The old bike!
The new bike!
I have had the old bike for about two years and have been using it for training. It is unsuitable for carrying panniers and the other kit that I will need so I sought the advice of the team at CyclesUK @ Basildon. There were two options - A Dawes Galaxy fully equipped touring bike or a Marin Lucas Valley fast City bike which could be upgraded to add a pannier rack and all the bits I needed. I decided to go with the Marin as this would be a better bike for social cycling post challenge.
To find out more about the bike you can go to the following web site:
http://www.cyclesuk.com/116-201129
I took a pair of Altura Dryline 32 litre panniers which stayed dry throughout - excellent kit
Pannier 1:
Pair of Trainers for the evening
Two pairs of socks
Charger for mobile phone
Travel wash for clothes
Two pairs of pants
Small towel
Waterproof trousers
Wareproof Jaccket
Washing bag (shaving kit/Tooth brush & paste)
Lightweight towel
Cycle lock
Cycle leggins
High Vis Jacket
Pannier 2:
Fleece
Spare pair of cycling shorts
Shorts & T shirt for bed
Spare pair of cycling (padded) boxer shorts
T shirt for cycling
Lightweight long sleeve top for the evenings
Long sleeve T shirt for cycling
Lightweight Trousers for the evenings
Neck tube
Not shown is a small plastic box that has some medicine and first aid stuff including vaseline!
I was wearing one pair of padded boxer shorts, one pair of cycling shorts, a long sleeve T shirt, a short sleeve T shirt a pair of socks, a pair of trainers and a "string vest" type high vis jacket.
On the bike I also had a dryline handlebar bag which also stayed dry throughout.
In this I carried my phone, money, sunglasses, some food and all the other last minute things that might come in handy (I did use everything including the sunglasses!)
I also had laminated my route maps which went in the map pocket on the top.
I had two seat packs, one of which sat on the rack in between the two panniers. In here I had spare tubes and tools etc.
I took a elastic clothes line which I used most nights to dry out mu hand rinsed washing.
I also took with me my MP3 player with a small speaker that went in a small waterproof pack that attached to the cross bar.
Really good bit of kit for £6.99