It’s been almost 2 months since returning home from my bike touring adventure in New Zealand…

Revisiting my gear brings back great memories, including this picture taken in front of the South African War memorial in Omarau, South Island, NZ. The lion watching over me reminds me of my constant companion on my adventures, the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ.

In my experience and preference: GOING LIGHT IS RIGHT!

When I began my adventure, my bike and gear weighed 54 pounds (with water and food). With no water and food my bike and gear setup was 47 pounds (bike and gear only). This made a sizable difference in the enjoyment of riding my bike on tour. It allowed me to cover more miles, at a faster pace, with less fatigue. Ultimately, going light enabled me to keep my head up and enjoy the beauty that surrounded me. My choices also equipped me to travel into the backcountry, ride singletrack, and feel comfortable and fast on asphalt.

So for all the gear geeks out there (of which I count myself among you), here is a gear list from my New Zealand 2015 bike touring adventure:

– Specialized StumpJumper 29er Comp, 2013 (great all around bike for ultralight touring and bikepacking)

– Specialized Chisel Rigid Carbon Fork (incredible on washboard roads and super efficient on asphalt)

– Specialized Fast Trak Control Tires, 29 x 2.0 (tubeless, filled with Stans at 33 psi front and 37 psi rear)

– Blackburn Combo Cable Lock (simple, lightweight, and good for keeping honest people honest)
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