We are always looking for new challenges and new adventures in the outdoors, we are constantly exploring our own backyard and are about to embark on the challenge of a lifetime. We are planning to spend 9 months bikepacking in Europe and the UK. We will start from Lisbon, in Portugal on April 5th, 2024, and make our way to North to Norway via the European Divide which is a new off-road bikepacking route through Europe that around 20 people have completed in its entirety. After around 90 days we will leave Norway and fly to Edinburgh where we will take on the Pictish Trail, the Scottish Highlands Trail and the Great Britain Divide which are all remote bikepacking routes.
We will then follow the Eurovelo route from Dover to Switzerland where we will attempt the Hope 1000 course. We will then make our way to Spain to complete the Andalusian trail and as many other bike packing routes as we can before flying back to NZ at the end of November 2024.
We are super excited about this trip as it has been on the bucket list since we returned from a 6 month trip in South America 8 years ago.
For this trip we have focussed on going fast and light and have tried to get hold of the latest and most innovative bikes, gear, clothing and bike packing luggage systems we can. Deciding on what to take is never easy but we think we have got most of the things we will need for the trip sorted. We have considered the type of terrain we will encounter, the weather, durability and stability, waterproofness, and wear and tear. From experience we know that there is nothing worse than having loose and ill fitting gear that keeps coming loose and falling off over rough terrrain. We have also consider ease of use and being able to quickly get gear on and off the bikes without too much fuss and bother. Having quality, light weight, fit for purpose clothing is essential the last thing you want is to be let down by your clothing. We have always said there is no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing choices.
PACKING LIST
Camping
Sleeping
bag Rab mystic 200
Macpac silk sleeping bag liner
Pillow (Sea
to Summit)
Air
mattress (Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite)
Toothbrush,
toothpaste, deodorant, ethique shampoo and conditioner bars
MSR Pocket Rocket stove
One sea to Summit collapsable pot
Sea to Summit collapsable cups
Fozzil plates
Gas Cannisters (over there)
MSR Hubba hubba two person tent
Elastic cord clothes line
Towel
Titanium long Spoons
Swiss army Pocket Knife with corkscrew
Hayfever pills, eye drops. Nasal spray, Antibiotics
Small first aid kit plasters, pain killers, betadine, steripen, strpping tape
Essentials and Electronics
Credit card, Wise card,
Passports
Phones / charging cords
Powerbank
GPSMap 65S GPS rechargable double AA batteries
Spot
tracker Gen 4 – spare triple AAA batteries
Quad lock for phones
Clothing (per person)
2 x cycling
shorts Rab Cinder Crank shorts
2 x Rab
Cinder liner shorts
1 x mons
merino under shorts
1 x Long
sleeve shirt Rab Sonic Zip
1 x short
sleeve Rab Cindercrino zip tee
2 x bra tops
1 x merino
LS Rab
1 x merino
legging
1 x Rab
tights
1 x Rab
Kinetic waterproof pants
1 x Rab
Kinetic waterproof jacket
1 x Rab
Mythic Alpine Light Jacket
2 x merino socks
1 x merino undies
1 x cycling
shoes
1 x Rab cycling
Gloves phantom power grip golves
1 x Rab
over gloves warm gloves
1 x Rab Beanie
1 x buff
1 x Rab Cinder
ridgeline Jacket
1 x Innov8 shoes
for trekking
1 x
backpack for trekking
1 x nightie
Rockgeist microwave panniers
Revelate gas tanks
Revelate Egress Pocket / Ortlieb Handle bar pack
Bike tools
and 2 spare tubes per person
Chain links
Spare brake pads
Deraileur hanger
2 x Large drink bottles
1 x Head
torch (Nite Core + micro USB rechargable batteries)
Voile straps fpr rear carrier with dry bag
Brooks B17 seats
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