Overpacked For AIDS/Lifecycle 2025
After my ALC2023, I jotted down a few packing notes. They came in handy packing for this year’s ride.
The big lesson from ALC2025 is that I overpacked. My new rolling duffel bag was packed to the brim, and that excluded a large sleeping pad strapped to the top. Here are my lessons.
What Worked Out Well?
- A ticker and more comfortable sleeping pad was a good call, even it didn’t fit inside the bag. The ultra compact thin backpacking sleeping bad is great for backpacking but there is no need to suffer that much.
- The new full size micro fiber towel is better than the tiny towel I had before.
- The REI rolling duffle bag worked so much better than the large luggage.
- The new camping lantern worked out fantastically, as did the small LED mirror to put in my contacts.
- My battery packs worked great and I didn’t have to recharge and linger in the charging tent. Charging there is slow.
- I used the Licodaine patches a few nights.
Prepared for the Worst
I packed a number of items, just in case. I was lucky that I did not needed them. Keep these for the future.
- Several extra inner tubes, a bike repair kit with brakes, derailleur hangers, tools. (I did forget extra CO2 canisters).
- Cold or wet weather cycling gear.
Overpacked
- There is not need to bring both Crocks and sports shoes: leave the sport shoes home.
- Only bring a single down puffer jacket and leave the bulky warm hoodie at home. Keep the beanie.
- There is also no need for the several shirts for in the evening. I barely used them. One to sleep in and two to wear underneath your down jacket. As you use it barely a few hours every day, you can reuse it throughout the week.
- There is no need for an extra cycling kit if you are already have one for every day. In the worst case, I wash and reuse one.
- I packed too many wooden clothes pins and barely use a handful of them.
- I didn’t end up using the bulky medical tape.
To Consider for the Future
- A small foldable backpacking chair.
- A massage roller. A foldable foam roller is less critical, as there were plenty in front of the sport medicine tent.
- A small thermos to keep coffee warm overnight, so you can skip the coffee line and can jumpstart your mornings.
- An extra drawstring bag to carry things around camp.
While there is no other AIDS/Lifecyle, this list may be handy for other multi-day cycling trips in the future.