In preparation for my first real trip (UK to India or somewhere thereabouts), I realise that there are just too many purchasing choices involved. Allow me to explain myself:

My longest trip to date has been a 3 week ride from London to Nordkapp via Europe and the Baltic countries (map here: http://www.moto.gr/forums/showthread.php?threadid=66663 )

I camped every night and averaged 500 km per day. I mostly ate simple food that I cooked myself. I had a great and very economical time and absolutely no problems.

This means that I already have the equipment I need for a bike trip. All the camping stuff, all the bike stuff, all the clothing... but preparing to tour Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India for the first time and on my own, has me on edge. I want to bullerproof myself and the bike as much as possible.

I want the GPS, the waterproof protective gear, the bike modifications for off-road riding, the lightweight tent... all of which I never needed till now.

But, what do we really need at the end of the day? Does one *need* the GPS, or will traditional maps serve me fine? Do I *need* a new jacket, or will my 12 year old trusty water-friendly Dainese and its arm protectors be fine, with the usual layer of PVC one-piece suit for rainy days? Will the Vstrom's (650A) rear shock really not rise to the occasion? Will my cheap & bulky tent/mattress not keep me dry and warm?

If I buy everything I think I might need I can easily spend a good £2K on "preparation", but I really wonder where the line between "needs" and "luxuries" is...

I tend to opt for simplicity and a low-key profile. As if it's not bad enough that I ride a relatively (for the countries involved) flashy bike... I want to minimise the expensive gadgets I will carry with me. First of all because I don't like wasting money on luxury items, second because they may draw unwanted attention and third because I don't want to worry about misplacing/breaking my expensive kit!

Your thoughts/experiences will be appreciated.

Alexandros

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2011-2012: 5 months in Chile
2009-2010: 5 months in Turkey-Iran-Pakistan-India

I see no reason your existing gear will not work fine.
You might want to be sure your tent is insect proof. Generally if you 'need' something on the way you can buy it locally. I use maps, but think a gps would be nice. The gps could become totally usless at any moment for a large number of reasons. the bulkier maps are unlikely to fail completely. I am gradually learning, each time i set off on a voyage I carry less and less gear. Each of us will evolve a unique system to satisfy our perceived needs.

I agree with you.

If half, or more, of the stuff that's on the market today didn't exist, preparation would be a lot easier with far fewer decisions, and the journey would still be the same.
I still find inspiration, and most of my guidance for preparation, in Ted Simon's book 'Jupiter's Travels'.
Particularly, whatever preparation you do and whatever you take with you, 'the interruptions are the journey'.

I also find inspiration and guidance in Anne Mustoe's books about cycling around the world. I challenge anyone not to be inspired by her stories.

It was brought home to me when I cycled from Canada to Mexico. On the handlebars of my bike I had a bicycle speedo/computer, and a hand-held GPS. A friend of mine, a computer expert and amateur astronomer, pointed out that I had more computing power on my handlebar that did the entire Apollo 11 spacecraft!
That's just plain crazy...........

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TTR250 - London to Cape Town

Why is that crazy? You also have better maps, more locomotive power, better roads, and better communications than previous travellers, etc. It's called progress.

I am a big fan of GPS, along with paper maps. I've done trips without GPS and sometimes its fine, sometimes its kind of a pain, depending on the country, if I speak the language, the road network, etc. I definitely feel more comfortable checking out the roads that are not on the map if I have a GPS! The main problem with paper maps is that it is often difficult to find maps that have the really small roads on them--maybe 1:200k or so--and difficult to carry enough of such maps for a long trip even if you find them.

Hi... marketing is a wonderful thing. I really think it's an art. The folks that sell all the goodies for our bikes and bodies create a need in our mind. All of it's useful, but none of it is absolutely necessary. I suspect we've all seen (or are) the people doing the haul road to Prudoe Bay on a Vespa or riding a bicycle across the Sahara. The more gadgets I've had, the more I have to worry about and depend on technology rather than my wits. Less is more for me, there is always something trick to buy.

Go with what you have and what you know. Spend what you need to spend on things that get you where you are going (tyres, oil etc). The extra cash is more useful than a spare shock when you have a busted alternator although even that might be more useful than some carbon fibre and titanium knife and fork set that the marketing boys wo be claiming you'll need.

I too am a big GPS fan but have also used a Sun Compass, magnetic compass, sextant and other "traditional" techniques for both the fun and the convienience. They all work once you've got the practice in and can cock up in new and interesting ways if you don't understand them. GPS is by far the best and the one you'd use out of choice. The one you'll never be safe without is the paper maps though. They work regardless of anything happening around you pretty much short of setting them on fire (and you can even do that if you are cold enough). Get a simple GPS if you can afford one, but view it as something you'll be learning as you'll go, not the master of your trip.

Andy

Very true, although my maps usually don't survive the trip after all of the folding and mutilating necessary to get the necessary part of the map to show in my Barpack.

Actually a barpack (or home-made replacement) might be the thing I've found most useful on my trips, especially when I don't have a GPS. Here's a link: Barpack I write all the relevant town names and turns on a piece of paper and put it in the small exernal map window, and if I get lost unfold the thing to look at the map inside. I don't like using tank bags but this thing is very small and doesn't get in the way at all.

Sorry - I meant 'crazy' with a touch of English irony, crazy in a funny way. After all I did have the GPS with me, even though it was an entirely tarmac road journey. On a bicycle, taking a wrong turning and pedalling for 3 hours in a direction you don't want to go can seriously dent your day if you're on a fairly tight schedule, and a GPS helps prevent that.
Cheers.

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TTR250 - London to Cape Town

Crazy or not, it is certainly an interesting factoid! And taking a wrong turn on a moto is bad enough, hadn't thought about how much it would suck on a bicycle...

Happy trails!

Just a post-trip update for posterity.

I ended up spending more than £2K preparing. Almost half went to an Ohlins rear suspension which I am moderately happy with.

I got the GPS and am happy I did - it's extremely useful in cities & deserts and marginally useful anywhere else.

I got a smaller mattress, tent & sleeping bag. Very happy I did as the end result was that I could pack everything inside my panniers (protected from water, thieves, accidental loss, dirt, sun, better aerodynamics etc)

I spent money to ensure I had the right stuff with me, and not just something that might do the trick. I used every single item in my panniers at least once, save for the tent repair kit (which came with the tent anyway) and the aluminium ("space") blanket, since I never got myself in a survival situation. I also didn't use some of the drugs I had with me, but I won't complain.

Didn't get a new jacket. Didn't need it. I had an accident, was knocked over and ended with the bike on my foot - the jacket protected me. I had bought new boots (not off-road, but middle-ground road type ones with tough ankle protectors and fully waterproof) and they kept me dry and saved my ankle when the bike fell on it.

If I were to leave for a trip tomorrow I neither need or want to buy anything. I know the equipment now, and I know it works for any situation I'm likely to encounter. So the mix'n'match approach between old and new was the best for me.

I'd say buy as little as possible new gear, but whatever you do purchase, make sure it's top quality and it fits your needs. You will be using it again and again and again...

Alexandros

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2011-2012: 5 months in Chile
2009-2010: 5 months in Turkey-Iran-Pakistan-India