The Packing Post

If you are planning a trip of any sort, you've probably encountered a mountain of advice about packing, solicited or not. If you're reading this, hopefully you're doing what I did: researching in excited anticipation of your trip! Unlike most bloggers, I do not currently have any sponsors or affiliates. All items here are provided simply because I purchased them myself.

1) Dry shampoo. I had heard about the wonders of dry shampoo but didn't purchase any until my last haircut before the trip. My stylist taught me how to use it and I bought a travel-sized spray can. I loved having it in my bag! I don't style or even blow-dry my hair. Still, when traveling there were days that I had to let my hair go unwashed a little longer than I would've liked, or had dinner reservations at the end of a day of cycling in the hot sun. Dry shampoo was an easy, no-hassle way to spruce up fast.

2) Cycling shorts. This is an item I didn't pack but should have. This trip was structured around cycling, after all, but I imagined leisurely rides with lots of stops. Honestly, that is mostly what we did, but several consecutive days of leisurely rides adds up to a sore rear that really could've used some cushion.

Reeuwijkse plassen, South Holland, Netherlands

3) Crocs. Perhaps I am biased as a Coloradan, but these shoes were objectively great for the trip. They added color to monochrome outfits, were classy enough for restaurants, passed for slippers at Spa Gouda, and functioned like flip flops at the beach and in locker room showers. I ended up using them far more than the ankle boots I packed for cooler weather and hiking.

Can't wait to get back!

4) Collapsible water bottles. It took us the entirety of our trip to figure out how to get free tap water at restaurants and other establishments in the Netherlands. We never figured out a way to access free potable water on trains. So these Platypus soft water bottles served us well. When empty, they cram easily into even overstuffed bags; great for airport security.

Overkill? Probably. But we lost two of them during the trip.

5) Compression socks or leggings. Jet lag wasn't too bad for me after our arrival, and I give partial credit to my compression leggings. If you plan to take long rides, they'll be useful for muscle recovery, too. They are light, take up very little space, and can be paired with a dress for versatility.

6) Travel towel. I doubted whether we would use this, and almost left it at home. About halfway through our trip, we moved it into our small packet of items to take everywhere, no matter the circumstances. It turns out The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy was right, one should always know where one's towel is. We used it as a blanket for a tired kid, a giant handkerchief for a nosebleed, a wipe to treat road rash, a shawl in unexpected cold, a picnic blanket and—yes—a towel. That said, one travel towel was plenty for our family of four; there is no need to pack one per person.

7) That's it. Seriously! It is nearly impossible to pack too little for a trip to any first-world country, especially during a warm season. As a friend assured me before my trip, almost every problem can be solved with a passport and debit/credit card. Here is a list of things I'd take again that you'll find on any packing list, but even these could've been purchased at our destination(s) without much hassle.

• Zip-off pants
• Rain jacket
• Swimsuit
• Sun hat
• Minimum quantity of clothing in quick-drying material. Try to pack only two tops, one bottom in addition to the cycling shorts and zip-off pants, and a dress for us gals. 4-5 pairs of underwear. Your compression socks are probably the only socks you need unless you never wear sandals.

We were able to pack one backpack per person, plus a packable bag for the whole family to use for overflow, laundry or shopping. I bought most of our backpacks at Arc Thrift, but splurged on this awesome convertible backpack pannier for my spouse. We averaged about 15 lbs. per person and in retrospect, I would've packed even lighter!

I over-packed.

Cold Weather Cycling Garb

It is almost 2016, and chances are you'd like to take care of your health in the coming year. As I've mentioned before, cycling is a great way to integrate exercise into your life, and one benefit of starting in winter is that it only gets easier and more pleasant as summer approaches. That said, I am a big fan of the Scandinavian adage: "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing." Here are some tips on what to wear for winter cycling.

For moderately cold weather:
1) Balaclava
2) Gloves or cycling mittens
3) Ibex sweater

A balaclava under your helmet will do wonders to keep you warm! This is superior to wearing a hood over your helmet (it will probably blow off frequently and will catch cold wind even if doesn't). Gloves are also critical. It is important to keep all of your extremities warm for comfort, but your feet are at a huge advantage when cycling due to all of the circulation happening in your legs. Cycling specific mittens that look like lobster claws are available, but I think almost any warm glove does the trick. Just make sure they have enough grip to operate your breaks and gearing. The only item in this list that is brand-specific is possibly the best clothing purchase I've ever made: The Ibex Boucle Hoodie. I wear this sweater almost every day because it is one of those magical garments that keeps me warm without overheating, whether the temperature is moderate or very cold. Added bonus: the hood is essentially a built-in balaclava because of the high-necked construction that zips all the way to the chin.

For very cold weather:
4) Water proof shell such as rain pants, rain coat and/or gators
5) Ski goggles
6) Face mask
7) Excellent socks (I love SmartWool)
8) Thermal underwear

This list is compiled from observations of Kevin heading out for his daily commute around this time of year, plus a few recommendations of my own. In Denver, moisture generally becomes more of a problem in the snowy winter months, hence the waterproof outer layer. That said, waterproof layers are notoriously efficient at sealing in body heat, so extremely cold days (even if dry) are a reasonable time to set aside your "breathable" outerwear and risk feeling a little too warm by the time you reach your destination. Ski goggles are key. On windy days, my eyes feel cold before anything else, and visibility is especially crucial on icy streets. A face mask can supplement your balaclava if your nose gets cold. Socks and thermal underwear are standards for cold weather under any circumstances, but a lot of people forget about them and how versatile they can be. Yes, you can wear ski socks and long underwear to work all day! No one will know and you will be cozy and warm!

