What to bring on a road bike or MTB tour? [Touring checklist]

It’s high time to set out on your bike. Touring season has finally begun. As with all things, well begun is half done. But what you need to bring on a long cycling tour? We listed the basic necessities in our touring checklist.

What and how much of the touring checklist you need to bring depends on the weather and the duration of your tour. The terrain and area you cycle in can also influence what you need to bring.

Below we’ll list the most important items for you along with the reason why you should bring them.

The touring checklist

Inner tubes Tyre levers Bike pump or CO2 cartridge Multitool Chain rivet Missing link / Chain connector link Bike bell Energy bars or gels Banana Rain jacket Small change Credit/Debit card

Breaking down with your road bike or MTB

Of course you’d rather not have this happen, but it’s inevitable: a breakdown. However, the right materials can really soften the blow. First of all, bring an inner tube and optionally some tyre levers seeing as getting a puncture happens to the best of us.

Expecting slippery asphalt? In that case, a single inner tube should suffice. Are you cycling a long distance, or do you expect road surfaces that are worse off, it’s better to bring more than one inner tube.

By the way, tyre levers are optional. If you’re slightly handy, you can often dismount or reattach your tyre with your bare hands. It’s just a matter of practice.

To reinflate your tube, you can choose between a regular bike pump or a CO2 pump. The advantage of a regular pump is that it won’t run out. On the other hand, it’s much harder to get road bike tyres back on a pressure higher than 6 bar.

A CO2 pump works incredibly quickly, but if you ran out of CO2 cartridges, you’re stuck. If you’re cycling on terrain you expect to cause a lot of punctures, make sure to bring a bike pump, even if it’s just there for when you’re out of CO2 cartridges.

Small maintenance with mini tools

It wouldn’t be feasible to bring all your bike tools on your bicycle. But a multitool is really a must. This will allow you to tighten a loose bolt or fix an annoying brake that rubs with relative ease.

Some multitools even have a built-in chain rivet. Is this not included? Then it’s wise to bring a separate chain rivet, especially if you’re on your own. And of course, you can’t leave out a missing link or chain connector pin.

With a broken bike chain you’re not getting anywhere. And that would be a shame, since it’s really easy to repair a broken bike chain with the proper tools!

Would you rather not keep all those tools in your jersey pocket? No problem, there’s all kinds of compact and waterproof saddlebags available. These won’t just hold your bike tools, but also have plenty of space for your spare inner tubes.

Food and drink during the tour

Most organised tours offer the opportunities to replenish your food and drink on the way. There’s often plenty of bars, bananas, gingerbread and of course water and sports drinks. Still, it’s not a bad idea to bring some yourself.

No matter how short your trip is or how many replenishing opportunities you have, assume you’ll need at least two energy bars or gels. A piece of gingerbread or muesli bar work as well.

And let’s not underestimate the much-loved banana. It’s nutritious and easy to bring along. If you took a wrong turn, or missed a pitstop location for whatever reason, a banana or some gingerbread will provide some much-needed nourishment.

It’s also an option to bring special drink tablets that allow you to turn tap water into a real sports drink. Drinking sufficiently is even more important than eating well. Drink often and always bring along enough water.

Rain jackets and windbreakers for cyclists

A rain jacket or wind jacket are items you could write volumes about. One cyclist might not leave the house without one, even on the sunniest day. The other will refuse to wear them, even if it’s already raining when they leave.

It’s still a good idea to bring one, for when it’s your first time cycling in a new location. It can be a lot of fun getting lost in an unknown area, but you might end up further from home than you thought. If the weather turns sour, you’ll appreciate your rain jacket very much.

A completely different category is cycling tours in mountain regions. There, a rain jacket or wind jacket is vital. During descents, a proper jacket can make all the difference in the world. What’s more, chances of the weather turning bad are highest in mountains.

The details, money and bell twice

To face unexpected challenges en route, or to be able to sit down at a terrace for a drink, it’s always advisable to bring along some small change and a debit card.

Small change can also come in handy if you suddenly need to take a ferry or buy a chocolate bar at a petrol station. And with a credit or debit card you can go all out on a terrace.

Your smartphone is also part of your outfit. It’s not just useful in an emergency, but it also allows you to add cool photos to your Strava upload or your Instagram feed.

Any cyclist worth their salt will make sure they have a good bike bell. And lately, it’s quite possible to get one that isn’t a major eyesore. There’s even designed bike bells!

A bike bell hidden in your cycling computer’s handlebar mount? A HideMyBell makes it possible. This does away with any excuse to not mount a bike bell.