Cycling holiday packing list
Panniers, a puncture repair kit, padded shorts and a rain jacket: the list for several days in the saddle, from one place to stay to the next, with everything on the bike.
Cycling holiday
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Combine it with a second list
A trip is often more than one list. Add a second one: matching sections are folded together and nothing appears twice.
Panniers, weight and order
On a cycling holiday you feel every kilo on the first climb. So lay out everything on the list and ask yourself of each item whether you really need it every day. Clothes can be washed on the way, shower gel and sun cream come in small bottles, and whatever is missing you can buy in the next town.
A fixed order helps in the panniers: one side for clothes, the other for kitchen things, tools and toiletries. Heavy things at the bottom, both sides the same weight. The handlebar bag holds what you want to reach without getting off: phone, money, sunglasses, a cereal bar. Rain covers or waterproof bags keep everything dry when a shower comes.
Tools for a breakdown on the road
A puncture happens on almost every longer tour. With a repair kit, a spare inner tube, tyre levers and a pump that fits, you are back on the bike in ten minutes. A multi-tool with the sizes of your bolts tightens a loose handlebar or saddle, and chain oil and a rag help after a day of rain.
Check the bike a few days before you set off, or have a bike shop look it over: brakes, tyres, chain and lights. If you ride an e-bike, the charger goes in your luggage, and you plan the stages so that you have power in the evening.
Clothes for sun, wind and rain
On the bike the weather changes faster than it feels. Padded cycling shorts make long stages bearable, and jerseys made of technical fabric dry quickly. Add a windproof jacket for descents, a rain jacket and rain trousers for wet days and a fleece for the evening. Arm and leg warmers turn short clothes into long ones when the morning is still cool.
For the evening, a light change of clothes with long trousers and shoes you like walking in is enough. Cycling gloves protect your hands in a fall and ease the strain on long stretches, and a thin cap under the helmet keeps off wind and sun.
What people forget on a cycling holiday
Often it is small things that save a stage: chamois cream against sore spots, cable ties for a loose mount, bungee straps for the shopping on the rack and a head torch for arriving after dark. The bike ticket for the train is easily overlooked too, until the train is already at the platform.
If you sleep in a tent rather than in guesthouses, combine the cycling holiday with the camping template. Add electronics for chargers, and before leaving for the home you leave behind. Matching sections are folded together and nothing appears twice.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pack for a multi-day cycling trip?
Clothes for sun and rain, tools for a breakdown, toiletries, documents and something to eat on the way. On the bike itself you need a lock, lights and bottles. Because you move everything yourself, it pays to take few clothes that mix well and to wash on the way. What you need every day goes in the handlebar bag, the rest in the panniers.
How do I pack panniers properly?
Heavy things go low and close to the bike, so into the rear panniers and as far forward as possible. Both sides should weigh about the same, or the bike will pull to one side. Light things such as sleepwear go on top, with the rain jacket and snacks within reach. Valuables, phone and map go in the handlebar bag, which you take with you at every stop.
What tools do I need for a cycling holiday?
For most breakdowns a puncture repair kit, a spare inner tube, tyre levers, a pump that fits your valves and a multi-tool with the sizes your bike uses are enough. Chain oil and a rag keep the drivetrain clean. Cable ties and duct tape hold a lot together until the next bike shop. Practise changing an inner tube once at home, before you have to do it at the roadside.
Can I take my bike on the train?
On many trains you can, but often only with a separate bike ticket and sometimes with a reservation for the bike space. On long-distance routes and in the high season those spaces go quickly. Which rules apply depends on the train and the country. Check them with the rail company before you travel and book both directions in good time.
How it works
“Start with this list” opens the template – once you have signed in with your email address.
Add more templates, such as “Before leaving” for the water, the heating and the plants. Nothing appears twice.
Create the list, tick it off, archive it after the trip – and pack it again next time.
Good to know
- Can I change the list?
- Yes. Your list is yours: add, rename, move and delete items. The template stays as it is.
- Does it cost anything?
- No. No subscription, no ads. All you need is an email address, no password.