Gear for an 8-day, self-supported trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway
After cycling the entire Blue Ridge
Parkway twice (in 8 days each time), I have
figured out the types of items that I like
like to bring. My gear weighed
about 40 lb, not counting about 10 lb of water (152 oz
in a Camelback and three water bottles).
There are many notes below giving explanations for many of the items. Click here for an Excel version of the list.
In planning for an 8-day trip, don't count breakfast on the first day or dinner on the last day. It is also nice to eat out occasionally, especially when there is some interesting or nice local place to do so. I plan on the following:
7 breakfasts - eat out 3, pack 4
8 lunches - each out 2, pack 6
7 dinners - eat out 3, pack 4
There are many notes below giving explanations for many of the items. Click here for an Excel version of the list.
In planning for an 8-day trip, don't count breakfast on the first day or dinner on the last day. It is also nice to eat out occasionally, especially when there is some interesting or nice local place to do so. I plan on the following:
7 breakfasts - eat out 3, pack 4
8 lunches - each out 2, pack 6
7 dinners - eat out 3, pack 4
| Food & Cooking | Notes |
| Oatmeal packs (10) | Two per day |
| Power Bars (9) | I might eat 3 per day, but I don't carry all 24 as similar items can be found along the way. |
| Pita (6) | Bread is fine, but is harder to pack. |
| Peanut Butter (sm. Jar) | |
| Tuna (2 packs) | |
| Honey/Jam (small packets) | |
| Dehydrated dinners(4) | I like the Mountain House dinners (for two). |
| JetBoil stove | Boil 1 cup for oatmeal, 2 cups for dehydrated meals, and some for hot chocolate. |
| JetBoil fuel (1 can/person) | One small can of fuel (3.53 fl oz) is good for at least 20 cups. |
| Bowl for oatmeal | |
| Utensils (Note 9) | Bring sturdy utensils. Cheap plastic utensils break easily. |
| Gatorade (8) | I used 24 oz. of gatorade daily. I stored the powder in small "snack size" zip lock bags. |
| Napkins/Paper towels | |
| Handi-wipes | |
| Cup | Nice for hot chocolate or coffee (or use the cup that comes with the Jet Boil) |
| Hot chocolate | Very nice on a cold night around the campfire. Easy item to re-stock along the way. |
| Fresh fruit/snacks | Good items to look for when we hit stores or visit small towns. |
| Clothing | Notes |
| cycling shorts (3) | |
| long cycling pants (1) | |
| short sleeve jerseys (2) | |
| long sleeve jerseys (2) | |
| socks (4 pairs) | |
| underwear (5) | |
| biking jacket | |
| raincoat & rain pants | Rain gear is essential to stay warm. A long downhill at 50 degrees in the rain is incredibly cold. |
| helmet cover | Optional, but nice if you have to ride in the cold rain all day! |
| camp clothes (shorts/shirt) | It is so nice to get out of biking shorts for a while! |
| camp shoes & socks | |
| washcloth & small towel | |
| soap (bar), shampoo | |
| toothbrush, toothpaste, floss | |
| chapstick | |
| mosquito spray | I have never had a problem with bugs on the BRP, but you never know! |
| Advil | |
| bathroom tissue | |
| sweat headband | |
| comb | |
| suntan lotion | |
| washing clothes | There are a couple of places where you can wash clothes: Miller's Campground - MP247 (Day 5) |
| and Mt. Pisgah Inn - MP408 (Day 7). You can generally buy laundry detergent and get change for machines | |
| here also, so don't bother carrying laundry detergent. | |
| Bicycle | Notes |
| Gloves | |
| Helmet | |
| Rear Paniers | |
| Front Panniers | Most cyclists use both front and rear, but it is possible to get by with just rear panniers. |
| Handlebar bag | |
| Rear rack bag | |
| Pump | |
| Computer | |
| Shoes | |
| Bicycle lock | It is nice to lock bicycles while in restaurants and when visiting Grandfather Mountain (2 hrs). |
| Extra tubes (2), tire patch kit | |
| Small tool kit | |
| Lube | |
| Inclinometer | Not necessary, but I like checking the grade of the road (available at www.adventurecycyling.org). |
| Rear flashing light | One or two bright flashing lights is a must for going through the 27 tunnels on the BRP. |
| Front light | A simple flashing LED light for going through the tunnels. |
| Camelback | Water may not be available for stretches of up to 40 miles. You can go through incredible amounts of water |
| when climbing if it gets sunny. I use a 70 oz Camelback and three 24 oz bottles. When I know that water | |
| is available I don't fill them all. The Camelback helps when climbing as you get unsteady on a loaded bike at 5 mph. | |
| Camping | Notes: |
| Tent | I use a 2-man tent that weighs about 4.5 lb. |
| Sleeping bag | I use a down sleeping bag rated for down to 30 degrees that weighs 2 lb. |
| Air mattress (3/4 length) | Self-inflating Therma-Rest or similar. |
| waterproof sack for sl. bag | Plastic bags are OK, too. |
| Net bag for clothes | Another way to try and dry clothes while you ride. |
| plastic dropcloth | To keep the bottom of your tent clean. |
| Camp pillow | You can also use spare clothes in a stuff sack or bag. |
| Miscellaneous | Notes: |
| Candle/matches | Candles work well for starting campfires. |
| Camera | |
| Cell phone/charger | The bathrooms in the campgrounds have electric outlets. |
| Phone card | Cell phone coverage is not very good at times. Some campgrounds have pay phones. |
| Maps/Elevation Charts | I photocopied (reduced) maps,elevation charts, and much more from Bicycling the Blue Ridge Parkway by Skinner. |
| I can't imagine doing this ride without the elevation charts! I found it very important to know whether I was starting | |
| a 1 mile climb or a 20 mile climb. The book also has info on bicycle shops and motels for emergencies. | |
| Phone numbers | |
| Journal/book/Bible/etc & pens | |
| Cash & credit cards | Credit cards are not always accepted. |
| Checks for campgrounds | The campgrounds accept checks (payable to National Park Service - $14.00/site) |
| Change | A few quarters might come in handy for washing machines, drink machines, etc. |
| First aid kit | |
| Extra plastic bags (Note 19) | Bring lots of bags! They are nice to separate clean, dirty, wet, and dry clothes. I put most items in bags in case |
| panniers leak in the rain. | |
| Twine (clothesline, general use) | |
| Pocket knife | |
| Flashlight | |
| Driver's license, health ins. card | |
| Stamps/Addresses (for post cards) | |
| Duct tape, tie straps, rubber bands | |
| Bungee cords | Good for securing wet clothes to your rear bag to let them dry while you ride. |
| Watch (with alarm) | |
| Sharing items is a good way to reduce weight. It takes some coordination, but here are some ideas: | |
| Sharing items | Notes: |
| Stoves/fuel | One person brings a stove and others split up the fuel cannisters. |
| Tools, pumps ?? | Some self-sufficiency is good as groups sometimes split up and regroup later in the day. |
| First aid kit | |
| Clothesline | |
| Bicycling the BRP book | |