Ready for the Tour Aotearoa

A week tomorrow I’m starting on the 3000 km self-supported ‘Tour Aotearoa’ which goes the length of NZ from Cape Reinga to Bluff. In spite of my crazy travel schedule I’ve managed to keep to a good training program and according to Xertonline I’m right where I need to be fitness wise which is great.  This is the best time—starting to taper. With a few rides this week, then driving north on Friday.

My wrist fracture from a few months ago is still bothersome, but nothing some Voltarin Creme, Tylenol and anti-inflammatory pills won’t handle. Taking a wrist brace just in case.

As with all these adventures, it’s been a case of refining the kit down to the minimal for the ride. I’m using my trusty Motobecane titanium hard tail with carbon forks. Just over 22 kg with all the gear. I was out for a ride today and someone grabbed this photo. Bags are Revelate Design seat, frame, harness and harness bag. I’ve a Topeak gas tank bag.

I’ve a SON front dynamo for powering a Sinewave Beacon light, which also has USB output for charging the Garmin 1000, cell phone etc. I’ve a Lupine Pico R light as a backup, with a 6600 mAh battery. This also serves as a USB backup power should the dynamo fail. I’ve a second 2500 mAh backup in the OT Buckshot Pro Bluetooth speaker which keeps me entertained. I’ve a B&M dynamo rear light, as well as a Night Rider Solas USB. Why have the duplicates? After my B&M Luxos light failed in the first day of the Indian Pacific Wheelrace I don’t want to go through that experience ever again!

Here are photos of the cockpit. The Sinewave is on top; the Lupine beneath it. The 6600 mAh battery can be seen under the left aero bars.

Below left is a view of the cockpit from the back, showing the Garmin 1000 and the Di2 control box. Why Di2? Fractured wrist has made me concerned so I did a retrofit over Christmas. It’s definitely an indulgence and I like the ease of shifting. I’m getting old.

Around my seat bag is a flexible mesh which was made for me by ex-Tour Divider Charlie Kemp. They are great as they allow you to stuff in your vest/jacket or anything that you want. On the top is the Revelate Sprocket mesh bag with my SPOT GPS and some other stuff. Next to it is a rolled up 1 litre water bottle which is my spare. I have 3 x 1 litre Magnum water bottles on the bike which are the primary water supply. The seat is a new Specialized Power Pro Elaston. I only have a few hundred kilometres on it and I’m impressed. Hope I will not regret the change. My trusty ‘Thudbuster’ seat post takes out some of the bumps.

Bike has new: XTR pedals (after 2015 TCR will never race with used pedals again!), chain, cassette (40!), Schwalbe Thunder Burt tyres with Stan’s race sealant. New batteries in my 4iiii power meter, heart rate monitor and the Garmin distance sensor (really useful when you lose satellite coverage in places like Big River).

As a backup to my Garmin 1000 (in EVERY race I’ve done they have failed at least once on me), I have an old Xperia Z3 Compact phone which has ANT+ so will connect to the bike sensors. I’m running the app OSMand+ as the navigation app, and will use Ridewithgps app for collecting the data. I got off ebay a Garmin compatible cell phone mount and put it on the back of the case, along with a Garmin rubber band to hold the case closed. Works great as the GPS will still receive.

In terms of my gear, here is the complete list. Looking forward to the adventure!

