Equipment.

As said before, I am not a wealthy lady. I work a lot, I work very hard, but I by no means have money to just blow on fancy cycling equipment. It would be nice to have a proper touring bike with both front and rear panniers, shmancy hi-tech camping gear, etc...but I don't...so i'll get by with what I have. I ride a Diamondback Century (see left)...classified as a straight-bar road bike ...whatever. I paid 260 dollars for this bike and I haven't been let down. 24 speeds, great for climbing hills, attachments for both front and rear racks, very, very, very light. I have confidence that this bike will work. I've read about people touring farther distances on lower caliber bikes.

For this tour I am going to try to carry as little as I can, but still I have some limits. I have a pair of rear panniers (decent sized) that I got for 35 dollars from two very very nice friends (ahem Jaime and Ian). I have a small/light 1.5 person tent that has some waterproofing issues....but nothing that cant be fixed with some seam sealant. I have limited cycling clothing, a helmet (i would like a better one). I have some blinky lights....but I don't think you can have too many...better to be like a rolling disco. That's it...So here's my list that I will be hopefully whittling down over the next few months:

fenders
handle bar bag (and/or front rack with panniers)
rear rack bag
tarp (small)
sleeping bag (zero degree)
second set of bike pants
wind jacket (shell)
balaclava
shoes covers
socks
rain gear
magnesium flint stick
thin/strong rope
maps
helmet
first aid kit
Multi-tool
h2o bladder
h2o bottles
inflation device
extra tubes
extra lock
compass
batteries (for lights)
headlamp

simple bike computer

I am a little concerned that I will not be able to put fenders on this bike...which will make riding in wet conditions a little....wet. I suppose I will have someone look at my bike sometime soon.

Welp, back to the real world of work.