Bike tour packing list: What you really need

Essential packing list: items for every bike ride — whether short or long

Taxer sums it up perfectly in his chat with spized: "My pockets are always packed." Whether he is riding for an hour or an entire day — the essentials remain the same. Anyone who leaves these items behind risks avoidable mechanicals far away from home.

Bike check before you start

• Check tyre pressure (too low = more rolling resistance and a higher risk of punctures)
• Check the chain and lubricate if necessary

Apparel & body

• Cycling jersey
• Bib shorts or padded cycling shorts
• Helmet (no compromises)
• Cycling glasses (protection from insects, wind, and UV rays — not just the sun)
• Long socks (to protect the ankles)
• Cycling shoes

Tech & navigation

• Garmin or other bike computer, alternatively a smartphone with a GPS app (Komoot, Strava)
• Heart rate monitor strap. Indispensable for Taxer: "That's where I see all my technical data: pace, watts, heart rate. Without it, I’m basically riding blind."
• Smartphone

Punctures & tools

• Spare inner tube (at least one, two for long rides)
• Puncture repair kit or tubeless repair kit (depending on tyre setup)
• Two tyre levers
• Mini pump or CO₂ inflator
• Multitool with a chain tool (sounds like overkill — it isn't, because a broken chain will otherwise end your day)

Energy & hydration

• "Plenty to drink. Two water bottles, not one," says Taxer. Tip: For longer sessions, fill one bottle with an isotonic drink.
• Energy bars, gels, or a banana
• Gummy bears — more on that in a moment

Miscellaneous

• Jacket or windproof gilet
• ID, health insurance card & cash or card
• Red rear light (even during the day)

Packing list for a day trip — whether 30 or 100 kilometres

The good news if you are just starting out: the difference in the packing list between a short and a long day ride is smaller than you think. Taxer: "I actually always take the same things with me. I just carry more bars and gels on the longer rides."

This means you don't need two different setups. Pack once, then adjust the quantity based on the duration of your ride, not the mileage.

• Everything from the essential list above
• Short ride (under 3 hours): 60–90g of carbs per hour — which is roughly equivalent to 1 bar and 1 gel per hour
• Long ride (3 hours and over): 90–120g of carbs per hour

How you take in those carbs is a matter of personal preference: you can add carbohydrate powder directly into your water bottle, meaning you won't need any bars or gels at all while out on the road. Taxer himself usually rides with 1 bar per hour or takes a gel, supplementing the rest via his bottle.

Packing list for multi-day bike tours — when the saddle bag is a must

When you're on the road for several days, you have to think on a completely different scale. Your luggage setup changes fundamentally: moving away from a backpack or the three jersey pockets, and switching to a structured bag system on the bike.

Taxer does this every year with his colleagues: "A saddle bag at the back, a frame bag in the middle, and another small bag at the front." According to the Austrian, this allows you to carry a surprising amount of gear without ruining the bike's handling.

Luggage setup: Saddle pack (large), frame bag (quick access), small handlebar bag, rain covers for all bags.

Additional clothing: Cycling jersey + bib shorts × number of riding days, change of clothes for the evenings, microfibre towel.

Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen (almost always forgotten on multi-day tours, and deeply regretted by day two).

Tech: Charging cables + multi-plug adapter, power bank.

Extended tool kit: Chain lubricant, inner tube patches × 4–6, tyre levers × 3.

Two things that many people forget

Number 1: Puncture repair kit and pump — even on short rides

This sounds obvious, but it isn't. The 29-year-old had to learn this lesson the hard way himself: "In the beginning, I never carried a pump or a puncture kit. But once it happens to you for the first time and you're stranded with nothing, you can be sure that from then on, you'll always have them with you."

It's a familiar pattern: you plan a quick loop, thinking to yourself, "It's only 30 kilometres, nothing will happen" — and that is exactly when something goes wrong. The logic behind it is simple: packing an inner tube takes seconds. Dealing with a mechanical without equipment takes hours.

Number 2: Gummy bears

Very few people have this tip on their radar, but the sweet treat is a absolute must-have for Taxer: "The most important thing I carry is a packet of gummy bears. It sounds strange, but they deliver an instant sugar hit when things get tough, and somehow they always boost your mood as well."

The sports science behind it: the glucose in classic gummy bears is absorbed incredibly quickly by the body — faster than most energy bars. When you hit the wall on long rides and your glycogen stores are completely depleted, gummy bears can provide that crucial lifeline of energy.

What to wear — clothing for your bike ride

The gear in your pockets is one thing; what you wear is another. Your outfit determines your comfort on the road, especially when the miles start adding up.

A cycling jersey isn't a fashion accessory; it's functional gear. It needs to be close-fitting to eliminate wind resistance, and breathable so sweat doesn't sit on your skin. It features rear pockets that are accessible while riding without having to dismount, and is designed without seams that start to chafe after kilometre 80.

Taxer now owns three sets of custom kit from spized: two short-sleeve combinations with bib shorts, and one long-sleeve version for cooler mornings and descents. He discovered spized at a football tournament where the opposing players were wearing self-designed shirts. When he took up road cycling more seriously, he remembered the name and found out that they also offered custom cycling jerseys.

Want a jersey that truly stands out? In the spized configurator, you can design your own cycling jersey in just a few minutes, using over 700 templates as a starting point. → Go to the cycling jersey configurator

Additional items depending on the conditions: arm warmers (for temperature fluctuations), leg warmers (for spring/autumn), a windproof gilet (a must-have for descents over 1,000 metres), and overshoes (for temperatures below 10°C).