Voyage à vélo : la checklist complète pour ne rien oublier (LIVE)

Summary of the livestream (cycling trip equipment checklist)

Overall focus + resources

• This is the hosts’ first live stream, focused specifically on equipment for a cycling trip (not ultra-light minimalism).
• They explain they’ll cover the trip inventory step-by-step, including:
  • Panniers contents: basic accessories → frame basics → saddlebags
  • Tools, clothing, hygiene/health
  • Sleeping setup
  • Cooking gear
  • “Favorite dishes” ingredients + winter/autonomy add-ons
• At the end, PDF inventory sheets will be made available to download/print.
• They mentioned no ads during the stream, with optional support via a pinned link.

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1) Basics: bike + anti-theft + lighting + containers + saddle

Bike setup (comfort-oriented, for first/long trips)

• Choose a bike suited to your riding style (e.g., gravel / hybrid / sometimes mountain depending on preference).
• They recommend front + rear luggage racks/panniers for comfort and maximum volume.
• Example brands/models were referenced for information only (not endorsements).

Anti-theft (essential)

• Bring a lock so you can sleep without worrying.
• Match the lock/setup to the number of bikes; they used:
  • a chain to lock bikes together or to a fixed point
• In big cities, they often leave bikes with the accommodation (hotel/room/host) to reduce stress.

Visibility / safety

• Helmet + reflective suspenders:
  • they find them better than yellow vests (less bulky, more breathable, more stylish)
• Lights:
  • Ideally a dynamo hub on a touring bike
  • Otherwise battery lights, but waterproof

Fuel & water containers (durability matters)

• Jerrycans should be high quality to avoid breaking/leaking mid-trip.
• They prefer:
  • plant-based plastic over cheap plastic
  • or stainless steel for durability

Saddle strategy (no miracle)

• Expect soreness early—there’s no “magic saddle.”
• They used Brooks leather saddles:
  • Break-in: about ~1000 km
  • Once broken in, it molds to you
  • They often didn’t use cycling bib shorts on leather saddles, except on harsher MTB terrain (impacts can damage shorts fabric)
• Caution: a too-soft saddle can become uncomfortable over time because it compresses tissue.

Optional add-ons they find useful

• Speedometer
• Rearview mirror
• Kickstand (useful but not first priority)

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2) Water + underwear + clothing system

Water / capacity rule of thumb

• Aim for ~2 liters of water per person per day (minimum for cycling days).
• If you’ll reach water later, don’t necessarily fill everything.
• Keep ~0.5 L ready to drink.
• For bivouacs without easy washing/cooking workflow, 2 L per person filled is a practical compromise.

Underwear

• They prefer merino wool (odor-resistant, temperature-regulating, antibacterial).
• Example brands mentioned:
  • Icebreaker (liked for comfort/benefits but had fit issues in one model)
  • Smartwool
  • Dogarun and other merino options discussed
• Washing note: merino is slightly fragile vs synthetics, so they rotate a few pairs.

Clothing layering (“onion” layers)

Top layers

• Base layer: thermal, snug fit (long sleeve in winter, short sleeve in summer)
• Warm layer: fleece or down jacket
• Rain/wind layer: waterproof and breathable jacket

Bottom layers

• Legs usually get cold around knees/thighs, not calves first.
• Use shorts early for protection if needed; for colder conditions, use leggings under pants.
• They strongly prefer trousers to shorts for rough roads and leg coverage.
• For rain:
  • Avoid bulky non-breathable waterproof pants if possible
  • Prefer over-trousers you can remove when dry

Feet + head + extremities

• Essential: merino wool socks (and/or cycling socks + waterproof shoes).
• Shoes:
  • Ideal: breathable waterproof like Gore‑Tex (noted environmental downsides)
  • Alternative: water-repellent membrane or open shoes in summer (for camps/showers they still suggest closed + open pairs)
• Prioritize extremities:
  • hat that fits under the helmet
  • gloves (thicker in winter, thinner in summer)
  • neck gaiter (can double as neck warmer/head protection and even a hair tie)

Merino comfort note

• Merino won’t necessarily make you too hot in summer because it’s thermoregulating.
• Don’t “trap” it under waterproof shells all the time—it can turn into a sauna → sweat.

