This video summarizes the spare parts, tools and nutrition I’m bringing along on the 500-mile solo ride through the Arizona / Mexico desert and mountains.
This video summarizes the spare parts, tools and nutrition I’m bringing along on the 500-mile solo ride through the Arizona / Mexico desert and mountains.
How many water bottles did you take?
In the desert, generally i take four – two are mounted on the frame and two are in my rear carrier. I seem to go through one an hour, and I usually hit some kind of town every 60-70 miles, so I’m good.
If I can, I freeze three of them – the first of the three is on the frame and is the second to be used after I go through the first bottle . The other two melt more slowly as they are wrapped/insulated in my non-bike clothes in the rear carrier.
On one of my trips (a 200 mile day and 120 miles between towns) I sat and drank close to a gallon before heading off, and carried four bottles plus a gallon more strapped on the back. https://www.bernieschmidt.com/cycling/html/el-paso-san-Antonio/D3-alpine-del-rio.htm
I generally operate with 4 24oz insulated bottles. All four are filled up the night before and frozen, then two are packed in the morning inside my clothes in my rear panier and two into the bottle holders on the bike frame.
There are usually small towns along the way where I will stop and top up.