Home > Gear Reviews

Léandre Bouchard’s bikepacking list

Everything the Canadian Olympian packed for a seven day trip

In December Léandre Bouchard, who has been on team Canada for ten years, decided to jump into his first training camp of the season in an unconventional way.

Leandre Bouchard Bear Mountain

The 28-year-old cross-country mountain biker competed at the 2016 Olympics, is a three time national XC champion and two time national XCE champion. When Bouchard heard his team, Pivot Cycles-OTE, was holding a training camp in Tucson, Arizona he decided to get in a bit of an adventure first. He planned a seven day 1,000 km cycling trip from LA to Tucson via San Diego, that would deliver him straight to his teammates.

 

Although he designed the trip to take seven days, Bouchard was able to complete it in six by pushing through the final kilometers. He says the biggest problem he encountered on his trip was spokes snapping on his rear wheel. When the first snapped he was 175 km away from the next bike shop on his route and as he rode a second, third and fourth spoke broke, but he managed to make it to the bike shop.

Lessons and advice

He says that on his next trip he will reconsider which repair tools to bring. He’s also looking into getting a larger handlebar bag and removing rear panniers to move weight forward.

RELATED: Every gram of Rob Britton’s bikepacking kit

Bouchard’s biggest advice for bikepacking? “Be adaptable. Don’t carry too many things, but try to cover all your needs at the same time,” he says. “Don’t just dream about it, get in action and do it.”

The packing list

  • Oakley helmet
  • Oakley glasses
  • Wahoo computer
  • Wahoo HR strap
  • 1 Jakroo jersey
  • 3 Jakroo bib shorts
  • 1 pair of shorts
  • 2 pairs of underwear
  • 1 wool sweater
  • 1 base layer
  • 1 t-shirt
  • 1 Pair of track pants
  • 1 rain jacket
  • 1 long sleeve jersey
  • 1 set of leg warmers
  • 1 set of knee warmers
  • 1 set of arm warmers
  • 1 pair of Deft Family gloves,
  • 2 pairs of warmer gloves
  • 2 pairs of smartwool socks
  • 2 pairs of other socks
  • 1 thin toque
  • 1 buff roll

  • Pillow
  • Handlebar bag
  • Thin flip flops
  • Sleeping bag
  • Bike shoes
  • Front fender
  • 2 XXL ziploc bag
  • One person tent
  • Mattress
  • 2 rear panniers
  • Rear rack
  • Large seat bag
  • 2 large bike bottles
  • 2 1L bottles
  • Passport
  • Lock
  • Headphones
  • Wall charger plug/2 usb cables
  • Wallet
  • Personal meds
  • Sunscreen
  • Purell
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Little shampoo
  • Bar of soap
  • Tissues
  • Red light
  • Head light
  • Front light with battery
  • 2 forks/spoons
  • Knife
  • Extra battery (4 AAA + CR2032)
  • Spot gps system (safety and for theAMA)
  • Cali and Arizona map
  • 1 book
  • Stem bag

  • 2-3 tubes, tube and tire patch
  • Multi tool
  • Tire lever
  • Tie wrap
  • Duck tape
  • Mini pump