Tips for organizing a long weekend cycling trip and packing gear

[JamesBennett]

Hi everyone, I’m new to this forum and happy to join fellow cyclists here. I ride my road and mountain bike a few times every week, and now I am planning a long weekend cycling tour with friends. I want to learn from your experience how to prepare gear, food, and best routes so we can enjoy without trouble. We plan to ride through mixed roads with hills and flat sections, maybe 50–70 miles each day. I have questions about what tools and spares are most important to bring, especially when we go far from town: What spare parts do you always pack (tubes, chain link, cables)? How do you organize your gear so it doesn’t feel heavy but still prepared? What is your strategy for meals and water stops? Any advice on leaving early or late if weather is hot? I also like to plan things well, like using a simple mep takeoff method I learned in other work making list of what I need and checking quantities before packing so I don’t forget anything important. Not sure if others do similar planning for tours, but it helps me think clearly about gear and time. Thanks in advance for any tips or checklists you share! Happy riding!