work. It's been working okay, but I think it will work better on tour :)

I've been using this one for quite a few years, and I love it! Really awesome small solution with great replacement parts for the whole unit. It's another pump that a lot of people swear by (including myself, but I am fallible like the rest)
http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Road-Morph-Bike-Gauge/dp/B000FI6YOS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395611696&sr=8-1&keywords=topeak+road+morph

The route is very well marked. I brought a copy of this map but really only used it to find camp grounds.

I have some ACA maps from the trip, but this book was better written. I would happily send you some ACA maps if you'd like. I think that I have the Northern Washington to LA sections. I have no need to keep them around. I gave my copy of that book away to someone else towards the end of my trip.

I took "the book" which you can find here https://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Pacific-Coast-Complete-Canada/dp/0898869544/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496184596&sr=8-1&keywords=biking+the+pacific+coast and that was totally good. The details get a little shady the farther south you get but I'd recommend just taking that. I took an ebook version of it too which was super handy.

A lot of hand pumps are tough to get skinny tire pressures, but I've had really good luck with the Road Morph. The nice little hose lets you put the thing on the ground and pump against the ground like a little floor pump. 110psi no problem.

I don't have much experience yet with stealth or bike camping above Santa Barbara (100mi north of LA) but you can look here for California State Park campgrounds that have a "Hike or Bike" camping option (click on By Feature on the left and check the box that says Hike or Bike). These campsites are usually $5-$10 per person per night with a 2 night max. I would try to use these when you can because they're a great resource. Unfortunately, many people abuse them by not paying, and the State Parks Commission is pulling them out of some campgrounds and not putting them in new ones.

From what I hear, it's easier to stealth camp once you're north of SF and especially north of California in general. A great resource for touring the coast is Bicycling the Pacific Coast with lots of directions and camping info. I think others may have a better idea of stealth camping options but that's what I know so far!

Ive been using these to great success: Shimano A530 Yet another half and half solution.

Some where about Santa Cruz they start to increase the price and add restrictions, like you can't pay/pitch a tent until a certain time and have to leave by a certain time in the morning because of the homeless problems.

$10-15 is still a great price compared to non hiker biker, and it can be hard to find places to stealth camp (although if you're broke enough I'm sure you'd be able to pull it off).

I also suggest biking the pacific coast. It's cheap, has information about campgrounds (like hiker biker), and has turn by turn directions. Also has routes all the way from Canada (which is what I did). Highly highly recommend.

Cool shoes! As far as pedals go, I'd get a combo pedal with one clipless side and one flat side. That way, if you decide to use normal shoes it still works. Or if your legs/feet start hurting after hours of keeping them in the exact same position on a clipless, you simply flip the pedal and enjoy some freedom of movement on the flat side.

I have one pair of these pedals on a MTB, and I don't really like them. They weigh the same on each side, so they never flip to one side by themselves. When you start pedaling you never know which side will be up.

I'd much rather get something like this, because they will always orient themselves with the right side up. I don't have experience with those pedals in particular, but I've got some almost identical ones made by Exustar and I like them a lot (couldn't find them on amazon though).

My favorite is a pretty old book called "Hey, Mom, Can I Ride My Bike Across America?" http://smile.amazon.com/Hey-Ride-Bike-Across-America/dp/096257077X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416483476&sr=8-1&keywords=can+I+ride+my+bike+across+america

It is written from the point of view of the teacher who inspired and led the trip. Some of the kids could barely ride a bike when they started training.

I biked that. I rented this book from my local library to use as a reference. It made things easy as far as what type of daily goals to set, tourist options, camping options, etc. But, my biggest piece of advice is to plan around the weather conditions. This is the single most important thing I have to pass on. I will let other people offer advice on getting your bike there and back and just go into more detail about my experience with the weather.

So, I biked from Canada to Mexico in mid-March/mid-April 2012 and this particular section was the most challenging because of the
weather. Although the Oregon coast is beautiful, it rains 350 days out of the year according to a local in Port Orford. So make sure to go at the right time. Not in March/April. The wind was aggressively pointed north. So much so that I had to peddle down hills just to keep moving. It was crazy! From what I remember the wind changes directions later in the year (I think somewhere in the summer months) and the wind pushes you south. That would have been a big game changer. It sucks being wet constantly and moving less than a third a day of what I was doing later in California (up to 90 miles a day in April).

