Equipment list - tried and tested

Epic Cycling Climbs - Equipment List

Cycling is an equipment-intensive sport, making the right gear essential for a great experience. Given the overwhelming variety of products available, selection often involves a bit of trial and error. To help you find what you need, I have compiled every product discussed across these pages right here.

Books about cycling and the mountains

• Mountains - Epic Cycle Climbs - Wonderful book with amazing pictures and stories
• The Midlife Cyclist - Keeping peak performance with age
• Higher Calling - Exploring cycling's obsession with the mountains
• It's all about the bike - The journey to building your dream bike
• Mountain High - Europe's 50 greatest cycling climb - Must ride passes in Europe
• 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs of the Tour de France - A deep dive on climbing mountains in the Tour de France
• 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs of Italy - Exploring climbs all over wonderful Italy
• Lonely Planet Epic Bike Rides of the World - Looking further afield for wonderful cycling adventure

Travel equipment - shortlist of items I personally used and have been happy with

• Suitcase for air travel: EVOC Pro Bike case 
• Bags for train travel: Sturdier bag for trains, Lightweight bag for trains
• Roof rack / box for car travel: Thule bike roof rack, Farad Marlin - large roof box, Kamei Husky - large roof box.

Bike packing packs - four most important packs for your trip (premium brands are Ortlieb, EVOC and Restrap)

• Seat pack: Topeak Backloader pack with a removable inner bag
• Handle bar pack: Zefal handle bar pack with a removable inner bag
• Top tube pack: Zefal long top tube pack
• Hipp pack: EVOC hip pack for long and short journeys

Bike packing equipment - things to carry on your bike on your trip

• Wheels: Latex inner tubes - ultra-light, Tyre levers, Repair kit, Pump.
• Tools to bring: Multitool and, if necessary, a pedal wrench (depending on your pedal system).
• Cleaning and lubrication: Small towels (one to wipe down the bike and one for cleaning the chain), Small bottle of chain lubricant
• Assessories: Front and rear lights, Charging cables, Bike computer, GoPro camera, Lightweight lock

Bike packing clothing - my personal favourite clothing brands are Castelli, Santini and LeCol, for touring the Scottish sturdiness of Endura Sports clothing is particularly useful though.

• ​Shorts: Cycling bib shorts 
• Staying warm: Arm warmers, Leg warmers and Base layer
• Jackets and Fleeces: Gilet, Fleece or sweater (Isobaa merino wool), Puffer jacket , Rain jacket
• Assessories: Gloves, Rain shoe covers, Neck tube, Helmet 
• Spare cleats: Shimano yellow SPD-SL cleat, MBT shoe cleats,
• Off the bike: Barefoot shoes , T-shits, Trousers
• Other: Washing powder 

Maintenance tools, lubricants and cleaning products - Parktools, Topeak, Muc Off & Weldtite are good options

• Bike stand: Parktool bike-stand for the home mechanic
• Core tools: Comprehensive torque wrench from Topeak, Allen Keys/Hex Keys (2-8mm), Chain Wear Tool/Checker, Multi-tool, Pedal wrench.
• Tyres and wheels: Track/Floor Pump, Tire Levers, Core valve removal tool (for tubeless set up), tubeless sealant.
• Cleaning: Cleaning brushes, Muc Off Bike Cleaner, Weldtite Citrus Degreaser.
• Lubricants: Wet chain lubricant, Dry chain lubricant, Anti seize or general bike grease, Carbon fibre assembly gel

Tyres - Continental and Pirelli are tyres that I found working well for me in a variety of rides and surfaces

• Performance tyres: Continental Grand Prix 5000 (Clincher tyre / Tubeless ready tyre), Pirelli P Zero Race (Clincher tyre / Tubeless ready tyre)
• Increased puncture protection tyres: Continental Grand Prix All Seasons (Tubeless ready tyre only), Pirelli P Zero Road (Clincher tyre / Tubeless ready tyre), Pirelli P Zero Race 4S (Clincher tyre / Tubeless ready tyre)
• Four season/training tyres: Continental Grand Prix 4-Season (Clincher tyre / Tubeless ready tyre), Pirelli Cinturato EVO (Clincher tyre / Tubeless ready tyre), Schwalbe Pro One Allroad (Clincher tyre / Tubeless ready tyre)

Fitness and Training

• Wahoo indoor trainers: KICKR BIKE Indoor trainer, KICKR BIKE PRO Indoor trainer
• Blackroll foam rollers: Foam roller set, Single foam roller, Travel foam roller
• Other equipment: Resistance bands, Yoga exercise ball, Medicine ball - various weights, Wobble board
• Recovery: Leg compression sleeve