Bike	Front Light – Lupine Piko R
Bike	Front Light – Sinewave Beacon dynamo
Bike	Garmin 1000
Bike	Lupine Piko 6600 mAh battery
Bike	Pump
Bike	Rear Light – B&M Seculia dynamo
Bike	Rear Light – Night Rider Solas USB
Bike	Specialized SWAT top tube chain tool
Frame Bag	1 x 1 L roll up water bottle
Frame Bag	1 x Coleman camper’s toilet paper
Frame Bag	3 x spokes
Frame Bag	Chain oil, brush and cloth in plastic bag
Frame Bag	Kathmandu folding baseball hat
Frame Bag	Silicon Cup/Bowl
Frame Bag	Spork
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	1 x tube
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	2 x Chain Super Links
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	2 x Park tyre boot
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	2 x tyre irons
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	4 x CR2032 Batteries
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Chain hook
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Chainring bolt
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Cleat + Bolts
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Di2 cable – 1400 mm
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Di2 Cable connector/removal tool
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Disc brake pad set
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Disc rotor bolt
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Fibre fix spoke
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Garmin twist mount and spare bands
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Motobecane derailleur hanger
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Patch kit with adhesive and vulcanizing patches
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Sinewave USB to dynamo light power cable
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Son dynamo cable
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Stein mini emergency cassette tool
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Tenacious Tape
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Tube patch kit
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Tubeless patch kit
Frame Bag – Large tool bag	Valve inner stem
Frame Bag – Small tool bag	3 x REI velcro straps
Frame Bag – Small tool bag	8 mm pedal hex adapter
Frame Bag – Small tool bag	Alan Keys
Frame Bag – Small tool bag	Boa shoe torx wrench
Frame Bag – Small tool bag	Cable ties
Frame Bag – Small tool bag	Leatherman Squirt PS4 multi-tool
Gastank	1 x satchel of chamois crème
Gastank	Caffeine pills
Gastank	Cell phone
Gastank	Dynamo light Torx keys
Gastank	Lip ointment
Gastank	Piko USB charger connectors x 2
Gastank	Purell hand sanitizer
Gastank	Small can opener
Gastank	SPF 30 lip balm
Gastank	Tylenol
Gastank	Valve adapter – Presta-Shraeder
Handlebar Bag	200 x Salt Stick electrolyte pills
Handlebar Bag	200 x Sports legs pills
Handlebar Bag	80 x BCAA pills
Handlebar Bag	Backup cell phone with Garmin GPS mount
Handlebar Bag	Dental floss
Handlebar Bag	Epipen adrenaline injector
Handlebar Bag	Eye glasses
Handlebar Bag	First aid kit
Handlebar Bag	Gloves – Goretex over mitts
Handlebar Bag	Gloves – Kathmandu light weight cold weather riding gloves
Handlebar Bag	Micro Towel
Handlebar Bag	Petzl head torch
Handlebar Bag	Razor with two blades
Handlebar Bag	Re-Skin patches
Handlebar Bag	Sea-to-summit ultra-sil 22 dry day pack
Handlebar Bag	Spare SPF 30 lip balm
Handlebar Bag	Toothbrush toothpaste
Handlebar Bag	Water purification tablets
Handlebar Bag – Power bag	1 x Micro-B Cable
Handlebar Bag – Power bag	1 x Micro-C Cable
Handlebar Bag – Power bag	4 x AAA SPOT batteries
Handlebar Bag – Power bag	Di2 Charger
Handlebar Bag – Power bag	Micro-C OTG Adapter
Handlebar Bag – Power bag	Pudney USB Micro-B and Micro-C AC Adapter
Harness Bag	Bivy bag
Harness Bag	Lock and cable
Harness Bag	Sea to Summit Ultralight sleeping mat
Harness Bag	Z Pack sleeping bag
Seat Bag	1 x Large Kinesys SPF30 suntan lotion
Seat Bag	1 x tube
Seat Bag	2 x Coleman camper’s toilet paper
Seat Bag	Eddy Bauer down jacket
Seat Bag	Endura rain pants
Seat Bag	Pearl Izumi riding vest
Seat Bag	Rocky Road Goretex socks
Seat Bag	Showers Pass IMDB rain jacket
Seat Bag – Mesh	1 x asthma inhaler
Seat Bag – Mesh	1 x small Kinesys suntan lotion
Seat Bag – Mesh	SPOT GPS
Seat Bag – Sleeping bag	2XU Recovery tights
Seat Bag – Sleeping bag	Ambien sleeping pills
Seat Bag – Sleeping bag	Assos post-ride salve
Seat Bag – Sleeping bag	Earplugs
Seat Bag – Sleeping bag	Ground Effect merino socks
Seat Bag – Sleeping bag	Long sleeve merino shirt
Seat Bag – Sleeping bag	Shorts for sleeping in/wearing during laundry, etc.
Seat Bag – Sleeping bag	Sleeping mask
Seat Bag – Sleeping bag	Sleeping mat patch kit
Wear	Buff
Wear	Dog tag with emergency contacts
Wear	Ground Effect merino socks
Wear	Ground Effect Rock Lobster long sleeve riding shirt
Wear	Ground Effect shorts
Wear	Head sweat cover
Wear	Heart rate monitor
Wear	Lake MX-331 cycling shoes
Wear	Specialized Body Geometry gloves
Wear	Sunglasses