Personal setups » Niknak’s Niner EMD on the GDMBR
by niknak
This summer (2012) my wife and I spent two glorious weeks cruising down the Great Divide from Banff to Whitefish. Here’s what I brought with me:
On the handlebars using a Revelate Sling and large Pocket:
- REI Quarter Dome T2 tent – The internal dimensions are a bit shorter and narrower than I prefer, but it sets up really quickly and easily.
- Panasonic DMC-LX5 camera – A great point n’ shoot with good manual controls.
- Adventure Cycling maps – Indispensable for this route.
- Garmin Etrex 20 GPS computer – I never really got the hang of it and returned it when I got home. Didn’t really need it for this route.
- Sandwich baggy full of charging cables and a spare set of batteries for the GPS – A necessary evil.
In the frame with a Revelate Tangle bag:
- Snacks! – The little pocket in the Tangle is perfect for a day’s worth of munchies.
- Spare inner tube
- Patch kit
- Multi tool
- Chain breaker
- Sandwich bag with some small parts for emergency repairs
- small container of methylated alcohol from Canadian hardware store – Canada apparently doesn’t sell denatured alcohol
- Lots of extra space for food
Behind the saddle with a Bagman rack and Carradice Super C saddlebag:
- Platypus GravityWorks water filter – Better than anything else we’ve tried, although a bit bulky.
- iPad 16GB wifi with book cover – Downloaded photos from my camera, updated the blog, checked the weather, searched for accommodations and restaurant reviews. A bit bulky. Looking forward to the iPad Mini!
- Jacks R Better Hudson River quilt – Very light and compact. Shoved inside a waterproof stuff sack with the Neo Air and lashed to the Super C.
- Thermarest Neo Air – Light, compact, comfy, warm, noisy, expensive, almost perfect.
- Smarwool ski cap
- Montbell Thermawrap – Light, compact, warm.
- Long sleeve Smartwool top
- REI adventure pants
- 1 pair synthetic boxer-briefs
- 1 extra pair Aerotech Designs padding touring underwear – A last-minute purchase that proved to be an excellent choice
- 1 extra pair synthetic socks
- 100-foot cord for bear hangs and laundry lines
- Sandwich bag for toiletries – travel toothbrush and toothpaste, small container of liquid soap, film canister of Ibuprofen, film canister of lotion, sunblock
- Specialized knee warmers
What I wore on and off the bike:
- Helmet
- cotton cycling cap
- prescription sunglasses
- Smartwool t-shirt
- Rapha Touring shorts – Get them on sale and they’re still expensive, but I love them and wear them almost every day.
- Aerotech Designs padded touring underwear
- Synthetic socks
- Good old fashioned sneakers (GOFS) – I’ve toured with clipless but prefer the simplicity and comfort of sneakers and platform pedals.
In my REI Flash 18L backpack
- Platypus 3L bladder and hose
- REI somethingorother rain jacket
- REI bicycle rain pants
- Showers Pass booties – It’s nice to have warm, dry feet.
- Wallet and passport
October 30th, 2012 in
Personal setups
ScottM on 
Dylan on 
AmosIv on 
Preston on 
Jesse on 
Martin on 
Rod on
Guess it’s true that you can be old-fashioned and new-fangled and the same time. The combination of GOFS and the iPad gave me a good chuckle but it makes sense.
How much clearance do you have on that rear pack? From the picture it doesn’t look like much. Liking the rigid fork and bars you went with though.
You’re right, Andy, there wasn’t much clearance between the rear bag and my tire, but it was enough to prevent rubbing, even on the bumpiest sections. A Revelate saddle bag would’ve been nice, but I don’t think I could have crammed everything in one. The Super C worked out really well.
That setup looks awesome! i have been thinking about a carradice bag for just such a purpose. We’re there any stability issues with the Super C setup either with the unit itself or handling wise on the tour?
I’m curious as to where you put a stove, cup and food items?
My cooking kit is in the super c. Basically, its a 1.3L ti pot with a cat can stove and windscreen. Extra food went in the super c side pockets, in the framebag, and in my mouth.
@eric – the bagman support does bob up and down. I was a bit worried it would break, but it didnt. Since i was traveling light, the saddle bag didnt affect the handling as far as i could tell.