This is one of the two bikes that will carry us all the way east for a 7500 km+ ride. Both have the exact same setup so we’ll need the same tools and repair kit. The key is to have the most robust and efficient bike using the most basic equipment, so that we can fix it in remote corners of the world. No hydraulic brakes, no telescopic suspensions, no carbon frame…this bike is somehow similar to what your grandparents use to cycle with

Here is what we got :
Fahrrad T400 bike with steel frame (weldable, as opposed to aluminium), 26 inches wheels with Schwalbe tires, and Shimano Deore 24 gears.

…and what we added :
- Ortlieb waterproof bike panniers (2 back, 2 front, and a little one on the handlebar)
- Tubus carriers, back and front. Able to carry up to 40 kg.
- Brooks saddle : leather saddle, handmade in the UK. This model is in their catalog for more than 100 years
- Ergotec adjustable hornbar, so that we can change position of hands and rest sollicitated muscles during the day.

Most of those rock solid products are made in a good, old fashioned german way. The whole bike worths around 1300 euros. I’ve been training fully loaded and it feels great riding it…incredibly efficient now that it’s in perfect shape!

So…what’s inside our bags?

Clothes : Cycling Shorts, Padded Cycling Gloves, T-shirts (x2-3), shirt or fleece for warmth, Cargo pants (for off the bike), Underwear (x3-5), Socks* (x3-5), Sunglasses, Shoes for touring, Rain jacket & pants, Cycling tights, Gloves, Bandana, Swimsuit

Kitchen : Pots, Opinel, Stove, plate, cup, fork, spoon, lighter, Cleaning Up (Dish soap, dish towel, pot scrubber), Spices (in film canisters for easy storage), Screw-top bottles (for liquids like oil, vinegar, honey), Water purification tablets

Toiletaries : Shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, soap, Baby Wipes, Sunscreen, Roll of toilet paper, Laundry powder, Travel Towel

Camping Gear : Tent, Tarp, Headlamps (Petzl), Flip flops (Teva), Sleeping bag, Sleeping bag liner, Sleeping mat, String, 6-10 meters (for a clothesline, putting food in trees, etc), Hammock

Bike, tools & accessories : Bottle cages and bottles (3 bottles), Bicycle computer, Bicycle pump, Bell, Bungee cords, Helmet, Locks, Lights, Allen keys, Bike grease, Brake & gear cables, Brake pads, Mini cassette remover, Chain lubricant, Cone spanners for taking hubs apart, Duct tape & zipties, Multitool with a chain breaker, Spare nuts and bolts, Proofide (for the saddles), Puncture repair kit, Rag for cleaning, Replacement spokes, Tire levers, spare tube

First Aid Kit : Bandaids, Antisceptic cream, Emergency blanket, Rehydration crystals, Tweezers, Scissors, Gauze, Headache tablets, Diarrhea treatment, Anti-inflammatories, Tiger balm (great for sore muscles), Laytex gloves, Mosquito repellent

Technology : SPOT Connect, GO PRO HD Hero2, AUDIO-TECHNICA Micro audio cravate ATR3350, Hard Desk Lacie 1TB, Solar panel Nomad 7W, Acer Aspire one, Lumix LX2, MP3 player, Samsung Nexus S, speakers – X-MI Enceinte Xmini II Max, Compass

Books : Conversation guide (Russian), Lonely Planet Central Asia, Lonely Planet Romania, Map – Georgia, Map – Hungary, Map – Romania, Lonely Planet Georgia (ebook), Lonely Planet Azerbaijan (ebook)