Packing list for France

(Subject to change!)

The stuff in italics is the tour organizer’s suggestions; my interpretation is in parentheses. The current forecast at our destination is for highs in the mid-70s and rain, so my list has been evolving over the last week or so. My goal is to keep the carry on luggage below 8 kg (17.6 pounds), Lufthansa’s limit.

City Clothes (clothes for time off the bike):

• 1-2 pair casual pants and/or skirts (denim skirt, black knit skirt*)
• 3-4 wash and wear (cotton/polyester) shirts (grey 3/4 sleeve T, striped 3/4 sleeve blue/white blouse , black 3/4 sleeve T*, green tank, yellow tank)
• 1-2 pair shorts or capris (skip, I’m bringing skirts)
• 1 light to medium weight long-sleeve top for layering (long green sweater*, grey bolero sweater)
• 3 pair socks (make that 1 pair black socks, 1 pair black tights, black leggings*, 1 pair wool socks* for plane & night)
• undergarments (4 underpants, 2 sports bras, 1 sweater bra)
• swimsuit (husband says no)
• hat, scrunchable (skip)

Footwear: (Do not bring new shoes, break them in now)

• Comfortable sandals or casual shoes (Timberline sandals)

Cycling Gear

• Helmet
• Sunglasses
• Cycling gloves
• Helmet mirror
• ROHO handcycle cushion*
• Packback/water bag

Cycling clothes & shoes

• 2-3 pair lycra or other padded cycling shorts (blue shorts, black shorts)
• 3 brightly colored lycra or performance type fabric cycling jerseys (blue Sugoi sleeveless jersey, short sleeve Reston Bike Club jersey)
• 1 long-sleeved, performance type fabric lightweight jersey for layering (skip, I have a rain jacket and a long sleeve base layer)
• 3-4 pair cycling socks (skip, socks above)
• Water-resistant wind breaker (skip, I have a rain jacket and a long sleeve base layer)
• Cycling tights or leg-warmers (Lucy long lightweight tights)
• long-sleeved jersey or arm-warmers (grey UnderArmour base layer)
• water proof (Gore-Tex or similar) rain jacket and pants (orange jacket, black pants)
• head warmer (grey Prana headband)
• long-fingered gloves (which I actually prefer, because I shift with my fingertips and without gloves tend to break my nails)
• cycling booties and/or part-wool socks (skip, wool socks above)
• Cycling shoes (Merrells*)

* Wear on the plane

Other stuff

• neck pillow
• green sleeveless dress
• 2-3 lightweight scarves (yellow/black chiffon, long twisty green, multicolored rectangle)
• 1 pashmina (grey*)
• John Adams book (so big and heavy, but I couldn’t bring myself to buy it again electronically)
• deck of cards
• notebook
• cell phone
• iPod Touch
• camera (could skip this, as both of the above have cameras)
• handicapped parking placard (in case I need to prove anything)
• wheelchair tools, extra tube, levers, patch kit
• toiletries (super minimal – sunscreen, hand lotion, deodorant, toothpaste)
• meds

This way, if it’s super hot, I’ve got a couple of tank tops and a lightweight sleeveless dress.

If it’s super cold, I can layer tights/leggings/skirt/tank top/longer sleeved t-shirt/sweater.

If it rains, I top everything with my nice new orange rain jacket (not stylish, alas, but waterproof).

Weight update: my bag is 15.5 pounds, or 7 kg. That doesn’t count the bike clothes, which I put in a large zip lock in the wheel bag (but it does include my helmet), or the backback containing airplane necessities (book, pashmina, fuzzy socks, neck pillow, valuables).