GEAR LIST
This is the gear I used to ride 3,000 km around Brazil and create the Mata Atlântica Bike Route. I have used many of the same items for thousands of kilometers of touring in North America. I can recommend almost all of them except for a few exceptions noted in red. Some alternatives and improvements made post-trip are also detailed below.
BIKE
Frame: Kona Unit 2023
Fork: Kona Plus Fork 110mm spacing
Crankarms & chainring: FSA Comet Modular 32t (damaged, later replaced with Shimano Deore FC-M5100)
Bottom bracket: FSA MegaExo 73mm (later replaced with Shimano BB-MT501)
Pedals: OneUp Composite (excellent but destroy shoes and shins, later replaced with Race Face Ride)
Chain: Shimano CN-HG601-11
Cassette: Shimano CS-M5100 11-51t
Rear derailleur: Shimano RD-M5100-SGS
Shifters: Shimano SL-M5100-R with Stainless Steel MTB Shift Cable Set
Brake calipers: Alhonga HT472 Hydraulic (repeated issues, later replaced with TRP Spyke)
Front brake rotor: Alhonga 180mm (later replaced with TRP TR33 180mm)
Rear brake rotor: Alhonga 160mm (later replaced with TRP TR33 160mm)
Brake levers: Alhonga HT472 Hydraulic (broke one, later replaced with TRP Spyke)
Headset: FSA TH ZST No.10
Handlebar: Kona XC-BC Riser (later replaced with Corvus Sweet 16 Alloy for more comfort)
Stem: Kona XC (later replaced with Easton EA70 7° 50mm to fit new handlebar)
Seatpost: Kona Thumb w/Offset 31.6mm
Seat clamp: Kona Clamp
Grips: Ergon GA3 Small
Saddle: WTB Volt
Front hub: Formula 110x15mm
Rear hub: Formula 148x12mm
Spokes: 32 Stainless Black 14g
Rims: WTB ST i30 TCS 2.0 with pre-installed rim tape
Tires: Maxxis Rekon TR Dual Compound 29x2.6" (later replaced with Maxxis Ikon TR Dual Compound 29x2.6" for less rolling resistance)
Sealant: Orange Seal Endurance
Frame protector: 3M Scotchgard Paint Protection Film
CARGO
Handlebar harness: Ortlieb Handlebar-Pack transformed into harness, Voile Strap 25” x 3, Voile Strap Nano 9” x 3, velcro tie
Handlebar harness bag: Ortlieb Dry Bag PD350 13L
Stem bags: Decathlon Riverside Fabric Handlebar Bottle Cages x 2
Frame bag: Ortlieb Frame-Pack RC 6L
Rear rack: Tumbleweed Mini Pannier Rack 355mm
Rear rack bag: Sea To Summit Big River Dry Bag 13L, Voile Strap 25" x 2
Downtube cargo: Lezyne Power Cage, Voile Strap Nano 12" x 1
Not brought: top tube bag (Ortlieb Fuel-Pack)
Added later: rear rack bag protector (cut piece of Forclaz MT100 foam pad)
BIKE REPAIR KIT
Hex keys: Husky Short Arm M2, M2.5, M3, M4, M5, M6,
Torx keys: Mastercraft T10, T15, T25, T27
Pump: Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HV
Tire lever: Zefal
Master link pliers and storage, tire lever, valve core tool, spare chainring bolt: Wolf Tooth Pack Pliers (does each job poorly)
Chain tool: Park Tool CT-5 Mini Chain Tool
Dropout tension nut wrench: generic 8mm? wrench
Needle and thread: chromic gut
Tire plugs and tool: Genuine Innovations Tubeless Tire Repair Kit
Zip tie: Certified UV-Protected Cable Ties 14”
Patch kit: Rema Tip Top Touring Repair Kit
Tire boot: Park Tool TB-2
Spare tube: Maxxis 29x2.5/3.0 in Ziploc bag wrapped in Gorilla Tape
Spare tubeless valve: Stan's Tubeless Valve 35mm
Spare brake pads: resin brake pads x 1 set (later replaced with metal pads for durability)
Spare cables: shift cable (later added brake cable)
Spare chain links: Shimano CN-HG601 links x 7
Master links: Shimano SM-CN900-11 x 2
Spare derailleur hanger: Kona dropout CC-142
Chain lube: Wolf Tooth WT-1
Sealant: Orange Seal Endurance 4oz
Not brought: spare spokes and Unior 1669/4 spoke + cassette lockring tool
SECURITY
Lightweight lock: Kryptonite Keeper 512 Combo Cable
