Gear

I had a bike nicked a few weeks before the trip. I got a replacement that came with a spare gear hanger. I thought, 'that'll be handy for drying clothes.' It turned out to be a lump of alloy for my rear 'de railer'. You learn fast.

I weighed 15.5st, the bike 2.5, and the gear 33lb = 285lbs = 129.545454kg.

Percentage of total weight: me = 76%, bike 12%, gear 12%. These are seemingly geeky unnecessary statistics.

And, over in the Blue corner, is D weighing in at 12st, his bike 2.5 and gear 33 = a total of 236lbs = 107.272727: 71%, 15%, 14% - just to be pedantic.


Gear:

Bike
Pump
F/R lights
Rack
Water bottle & cage
Two panniers
Baseball cap
Tent
Sleeping bag
Sleeping mat
3 pairs socks
5 T shuts
2 polyester mix shirts NOT spandex but close
(Italian replica, Santos replica)
1 pair cycling shorts
1 pair LYCRA nutcracker shorts
1 pair regular shorts (evening dress)
3 underwear
Allen keys
Philips
Puncture Kit
Lube (for bike)
Pedal Spanner
Magilite
SPARE GEAR HANGER
Spare Tube
Bin Liner
Gear hanger (clothes line)
Sandals
Shoes
Wallet & cards
Sunglasses
teethpaste
teethbrush
antiperspirant
shower gel
razor
sunblock
insect repellent ( not wearing antiperspirant not sufficient)
4 maps IGN 100,000:1
Day pack
one bungee
nerdy reflector
Phone and earphone
Very big plastic bag
Micro towel
Nike hoody
Virulent Lemon coloured rain proof Altura special
Spare brake blocks.

Unfortunately this is all fairly essential - though you could spend hours debating the number of pairs of socks.

The Weather: We started checking the route's weather a week before at the MSN weather pages. MSN provide all kinds of detail - even the colour of a sunset - seven days in advance, which is all very handy except their forecast changed from rain to sun and back every day. We did figure it would be warm in the day, rain or shine, and that the nights may be chilly. The rain could come at any time.

The Bike:
I'd had a Crossroads hybrid nicked, as I've mentioned. The choices for the replacement were all pretty much the same in my budget of £350 but I went for a Pinnacle Stratos 3.0, from because the gears were very very low on the back. Fast gears were not a priority. I rode it 160 miles in a couple of weeks to get it loosened up so that the bike shoppe could do a service.
So, the bike is nothing too fancy - as long as all the essential bits work properly. As it was new, the brake blocks and tyres were cool as was the wiring. The tools you take are for checking the thing isn't falling apart beneath your butt as you immerse yourself in the beauty etc.

Camping Gear:
This is an awkward issue. Ideally, don't camp at all! Drive an Aston Martin convertible instead -with a boot full of Burberry weekend bags and check into 5 star hotels each night.

It may rain - big heavy flysheet and more pegs. It might be cold - big heavy sleeping bag and extra thick sleeping mat.
We were not going in winter, or sleeping on the tundra in a snow drift. The valleys of the Alps in the summer are as hot as the coast - and often as dry. The tents were very basic light shelters from Jamet of Piccadilly (not really). The very big plastic bag would cover the nasties - waterproof, insulation etc etc. So a light mummy bag and a 3/4 mat for me sore batty was enough. The rest of the gear is common sense - just keep it light.

Cycling Buddy:
He carried pretty much the same but for a few additions: light stove, pan, plastic mugs and plates. He also had a creature comfort in the form of a luxurious looking soft blanket that I began to envy. He had FIVE pairs of socks which I believe was in breach of some convention limiting the amount of underwear that can be carried on a bike. He'd hang them out on the line very morning just to get me jealous.