I went on my annual summer vacation bike tour again this year.
This year, it was off to Hokkaido!!
Wow, it really was massive!!
To briefly explain this trip's itinerary, it was a pretty packed four-day tour covering the route from Sapporo (Okadama Airport) to Hakodate (the ferry terminal) to Aomori (Aomori Airport).
But that's fine. I'm the youngest I'll ever be right now, so if I can do it, I'm going to do it.
In this blog post, I’ll be introducing my gear!
My Long-time Partners: OUTERSHELL Bags
These are the OUTERSHELL bags I’ve used on every bike tour I've taken. I’ve been adding to my setup little by little, so some of these have been with me for four years now.
This time, I used a saddle bag, a frame bag, and a stem caddy!!
OUTER SHELL Expedition Seatpack
I pack things in the saddle bag that I don’t need to take out during the ride. Simply put, it’s for my change of clothes.
The idea is to pack items that I only need at the end of the day.
Also, when you're tired, you rest hard!!
I also have a mat strapped on so I can take a nap whenever I need to.
OUTER SHELL Half Framebag
The benefit of a frame bag is, above all, how easy it is to access.
I kept my portable charger, spare light batteries, repair kit, first aid kit, and plastic bags (to keep things dry) in here. For light, one-day rides, this is usually all I take.
The main contents look something like this.
I also add battery-related items here so I can charge them quickly.
OUTER SHELL Stem Caddy
In the stem caddy, I keep items that I want to grab at a moment's notice.
Yes! Bear spray!
Life comes first, always.
(It usually has snacks in it too.)
I’m relieved I didn’t have to use it this time.
And, my newly purchased front bag!!
In past tours, a saddle bag, frame bag, and stem caddy were plenty!
However, what made this year different is that I got a camera. The reason for the new bag was wanting a place to escape to for the camera in case it rained.
And what I chose is the SIMWORKS Voyageur Handlebar Bag.
Its capacity is perfect, and more than anything, I love how it looks when it’s mounted.
I also utilized the dead space on the bottom of the front bag by attaching my BEDROCK SANDALS!! (I'm quite proud of this myself.)
Plus, it has small pockets on the left and right.
It's absolutely perfect for storing lenses 🤤
It would also be great for keeping tubes or a repair kit in!
I have a feeling this is a bag I'll be using for many years to come.
🛠️Tenugui Hack🛠️
Sometimes you buy souvenirs at the end of your tour, right?
But you're out of room...
In times like that, use a tenugui (Japanese hand towel) to expand your capacity.
I actually rode on some rougher roads with this, and it worked surprisingly well lol
I hope to talk about the journey itself next time!
See you then!!
