GEAR LIST
This is my updated gear list after riding more than 6,000 km to 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 are also detailed below.
BIKE
Frame: Kona Unit 2023
Fork: Kona Plus Fork 110mm spacing
Crankarms: Shimano FC-M5100-1 170mm
Chainring: Shimano U6000 30t
Bottom bracket: Shimano BB-MT501
Pedals: Race Face Ride (if expecting a lot of singletrack, replace with OneUp Composite with metal pins)
Chain: Shimano CN-LG500
Cassette: Shimano CS-M5100 11-51t
Rear derailleur: Shimano RD-M5100-SGS
Shifters: Shimano SL-M5100-R
Shift cable and housing: Stainless Steel MTB Shift Cable Set
Brake calipers: TRP Spyke (adjustment screws need threadlocker, e.g. Park Tool TLR-1)
Brake pads: Kool-Stop KS-D620S
Front brake rotor: TRP TR33 180mm
Rear brake rotor: TRP TR33 160mm, SwissStop CenterLock Adapter
Brake levers: TRP Spyke
Brake cable and housing: Jagwire Mountain Pro Brake Kit
Headset: FSA TH ZST No.10
Handlebar: Corvus Sweet 16 Alloy cut to 740mm
Stem: Easton EA70 7° 50mm
Seatpost: Kona Thumb w/Offset 31.6mm
Seat clamp: Kona Clamp
Grips: Ergon GA3 Small
Saddle: WTB Volt
Front hub: Formula 110x15mm
Rear hub: Shimano FH-TC600-HM-B
Spokes: 32 Stainless Black 14g, Brass Nipples
Rims: WTB ST i30 TCS 2.0, Stan’s 31mm Rim Tape
Valves: Stan’s Tubeless Universal Valves
Tires: Maxxis Rekon TR Dual Compound 29x2.6"
Sealant: Orange Seal Endurance
Frame protector: 3M Scotchgard Paint Protection Film
BIKE REPAIR KIT
Hex keys: Husky Short Arm M2, M2.5, M3, M4, M5, M6,
Torx keys: Mastercraft T15, T25, T27
Pump: Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HV
Presta valve adapter: Genuine Innovations Presta Valve Adapter
Tire lever: Zefal DP20
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
Lockring tool and spoke wrench: Unior 1669/4
Dropout tension nut wrench: generic 8mm? wrench
Crank cap tool: Part from Park Tool BBT-9
Needle and thread: curved needle 2” and 2.5”, dental floss
Tire plugs and tool: Genuine Innovations Tubeless Tire Repair Kit
Patch kit: Park Tool VP-1
Tire boot (tube): Park Tool TB-2
Tire boot (tubeless): 3” piece of old tire sidewall
Adhesive: Gear Aid Aquaseal FD
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: Shimano E01S Pads
Spare spokes: Sapim Leader 14g x 2
Spare cables: shift cable, 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 in Muc-Off 50ml bottle
Sealant: Orange Seal Endurance 4oz
CARGO
Handlebar harness: Ortlieb Handlebar-Pack transformed into harness, Voile Strap 25” x 3, Voile Strap Nano 9” x 3
Handlebar harness bag: Ortlieb Dry Bag PD350 13L
Tent stuff sack: Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1 Stuff Sack
Stem bags: Decathlon Riverside Fabric Handlebar Bottle Cages x 2
Top tube bag: Ortlieb Fuel-Pack
Frame bag: Ortlieb Frame-Pack RC 6L
Seat bag: Ortlieb Seat-Pack 11L (if more volume needed, replace with Tumbleweed Mini Pannier Rack 355mm + Sea To Summit Big River Dry Bag 13L + Voile Strap 25" x 2)
Downtube cargo: Lezyne Power Cage (if more volume needed, replace with Blackburn Outpost Cargo Cage)
Fork cargo: Lezyne Power Cage x 2 (only needed for remote arid areas)
SECURITY
Front light: Fenix BC26R
Rear light: Fenix BC05R V2.0
Lightweight lock: Kryptonite Keeper 512 Combo Cable
Midweight lock: Abus Bordo Lite 6055/85 (rarely used)
Tracker: Motorola Moto Tag
SHELTER
Tent: 3F UL GEAR Lanshan 1 Pro Silnylon, Titanium Vestibule Hook
Pole: Durston Z-Flick Tent Pole
Guylines: 3F UL GEAR (a bit short, could replace with longer MSR Ultralight Cord)
