Wheels
Kat's smiling now, but wait until
her spokes start breaking
Make sure your weight-bearing wheels are strong enough! This is the single biggest mistake we made. Our Kona Dew hybrid bikes had single walled rims and ordinary (straight) spokes which broke under the weight of panniers in the most high stress and least accessible place - under the rear gear cassette. In total we broke seven spokes between us. Mountain bike wheels are stronger but you can get touring wheels with double-walled rims, steel nipples and double- or even triple-butted spokes. Available wheel spares in SE Asia - spokes, inner tubes and tyres - are almost exclusively for 26" wheels rather than 28" (700) wheels so take a mountain bike or plenty of spare parts.
Bike spec
Take something simple but sturdy. Your expensive downhill mountain bike may be cool, but you'll be cursing the extra weight of the suspension riding uphill, and you won't be able to find spare parts for the top-of-the-range disc brakes if they need fixing. A lightweight mountain bike with good wheels is perfect for our routes, but obviously if you're planning a trip that involves riding off road, suspension would be a good idea...
Spares
If it can go wrong, take a spare one with you. It's very hard to find spare parts outside of Thailand - even V-brake blocks are hard to come by. Take several inner tubes as well as a puncture repair kit (to fix the holed tubes in the evenings), spare spokes (make sure you've got all the sizes you need), brake blocks (and fit new ones before you go), gear and brake cables (2 spare of each) and chain links - just in case! If you have a speedometer or cycle computer make sure it has a heavy duty cable or take a spare sensor and cable kit (maybe even a battery). We didn't take any spare tyres, but looking back we should have done.
Tools
It's useful to have tools even if you don't know how to use them - a local bike mechanic can fix your broken spokes, but only if you've brought the cassette removal tool with you. Take every size of hex key and spanner that you'll need - the one you forget will be the one you need. Your tool kit should also contain at least: tyre levers, a pedal spanner, spoke wrench, gear cassette removal tool, a chain whip, chain delinker, and a leatherman or multi-tool with a screwdriver, pliers and cable cutter. If you don't know what any of these things are, now's the time to find out. Get some WD-40 when you arrive - you won't be able to take it on the plane with you.
Bike packing
Each airline has different rules, and often if you ring them three times you'll get three different versions! We flew with Thai Airways, who didn't
officially require the bikes to be boxed, but when we cycled to the airport at Melbourne the check-in staff were so flummoxed that we bought bike boxes from Virgin Blue (AUS$15 each) and packed them there. If you're going to do this, loosen the pedals slightly before you leave the house because they can be very stiff. It's safest to pack the bikes in advance and transport them to the airport; use cardboard to separate all parts in the box, secure cardboard around the chainwheel and let the tyres down slightly (just to make the airline happy, we're not getting into
that argument).
Clothing
Maybe it's time for a new pair of gloves, Mat
You can wear padded shorts and waddle around like you're in a nappy all day, or you can buy a super-comfy gel seat like
Selle Royale, wear unpadded regular shorts and behave like you're in a Tampax advert. Leaning over the handlebars causes your top to ride up over your lower back so get one that's longer at the back or use a scarf to cover the exposed skin. Sunglasses, a helmet with a visor and padded gloves are essential for keeping the sun off. In Laos we got exposure burns, like chapped lips, on our exposed fingers and toes because the air was so hot and dry. If you have sensitive or pale skin, take long-fingered gloves and covered shoes like trainers. In Vietnam and Cambodia you might want a dust mask (available everywhere); in Vietnam you might also want ear plugs because of the incessant blaring horns.
Water bottles
Take at least two 750ml bottles per person, with a flip-top cover to keep out the road dirt. On a hot day you can easily drink five litres of water, and it's a hassle to stop and fill up with water every hour.
Bike lights
Although it's best not to cycle at night, it's a good idea to have lights just in case. Also, take a reasonably strong headlamp for exploring caves and finding your way back from bars in the middle of the night.
Bike maintenance
Check your tyres and brakes daily and service regularly - or you can get someone else to service it for a very small price. If your chain is really dirty and you're nowhere near a bike shop, use a small amount petrol to clean the chain - available from roadside vendors in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Our legal team have asked us to point out that petrol is flammable and should be used under adult supervision. If you have to clean the bike yourself (the hardship!) wait until the dirt has dried and then brush off; collect the free toothbrushes from hotels to do this. Beware though, it's an addictive habit - by the end of our trip Mat had a whole pocket in his panniers dedicated to his collection of 20+ toothbrushes, and wanted to carry on taking them even after we stopped cycling.