Bikepacking Catalunya Trail Kit List

There are few things that bikepackers love geeking out about more than kit choices, whether that’s the bike or what’s on it. I’m often asked about kit lists and such, but they’re so subjective to the event, location, duration, weather, and crucially personal preference. Therefore, here I’m outlining what I plan to take with me for the Catalunya Trail next week, a 300km (ish) multi terrain bikepacking race from Girona into the Pyrenees. You might learn something, or even better still, you might be able to remind me what I’ve forgotten…

In terms of set up for this event, with 10,000m+ elevation to tackle, I want to pack as light as possible. However, going into the mountains with unknown weather conditions, this will not be at the cost of being safe and sensible here. As it’s a relatively short event, 3 to 4 days, I can afford to take relatively little clothing but I also want to make sure that I take sufficient for potentially cold nights up in the hills. Of course, being very remote means that I’ll also need equipment to fix or at least bodge any issues, should they (hopefully not) arise far from civilisation.

I’ll be in a pair with my good riding buddy John, so some select kit will be shared as noted below. If you have tips and tricks for packing and gear choice I’d love to hear them.

Bike

Although I’m tantalisingly close to having my new Mercredi gravel bike ready for the trip, it’s the sensible thing to go for the bike I know intimately already; my trusty Pinnacle Arkose. I’ll be swapping out my usual 40T chainring for a 36, to compliment the 11-42 for those big climbing days, especially where added luggage is taken into account. A fresh new pair of WTB Nano TCS 40mm tyres are going on, as my previous pair have done a good year of heavy service. And before you ask, it’s tubeless or GTFO.

Bike bags

I use the Ortlieb Bikepacking range with the 16.5L seatpost bag and 15L handlebar bag, which are quite pricey at £110/£85. If you’ve used them you’ll know why – they’re one of the few bikepacking ranges on offer with fully taped seams and I have well and truly put that to the test! They’ve also been super durable over the last couple of years especially the amount of abuse they get with riding off road and getting plastered in dirt! In addition to the bike mounted storage, I’ll also be armed with a bumbag which is perfect things you want close to hand, like snacks and tools.

I try and keep the heavier items in the seatpost pack, centralised over the bottom bracket. That includes most of the sleep set up, with the hammock, tarp, sleeping bag, wash kit and a few other essentials as listed below. Lighter items go in the handlebar bag so as to not affect handling too much. As it fits pretty snug between the bars (thank goodness for the TRP Hylex/Di2 climbing buttons set up) it’s a bit hard to access, so I try and keep only kit I’ll need overnight in there too, like clothing changes and spare shoes. For changeable conditions, it’s handy to keep a layer close to hand in the elastic cords either on the handlebar bag or on the seatpost bag.

Sleeping

-Hammock

Although arguably less versatile than a bivvy bag which you can set up pretty much anywhere, after some practice over the last few months stringing a hammock in some unconventional places I feel more than confident that this will be fine in the mountains. I always sleep better suspended off the ground rather than on it; partly as it allows me to get into the fetal position without slipping off a mat, and partly as there’s no sticks and stones to prod into my back in the night!

I’m opting for the DD Hammocks SuperLight Hammock here at only 280g/£55, with 3m ‘Tree Huggers’ straps – it’s also very compact to save bag space at the cost of a single layer rather than double construction with a zip, which I’m not too fussed about anyway. This is the first thing to go into my seatpost pack, fitting tightly and sturdily down the narrow end against the seatpost.

-Tarp

To string over the hammocks in the case of rain, and to keep off the prevailing wind at night which can be pretty cold when suspended above ground, I’ll be packing the DD Hammocks SuperLight Tarp (£65). It’s just under 3m x 3m and 460g plus 4 lightweight pegs and my paracord ridgeline (purple of course), which is plenty big enough for most scenarios.

When it’s been really cold I’ve been using the Alpkit Cloud Base Sleeping Mat (£45/395g) inside the hammock as an insulating layer against the wind and cold, but since using a tarp angled against the wind, this has been less of a problem. John is going to try a foil space blanket in his hammock under his sleeping bag which is a much more lightweight and space saving option, plus carrying a survival blanket is essential anyway, so good to put it to use!

