Kitlist (or, What Is All That Shit You're Carrying?)

A few people have asked me about my kit and how I organise it. Since I wanted to take an inventory here in Dubai and see if there was any weight I could do without, I took the opportunity to write this list. Only read on if you're that bored. Rather than try to categorise anything, I've just listed where on the bike it goes.

The reason for the organisation is to have my most valuable/nickable items in the front two panniers where I can lift them off quickly, with the front right pannier being the things I tend to use most often. Getting the weight distribution just so is another factor, too. And of course, after four months this is where I'm used to things being.

I've also written a 5,000-mile review of my kit, which goes into more depth about the equipment, and you can see this here.

This is everything I have with me in Dubai. I'll be adding a mozzie net for India.

FRONT RACK

Sleeping bag
Silk sleeping bag liner
Bivvy bag
Sleeping mat
Tent (without poles)

FRONT RIGHT PANNIER

Patches
Chain lubricant
Electrical tape
Brake cable x 1
Pedal bearings
Spokey
4 mm Allen key
5 mm Allen key
Matches
Toe strap
Chain splitter
Plastic bag
Elastic band
Cable ties x lots
Innertubes x 2
Leatherman Skeletool (knife, pliers, wire cutters and screwdriver plus various torx and Allen key fittings)
Cone spanner
Gaffer tape around spanner
Next Best Thing 2 (lightweight tool for removing cassette)
Gear cable x 1
Security key for hub skewers
6 mm Allen key
Pump adaptor for using presta valves with a schrader pump
Cable ties
Velcro strap
Nuts and bolts
Dog Dazer
iPod
Camera
Sketch pad and pencil
Spare pencil
Compass
Wallet containing cash, second Credit card and second bank card, copy of passport, plus contact lens and spectacle prescriptions
Glasses case
Sunglasses
Hip flask
Pritt stick
Pens
Marker pen
Journal and notes
Current map (which is usually on top of the luggage on the front rack so I can see it when I'm riding)
Current phrasebook
Head torch

FRONT LEFT PANNIER

Sony ebook
Spare cash and travellers' cheques
Insurance documents
Spare passport photos
Spare batteries (AA x 4 and AAA x 4)
Dynohub charger and leads
Portapow USB battery
USB cable
USB battery charger
iPod/iphone cable
Spare SD cards
MP3 player which takes a AAA battery
Spare earphones
Various charging bits
Freeloader solar charger
Wind up radio
Collins Guide to the Night Sky
Pen
White gold
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

REAR LEFT PANNIER

Trangia
Optimus stove plus spares
Matches
Zippo
GI tin opener x 2
Sandwich bags
Tinfoil
Bowl
Cups x 2
Clips and stuff for sealing food
Food (varies, but always enough porridge and pasta/noodles for one day and usually more)

REAR RIGHT PANNIER

water filter (Katadyn Pocket) and puritabs
Baby wipes
Soap
Shower gel
Comb
Deodorant
Razor
Nail clippers
Lip balm
Contact lens case x 2
Spare lenses
Lens solution
Eye drops
Savlon
Antiseptic wipes
Immodium
Anti histamines
Plasters
Pro plus
Ibuprofen
Paracetamol
Earplugs
Multivitamins
Suncream
Dry wash
Rain jacket
Heavy duty rubble bag
Spare bottle
Tyvex sheet for use as groundsheet
Maps for future destinations
Phrasebooks for future destinations
Fifteen litre water carrier
Tubes x 3
Space blanket
Gear cable
Brake cable
Kevlar spoke
Cable ties x lots
Waterproof matches
Repair kit for sleeping mat
Heavy duty cable ties x 2
Lotsa patches and glue
Length of rope
Spare clip for panniers
Nuts and bolts
Spare brake pads x 3
Shimano synonym connector
Tiny backpack
Bandages
Plasters
Antihistamines
Pro plus
Ibuprofen
Paracetamol
Immodium
Needle and thread
Tape
Antiseptic wipes
Soluble aspirin
Doxycycline (for malaria) - 6 month supply...
Kryptonite mini D lock and cable
Lightweight combination lock

REAR RACK

tent poles
Travel towel
Cycling top x 2
Merino t shirt x 2
Lusso cycling shorts
Aldi socks x 2
Woolly socks
Buff
Merino buff
Altura night vision gloves
Spesh BG Gel mitts
Camo arm warmers
Fleece
Rapha soft shell jacket
Craghopper trousers
Leg warmers
Cap
Boxer shorts
overshoes
Jingas (lightweight shoes for off the bike)
[that's all my clothes apart from my shoes - feel free to assume I'm wearing some of them at any given time! Anything not in use goes into a stuffsack]

ON THE BIKE FRAME

Spare spokes x 20 (ten of both lengths: the rear drive side spokes are the same length as the front spokes)
Spare tyre (Panaracer Pasela 1.5")
Topeak Road Morph pump
Cannondale mini pump
Optimus fuel
Trangia fuel

ON MY PERSON

Passport
Cash
Wallet
Credit Card
Bank card
Phone

I do occasionally move things about so that's not set in stone. The rear right pannier is the hardest to organise as it's stuff I use fairly frequently, and inevitably the thing I want at any given moment ends up at the bottom.

By the way, I didn't throw anything away - it's all stuff that I need. Although I am fitting the spare chain and cassette. Or at least the spare chain.