All in all, this particular section of my trip that you are referring to was, for me, the least memorable and least enjoyable of the entire coast. Things got better for me after Crescent City when I took a route in land (and off the guide book) from the Coast to San Fransisco (good choice on my part). The wind was significantly reduced and the weather was much better in general. The highlights of the trip for me were the Redwoods just north of San Fransisco and the coast between San Fransisco and LA. Also, another thing I noticed is that because this area is so popular, you get treated a lot worse than most places. Lots of hippies, and druggies, and bums, and such hitchhike or travel south along this route. The bad seeds stick out in people's minds. Whereas when I went in land (and off the book) people were much nicer to -even impressed by- a vegabond like me.

I'm trying to look up what the wind and weather is like for labour day weekend. I'm not trying hard enough though. Look into it. I'm sure it will be better for you than it was for me and you will have a blast, but double check.


TL;DR: Plan around weather/wind/season.

The Anker 21W solar charger trickle charging in to a battery works pretty well. Use the battery as your main source of power, and top it up with the solar if in the wilderness/as a backup. The battery will easily give you multiple phone charges, and the solar panel can top the battery up pretty well. I had no problems with the panel strapped across the top of my panniers and trickle charging the battery all day.

The REI backpacking bundle is too heavy for a single person. You can do better for about the same price:

This tent is only $100 and almost 2lbs lighter than the one in the REI bundle: https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-Mountaineering-Lynx-1-Person-Tent/dp/B00BMKD1DU/

The Kelty Cosmic 20 is lighter and warmer than the REI bag and can be had for $120: https://www.backcountry.com/kelty-cosmic-sleeping-bag-20-degree-down

Klymit Sleeping pads are great for the price. Their insulated one is lighter than the REI bundle one and can be had for ~$80:

https://www.klymit.com/insulated-static-v-sleeping-pad.html

I have a Plug III and a Supernova dynamo hub.

From my experience it only works in flat terrain where you can ride at a decent speed for a longer period of time. If you're riding in mountainy terrain you're going to be too slow on the climbs to charge anything, and while on the descent you are easily fast enough, you won't be descending for long enough to charge your stuff.

Also, The Plug delivers only 500mA at 5V and it does not increase with more speed. So if you want to fully charge a 10.000mAh power bank that will take 20 hours (of riding) in the best case (at 0% efficiency loss). Or 3.62 hours for an iPhone 6 (1.810mAh). But you're going to have at least 20% efficiency loss.

I would recommend using The Plug to power just one device and have it just constantly plugged in. Like this the device's battery will more or less stay at the same level or drain much, much slower.

If you have an Android phone you can turn on battery saving mode which saves a lot of battery. But the phone automatically turns off battery saving mode when it's charging. So you can't have it plugged in to The Plug and use battery saving mode at the same time. For the phone I recommend fully charging it from a power bank and then turning on battery saving mode.

Get a solar panel

They make The Plug sound like the ultimate solution to your electricity needs. But in reality it's more like a nasal cannula for your electronics.
A solar panel will deliver much, much more power than The Plug. I recently bought an Anker PowerPort 21W (non-affiliate Amazon link) and it works really well even in moderate sunlight. It has two ports that can each deliver up to 2.4Ah (almost 5 times as much as The Plug). So in comparison to the above examples that's only 4.16 hours for a 10.000mAh power bank (and you don't even have to pedal) and 0.75 hours for an iPhone 6.
The Anker PowerPort is also really cheap now at $60. It's 40% off on Amazon and even at the full price it would still be rather cheap compared to a similar Goal Zero panel, for example.

Use the solar panel in the morning when you make coffee and breakfast, or over lunch, where you have time to constantly adjust it to the angle to the sun. That's when it will charge most efficiently. If you can, keep it strapped on the bike during the day. It won't be as efficient at imperfect angles but still deliver more power than The Plug.

Bring power banks that are big enough. I would recommend to get somewhere between 10k and 30k mAh total capacity. Get batteries with no moving parts and no integrated flashlights that can accidentally turn on in your panniers and drain it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ZKHN6Y/

Used this for everything from touring to grocery trips, been great so far. Definitely recommended. Also look into Old Man Mountain racks if you'd like some more options.

1: I have no idea, I just had an extra set of "mount anywhere" braze ons, so I stuck it there, I have 2 more cages coming for the traditional mounts. I won't know if the top tube option will work until I can test it out once all the snow melts.