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3) Tools & bike maintenance basics (what to actually be able to do)

Repair basics (aim for ~90% of road issues)

They emphasize learning to handle:

• Punctures
• Chain maintenance + being able to change the chain
• Brake adjustment

Core toolkit mentioned

• mini pump
• tire levers
• patches + inner tube
• multitool
• Practical note: buy a quality multitool—bad ones break or are heavy.
• Practice before leaving:
  • learn to adjust everything you might need
  • practice changing inner tubes

Inner tube materials: TPU backup

• TPU tubes are lighter than traditional butyl (about 60–70 g vs 200 g).
• Trade-offs:
  • harder to repair (different patches)
  • more fragile; can be damaged by abrasion if stored poorly
  • much more expensive

Chain durability + maintenance tools

• Use lubricant regularly.
• Add a chain wear tester to replace preventively (extend chain/cassette lifespan).
• They claim long durability on tour bikes thanks to frequent preventive chain changes.

Quick links (chain connector)

• A quick link can repair a broken chain without special tools.
• In their story: it helped them rejoin a chain quickly in the Turkish mountains (repair in “two movements”).

Optional spare parts

• More technical spares like:
  • brake pads/shoes
  • derailleur hanger parts
  • caps
  • tubeless plugs
  • spokes + nuts
• Rationale: the destination/mechanics may not have the exact part.
• Example: unusual brake systems (e.g., Magura skate).

Workshop / learning support

• They suggested free self-repair workshops (sometimes women-only groups) and tutorials on their channel.

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4) Hygiene & health for long bike travel

Staying “clean” without daily full showers

• Use a washcloth technique:
  • wash face, neck, armpits, wool/fet areas (as described)
  • wash with very little water
• If water is scarce:
  • a compact folding basin can work like a small pocket sink (also helps for dishes/laundry)

Basic first-aid kit essentials

• bandages
• painkillers
• anti-diarrheal meds (they mention it can help)
• Tirtic (mentioned as helpful in their experience)
• sunscreen + sun-protective lip balm
• They prefer carrying SPF 50 and reapplying often.

Insects & multipurpose oils

• They generally don’t pre-plan insect repellent too much:
  • buy a product in the location when needed
• Example essential oils:
  • peppermint oil for nausea/headaches
• Optional comfort:
  • arnica/recovery gel cream for aches (if space allows)

Menstrual travel option

• They mentioned washable merino menstrual underwear:
  • comfortable on the bike
  • reduces waste
  • requires drying time; they rotate pairs and dry them on handlebars/panniers (also mentioned as an anti-theft benefit)

Leave-no-trace “poop kit”

• Toilet paper handling:
  • burn it or pack it in a bag
• Digging a hole:
  • bury waste properly (they stressed it decomposes very slowly and shouldn’t remain on the surface)
• They also shared that one trip they lacked a shovel and had to improvise.

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5) Sleeping arrangements: tent, mattress, sleeping bag, pillow, lighting

Tent choice & seasons

• They discussed:
  • 3-season vs 4-season vs seasonal tents
  • differences: fabric thickness, wind/rain resistance, snow capability
  • hydrophobic treatments (silicone as a hallmark of Vaude)
• They chose a “comfortable near-4-season” at first (heavier), then shifted to a lighter 3-season while staying robust.
• Mentioned selling an older Vaude tent that included a footprint/ground protection.

Mattress insulation is critical

• Not enough insulation underneath can make you cold even if the sleeping bag is warm.
• They recommend checking mattress R-values:
  • “more is more insulating”
  • referenced values like R0…8 and mentioned ~7+ for winter systems

Sleeping bag: down vs synthetic

• They opted for down:
  • cozy, warm for low bulk
  • but more sensitive to humidity (performance drops if it gets wet)
• They referenced down quality via fill power/cuines (higher = more compressible and better insulation).

