This is my second attempt biking from Halifax to Toronto. Last summer I made it 925km and sprained my wrist trying to ride through a storm in the Appalachians. I hurt myself when trying to get my bike over a fallen tree.
I spent a year preparing and I'm at it again.
I made a few changes.
I'm biking Toronto to Halifax so the wind is at my back.
I brought a 3x4m ultralight tarp so I always have a dry spot for my bike and dinner.
I brought a calloused mind that is prepared for shit to go wrong.
Last year was easy in comparison.
There's been some hard days lately.
110km in 40°C heat. I got heat stroke.
I crashed and got road rash.
I had to replace both tires.
My seat tension bolt broke in half.
A careless waiter knocked my bike over and snapped the rack.
Three bolts snapped on gravel roads.
I got lost many times.
Despite all that, I keep going. 1300km done, I'm more than half way done the greatest adventure of my life. Remember that failure, is growth. You just have to keep trying.
Gear list in the comments.
by 90sMax
4 Comments
Bikepacking List
#TREK DOMANE AL2 GEN 2
ABUS Bordo Lite Mini 6055, Axiom Streamliner Disc DLX Rack, BiKase Adjustable Bike Cage x4
Brooks B17 Saddle, Continental GP5000 AllSeason TR 28c, Garmin etrex 20x, Lezyne 400XL, Planet Bike Blinky Superflash x2, SKS , S-Board Front Fender, Shimano PD-M520 Pedals, VeloChampion Dual Bottle Cage Holder, Xlab Torpedo, Zipp VukaClip Alumina Evo Extensions
#MEC SCOUT TARP X LARGE 4x3M
MSR Reflective Utility Cord Kit, MSR Tent Guylines (4 Pack) x2
#APIDURA LONG TOP TUBE PACK 2L
510 Battery + Cart, Bivy Bag Pole, Folding Carbon Fiber Pole 1.5m, USB C to Aux, Waterproof Sony Earbuds
#BLACKBURN ELITE FRAME BAG 6L
Baby Wipes, Chamois Butt’r Original 235mL, Continental Tube in Box, Dermatone Lip, Sunscreen, Facial Tissues
First Aid
>Anti Diarrhea (Loperamide) x3
>Antibiotic Ointment
>Blister Patches Various Sizes
>Elastoplast Tough 6cm x 10cm x8
>Emergency Whistle
>Firestarter x2
>Glacier Gel Burn Dressings x2
>Gravol x4
>Scissors
>Silnylon Repair Patch
>Small File x2
>Sterile Pad x2
>String + Needle + Buttom
>Tick Remover Card
>Tweezers
Glasses + Case,
Great Outdoors 30% Spray 150mL,
Neon Yellow Pearl Izumi Padded Gloves,
Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap,
SOL Emergency Bivy,
Sea to Summit Bug Net,
Small Microfiber Towel,
Sunglasses + Case,
Think Sport Zinc Oxide 50SPF 177mL,
Tool Kit
>3, 4 & 5mm L Shape Allen Keys
>Bag of Backup Bolts
>Brooks Wrench
>Chain Holder
>Crank Brother M19 + Chain Breaker
>Crank Brothers Tire Levers
>Derailleur Hanger
>Mini Bike Pump
>Pair of Vinyl Gloves
>Plastic Gloves x4
>Quick Link x2
>Schrader Valve Core Adapter
>Small Hook Tool
#AXIOM ICEPACK TRUNK BAG 9L
GSI Glacier Folding Knife, LokSak Medium Smell Proof Bag, LokSak Small Smell Proof Bag, Methanol Bottle 100mL x3, MSR Spork Folding Utensil, Nescafe Gold Espresso, Plastic Asian Soup Spoon, Pre Workout (Beta-alanine, Arginine), Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
#ORTLIEB B.ROLLER PANIER 1 20L
NOOK Simple Touch E-Reader, Sea to Summit Aeros Pilllow, Tubes x2
@PANIER 1 (A) TRASH COMPAC BAG
Hobibear Wide Barefoot Shoes
@PANIER 1 (B) TOP CUBE
Boxer Underwear x2, Drybag x2, LolSak Medium Smell Proof Bag Backup, MEC Blaze Nylon Technical Shirt x2, Medium Socks, Merino Tube Scarf, Prana Nylon Convertible Cargo Pants, Thick Socks, Tilly Hat
@PANIER 1 (C) MIDDLE CUBE
Blue Patagonia Down Jacket (no Hood), Blue Patagonia Merino Wool Baselayer, Cycling Bib Backup, Cycling Socks Backup, Highlighter Yellow Castelli Windbreaker, Large Ziplock x5, Medication, Red MEC T3 Long Underwear, Thin Fabric Gloves
@PANIER 1 (D) BOTTOM CUBE
Anker 150w Fast Charger
Blue Cube
>Afterbite Gel
>Aloe Vera 30mL
>Elastic Cord 30cm
>Emergency Contact Lenses
>Guardian Buzzaway Bite Relief
>Hydrogen Peroxide 10mL
>N95 Mask
>Pristine Water Purification System
>Tiny Plastic Funnel
Charging Cables
Gear Repair
>Air Matress Patches
>Mesh 20cm x 10cm x2
>Sil Nylon Stickers Various Sizes x20
>Sil Nylon Tape 15cm x 7.5cm x2
>Thermarest Instant Field Repair Kit
>Vinyl Tape 15cm x 7.5cm x2
>Zip Ties (2 Small 2 Large)
Mesh Bag
>Antifungal Cream (Clotrimazole)
>Cue Tips
>Dental Floss
>Ear Plugs on String
>Eye Mask
>Toothpaste
>Travel Toothbrush
Microfiber Glasses Cloths, Microfiber Towel + Dry Bag, Sleeping Quilt Straps, Small Ziplock Freezer Bag x6, Tubes x2,
Ziplock Small Smart Snap Bowl
>Chain Lube 50mL
>Degreaser 30mL
>Gorilla Gel Super Glue
>Gorrilla Super Glue
>Permethrin 0.5% 5ml
#ORTLIEB B.ROLLER PANIER 2 20L
Anker Prime Power Bank 250W,
CASTELLI Commuter Reflex Jacket,
Cooking Setup
>Evernew 400mL Titanium Mug
>Evernew 900mL Ti Pot/Frying Pan
>Exotac nanoSTRIKER XL Ferrocerium
>GSI 77197 500ml Plastic Mug
>GSI Compact Spatula and Scraper
>Microfiber Towel
>Plastic 80mL Scoop
>Salt
>Scrub Daddy Bottom Jaw
>Trail Designs Fissure Ti-Tri Inferno
>Trail Designs Simmer Ring
Glad Press and Seal Saran Wrap,
MEC Hydrocycle Rain Pants
Mesh Bag
>Mountain Laurel Designs UL Gaiters
>Mountain Laurel Designs UL Rain Mitts
>Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cape
Mountain Laurel Designs Xmid + Skirt + Bug Net,
Sea to Summit Light Compression 8L
>Revelation 800 6°C Regular/Wide Quilt
Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme Liner,
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm,
Trail Designs Solar Mylar Bag x4,
Ziplock Bag
>BENNETT 8x12ft Clear 2 Mil Drop Cloth
>MSR Mini Groundhog Tent Pegs x9
>MSR Groundhog Tent Pegs x2
>Facial Tissue Backup
>Baby Wipe Backup
>Electrical Tape
Happy to see I’m not the only one with a BTA bottle!
I feel kinda stupid for asking, but what’s the critter swimming in photo 11?
Do you never find yourself in need of more storage like having forkpacks?