2: With these, I've also seen a lot of people use them to mount other gear like sleeping bags and tents. The straps are pretty accommodating, those are half gallon jugs and I still have about 6 inches of strap left.
Edit: They mount like a normal water bottle cage would, I have a single braze on for each arm of the forks, so I just used one braze on and then zip tied the bottom to keep it from swinging, if you don't have a braze on, you can get those "mount anywhere" ones (like I have for the top tube bottle cage).


3: I'll have a U-lock with a ~6ft cable in one of my panniers, those things are huuuuuge, they're the Pro model of Ortliebs Back Roller Classics. In just one bag I can pack my tent/rainfly, sleeping bag, sleeping pad and pillow with room to spare.

Yup. I've got the Shimano A530 but there's a few others that are variations on that theme.

Sometimes, even if I'm wearing my cycling shoes, I'll use the platform side. If I'm navigating some tight urban space, for example, and know I'll be going slow and stopping often. Or, even on the road, sometimes I'll unclip and flip them over just to give my feet a change.

I find being clipped in most useful climbing long hills. Pulling up on the backstroke gets other leg muscles into the game. Sometimes that's the difference between cresting the hill and having to take a break.

I used to wear toe clips with straps. This sort of thing. I find the SPDs to be easier to get out of quickly. What I haven't tried is the new style strapless toe-clips. I should probably give those a try.

I broke a rear spoke while on tour last summer - I carry two extra spokes, but the cassette on the rear wheel blocked the hole for the broken spoke, and I couldn't manage to thread the spare to fit without removing it (which I did not have the tools for).

Luckily, one of the guys in my group had a FiberFix spoke kit, and it worked like a champ. I was able to fix my wheel and complete my tour using it. Now I keep one in my kit - tiny and weighs practically nothing, but it can really come in handy.

I completely ditched my rear panniers. I went from this to this. If I can do it, so can you.

Having space constraints has been the biggest help for me. Simply forcing yourself to take fewer panniers will quickly force you to make the best use of the space you have.

The specific products that I bought were a compromise on packability and price. Tent was $80, sleeping bag was $40 ($60 now?). Bottom line is your don't have to break the bank to upgrade your equipment.

Love this thread. My favorites are Willie Weir's SpokeSongs and "Hey Mom, Can I Ride My Bike Across America?: Five Kids Meet Their Country by John Seigel Boettner

Link: http://amzn.com/096257077X

Good luck on the trip! I just bought this book on Amazon. Canada to Mexico guide. $10 used.

I've done the exact ride before. I recommend you camp at the state parks! This book has great maps and details for the trip:
http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Pacific-Coast-Vicky-Spring/dp/0898869544

Roswheel bike bags. They're cheap, but they've served me well in the past couple years. Plus the color scheme works wonders with my bike :)

http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Road-Morph-Bike-Gauge/dp/B000FI6YOS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380651864&sr=8-1&keywords=bicycle+touring+pump

About a foot long, transforms into a floor pump. Easy to fill 100psi and beyond. Has saved my bad-lucky-flatted ass many times. Best there is.

This seems like a simpler solution to me than bringing extra tools. Haven't used one but I carry it and I've heard lots of good things.

https://www.amazon.ca/FiberFix-Emergency-Spoke-Replacement-Kit/dp/B001GSMQZC

Modifying a frame is an incredibly silly thing to do. Use something like this instead

Edit: slightly neater version - just make sure you buy the right size!

I rode from portland, oregon south to San Francisco this past summer. If your unfamiliar with the weather patterns on the west coast you may want to check out the wind situation. Every afternoon a powerful wind would come from the northwest, and I mean EVERY night. I met many north bound riders who had to stop riding by 4 or 5 pm because the headwinds were just to harsh. either way i hope you have a great trip. Check out this book http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Pacific-Coast-Vicky-Spring/dp/0898869544
It helped me a lot with planning campgrounds.

Ok, I assume you have a very, very low budget so here are some options for you:

• Find someones couch to crash on for now. Preferably someone with an internet connection
  
• Build some Kitty Litter Panniers for now or a back pack (you will regret only having a back pack) ($15-$30) - see if you can make 4 of them provided you can take a front rack. Two if you can not.
  
