The preview post covered the route, so this one is just what I am packing. Everything on the bike plus what I wear on the flight comes to about 19 pounds in the panniers and 4 pounds worn. The gravel bike rental comes with a rear rack and a front handlebar bag with a pump, patch kit, spare tube, multitool and tire levers, so I don’t need to carry those spares separately. ...
Ten days from now I’m on a plane to Slovenia. Landing in Ljubljana, two days to orient, then the bike ride starts. The route is a 640km loop through Slovenia with a Croatian coast detour. Julian Alps (Bohinj, Bled, the Vršič Pass at 1611m), the Soča Valley, Goriška Brda wine country, down to Opatija on the Istrian coast, back up through the Gorski Kotar forest, the Kolpa River valley, and finally back to Ljubljana. About 10,280 meters of climbing over nine riding days with one rest day on the coast. ...