Midweight lock: Abus Bordo Lite 6055/85 (rarely used)
SHELTER
Tent: Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo
Pole: Six Moon Designs Pole - 49" Carbon Fiber (3 Sections)
Guylines: MSR Ultralight Cord
Stakes: MSR Mini-Groundhog x 6
SLEEP
Top insulation: Big Agnes Kings Canyon UL Quilt (for colder weather bring Therm-a-Rest Vesper 20 Quilt instead)
Bottom insulation: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad Regular
Pillow: Therm-a-Rest Air Head Lite Pillow
Ear plugs: generic ear plugs
HYDRATION
Bottles (primary): Zefal Magnum, Camelbak Podium 24oz, disposable water bottle
Bottle (storage): Platypus Platy 2L Bottle
Treatment (primary): Platypus Quickdraw
Treatment (secondary): Katadyn Micropur MP1
TOOLS, FIRST AID, EMERGENCY AND UTILITY
Smartphone: Google Pixel 7
Light: Nitecore NU25
Power: Nitecore NB10000 Battery
Charger: Anker 523 47W Charger, Kikkerland Universal Adapter
Cables: Google USB-C cable 1m, generic USB-C cable 1m, Nitecore USB-A to micro-USB cable 1m
Writing instruments: ballpoint pen and piece of paper
Knife: Opinel N°06 Stainless Steel
Utensil: MSR Folding Sppon
Multitool: Leatherman Style PS
First Aid Kit: Band-Aids, Loperamide, Ibuprofen, Diphenydramine
Repair Kit: Gorilla Tape, Krazy Glue, Tenacious Tape, FixnZip Zipper Repair Slider Small, pad repair kit
Headnet: Sea-to-Summit Head Net
Daypack: Osprey Ultralight Stuff Sack
Not brought: cooking kit (Trail Designs Kojin Stove & Sidewinder Ti Tri, Evernew Ti U.L. Pot 900, Bic Mini Lighter)
CLOTHES: CYCLING
Shirt: Patagonia Long-Sleeved Self-Guided Hike Shirt (mosquitoes can bite through ventilation mesh panel, later replaced with Royal Robbins Expedition III L/S)
Shorts: Patagonia Multi Trails Shorts (liner removed)
Underwear: Under Armour Tech 3"
Headwear: Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap
Helmet: Bontrager Solstice
Sun gloves: Black Diamond Trail Gloves
Sunglasses: Decathlon Quechua MH 100 Sunglasses, MH ACC 120 Microfibre Case
FOOTWEAR
Shoes: Adidas Five Ten Trailcross XT (too narrow and rigid, later replaced with trail runners)
Cycling socks: Darn Tough Run Quarter No Cushion
Camp footwear: Decathlon Nabaiji Pool Sandals Slap
Sleeping socks: Darn Tough Light Hiker Quarter
CLOTHES: ELEMENT PROTECTION
Insulated jacket: Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Parka Black
Rain shell top: Decathlon Quechua Hiking Waterproof Jacket - Raincut 1/2 Zip (for cold rainy weather bring Patagonia Torrentshell 3L instead)
Mid-layer top: Patagonia Micro D Fleece Pullover
Trekking pants or thermals: Patagonia Terrebonne Joggers
Gloves: Forclaz Fleece Mountain Backpacking Gloves MT100
CLOTHES: SLEEP AND SPARE
Sleeping top (or cycling spare): Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody
Sleeping underwear (or cycling spare): Under Armour Tech 3" Boxers
Laundry day top: Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Shirt
Laundry day bottoms: generic swim shorts
PERSONAL ITEMS
Dental: toothbrush with GUM toothbrush cover, toothpaste, floss
Hygiene products: sanitizer, toilet paper, solid soap, shampoo, deodorant, razor, Philips Multrigroom 3000 trimmer
Skin care: CeraVe Ultralight Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Towel: Sea to Summit Airlite Towel XL
Entertainment: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, Panasonic RP-HJE120-K earphones + Apple USB-C adapter
Wallet with cards: Sea to Summit Travelling Light Card Holder RFID, passport, credit card, debit card, cash, driver's license
Money belt: Cactus Creek? (trimmed down) with Ziploc