[Equipment Part 1] A bicycle trip for the first time in 20 years! A man in his 40s who completely rejects his past reconsiders his long-touring gear

Hello, this is Yazu.

A bicycle trip that ended halfway 20 years ago. I only have two months until I restart, so I'm finally starting to prepare in earnest.

The preparations I need to make can be broadly divided into three categories: "luggage," "physical strength," and "route," but the one that needs to be decided most urgently is "luggage."

I've always started preparing almost the day before and regretted it when I realized I was missing things, but this time, I feel like the items I need will change significantly due to factors like age-related physical decline, changes in travel style, and technological advancements over the years. Preparing the day before is quite dangerous.

So, this time, I'd like to list the trade-offs and the actual luggage under the theme of "How does bicycle travel luggage change between 20 years ago (student days) and now (a man in his 40s)?"

Also,as someone whose physical and mental strength has significantly declined, I am trying to make things as easy as possible. In other words, I want to minimize the burden on my luggage and my mind.
I hope this will be of some reference to those who are also trying to pursue ease. Andif there are any points that can be improved further, please let me know.

1. Looking back at 20 years ago (student days)

I think the biggest difference is the style of travel. I had no money, so I had to save. The impact of this is particularly large.

　①Assuming sleeping outdoors
　　　- Tents, sleeping bags, and mats are cheap, big, and heavy
　　　- Few opportunities for laundry, so I need several days' worth of changes of clothes

　②Assuming cooking my own meals
　　　- Cheap stoves are big and heavy
　　　- Tableware is light but takes up a fair amount of volume

And the changes in the times are also significant. Things have become too convenient in these 20 years.

　③Smartphones do not exist
　　　- Paper maps are necessary
　　　- MP3 players and battery-powered speakers are necessary
　　　- A compact digital camera or a digital SLR is essential

As a result, side bags were essential, and since there wasn't enough space at all, I ended up stacking luggage on top during packing.
I dug up photos from my student days for the first time in a while, and they are quite terrible.
The load is heavy, but it also clearly shows that I'm bad at organizing.

2. Thinking about my current travel style (a man in his 40s)

This depends on the person, butat 41 years old, sleeping outdoors is tough in many ways.

First of all, if I sleep outdoors, there's a possibility that my physical strength won't recover at all.
Nowadays, if I don't sleep with my favorite pillow, my body hurts when I wake up in the morning, so it's certain that sleeping outdoors will cause damage rather than recovery.

Beyond that, the mental damage must be immense.
Sleeping alone in a dark place. If it were mountain climbing, that's one thing, but I'd be sleeping in the city.
Sleeping in the city is mentally very tough. Because, while there are people sleeping in houses around me, I am sleeping alone in isolation; this contrast is what hits the mind. When I was a student, I could immerse myself in narcissism, thinking, "What a solitary existence I am...", but for a man in his 40s who is used to sleeping in a warm house, it's simply nothing but loneliness.
And, something I must not forget is themidnight crisis, commonly known as the"midlife crisis". Caught between family and work, it's hard to move, and yet I wonder if it's okay to stay like this. If I were to sleep outside, I would definitely think about various things in a negative way.

If you are someone who considers the act of cycling around Japan to be special, you might choose to sleep outdoors, but as I posted last time, I don't currently view it as very special.

Therefore, hotels and inns are the only choice. I'd be happy if there were a large public bath, and I'd be grateful if meals were included. Even if it's just a room without meals, I want to choose local gourmet food for dining out.

With this decision, I have decided to avoid sleeping outdoors and cooking my own meals, which significantly increased my luggage when I was a student. (This might be something many people in their 40s wouldn't even consider in the first place.)

3. Being grateful for current (2026) technology

This may vary from person to person, but at 41 years old, I want to incorporate Reiwa-era technology as much as possible. (Though, I won't be using an electric bicycle, obviously.)

When I was a student, I joined a club that somehow considered analog to be a virtue. For example, reading paper maps was considered a good thing. It was a mix of the perspective of cultivating map-reading skills and the athletic-club mentality that digital is somehow cheating.
Maps are bulky, and you have to prepare a place where they are as easy to take out as possible. Thinking about it now, I could have just cut out the necessary pages, but at the time, the Touring Mapple was deified, and it never even crossed my mind.

As mentioned earlier, the calm version of me in my 40s chooses Google Maps exclusively.

Thanks to 20 years of technological progress, cameras and music are now consolidated into a single iPhone.
I have a strong desire to show off with the MacBook Air I recently bought, but I want to prioritize weight reduction here.
If I'm going to show off, I'll show kindness to my knees. It's a trade-off I couldn't make when I was a student.

Furthermore, the evolution of technology over the past 20 years isn't just digital.
Bags should be lighter. Clothing has improved in quick-drying properties, so if I wash them at the inn, I should barely need to carry any changes of clothes.

However, as a family man and a salaryman, I need to prepare while considering cost-performance to the fullest.
I am prepared to spend my nights scrutinizing Amazon to make these assessments.

4. Reiwa-era Long Touring Packing List (The 'Maximum Ease' Version)

Based on these points, I've created a packing list.
(I have omitted things I'm unlikely to forget, such as a helmet, cycling shoes, and underwear.)

When you start seeking ease, I feel like you end up with something like this. It's that simple.

On the other hand, the content of the points for consideration is a key issue. This is likely where individual personality will emerge. I want to show off my sense by utilizing the competitive comparison skills I've cultivated in my life as a salaryman.

For now, by making a list, I can see the goal and feel a sense of relief.
From here on, I will focus on the points for consideration.