There are so many ways to do a cycle trip. And there are as many variations on the packing theme as there are types of  trips.

There are the oh-so-lovely group trips where all the schlepping and baggage is left up to the sag wagon. There is the B&B style trip where one needs a little stuff, but can mostly get by with just a credit card…and then there is the hostel/cook-your-own-food style trip that we’re about to embark on next week.

For a trip like this, good planning is the key. Luckily for Kevin & I, we don’t have to be great at planning because we’re really smart at picking our travel partners. Ray & Judy Gerein spent this past winter  cycling and traveling around New Zealand & Australia and knocked off a few thousand kilometers.

Exactly. If you want to see human pistons in action, just draft behind Ray & Jude. It’s humbling…

However, they used hostels for most of their trip down under, and since Judy & I did this same route with the Stupids last year, we should be in pretty good shape. Well, except for the fact that Kevin and I will be sucking wind behind them…I mean we should be in good shape logistically.

Judy has emailed us a lovely spread sheet with the distances we will travel each day, which hostel/hotel we’re booked with and what meals Kevin & I are responsible for. You gotta love a woman who takes control. I am generally a take-charge kinda gal, but when someone comes along that really knows what they’re doing? I am a very willing subject and happy to be compliant.

Having only two panniers and a small bag that straddles the back rack makes packing a breeze. With no real room for stuff, one’s gear choices are reduced to the basics.

Here’s my list so far….

Bike Gear: Two cycling capri shorts,  long pair cycling pants, two long-sleeved cycling tops, cycling shoes & socks, rain jacket, Merino hoodie, stuffable down vest, wool gloves, toque & bandanna.

After-cycling Gear: Bathing suit, Tevas, wool socks, long pair cycling pants (see above), quick-dry towel, long-sleeved T-shirt, soap & toiletries, Merino hoodie (see above), pajamas/walkabout wear.

Food Gear: Resealable Rubbermaid container for lunches, knife, fork, Swiss Army knife with corkscrew, Cliff bars, Ziplocs for food purchases enroute.

We will be doing a couple of food drops at two of the hostels as we drive by to the start of our trip, and the rest of our food will be purchased as we cycle through.

As can be seen by my clothing list, this is clearly one of those trips where fashion is not at the forefront of concerns. The forecast is for warm and windy weather, but the temperature drops down pretty sharply at night, though I imagine I’ll be dead to the world long before that is a concern.

Now I just have to plan the dinner, breakfast and lunch box that we’ll be dropping at one of the hostels…