For icy paths and pavement:
9) Yaktrax or microspikes
10) Wide snow tires

I just bought Kevin a pair of Kahtoola MICROspikes to replace his broken Yaktrax. Good traction on your feet is key for cycling on snow or ice. You'll be grateful for them any time you stop and put your foot down, and they can prevent a little slip during your ride from turning into a major crash. Obviously, don't use these with clipless (clip-in) pedals. Lastly, take the time to outfit your bike with winter tires. Your local bike shop can help you with this. Even if you can't fit wider tires on your bike, you should be able to get tires with good tread for winter.

If you try all of these and still aren't enjoying cold-weather riding, check out my cousin Kim's Alaskan snow bike adventures for more ideas!

BUnG it up!

In my last post I mentioned that, as a cargo cyclist hauling kids and gear around, it is impractical for me to focus on strength-to-weight ratio. I am also mostly unconcerned with equipment weight. Family biking is a totally different animal than competitive road cycling, so unless you're planning to cycle through the Grand Tetons (which I actually did with my dad in seventh grade, long before I considered myself a Cyclist), don't worry about added weight, especially if it provides durability, convenience, or reliability.

Our current bakfiets weighs about 75 pounds. Add two kids, a sturdy lock, water for everyone, and miscellaneous kid gear for another 75 pounds or more. That means I'm using my own power to propel at least 150 pounds, plus my own body weight, around town. With numbers like that, I figure it is worth adding a little weight for a lot of comfort. To highlight some of my favorite items, I have decided to start a series of posts on gear I love that would make weight-conscious cyclists' skin crawl. I'm calling it Best Unnecessary Gear: BUnG it up!

First item: I admit I took a page from the auto industry's book and outfitted my bike with not one, but two cup holders. Actually, I shouldn't take credit. Kevin (aka Daddy) purchased both cup holders for me, knowing my enthusiasm for hydration generally and decaf mochas specifically.

Any parents out there drink coffee?

The gadget on my handle bars is the PDW Bar-ista™. While it is not compatible with my Thermos® Nissan™ and a variety of children's sippy cups, it holds pretty much everything else, including standard cycling water bottles. At coffee shops, I usually order my coffee in a too-big cup so it doesn't spill on my ride. Bonus: Extra room for the whip cream I can justify by cycling around with a load of 150 pounds. The joy this item brings to my rides is well worth the extra 2.5 ounces of weight.

Even Thumper wants coffee.

Recipe for a Fall Ride

1) Cycle to the grocery store to pick up a bunch of canned goods, a couple of bell peppers, and whatever else you need to make Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Chili (it isn't very spicy unless you add more than a dash of cayenne).

2) Check tire pressure and gear. Gather helmets. Decorate bike(s), if desired.

3) Rest overnight.

4) Throw everything in the crock pot and cook on low while you ride around for anywhere from 4-12 hours.

5) Skip the croutons described in the recipe and serve the chili with tortillas, cornbread, biscuits, etc. We aren't vegan, so I use real mozzarella or Monterey jack cheese as topping.

Enjoy!

Options For Kids Who Don't Yet Ride Independently

I've received several inquiries about cycling with kids before they are ready for long rides, but are either too big or too energetic for trailers or box bikes.  We settled on the Follow Me tandem trailer. It allows kids to ride independently for part of the ride, then hook up to an adult's bike when they get tired or need help. We have also found that it can help kids get the feel of riding without training wheels, even if they aren't riding independently yet. It costs a lot to ship it from the UK, but we thought the benefits were worth the extra cost.

Other options we considered were the Trail-Gator and the Weehoo trailer. The Weehoo was eliminated because it MUST be used as a trailer. We are trying to minimize the amount of gear we buy, and we had already invested in an Islabike (more on this decision in another post) for our 5YO. The versatility of using the child's bike with or without the trailer attachment was very attractive, in addition to being convenient and space-saving. In fact, I frequently leave the Follow Me on my bike even when I don't have any kids with me.

The Trail-Gator is more affordable and available at Target, but we were concerned about reviews that said the child's bike tended to lean to one side or the other. It also is incompatible with one of our racks. As you can see, we need our racks:

We have friends who have a Weehoo and love it. One advantage is that your kid's rear will not get sore from a bike seat, so it might be better if you like to take REALLY long rides.

Using a tandem trailer takes a bit of practice. We taught our 5YO not to brake at all, ever, when attached to the adult bike. Then, we implemented a "red light, green light" method to let him know when to pedal harder and when he could put his feet down at a stop. It also helps to say, "Ready, set, green light!" when waiting at a stoplight so he has time to get his feet back on the pedals before we have to go.

One potential drawback is that neither the Trail-Gator nor the Follow Me are compatible with training wheels. So, if your kid is using training wheels, you'll have to remove them or re-orient them each time you use the attachment, then reset when done. That said, as I mentioned above, we found that the Follow Me was helpful in getting our child used to the feeling of riding without training wheels, even though he hasn't yet learned to cycle independently without them. The Trail-Gator website now offers flip-up training wheels for about $24. Please comment if you have used this product and would like to offer a review!

The Follow Me is Swiss design, and it shows. It is intimidatingly technical at first, but once you figure out where all the pins go and what the knobs do, it is easier than it looks. It caused some wear and tear on the rack we use with it (it started to pull off the rear light), but a bit of bike chain around the rack itself offered the needed support and prevented further damage.