-Sleeping Bag

I’m lucky to have two options here, a ‘summer’ Mountain Hardware Lamina 45 sleeping bag which has a synthetic construction and suitable for down to 7 degrees (45F) which I got off eBay second hand for just £50, or a more recent indulgence with a 3 season bag. This is an Alpkit SkyeHigh 500 Hydrophobic down bag which I splurged £150 on, but so far it’s been worth every penny. Of course it is a bit more bulky as it’s suitable for down to -4 (comfort down to 1 degree) and weighs 970g. There are more hardcore bags on the market, but for the extra bulk, weight and expense, I don’t feel the desire to be camping out anywhere colder than that! Hopefully this winter option will be perfect for the colder nighttime temperatures up in the Pyrenees.

Clothing

To wear;

• 1x pair bib shorts, the trusty ASSOS chamois of course!
• 1x pair overshorts
• 1x pair socks
• 1x bamboo tee
• 1x pair thin Specialized grail long finger gloves (I don’t want to love them but I do)
• 1x pair Giro VR90 MTB Shoes (with purple paracord laces obvs)
• 1x POC Octal helmet in you-can-see-me-from-miles-off shocking pink
• 1x HR monitor. I’m mining those big-ass TSS scores

To carry;

• 1x Patagonia packable insulated jacket, for stopping and night time
• 1x spare pair bib shorts for the wearing/washing rotation
• 1x spare pair socks, for the washing rotation and a morale boost
• 1x baselayer, long sleeve Finisterre merino goodness for that odour control
• 1x long sleeve thermal jersey
• 1x waterproof outer jacket
• 1x shite shirt, doesn’t have much purpose other than being rad as hell
• 1x pair merino leggings (ALDI special) for sleeping and cold mornings
• 1x beanie for chilly nights (& hiding helmet hair…)
• 1x pair Birkenstock Arizona EVAs – super lightweight, waterproof EVA sandals for off the bike, even wearable with socks (just don’t tell)

Wash kit

• Basic Medikit; gauze wrap, plasters, paracetamol
• Insect repellent (thanks for the reminder Emma)
• Soap; for washing and kit washing
• Toothbrush/paste; some handy miniatures swiped from a hotel bathroom
• Suncream SPF50 and SPF30 lipsalve – easy to underestimate how important this is!
• Glasses & contact lenses

Other essentials

-Battery pack

-Charging cables – for phone, lights, Wahoo, plus a wall plug

-Survival Bag – plastic sack for emergencies (as previously mentioned John will also have a space blanket)

-Music speaker – for the occasional musical motivation

-Lights – rear Moon to be seen, Exposure Diablo MK10 up front with helmet/bar mount

-Head torch – Petzl Zipka for setting up camp in the dark

-Titanium spoon

-Safety pizza – for safety. And general pizazz.

-Hipflask – if you’ve slept out before, you know how much this helps.

-Pen & Paper – for daily route cards and other musings

-Local cash, passport (essential for staying at mountain refuges)

Toolkit & Spares

• Tubes
• Tubeless Plugs (the cheapest ones from Amazon)
• Chainlink
• Sugru
• Mini Superglue
• Cableties
• Pedros tyre lever
• x2 sets spare brake pads
• Crankbrothers Multi Tool (including a chain tool)
• Electrical Tape/Gorilla tape wound around a Topeak pump
• 60ml Wet Lube
• Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT (complete with full and daily routes from Komoot app)
• x2 750ml Camelbak bottles

Cooking

John is carrying the cooking equipment for warming soups, noodles, boiled eggs and hot drinks, thanks to his bigger bike offering much more stowage space (not to mention his extra leg power), which includes:

• Jetboil Zip (0.8L) with gas
• Lighter
• Plastic bowl, cup, titanium spork & folding knife (locking blade)

So that’s it! It certainly does sound like a lot but it does pack down small! And not to forget the most important thing of all – snacks! I feel that deserves a post of it’s own; fresh citrus fruits, local dried figs, catalan pastries….

If you’ve spotted what I’ve missed, do let me know! And for more updates on the Catalunya Trail, stay tuned for the full report coming soon. Peace out.

Photos thanks to Dave Sear/Pannier.cc