GDMBR Gear Recap: What Worked, What Didn’t

In general, we were really happy with our gear. Of course there are always things to be learned and tweaks to be made so here is our original gear list with notes summarizing our thoughts.

Shared Gear

Tools/Repair/Maintenance

• Crank Brothers multi-tool 19

• Dynaplug tool (x2)

• Dynaplugs (x7)

• Master links for chain (x2)

• Pipe cleaner for Dynaplug

• Bacon strips (2 sheets)

• Glueless patch kit x1

• Pump (x2)

• Spare valve cores (x2)

• Tire boot (x3)

• Tire levers x 3

• Mini leatherman

• Chain cleaning brush

• Nylon thread

• Curved needle

• Spare rotor screw

• Spare washer

• Spare fork mount screw

• Spare dynamo connectors

• Valve stem tool

RECAP: We were really lucky and didn’t have any tire issues so didn’t need many of these items. We used the valve stem tool, chain cleaning brush, tire levers, mini-leatherman, pump, and multi-tool frequently. The chain cleaning brush was super clutch - it was used daily for bike cleaning and especially came in handy when we got stuck in peanut butter mud. The mud got smooshed in between each chain link and dried quickly, form-fitted and nestled stubbornly between each link. The bristles on the brush were just the ticket for pushing out that little nugget of mud in each link. And the curved, rigid, pointy handle of the brush was really handy for scraping mud off the bike and wheels. We wouldn’t make any changes to the kit.

First Aid

• Band-aids - 10 assorted

• Antibiotic ointment

• Alcohol wipes

• Benadryl

• Pepto diarrhea tabs

• Gauze pads

• Tegaderm

• Tweezers

• Safety pins

• Rubber gloves

• Tylenol

• Steri-strips

• Sting & bite wipes

RECAP: We didn’t need most of this thankfully. Sarah used a piece of Tegaderm in the first few days of her saddle sore saga but it rolled into a ball within the first few hours of riding so that was the end of that. And she got a whole other set of supplies for caring for her saddle sore for the rest of the trip so the first aid kit was otherwise untouched. We wouldn’t make any changes here.

Cooking

• Stove

• Sea to Summit collapsible pot

• Gas canister

RECAP: We probably wouldn’t change anything here either unless deciding to go ultralight and not bring any cooking gear at all. It worked great.

Sarah’s Gear List

Wearable

• ArcTeryx Cerium down puffy jacket

• ArcTeryx Atom SL jacket

• OR Helium jacket

• Patagonia Houdini pants

• 1 long sleeve lightweight wool

• 7Mesh short sleeve jersey

• Patagonia sun hoody

• Pearl Izumi Studio 3/4 capris x2

• Smartwool undies x 1

• Smartwool 150 long underwear

• Brooks bra

• Smartwool buff

• Pearl Izumi sun sleeves

• 3 prs of Darn Tough socks (2 riding, 1 sleeping)

• REI Gore-tex rain overmitts

• Pearl Izumi Divide gloves

• La Sportiva TX4 approach shoes

• Salomon Adv Skin 5L hydration vest

• Rx sunglasses

• Pearl Izumi PRO AmFIB toe covers

• Patagonia Running Skort

• Short sleeve Smartwool 150 tee

RECAP: In general, I was happy with my choices with one major impactful one: the decision to not bring anything with a chamois. Everything I’d read advised to go without chamois because they are very hard to keep clean on the ride. I trained without a chamois and all was good. Until then it wasn’t on the ride. The back to back big days over a longer span of time with a full load and specific road and climbing conditions are really hard to mimic precisely in training and I learned that the hard way, with a one-inch long oozing sore that formed within the first week. I had only brought two pairs of tights with me - neither with a chamois - so I had my husband ship me a pair in Wyoming. In the future, I will likely bring two pairs of shorts with chamois and will alternate and hand wash/dry whichever one I’m not wearing. Having that extra layer of buffer between skin and saddle was critical and allowed me to do the second half of the ride in much less pain than the first.

I loved my Patagonia sun hoody so much that I wore it almost every day. I only wore the 7mesh short sleeved jersey once or twice. For my next hot weather trip, I will probably just bring two of the sun hoodies.

I hated my rain overmitts and rain pants. The mitts kept my hands warm when wet but they were not grippy at all so descending with them was treacherous and I couldn’t do anything at all requiring manual dexterity while wearing them. That meant having to take them off to eat or remove my hood or pee. Very inconvenient. Next time I will probably just bring an extra pair of gloves that are warmer and maybe water-resistant. My Patagonia Houdini rain pants were king of terrible for cycling. They kept me warm when wet and were tiny and lightweight when packed which I was grateful for but they were very baggy, sagged a lot when wet, and didn’t have a zipper at the ankle for easy on/off without taking off shoes. I was constantly having to hike them back up while riding, trying to roll or fasten them on my right leg so they wouldn’t get hung up on my chainring, etc. I’ll need to find a different solution.