• Get a camping hammock with a rain fly or a bivy tent (I have no ideas if either of those are good, I'm just going cheap) ($50-90)
  
• Get a sleeping pad ($30)
  
• Get two racks if your bike can take them. One for the front and one for the back ($60)
  
• Get a small tarp (I am sure you can find better than this, perhaps even locally) for those days with REALLY bad weather. ($7)
  
• Get a pancho or other cheap rain gear ($15)
  
• Get some bungee cords ($5)
  
• Get camping pans ($15)
  
• Get a lighter ($0.50)
  
• You could build a camping stove but I can't vouch for how well these work. You might want a proper one ($5-$50)
  
• Get a pump (follow the recommendations others have made) $20-$50
  
• Get a tool kit and some spare parts (I really like the Survival Gear Box) $50-75
  
  So maybe $275-375 total cost before food and water? Man, that's still high...

I more or less followed this guys route - Bicycling the Pacific Coast, I highly recommend it. It breaks down the day by day and gives you good advice on where to stop/see along the route even though it's 20 years out of print. A lot of people I met along the way, I was traveling by myself, were doing the same route.

There's a book called Bicycling The Pacific Coast which is very useful for the whole route. I'd recommend getting a hold of a copy if you can.

http://www.amazon.com/Brooks-Saddles-Bicycle-Saddle-Mens/dp/B000I0V0JM.

B67 saddle. Some prefer the original B17 but I'm a bigger guy and liked the extra springs.

I haven't done the Pacific Coast Route yet. I was planning for this May but going to Europe with my wife and can't take that much time off of work to do both. So I'll go next May.

But I have been researching the PCR for awhile.

There is a lot of info out there about the trip.

Search "Pacific Coast Route on this sub and Google, you'll get tons of info.

Get this book there is lots of info on the route, camping, side trips, etc.

I have read a lot about it and talked with a lot of people that have done it, but I can't give you any 1st hand info, "yet"

Dont skimp on vital tools for your trip or it may get cut short.

I've owned two of these pumps in the last 16 years. They are bombproof, inexpensive (for the quality) and have been the go to while on the trail, even with friends who own additional pumps. They also fit both valve types.

Highly recommended:

https://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Road-Morph-Bike-Gauge/dp/B000FI6YOS/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1527808752&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=topeak+bike+pumps&psc=1

Grab this book. A lot cheaper than the ACA maps and works great for the route. When I rode it a few years back, a lot of people used this as a route guide.
https://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Pacific-Coast-Complete-Canada/dp/0898869544/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494339991&sr=8-1&keywords=Cycling+the+Pacific+Coast

http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Pacific-Coast-Vicky-Spring/dp/0898869544/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405709687&sr=8-1&keywords=biking+pacific+coast

Great little book.

I use a Topeak Super Tourist DX and couldn't be happier.

It's a spoke replacement:

https://www.amazon.com/FiberFix-Emergency-Spoke-Replacement-Kit/dp/B001GSMQZC

Listed at: https://www.reddit.com/r/BicycleGear/wiki/spareparts --- you may find the balance of that wiki of interest --- in particular, I didn't see a bike tool set, or at least a multi-tool. I'd also suggest a patch kit, esp. if not taking the second spare

May want to consider a "fibre fix" spoke. I haven't used one yet, but carry one with me on tour. One of these should do you well enough until you get to a town/city where you can get your wheel fixed.

http://www.amazon.com/FiberFix-Emergency-Spoke-Replacement-Kit/dp/B001GSMQZC

edit: here's a video of how it works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF8R7psdtN4

I highly recommend getting Bicycling the Pacific Coast and following the route it describes once you get out to the coast.

Inside seat post too, provided it's long enough, retained by a cork, rubber stopper or similar plug. Padding will prevent rattling noise.

It's worth mentioning that if your rear wheel is properly specified and built, and you don't overload the rear, then it is unlikely that you'll break a spoke. In this case, carrying a Fiberfix repair is the most you'll need, and it will replace any spoke without the need for chainwhip, cassette lockring tool, hypercracker-type tools, a bike shop, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/FiberFix-Emergency-Spoke-Replacement-Kit/dp/B001GSMQZC

Almost everyone I met on my tour was using this book (and I used it as well). I would recommend it.

What do you think of saddles with springs like http://www.amazon.com/Brooks-Saddles-Bicycle-Saddle-Mens/dp/B000I0V0JM ?

