I get asked a lot before our big tours what to bring. While most riders we serve here in Patagonia have many miles under their belt it’s a good question to ask to prepare for riding down here. In general Patagonia weather can change from ridge line to ridge line. I have had days where we ride all morning in the sun, cross into one valley where it's raining and cross back out into sun again.
Rain gear is always a hot topic. With the rain being isolated within certain areas it's hard to justify stopping to change into rain gear to then take it all off 30km down the road. I have to say GorTex riding gear is made for this type of climate, no need to stop and change. I personally ride in a KLIM BadLands jacket and pants. While it costs like a house, it works very well. I do not have to stop to change into rain gear, and it dries quickly once you are past the worst of it.
Boots are another big one, no one wants wet soggy feet. I’m on my second sole with my Sidi Adventure Boots. They are almost 10 years old and have served me well, but my next pair will be the Sidi Adventure Gortex. You may see a theme here, keeping dry is important. Using quality gear that breaths is also important because not all days are cold and rainy. We have many days of sun and warm weather.
Aside form the typical everyday off the bike street clothes I suggest not only your favorite pair of sunglasses but a back up pair! They get lost, left behind, and broken and not having a back up pair can be frustrating when all you want is to protect your eyes from the sun, rain and dust on the road with your visor up.
Many of our rides are one-way rides, which means you must carry things in a bag that can be strapped to the bike. It needs to be waterproof and flexible. Investing in a nice top loading dry bag for moto use is important. It serves many purposes and helps carry soft lighter loads when strapped to the rear rack or passenger seat area. I rarely use a top box, it's heavy, clunky and I have not found one yet that doesn’t rattle on a dirt road.
Another piece of gear we ride with here is a Garmin InReach. This is important and something I have talked about in past articles. Having a way to contact the outside world in case of an emergency is not only important but the responsible thing to do. Getting lost or hurt and not being able to tell rescue workers where you are leads to risky search parties out looking for you. One thing I see is folks strapping the InReach or SPOT to their bikes with nifty mounts. It looks real pro and cool, but the reality is if you’re alone and crash and you go one way and the bike goes another, suddenly that device is hard to get to. It could get broken, gone off a cliff, or you could be in a situation where you cannot get to it. My advice is to carry the InReach or SPOT on your person. This reduces the risk of not having access to it when you need it.
While this is by no means a fine detailed list, it is a few important things to consider for riding here in Patagonia or any part of the world where safety, comfort and durability are all key.
Rain gear is always a hot topic. With the rain being isolated within certain areas it's hard to justify stopping to change into rain gear to then take it all off 30km down the road. I have to say GorTex riding gear is made for this type of climate, no need to stop and change. I personally ride in a KLIM BadLands jacket and pants. While it costs like a house, it works very well. I do not have to stop to change into rain gear, and it dries quickly once you are past the worst of it.
Boots are another big one, no one wants wet soggy feet. I’m on my second sole with my Sidi Adventure Boots. They are almost 10 years old and have served me well, but my next pair will be the Sidi Adventure Gortex. You may see a theme here, keeping dry is important. Using quality gear that breaths is also important because not all days are cold and rainy. We have many days of sun and warm weather.
Aside form the typical everyday off the bike street clothes I suggest not only your favorite pair of sunglasses but a back up pair! They get lost, left behind, and broken and not having a back up pair can be frustrating when all you want is to protect your eyes from the sun, rain and dust on the road with your visor up.
Many of our rides are one-way rides, which means you must carry things in a bag that can be strapped to the bike. It needs to be waterproof and flexible. Investing in a nice top loading dry bag for moto use is important. It serves many purposes and helps carry soft lighter loads when strapped to the rear rack or passenger seat area. I rarely use a top box, it's heavy, clunky and I have not found one yet that doesn’t rattle on a dirt road.
Another piece of gear we ride with here is a Garmin InReach. This is important and something I have talked about in past articles. Having a way to contact the outside world in case of an emergency is not only important but the responsible thing to do. Getting lost or hurt and not being able to tell rescue workers where you are leads to risky search parties out looking for you. One thing I see is folks strapping the InReach or SPOT to their bikes with nifty mounts. It looks real pro and cool, but the reality is if you’re alone and crash and you go one way and the bike goes another, suddenly that device is hard to get to. It could get broken, gone off a cliff, or you could be in a situation where you cannot get to it. My advice is to carry the InReach or SPOT on your person. This reduces the risk of not having access to it when you need it.
While this is by no means a fine detailed list, it is a few important things to consider for riding here in Patagonia or any part of the world where safety, comfort and durability are all key.