Otherwise, I was really happy with everything. My OR Helium jacket is old and even with treatment, no longer water resistant, so needs to be replaced soon but it did its job in keeping me warm when wet. My ArcTeryx Atom SL jacket was perfect - and even made a great pillow every night. My La Sportiva shoes were perfect for my very wide feet which is awesome because I had been looking for the right pair of shoes for over a year before finding them.

I almost didn’t bring the short sleeve Smartwool and running skort but was so glad I did. This gave me something comfortable to wear when we were in town or doing laundry.

Camp/Food/Water

• Thermarest NeoXair sleeping pad

• Nemo Hornet 1P tent

• Nemo tent footprint

• Feathered Friends Egret 30 sleeping bag

• Katadyn BeFree 1L

• Water purifier tablets (x10)

• 2L Hydrapak Seeker reservoir

• Water bottle for cage

• Water bottle for feedbag

• Lighter

• Sea to Summit collapsible mug

• Spork

• Opsak bag x 1

• Nylon cordage for hanging bag

• 1 gallon ziploc for trash

• Bandana

• Mosquito head net

RECAP: I wouldn’t make any changes here. I only used the mosquito head net once but it’s so small and lightweight that I’d still bring it next time because mosquito bites on your cheek and forehead suck. My sleeping bag was the perfect warmth (on the colder nights I kept my down puffy in the bag with me) and the Thermarest performed exactly as expected. The Nemo tent was awesome - lightweight, easy to pack, held up well to the most bizarre and violent short windstorm I’ve ever experienced. I only used the Opsak once but I wouldn’t leave it behind next time.

Personal Care/Safety

• Baking soda

• Floss

• Bite guard

• Toothbrush

• Washcloth

• Dr Bronners

• Sunscreen

• A&D ointment

• Kula cloth pee rag

• Bug spray

• Lip balm

• Toilet kit (wipes, sanitizer, bags, TP)

• Tampons, pantiliners

• Helmet

• Bear spray

• Driver's License

• 2 Credit cards

• Debit card

• Insurance card

• Living will card

• Cash

• Reflective ankle straps x2

• Ear plugs

• Ibuprofen

RECAP: No changes here either. Special shout out on the Kula Cloth pee rag. Before this trip, I thought a pee rag seemed like a weird and unnecessary waste of space and weight but now I’m a total convert. It’s a game changer. Thanks Caroline for the suggestion!

Tools/Parts

• Spare tube

• Zip ties

• Sealant

• Lube

• Chain rag

• Brake pads - 1 set

• pump

• electrical tape

• duct tape

• Tenacious tape

RECAP: A couple of big changes here. I’d bring 3 sets of brake pads. I only brought one set as a backup because I was advised that the new pads I started the ride with would last the whole way. This route destroys pads. Next time, I would still start with new pads and would bring 3 sets with me - 2 sets as replacements for half way and an extra set as backup. Given the parts shortage, I would also have shipped myself a chain to halfway. I was advised a new chain would last the whole trip but it didn’t. We were lucky and were able to get a replacement in Pinedale but if I had to do it over, I wouldn’t risk it and would just ship one to myself. Lastly, I’d add a pair of latex gloves for daily chain cleaning. Irena had some and I was envious every morning when I cleaned my chain and had hands coated in dirty lube.

Electronics

• Viz 360 helmet light

• Anker PowerCore Slim 10,000 PD battery

• GoalZero Venture 30 battery

• USB-C cable

• Anker USB-C wall charger

• Wahoo Elemnt Roam

• Micro-USB cable x 2

• Phone

• Phone cable

• Ear buds

• Sinewave Beacon

• SPOT Gen4

• Beacon AC/USB cable

• Beacon right angle cable

RECAP: Everything here except the Beacon right angle cable and the built-in cable with the Goal Zero batteries worked really well. Fortunately, I had brought an extra micro-USB cable with me so the two cable failures didn’t leave me without juice so that is a key learning — cables fail easily, bring an extra. With the dynamo hub keeping the Goal Zero battery and Wahoo topped off daily, I really didn’t need the extra Anker battery but it gave me peace of mind to have it so I’d probably still bring it along next time.

Special shout-out on the Wahoo Elemnt Roam. We didn’t have any navigational issues and didn’t have to waste any precious brain cells (i.e. calories) on figuring out where to go. The Wahoo did all of that for us seamlessly. Some other riders we encountered who were using other devices that shall remain unnamed had navigational challenges (one pair even did thousands of feet of unnecessary climbing as a result). Yay Wahoo!