How they dress (sweat prevention)

• They generally sleep without clothes to avoid sweating that can wet the sleeping bag.
• They recommend using a sleeping bag liner/sheet:
  • keeps the sleeping bag cleaner
  • adds a few extra degrees
  • is easier to wash than the whole sleeping bag

Pillow + optional items

• They rarely travel without a pillow:
  • small inflatable pillow (Termarest brand mentioned)
  • alternative: carry a down jacket inside a waterproof bag
• Survival blanket mentioned as an optional/emergency backup.
• Headlamp (Adler recommended).
• Optional “lantern” for tent comfort (a small Advenser lamp used like a ceiling light).

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6) Cooking: stove + mess kit + washing + meal strategy

Fueling & morale

• Eating well matters: cycling burns lots of calories, and morale is tied to food.
• They stressed not waiting to be hungry or thirsty—fuel proactively.
• Also: listen to your energy level and coordinate with companions so nobody gets over-pushed.

Cooking essentials

• Stoves:
  • refueling station approach earlier in their long trip
  • now also a small MSR Pocket Rocket (they alternate depending on trip length)
• Mess kit / lightweight cutlery:
  • possibly titanium; emphasized bowls for versatility
• Bowls:
  • airtight/collapsible bowls for leftovers, meal prep, and lunchboxes for the next day

Washing supplies

• solid multipurpose soap (Marseille/Alep style mentioned)
• sponge (small washable fabric sponge)
• microfiber towel (for drying dishes)

Optional extras for comfort

• cutting board
• collapsible/extra containers
• water bladder (mentioned)

Food idea they highlight: semolina-based meals

• Semolina is described as a strong “travel main ingredient”:
  • small space, cooks quickly
  • nutritious (carbs/protein/fiber)
  • can be eaten hot or cold
  • can be combined with legumes, raw vegetables, seeds, etc.

Winter/autonomy accessories

• Solar panels for longer bivouac autonomy:
  • Big Blue 28W solar panels
  • strengths:
    • can charge even with partial overcast/bright skies
    • can work while left on the luggage rack
  • cautions:
    • voltage variability can harm charging; they suggest using a backup battery and charging phone from that battery
• Plan a backup battery.
• Water filter:
  • a tiny UV filter mentioned (~“highlighter-sized”)
  • fast (referenced filtering ~1 liter in ~90 seconds)

Small maintenance-friendly habit

• Sewing kit (needle + thread) to repair clothes/tents and stop small tears from spreading.
• Repair patches mentioned as waterproof adhesive patches.

Organization tips in panniers

• Use small fabric nets to compartmentalize by “zones” (kitchen/bathroom/sleeping area).
• Leave space in panniers for groceries you’ll buy en route:
  • foldable shopping bags (Sitou Semit basin/bags mentioned)
• Weight distribution:
  • avoid overloading the back
  • referenced guidance like 60% front / 40% rear
  • discussed center of gravity and handling.

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Notable products / speakers / places mentioned (end)

Speakers/hosts

• Léa and Brewen

Brands/products repeatedly referenced

• Vaude tent (and a Vaude footprint/ground protection)
• Brooks saddles
• Smartwool / Icebreaker merino (underwear and clothing)
• Termarest (mattress/pillow)
• Adler (headlamp)
• Advenser (lantern)
• MSR Pocket Rocket stove
• Big Blue 28W solar panel
• UV water filter (small UV bottle filter)
• Tubus luggage racks / Marc Tubus (steel racks praised)
• Cumulus sleeping bag
• Sitou Semit basin/shopping bags (folding basin, foldable bags)

Notable route/trail location mentioned

• GTMC / “Great crossing of the Massif Central”
• Balkans (stray dogs discussion)
• Creuse (tubeless-related anecdote)
• Turkish mountains (quick link story)