What gear would you carry for a two week ride in Germany in early July, and do you have any suggestions on the best way to pack it? We will be starting around Mainz and heading North along the Rhine. We could possibly travel as far as Brugges, Belgium, and may also take trains or boats at certain points. We will be renting bikes. I would appreciate any advice on what to bring in regards to panniers, bags that attach to the bike, backpacks, and the like. Since we will be traveling long distance, as opposed to having a central base from which to take day trips, it seems very important to have the right equipment and to properly pack everything so that it fits well on the bike and handles easily. Also, if you happen to know from experience that panniers and so forth are easily rented with the bike, I would like to hear about your experiences with that. Thanks so much!

Regards,

JohnG