Car Less Ohio

I’m getting ready to do a bicycle trip on the Ohio to Erie Trail. I’ll be riding from Cincinnati to Cleveland over five days. I’ll be staying in a motel one night, staying with relatives or friends two nights, and using contacts from Warm Showers another two nights. I won’t need any camping gear, so I’m packing pretty light.

The weather is supposed to be pretty pleasant, so for clothing, I’m able to save a lot of space by choosing cycling clothing that can double as casual clothing, and vice-versa.

I could have gone rack-less in true bikepacking style, but since most of my stuff fits in a trunk bag, I decided to use that. I have a Topeak MTX Explorer Tubular 29er Rear Disc rack. The Topeak bags work well with the rack to easily slide on and off, so I figured that would make it easy to take most of my stuff with me off the bike, should I feel that’s necessary. I’m using a small frame bag for a couple of extra items.

Wearing or carrying on my body:

• Helmet
• Cycling gloves
• Bib shorts
• Baggy knickers
• Long-sleeve lightweight wool jersey
• Socks
• Buff headband
• Road ID
• Waterproof wallet
• Lip balm
• Prescription sunglasses

Inside Revelate Designs Tangle Small Frame Bag:

• Chain lock
• Mini-pump
• Digital camera
• Smartphone with waterproof case and charger
• GU Brew electrolyte tablets
• Clif bars

Inside Topeak MTX EXP trunk bag with panniers:

• Bib shorts
• Socks (2)
• Wool t-shirt
• Underwear
• Lightweight fleece sweatshirt
• Toiletry kit (travel-sizes of toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, deodorant)
• 35mm film cannister as a pill bottle (pain relievers, anti-histamines, multi-vitamins)
• Sunscreen
• Body sponge and travel-size liquid body wash soap
• Pack towel
• Rain jacket
• Lightweight windbreaker jacket/vest
• Crocs shoes
• Spare eyeglasses
• Headlamp
• Spare inner tube
• Bike tool kit (inside Forest City Portage tool pouch):
  • Hex wrench set
  • Flat/phillips screwdriver
  • Chain tool with spoke wrenches
  • Leatherman multi-tool
  • Glueless patch kit
  • Tire boots
  • Spare derailer cable
  • Spare rack bolts, cleat bolts, chain links, master link
  • Tri-Flow lube sample size (2)
  • Small roll of duct tape
  • Rag
  • GoJo wipe for cleanup

I’ll be riding my Salsa Fargo bike. In addition to the Topeak rack, I have the Planet Bike Cascadia 29er fenders on it should the weather turn wet. I put two bottle cages on the fork mounts, plus a third bottle using the Revelate Designs Mountain Feedbag.

I have a Schmidt SON28 front dynamo hub and a Busch & Muller Luxos U headlight, which has a USB port on the remote handlebar switch, so I’ll be able to use that to keep my phone charged throughout the riding days. I use a Planet Bike SuperFlash Turbo USB taillight.

Next: Ohio to Erie Trail Tour: Prologue