On Thursday the 31st of March (Freedom Day here in Malta), I’ll start my first solo bike touring trip. I’ll take the ferry from Valletta to Pozzallo (in the South of Sicily) and then have a nice 4-day cycling adventure across the Italian football. I’ve been on a few bike touring holidays before with friends and family, but this will be the first trip on my own. Very excited about that!

In this post, I’ll share all the stuff I’ll bring on my trip. I think it’s a nice way of documenting my first solo trip on the bike and it’ll be handy to look back at for future trips. And of course, if it can help any of you as well, then that would be wonderful 🙂

PS I won’t bring any camping gear on this trip. I’ll be staying at some cheap hostels and Airbnbs. I’d love to go camping on the next trip, but as I don’t have any camping gear here in Malta yet, that would’ve meant a very large investment up front. Also because that would’ve required more bike bags. Now I managed to get away with just strapping a simple drybag to the handlebars to store pretty much all of my stuff.

Handlebar bag

  • 2 long sleeve thermal tops
  • Casual trousers
  • Casual t-shirt
  • Casual long sleeve shirt
  • Rainjacket
  • Running shorts
  • Running shoes
  • Running shirt
  • Tiny, microfiber towel
  • 5 spare tyres
  • 5 pairs of socks
  • 4 underpants
  • Swimming trunks

Frame bag

  • Passport
  • Wallet
  • Toiletries (all travel size)
    • Toothbrush
    • Toothpaste
    • Shampoo
    • Earplugs
    • Moisturiser
  • Suntan lotion
  • Emergency contact information note
  • Snacks
    • Electrolyte tablets
    • Almond snacks
    • Energy gels
    • Gummy bears
  • Powerbank
  • Charging plugs
  • Charging cables
    • iPhone
    • Wahoo Element Bolt
    • Wahoo Rival
  • Two spare straps
  • Bundle of zip-ties
  • Anti-chafing-cream

Saddle bag

  • Spare tyre
  • Tyre levers
  • Multitool
  • Tyre repair kit
  • Some secret cash money

Snack pouch

This is the little pouch underneath the saddle bag, attached to the saddle pin

  • First aid kit
    • 6 Plasters
    • 2 large fabric plasters
    • 4 Gauze sheets
    • 1 roll of medical tape
    • Antiseptic cream
    • Tissues

On body

  • Clothes
  • Cycling shoes
  • Cycling shorts
  • Cycling shirt
  • Warm, sleeveless vest
  • Fluorecent windbraker
  • Hydration bag (1L)
  • iPhone (in the pocket of vest)
  • Phone tripod (in the pocket of hydration bag)