Tomorrow I will load out my bike with all the camping gear I have slowly amassed over the past year. I will undoubtedly overpack, then set out on an overnight “dry run” with my friend Shannon.
The two of us are planning a 10 day bike trip later this summer that will take us through Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alberta (Canada) then back through Montana and Idaho before returning home, a total of just over 2000 miles in 10 days. We plan to ride between two and three hundred miles a day, camping the entire way. That means bringing our tents, sleeping bags, pads, gear, and anything else we might need with us on the bikes.
We decided it might be a good idea to do a single overnight, fully loaded with gear, to simulate what it would be like to trek about 250 miles in a day, then stop and set up camp, stay overnight, repack and ride another 250 miles the next day. It’s different, riding a fully packed out bike, so we need to get a feel for what’s comfortable, what’s necessary, and how the bikes will handle on a short run so any necessary adjustments can be made before we find ourselves 1000 miles from home.
Most of this gear I’ve never used in an actual camping situation. In fact, I set up my tent for the first time in my living room the other night, just so I wouldn’t look like a dumbass when we get to the campground. Tents themselves are fairly simple, but for some reason the rain fly always tends to baffle me. That’s what I had to fix the night I had the run in with the bears the last time I tried to camp with my motorcycle. Anyway, you can go back and read that embarrassing story some other time 🙂
Motorcycling, as a hobby, can be fairly expensive. Like any other hobby though (think skiing / snowboarding) once you own all your own gear, it’s pretty much all downhill from there 😉
I’ve been amassing a LOT of gear over the past 12 months or so. Some of it for riding, some of it for camping, and some of it for blogging, cataloguing and recording the beautiful miles to be ridden and sights to be seen.
I’m listing the brands and specs only because a lot of research went into these purchases and some of you might be interested in the details. I’ll be talking more as I get a few trips under my tires about what worked well and what didn’t.
Here’s a quick rundown of the gear I’ll be bringing:
Tent: Shifter 2 by Mountain Hardwear.
Sleeping Bag: Ratio 15 (down), by Mountain Hardwear
Sleeping Pad: Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated Mat with pump sack
Head Lamp: Eddie Bauer
Camp Stove: Jetboil Flash System, with French Press attachment and 1.5 L cooking pot
Stop and Go Mini Air Compressor
Dry Bags by The Camping Trail
Hydration Backpack: Ogio Atlas
Thermarest Compressible Pillow
Sena SMH 10 Helmet Intercom / Bluetooth System
Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus Solar Recharging Kit
Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO): Double Nest Hammock with Straps
Rei: Helinox Chair One
Hot Wired: heated jacket liner and gloves (my FAVORITE new purchase)
Shoei Neotec: Modular Helmet with built in sun visor
Go Pro 3+Silver with keychain remote
Canon Rebel T-I 5 Digital Camera with Tripod
iPad Pro 9.7 inch with Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil
Joe Rocket Women’s Alter Ego Riding Pants
Life Proof case for iPhone
Bike Specific Gear
Harley Davidson: Set of vintage brown leather saddle bags and down tube bag
Harley-Davidson: Detachable Windshield
Harley- Davidson: Highway bars with lowers
Harley-Davidson: Tail Light conversion kit
Kuryakyn: Mini floor boards
Kuryakyn: Highway Pegs
Saddlemen: BR3400 Sissy Bar Bag
I’m sure there’s more than this that I’m forgetting, which in hindsight and looking back over this list is rather embarrassing. It would seem that I’m fairly serious about this motorcycling / adventuring lifestyle 🙂
So that’s the haps. Next up will be before and after pictures of the bike once it’s fully loaded, a route map, and other goodies. I’ll be mounting the Go Pro to my helmet, so stay tuned for some weird and wonderful pics and videos from Oregon Coast Adventure 2016!
Can’t wait to ‘go along’! Love reading your FB posts & blogs.
As you grind out those long hours of (mostly?) beautiful scenery may you always be safe and… may the road rise up to meet you; the wind be always at your back; the sunshine warm upon your face…
Good luck and I look forward to reading about your adventure.
Thanks Cheryl! I am super excited to share my experiences!