The following is an annotated packing list for the 5-week trip that I took to France from May 25 to June 29, 2002.
This list has evolved over 23 touring trips (all using airplanes as a primary means of getting to my starting point) and reflects my personal tastes and preferences - you may agree or disagree with my choices.
I tend to go heavy on the tools and spares so I can be completely independent of bicycle shops; the only tool I usually require from an external source is a vise to remove the freewheel in case of problems with it or broken spokes on the freewheel side (only has happened once in 23 trips).
I wash basic riding clothes every evening, and additional clothes as needed. I do not camp.
Also please note that I live in Canada. Some of the details reflect this (e.g. insurance, money etc...), and North American jargon has been used, especially for some of tools :-)
The list is broken down into the following sections:
| Quantity | Item | Comments |
| 1 | Cycling shoes | With SPD clipless pedals - comfortable to walk on |
| 1 | Cycling shorts | Synthetic shammy |
| 1 | Cycling tights | Wool mixture for cold and wet days |
| 1 | Cycling jersey | |
| 1 | Cycling rain jacket | GoreTex - for heavy rain |
| 1 | Sybille jersey | French wool mix long-sleeved jersey |
| 1 | Cycling Helmet | |
| 1 | Cycling socks | Black - great for not showing dirt |
| 1 | Cycling socks (rain) | Wool |
| 1 | Cycling gloves | |
| 1 | Cycling gloves (cold / wet weather) | Wool & leather |
| 2 | Handkerchiefs | |
| 1 | Evening/walking shoes | Light sneakers |
| 1 | Evening socks | |
| 1 | Evening pants | With removable legs, can be worn as shorts |
| 1 | Evening shirt | Short sleeves |
| 1 | Underwear | |
| 1 | Facecloth | |
| 1 | Pair Orthotics | I wear them in walking shoes only |
| 1 | Lime Green shell | For visibility and light rain |
| 1 | Silver & Black jacket | Zippable - for short cold spells (downhills) |
| Quantity | Item | Comments |
| 1 | Shaving Kit Bag | To contain most of the items below. |
| 1 | Toothbrush | |
| 1 | Toothpaste | As small as possible |
| 1 | Dental Floss | |
| 2 | Sunscreen | Enough for applying twice a day on face, arms, legs, neck |
| 1 | Nail Clipper | |
| 20 | Band Aid (assorted) | Inspect before trip - adhesive does not last forever |
| 1 | Ozonol | For abrasions, cuts, rashes etc. |
| 1 | Vaseline face cream | |
| 1 | Deodorant | |
| 20 | Aspirin | |
| 10 | Cold / cough tablets | Just enough for a 2-3 day cold |
| 35 | Multivitamins | |
| 40 | Vitamin C | |
| 70 | Vitamin E | |
| 30 | Antacid tablets | For those overly heavy meals. |
| 1 | Small soap | |
| 1 | Soap dish | |
| 1 | Shampoo | Measure a small quantity in plastic bottle, just enough for trip |
| 1 | Shaving Cream | Measure a small quantity in plastic bottle, just enough for trip |
| 1 | Razor | |
| 1 | Aftershave | Measure a small quantity in plastic bottle, just enough for trip |
| 2 | Small Kleenex | Used as toilet paper only |
| 1 | Comb | |
| 1 | Blistex | For chapped lips |
| Quantity | Item | Comments |
| 1 | Passport | |
| 1 | Packing Order Sheet | Evolved over the years - indicates where everything goes. |
| 1 | International Driver's License | |
| 1 | Ontario Driver's License | I live in the Province of Ontario, Canada. |
| 1 | Accomodation excerpts | |
| 1 | Palm Pilot with fresh batteries | Used as address book, calculator, alarm clock, photo log. |
| 2 | Spare Palm Pilot batteries in tight container | |
| 1 | List of meeting places, people and numbers | |
| 1 | List of access codes | To do online banking, internet access, etc. Encrypted on Palm |
| 1 | Itinerary | |
| 13 | Maps: 101, 170, 61, 65, 69, 73, 76, 80, 84, 81 ,77, 74, 70 | This was for a trip to France; Michelin maps in this case |
| 1 | Number sheet | Alternate sheet for important numbers |
| 1 | Document wallet | Carries Passport, plane ticket and other large items |
| 1 | Plane ticket | |
| 1 | Money wallet | Carries money, credit cards etc. |
| 1 | Fanny pack | To carry wallets in the evening |
| 3 | BCN cards | I was doing the French BCN, these are the Brevet route cards |
| 1 | BPF card | I was also doing the BPF, these are the Brevet route cards |
| 1 | FFCT membership card | BCN & BPF are FFCT-sponsored Brevets |
| Canadian Cash ($250) | To get me to and from airport here in Canada | |
| French Cash (300 €) | To get me started before finding a banking machine,. | |
| 1 | OHIP Card | Canadian health insurance card |
| 1 | Health Insurance (Ingle) | International health insurance certificate |
| 1 | French "Télécarte" | French phone card |
| 1 | Mastercard | Credit card |
| 1 | Visa card | Credit card |
| 1 | TD Access card | Banking machine card |
| 1 | Amex card | Credit card |
| 1 | Red Cross card | For blood type |
