What kind of gear works for living on a bike?
Living on a bike is an evolutionary process. My advice to anyone is take what you have load your bike and start riding. Everything takes care of itself. You get rid of what you do not need VERY quickly. Punching a gas pedal to get over a hill while carrying one to many pairs of shoes is inconsequential, while on a bike getting rid of a pair of shoes is quite a weight loss.
I tow a trailer in winter for extra winter gear and a bigger tent. But will not need to do this any longer since I will be migrating with the weather.
Besides the basics like a bike, racks and bags... here is my quick list.
4 panniers (pan-yays) aka saddle bags 2 front 2 back
Bags are organized based on task
theres a tools and parts bag that carries maps as well
food bag with about 2-3 days of food and my trusty jet boil and a skillet and egg case
in the back bags
one bag with camp setup tent bag pillow and air mattress
the other bag is clothes toiletries and setup for a grab and go shower time
What do you carry for food, water, shelter, cooking?
I think I covered most of that above... but water is 2 water bottles on bike and a osprey waterpack
i carry a backup of freeze dried stuff. and stop and grab fresh veggies and such along the way... I love cooking on a fire... throw a big fat swett potato stright in the coals of your fire... best potato you will ever have
eggs, PEANUT BUTTER!!!! bananas, and drink LOTS of coconut water
My tent is a mountain hardware 2 person XL
my bag is a mountain hardware 32 degree
big agness inflatanble air mattress and i cant remember the brand of my pillow...I am adding a hammock next week
What kind of bicycle set up works best?
steel frame road bike is what I ride... but i have seen EVERY bike on the road. As a matter of fact the guys who started all of thuis craziness back in 1976 rode crappy schwinn 10 speeds and wore cutoffs
What about laundry, showering, going to the bathroom?
Laundry? you guys wash your clothes? lol just kidding
laundry is done when you get the chance Ive washed clothes in rest area sinks and streams and warmshower host houses
if you do not know what warm showers is i wont go into a long explanation so just go to their web site check it out and let me know if you hjave any questions. I can show you my profile is you like... Long story short there are people all over the world that register on this site for the sole p[urpose of inviting cyclists into their home.
Is it difficult to maintain a strict diet?
no, except when it comes to warmshowers.... if you go into someones home.... if they do not ask about your diet you do NOT tell them and you eat what they give you. that being said I can go 3-7 days without eating. Hunger is an illusion the food industry has sold you as a sign of poverty for the sole reason of selling you their poison in stores. 3 meals a day are NOT necessary and I dare say UNHEALTHY. I usually eat once a day when not fasting.
Are there any realistic videos showing a day in the life of living mobile on a bicycle?
hmmmmm yes... you tube cycling tourists..... but true lifers... there are not that many from what I know. There is a woman in romania who comes to the US occassionally.... and few others ... but i have never seen a community of cyclists... which is my vision.
About the only thing that would make me remotely successful for this is I stay in real good shape. Running three times a week, bicycle riding (on hills) every other day and lifting free weights almost everyday. But it is a lot easier to do this from a home with all the comforts and conveniences...
conveniences are an illusion as well sold to you to make your life seem more bearable and put money in someone elses pocket... I tell you you will never feel more alive when you find yourself with the sun setting... on the road and scouting an as yet unknown place to camp.... that is living!!! I spent 4 days in the coastal range of northern oregon stranded at a camp site with 2 feet of snow....My days were spent gathering wood to keep from freezing... boiling water from the stream until I could get an opening to descend into Tilamook OR. that , to me is living. Dont want that every day ... but i invite these experiences.
