Bike touring checklist
Packing for a bike tour: route with water and bail-outs, bike check, repair kit, clothing and protection, lights, first aid and group agreements.

[ ] Plan the route by time, not by distance
    Surface, elevation and wind change your speed dramatically. Plan around the slowest rider and leave a daylight margin.
[ ] Mark water and food points on the route
    Water is the one resource you cannot postpone. Mark shops, taps and cafés — and note their opening hours.
[ ] Identify bail-out points
    A station, a bus, a main road. Breakdowns, weather and how you feel all happen; a good route lets you leave it.
[ ] Check the bike: brakes, gears, wheels
    Pressure, play, bolt torque, brake pad and chain wear. Do it a week before so there is time to buy and fit parts.
[ ] Ride in new parts and the saddle in advance
    A new saddle, shoes or pedals on day one is a guaranteed problem. Test the fit on a long ride first.
[ ] Pack a repair kit and practise using it
    Tube, patches, pump, multitool, tyre levers, chain link, cable ties. Learn to remove a wheel and patch a tube at home.
[ ] Check the front and rear lights
    Even in daylight: a flashing rear light noticeably improves how visible you are. Bring spare batteries or a charger.
[ ] Take a helmet, gloves and glasses
    Gloves protect your palms in a fall and from numbness. Glasses handle sun, wind, dust and insects at speed.
[ ] Pack clothing for the forecast and for cold
    A windproof layer, something warm, waterproofs. Descents and speed are cold even on a warm day, and weather changes en route.
[ ] Take padded shorts and think about fit
    This decides whether day two happens. An awkward subject, and ignoring it is expensive.
[ ] Check the luggage mounts and balance the weight
    Heavy items low and near the centre. Check nothing rubs the wheel or rattles loose on bumps.
[ ] Download the route offline and bring power
    A GPS or phone runs flat faster than expected. A power bank and a paper backup are not paranoia.
[ ] Pack a first-aid kit for the trip
    Wound cleaning supplies, plasters, an elastic bandage, sun protection, insect repellent and your own medication.
[ ] Take food and snacks for the ride
    Bars, nuts, something salty. Hunger on a bike arrives suddenly and ruins the mood for the whole group.
[ ] Agree on riding order and signals in the group
    Who leads, who sweeps, what happens on a puncture or when someone drops back, where you wait. It prevents half the friction.
[ ] Check local rules for cyclists
    Where you may ride, whether a helmet and lights are compulsory, how junctions work. Requirements differ by country.
[ ] Sort the overnight stop in advance
    Campsite, guesthouse or tent. Book in season and know a fallback twenty kilometres further on.
[ ] Share the route with someone at home
    The route line, overnight stops and check-in times. Ordinary caution, not doubt about your abilities.

Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/bike-trip