Most of my broken spokes have been on the rear driveside. The first time I was lucky enough to be in town near a bike shop to use their tools. I would recommend either the stein cassette cracker or a fiber fix spoke

I used this on my pacific coast tour:

http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Pacific-Coast-Vicky-Spring/dp/0898869544

Worked well enough. You will be camping most of the time, but I would highly suggest making use of warmshowers.com

Bicycling The Pacific Coast has a route for you if want to spend a little time going around BC rather than direct.

Exactly. That way, when you make a stop, stuff will still be charging.

Edit: something like this comes to mind. Anker 21W 2-Port USB Universal PowerPort Solar Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012YUJJM8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_eH5lybZA0M8G2

Here is a link to the book but if you only pick one thing get the ACA maps.

https://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Pacific-Coast-Complete-Canada/dp/0898869544/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497547375&sr=8-1&keywords=pacific+coast+bike

read this book (and start from Vancouver.)

I know some people who did Vancouver - San Diego and they swore by this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Road-Morph-Bike-Gauge/dp/B000FI6YOS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370837529&sr=8-1&keywords=topeak+road+morph

Here are some ideas


http://www.amazon.com/Surly-Nice-Rack-Black-Cromoly/dp/B001GSQULS

http://www.arkel-od.com/us/all-categories/touring-bike-bag/t-42-lite-touring-panniers.html#!/more-details



http://www.amazon.com/Brooks-Saddles-Special-Bicycle-Saddle/dp/B001AYMOAY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367506572&sr=8-1&keywords=Brooks+B17+Special+Saddle


http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Alien-26-Function-Bicycle-Tool/dp/B000FIE4AE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1367506625&sr=8-3&keywords=topeak+multitool


http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Road-Morph-Bike-Gauge/dp/B000FI6YOS/ref=pd_sim_sg_10


http://www.amazon.com/Crane-Suzu-Lever-Strike-Brass/dp/B001MS2KHA/ref=pd_sim_sg_90


http://www.amazon.com/Velo-Orange-Hammered-Alloy-Fender/dp/B004JKK1V0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367506912&sr=8-1&keywords=velo+orange+fenders+hammered


http://www.amazon.com/Ergon-Series-Bicycle-Handle-Standard/dp/B0015QWRM2/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1367506936&sr=1-1&keywords=ergo+grips


http://www.amazon.com/Spenco-Classic-Glove-Beige-Crochet/dp/B0025UEWR0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367507174&sr=8-1&keywords=spenco+gloves


http://www.amazon.com/Keen-Commuter-Cycling-Shadow-Gargoyle/dp/B003Z4KPFI/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1367507250&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=keen+bike


http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Bond-Medicated-10-Ounce-Containers/dp/B001G7QSS4/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1367507286&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=gold+bond

Aside from replacement spokes and some way to attach them (multi tool or spoke wrench), consider a lightweight cassette removal tool so you can make repairs on the road - http://pardo.net/bike/pic/fail-029/ - and/or a fiberfix replacement spoke kit http://www.amazon.com/FiberFix-Emergency-Spoke-Replacement-Kit/dp/B001GSMQZC

FiberFix Spokes are lighter and smaller than cassette tools. They'll get you to the next bike shop, and are usable without removing your cassette.

I use an Anker solar charger and battery.

I've been using a Topeak "Road Morph" and it absolutely rules. It's got a little flip out foot thing, pressure gauge and can handle high pressures.

I even convinced Topeak to mail me some replacement parts so I can rebuild the thing on the road if I need.

Ya, I may have messed up the names. But we were planning on using the route that is in "Bicycling the Pacific Coast" by Vicky Spring and Tom Kirkendall

sixsixsex already hit the nail on the head. However, thought I'd just make note of a fairly obvious point which is: Don't bring tools you don't know how to use! On tour isn't really a great time to learn how to use tools. And if you can't use it then it's just dead weight.

If your wheels are true and not particularly weak, you really should be fine with a pump/spare tube/patch kit/allen keys. Maybe a fiber-spoke if you're worried about your wheel breaking a spoke?

Err on the side of slightly too much food. Since this is a shorter trip you should be totally fine, but it really sucks to be 30 miles from anywhere and realize that you have absolutely no food. Super shitty. Same with water, although it's possible to find streams, etc.

Good questions.