[image of our bikes](https://imgur.com/a/WGJQz9d)
3500miles (60 riding days) from Washington state to Eastern Ontario. We used the ACA maps till Sault Ste. Marie, where we crossed into Canada. Used Google bike routes, bike paths and Maps.me for navigation through Canada. Our setup was mostly a bikepacking setup: Ortlieb fork bags and Revelate Designs frame, seat and handlebar bags.
Some (hopefully) helpful takeaways:
– room was tight, but the bikepacking LIGHT setup was much better than hauling full panniers.
– brought 2L collapse able Platypus and nylon string backpack for times we hauled water or food to camp
– a 40 tooth low gear on Shimano GRX x2 worked great, just turn off the rear derailleur clutch to reduce chain tension (shifts easier from lowest gear). 21 gear inches was lovely.
– Maps.me is a great FREE app… get it!
– loved my Selle Anatomica X saddle, my wife loved her Terry Butterfly
– dried our our stuff in motels after wet days camping
– used Warm Showers a few times… met great hosts!
– Schwalbe Marathon tires were amazing… could easily run another 3500 miles. Only 4 total flats too – all were thin wires (truck steel belt tire scraps). Wider tire width was great, no pinch flats and no issues with gravel
– air mattresses were great upgrades to our old foam mattresses
– Ortlieb fork bags and Revelate bags worked flawlessly. Mostly water tight aside from the Revelate Designs frame bag zippers.
Hit me with question if you have any.
Cheers and happy touring!!!
by Big_Baseball_72