| 1 | Address list | In Palm Pilot |
| 1 | Ballpoint | |
| 1 | Notebook |
| Quantity | Item | Comments |
| 1 | Spare Presta pump insert | Can wear out |
| 2 | Pump velcro straps | To prevent knocking off the pump accidentally |
| 1 | Tool bag (red) | I use a sturdy zipped leatherette pencil case for main tools |
| 1 | Spares bag (blue) | A nylon bag for all spares |
| 4 | Spare cables | 2 derailleur + 2 brake |
| 1 | Spare 'V' cable for brakes | For my old centerpulls |
| 1 | Puncture kit | Patches and glue |
| 1 | Sandpaper in puncture kit | For pre-patching preparation of punctured tube |
| 110 | Freewheel bearings | I have had freewheels unscrew on the road 3 times ! |
| 5 | Spare spokes | Front & left-rear interchangeable - right-rear shorter |
| 1 | Spare clip for map case | |
| 2 | Spare tubes | |
| 1 | Spare tire | Foldable with Kevlar bead; 700C x 28 |
| 2 | Spare Presta valve caps + lockrings | |
| 2 | Spare short + long chainring bolts | |
| 1 | Spare chainring nut | |
| 4 | Misc Allen bolts | |
| 1 | Chain Oil | Measure a small quantity sufficient only for trip duration |
| 1 | General purpose high viscosity oil | Measure a small quantity sufficient only for trip duration |
| 1 | Grease | Measure a small quantity sufficient only for trip duration |
| 1 | Small Swiss Army Knife | |
| 1 | Plastic box for small spares | For bolts, nuts, caps, etc… |
| 1 | 6" length of inner tube | Can be used for temporary repairs of large tire gashes |
| 1 | Spoke wrench | |
| 1 | Rivet tool | |
| 1 | Small Crescent wrench | |
| 1 | Freewheel Removal Socket | |
| 1 | Pin Pliers for freewheel core | |
| 4 | Allen keys (3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm) | |
| 1 | Park tool + 3 sockets | |
| 1 | Pressure Gauge | |
| 3 | Tire Irons. | Aluminium |
| 1 | Vetta Chain Cleaner | |
| 1 | Toothbrush for Vetta cleaner | |
| 1 | Stiff wire brush + Clip | To clean heavy mud, tar, dung off cleats |
| 1 | Awl | To remove stubborn tar, grease, sticky materials, glass |
| 1 | Cable Puller | To tighten cables; home-made |
| 1 | SPD Pedal core remover | |
| 1 | Tool bag (beige) | Used for the following 6 items; also a leatherette pencil case |
| 1 | Cone wrench | 13 mm for both wheels |
| 1 | Crank arm extractor | |
| 1 | Crank arm nut wrench | |
| 1 | Chainring bolt wrench | |
| 1 | B/B Adjustable Cup wrench | |
| 1 | B/B Lockring wrench |
| Quantity | Item | Comments |
| 1 | Bike | Minor detail :-) |
| 1 | Pump | Grease and test before trip |
| 1 | Handlebar bag + strap | Cannondale |
| 1 | Map case | Plastic case which snaps on to the top of handlebar bag |
| 1 | Clip for map case | |
| 1 | Handlebar bag bracket | Attaches handlebar bag to handlebar |
| 1 | Turnbuckle fastener | Fastens bracket to handlebar; hand-made |
| 1 | Handlebar bag cover | Rainproofs handlebar bag; map case can clip on to it as well |
| 1 | Odometer | |
| 2 | Front low-rider panniers | Rhode Gear |
| 2 | Kayak bags | Fits inside front panniers to make them waterproof |
| 2 | Rear panniers | Cannondale |
| 2 | Spare rings for luggage | Rear panniers are fastened to bottom of carrier with these rings |
| 2 | Water Bottles | 0.75 litre with screw-on tops |
| 1 | Rack Mate | Fits on top of rear rack and acts as mudguard |
| 1 | Sunglasses | |
| 1 | Sunglasses case | |
| 1 | Chow Kit | Combination spoon, knife, fork & can opener |
| 1 | Slot screwdriver for eyeglasses | |
| 1 | Eyeglass cord | |
| 50 | Elastics (mixed) | Check before each trip; rubber rots with age |
| 1 | Bike Box | Double-nested manufacturer's carton to protect bike on airplane |
| 10 | Outside milk bags | For miscellaneous use |
| 10 | Inside milk bags | For miscellaneous use; these are water- (milk) - proof. |
| 4 | Large plastic bags | To waterproof rear panniers |
| 2 | Spare large plastic bags | |
| 2 | Miscellaneous bags | |
| 2 | Odometer rainbag + elastic | To protect odometer during heavy rain |
| 2 | Road food bags | Road food = dried fruit & nuts to munch on while riding |
| 1 | Duffle bag | To carry all luggage on airplane as 1 piece of luggage |
| 1 | Locking cable | Lightweight, just to act as a deterrent |
| 1 | Padlock | Combination type; I tend to lose keys |
| 1 | Camera with fresh battery | An old Canon AE-1 or Pentax Spotmatic; sturdy but heavy |
| 1 | Polarizing filter | |
| 1 | Eyecup for camera | |
| 20 | Films | |
| 4 | Baggage tags | For luggage on airplane |
| 1 | Flashlight | Tiny 6 cm x 1 cm x 4 cm |
| 10-15 | Airline paper towels | To clean hands after dirty bike work |
| 1 | Hand Cleaner | Handy after any work with drivetrain |
| 1 | Rag | For general wiping |
| 1 | Box cutter | To cut bike box open; gets you strange looks after 9/11 |
| 2 | Small Bungie cords | Just in case |
| 4 | Cable Ties | To tie various parts in bike box |