Stakes: MSR Mini-Groundhog x 9, 3F UL GEAR stuff sack
SLEEP
Top insulation: Big Agnes Kings Canyon UL Quilt (for colder weather, bring Therm-a-Rest Vesper 20F/-6C Down Quilt instead)
Bottom insulation: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad Regular
Pillow: MEC Air Pillow
Ear plugs: 3M Disposable Ear Plugs
HYDRATION
Bottles (primary): Camelbak Podium 24oz x 2, downtube Zefal Magnum (if more volume needed, replace with Nalgene 48oz Wide Mouth Silo HDPE), fork Zefal Magnum x 2 (only needed for remote arid areas)
Bottle (storage): Platypus Platy 2L Bottle (only used for filtering)
Treatment (primary): Platypus Quickdraw
Treatment (secondary): Katadyn Micropur MP1
TOOLS, FIRST AID, EMERGENCY AND UTILITY
Smartphone: Google Pixel 9 Pro, case, screen protector, Ziploc bag
Light: Nitecore NU25
Power: Nitecore NB10000 Gen2
Charger: Anker 523 47W Charger, Kikkerland Universal Adapter
Cables: USB-C 1m cable x 2, USB-A to USC-C 0.3m cable, USB-C to micro-USB adapter
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, zip tie, pad repair kit
Daypack: Osprey Ultralight Stuff Sack
Cooking kit (only for cold weather trips): Trail Designs Kojin Stove & Sidewinder Ti Tri, Evernew Ti U.L. Pot 900, Bic Mini Lighter
CAMERA
Camera: Ricoh GR III, screen protector
Batteries: Ricoh DB-110 x 2
Memory card (main): SanDisk Ultra SDXC UHS-1 128GB
Memory card (backup): SanDisk Extreme SD UHS-I 64GB
Cleaning: LensPen MicroPro
Camera bag: Rockgeist Little Dumpling
Waterproof bag: Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Bag 1.5L (if extra protection needed)
Camera insert: Homemade from Decathlon Forclaz MT100 Pad
Screwdriver: Craftsman Precision Multi-Bit Screwdriver Set 18-piece (only for long trips)
Air blower: JJC CL-ARSQ Air Blower (only for long trips)
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 S
Entertainment: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, Panasonic RP-HJE120-K earphones + Apple USB-C adapter
Wallet with cards: Ziploc bag, passport, credit card, debit card, cash, driver's license
Money belt: Cactus Creek? trimmed down with Ziploc bag
CLOTHES: CYCLING
Shirt: Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody (for mosquito protection, switch to button-down shirts)
Shorts: Patagonia Baggies Lights (for sun protection, switch to long pants)
Underwear: Saxx Quest Quick-Dry Mesh Boxer Brief 5”
Headwear: Decathlon Forclaz MT 900 Hiking Cap
Helmet: Bontrager Solstice
Sun gloves: Black Diamond Trail Gloves
Sunglasses: Decathlon Quechua MH 100 Sunglasses, MH ACC 120 Microfibre Case
FOOTWEAR
Shoes: Nike Kiger 10
Cycling socks: Darn Tough Coolmax Run Quarter (1055)
Camp footwear: Bedrock Cairn Adventure Sandals
Sleeping socks: Darn Tough Light Hiker Quarter (1991)
CLOTHES: ELEMENT PROTECTION
Button-down shirt: Royal Robbins Expedition III L/S
Mid-layer top: Patagonia Micro D Fleece Pullover
Rain shell top: Decathlon Quechua Hiking Waterproof Jacket - Raincut 1/2 Zip (for cold rainy weather, replace with Patagonia Torrentshell 3L)
Insulated jacket: Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Parka Black
Gloves: Forclaz Fleece Mountain Backpacking Gloves MT100
Long pants: Salomon SHAKEout Core Pants, shortened
Headnet: Sea-to-Summit Head Net
CLOTHES: SLEEP AND SPARE
Underwear: Saxx Quest Quick-Dry Mesh Boxer Brief 5”
T-shirt: Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Shirt
Shorts: generic swim shorts