I got a bunch of requests asking me what I took. Here’s everything I had on me. I added notes in parentheses on what I would change.

Packing list for two months:

NOTE: everything in bullets is what I started off with. The parentheses are things I wish I would have brought/change.

• 2 pairs of cycling shorts (wish I brought 3)
• 3 sports bra (I would keep the same amount but one fell apart so I would make sure they are better quality)
• Sneakers (SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN CLIPLESS SHOES OMG)
• Slip on shoes which doubled as shower shoes and relaxing shoes
• Sunglasses (I brought my old fake ray bands from 10^th grade and they fell apart. I ended up buying new fake ray bands from Walmart. Next time I would by athletic sunglasses or at least something that cost more than 3 dollars)
• Helmet (Should have bought one that fits me. Mine was slightly too big)
• 2 pairs of gloves – fingerless bike gloves and warmer gloves
• Arm warmers (ended up sending these home)
• Spandex shorts (threw them away at the end but I would bring again)
• Gym shorts
• Neon orange tank top (threw away after I used it to clean my chain)
• White Arm reflectors (YES YES YES)
• Pink rain jacket (Turns out it was just water resistance, maybe I would try to find a better waterproof one)
• Cycling long warm tights
• Black short sleeve wool shirt
• Long sleeve wool shirt
• Shoe covers for rain (sent home, they were useless)
• 4 pairs of socks – 3 short socks, 1 long warm socks
• 2 head warps -warm and cool
• Bug head net (sent home)
• Synthetic short sleeve shirt
• Bandana (don’t actually remember if I brought this but would bring again if I did)

I would add another pair of cycling shorts and another synthetic shirt. HANDS DOWN I WISH I HAD CLIPLESS SHOES INSTEAD OF NORMAL SNEAKERS!!!!!

Eating-ware

• Spork
• Tupper wear container (sent home, would replace with a bowl)
• Sharp knife
• Hand-sanitizer
• ½ sponge
• Eco friendly suds

Next time I will bring my stove and pot.

Miscellaneous

• Cord/rope thing (surprisingly I used it more as a clothes line than hanging my food)
• Pepper spray (used on dogs, would bring again)
• Duct tape and electrical tape
• Carabiner(X3) (sent home, but would probably bring again idk why)
• Zip ties
• Quick drying towels (X2 one face one bath)
• Waterproof matches (sent home, replaced with a lighter)
• Ditty bag
• Extra plastic bags (grocery size and sandwich size)
• Safety pin (lost it)
• Osprey backpack
• Wallet

Documents

• Maps X12 (sent home panels as I completed them.
• Copy of driver’s license X2 (got wet and fell apart)
• Medical card X2 (got wet and fell apart)
• Plastic sleeve for medical card and extra driver’s license (threw away)
• Rite in the rain notebook (kept it the whole time but wouldn’t bring again)
• 2 pencils (sent home or lost)
• 1 pen
• Stamps

Camping/sleep

• Tent MSR hubba hubba (loved this tent)
• Tent foot print (also lost this, not intentionally)
• Sleeping bag – big anges, lost lake SL 30
• Sleeping bag liner
• Tent repair kit (didn’t use but would bring again)
• Sleeping pad – neo therma rest
• Ear plugs and case (I would probably invest in some better ones, my Walmart ones got kinda gross, had to replace a couple times)
• Headlamp
• Pillow (still haven’t found a pillow I liked, I would bring a pillow again but not the one I brought)

Ended up losing my tent and footprint so technically I didn’t keep them…

Water/food

• Hydration backpack (3 liters)
• 3 water bottles
• 6 clif bars
• 4 awake energy bars
• Instant oatmeal (I don’t like oatmeal but it’s easy to carry)
• Applesauce (would trade for banana chips)
• Beef jerky (ants ate this L)
• Werther’s hard candy (I can never have enough of these!)

Everyone swears by snickers but I found they melted too fast for me to eat them (probably because I don’t eat them fast enough). I stuck to skittles or banana chips as my go to snack.

Tools/extra parts

• 3 tire levers
• Patch kit (didn’t use, would bring again)
• Chain lube (bottle cracked (and got grease everywhere) and I never replaced it, would bring again)
• Alien multi tool
• Mini pump (I only used it once; I’m trying to find one with a pressure gauge. I liked the one Mark had but idk what kind it was)
• Curly combo lock (ditched at the Cookie lady’s house on day 3 or 4)
• Extra screws for water bottle holders/rack
• Bungee cords

I bought an extra tube in Lander Wyoming. I would probably start out with an extra one.

P.S. Free lock at the Cookie Lady’s house in Afton, VA.

First aid/personal care:

• Contacts for 40 days (would only bring 20)
• Contact solution and case
• Toothbrush/toothpaste (would bring my electric toothbrush)
• Bandaids of multiple sizes
• Q-tips
• Dental floss
• Moleskin
• Face-wipes (think I gave these to Ellen, never used)
• Alcohol prep pads
• Gauze pad – large and small
• Chap-stick
• Small scissors/tweezers/tow-nail clippers
• Mini pack of tissues
• Comb (sent home)
• Hair brush
• Aloe Vera (don’t remember using, would bring again)
• Advil
• Gold bond (sent home)
• Deodorant (never used, but would probably bring again)
• Soap and case (had to replace soap throughout the trip)
• Chamois cream (next time I would start off with the largest bottle I can find)
• Sun screen (should have used more than I did. Will upgrade to a larger bottle because I tried to ration it. Bad idea – see pictures from day 3 or 4)
• Four travel bottles
• Neosporin
• Diva cup
• Athletic wrapping tape

I really really wish I brought my electric toothbrush. I brought a dinky little travel one and after eating crap for 3 weeks I really missed a proper brush. I would also bring a pair of normal glasses.

I would also bring more sunscreen. I started off with not enough and tried to ration it so I didn’t use as much as I should have)

Electrical

• 2 external batteries (my goal-zero one fell apart. Would trade for the 2 of the same)
• 2 wall outlets
• Fit bit and charger (fell apart and sent home)
• iPhone and case
• Headphones
• Solar panel (used once, would bring again)
• GPS tracker (sent home)

I would bring a small Bluetooth keyboard so I type easier. It was rather annoying to type off my phone all the time.

On Bike

• Bike computer (didn’t actually set up before I left and never did. Next time I would make sure it’s in working order)
• Handle bar bag
• Back roller panniers
• Reflective front clip
• Reflective back clip
• Reflective tape
• Back red light (x2)
• Front light
• Set of tire lights
• Purple bar lights (sent home)
• ME!

Next time I might try and change the set up to balance my bike more. I loaded everything on my back tire and I think it might have caused some balance issues, especially going downhill. I would get front panniers and balance the weight between my front and back tires, even if I don’t bring enough stuff to fill all four bags.

Things I picked up

• Extra short sleeve shirt
• 100 oz humongous mug
• New sunglasses
• Bike tube
• Scars on my forearm and knee
• Various stickers and postcards
• Pliers
• Food as needed

Things I would bring next time

• Another pair of cycling shorts
• Electric toothbrush
• Stove and pot
• CLIPLESS SHOES (YES YES YES)
• Lighter
• Different pillow, sunglasses, helmet, and earplugs
• Small speaker
• Eye glasses
• I would consider bringing a Frisbee