Nat Bromhead
Bicycling Australia magazine has teamed up with Australian watch manufacturer Adina for an exciting competition with a $745 Adina watch up for grabs! All you need to do to enter is post a photo from a bike-packing or bicycle touring trip on the Bicycling Australia Facebook page. We’ll choose the best photo and announce the winner on December 1.
Why an Adina watch? That’s simple. Adina’s an Australian manufacturer and Grant Menzies, the man in charge, is a mad-keen bicycle touring enthusiast as you’ll see here. We asked Grant his tips on how to pack for a bike-packing adventure, here’s what he said.
Packing right is the key to a memorable bike-touring trip, if you don’t need it don’t take it.‘We have a saying when we pack for a trip if any item of clothing is brought and not used with the exception of functional hardware it will be burnt!
Ten years ago, my (now) wife agreed to join me on a ride across Cambodia and southern Vietnam. The catch was I agreed to carry everything for the two of us. When the time came for me to pack our panniers she had very neatly laid out across a queen size bed cocktail dress with matching shoes and handbags, all manner of clothes for almost any occasion and to top it off a fully stocked cosmetic case!
Her idea of cycle touring came crashing down around her when I said it was fine to bring it all as long as it fit in the rear Ortlieb pannier I was holding up! Needless to say, she culled down and we had an incredible first trip together.
Ten years, six trips and 9000km later packing for us and our 4 children (currently aged 8,6 and our twins are 4) could not be more important. Considering we require everyday clothes for the six of us, every type of outer-wear to suit all climatic conditions, that vest fleeces rani jackets etc as well as 2 tents, 6 sleeping bags 6 sleeping mats, cooking gears and of course a large repair kit! I remember for years we were carrying formula and nappies for the babies!
The Menzies’ use quality panniers and a Bob trailer to carry all they need for family bike-touring trips across Europe.Currently we are travelling with 4 bikes, a bob trailer and a double chariot kids trailer. As Nichole and I are the the only ones carrying any load we have opted to split the load over 8 panniers a rear roll bag and of the bob trailer.
Packing and unpacking becomes an important ritual as nothing is more frustrating than having to dig through half a dozen panniers to find what you are looking for.
I guess the moral of the story is take only what you need. Less is more – ensure everything you do take has multiple purposes and if you are just starting out begin with two rear panniers and a handle bar bag only. The more the panniers, the stronger the desire to fill them.’
You can win a $745 Adina watch! Simply post a photo of yourself on a bike-packing adventure to our Bicycling Australia Facebook page. The competition date has been extended to December 1 so get those photos in and good luck!
