Getting into Adventure Green

the basics, such as tightening the
chain, adding oil, pumping tyres and
definitely having a list of Triumph
dealers across the US in case I
needed help or parts along the way.
Finding room for everything
3 else. Believe it or not, a 70kg bag
actually holds a lot and I ended up
taking more than I probably needed
(maybe a pair of trousers and a dress
too many). Two pairs of jeans –
one for travelling and the other for
leisure time is enough.
Don’t be tempted on more – you
can always buy stuff along the way.
A great tip is to compartmentalise
your storage areas on the bike; the
tank bag I used for things I needed
immediate access to (the day’s maps,
phone, extra layer, water bottles).
The side bags were for the tool kit
and GoPro Hero 3 film equipment,
waterproofs and food/snacks. The
main bag, I divided my clothes
into different coloured waterproof
storage bags so when digging stuff
out I immediately knew where
things were.
The main objective is packing light
enough so you can carry the main
bag without breaking your back. You
may need to walk distances from the
bike to where you’re staying. If it’s
too heavy, you’ve probably got too
many pairs of shoes or souvenirs!
Bike boots, flip-flops and trainers are
probably all you’ll need – and bare
feet after a long day are probably the
best option!
4Think outside the box – what
should I have taken. Again,
knowledge is gained by experience.
The cheapest and what we think are
the most insignificant items turn out
to be the most precious. If travelling
in America, invest in a tyre pressure
gauge. Unlike the UK, the US air
pumps at the gas stations have no
visual indicator in telling you how
much air you’re putting in. You can
buy these gauges (look like pens) at
most stations. I amazingly paid just
$2 for one!
I didn’t realize that with the intense
heat, a light pair of fingerless
gloves (to avoid the backs of
hands getting burnt – which
happened!) would be essential. I
ended up buying a pair of light ski
gloves and cutting the fingers off.
If you wear contact lenses make
sure they’re dailies or you replace
them regularly. My eye injury,
which almost stopped the trip, was
caused by the constant road dirt
and not changing the lenses more
regularly.
Be ruthless. Less is more. I have
5 to admit I didn’t really take
much advice from anyone in what
to take. All my clothes were light,
uncreasable, easy to hand wash
or to drop into a hotel washing
machine and being quick to dry.
You tend to end up wearing the
same clothes so massive variety
isn’t essential. You also end up
taking silly things, such as a pair
of linen trousers and shirt, which
I didn’t even wear the whole trip.
My main regret, which some other
long distance biker advised at the
beginning of the trip in Boston, was
to take a portable bike fuel bottle in
case I wouldn’t reach a gas station
in time. This I’d come to realise
was good advise going through the
Nevada Great Basin desert!
For a comprehensive guide on what
I took on my trips, there’s a full
list in the Appendix of my books
‘Bonneville Go or Bust – on the
roads less travelled’ and ‘Southern
Escapades’, which can be purchased
through my website:
www.ZoeCano.com/adventures