My Gear For Cycling Coast-To-Coast

I’ve cycled 2,750 miles across the US this summer. Here’s what got me there

Clive Thompson

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The author’s bicycle, on the Cameron Pass over the Rocky Mountains. It has two red pannier bags over the rear wheels and two red pannier bags over the front wheels; in the background are mountains and a cloudy sky
My bike, on the Cameron Pass in Colorado, over the Rockies

What sort of kit do you need to cycle across the country?

This summer, I’ve been finding out. For my next book (on micromobility) I’m crossing the US by bicycle — so from April 26 until June 12, I was on the road. I travelled 2,740 miles in those seven weeks, going from my home in Brooklyn, NY, to West Yellowstone, Montana. (I’m currently taking a two-week break, before finishing the trip from Montana to the Pacific coast.)

I’ve written several blog posts about the trip so far (and you can see all my daily updates on Strava, the social network for cyclists). But there’s one question I’ve gotten from a lot of folks online:

“What gear do you use on your trip?”

You asked, I answered.

Forthwith, here’s my list of Gear For Cycling Across The Country. Obviously, it’s idiosyncratic; I’ve met many long-distance cyclists on my trip, and everyone has slightly different gear. What you (or anyone else) can afford will vary, too; I’m lucky to be doing this trip as part of my journalistic work, so I had a good budget for my stuff.

(BTW, I’m not using affiliate links here — I don’t make anything if you click through to any…

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Clive Thompson
Clive Thompson

Written by Clive Thompson

I write 2X a week on tech, science, culture — and how those collide. Writer at NYT mag/Wired; author, “Coders”. @clive@saturation.social clive@clivethompson.net

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