I like to travel light and as easy as possible. Easy in my case means that I try to minimize my bags. Ever tried to take a bicycle on a train or a flight of stairs with 4 extra bags of luggage on it? What I try to do is to leave the front panniers at home. This means I'll cycle with only back-panniers that will have to hold all my gear. For Japan everything fitted in these, including my tent. For Asia I'll need more and bulkier items, because of the colder weather. This means that my tent will be outside of my bags to make space inside. I won't take a handlebag bar and I'm trying to avoid taking a rackpack with me. I managed with just a luggage-net to put some small gear under it (like raingear and groceries).
Bicycle
I own a Vlerick Darwin Deore aluminium bicycle with 28inch wheels. The bicycle is equipped with a Tubus rear carrier, 1 normal bottle cage and 1 big bottle cage, a Cateye Enduro 8 computer and a mirror. This is the bicycle I used for my Japan 2011 trip. Once I receive my new bicycle this one will be my "city-bike".
For Asia 2016 I'll use a new bicycle: custom made in Groningen. It has 26inch wheels, a steel frame, bottle cages (at least three) and will be made especially for me and this trip. The bike has S&S coupling, which means I'll be able to spit my frame in two and my pedals can be removed without using tools. Furthermore it will also have the Cateye Enduro 8 computer, mirrors and everything else I need.
Tent
My first tent was a Beyond Solaris DS. I picked this tent because it is very water resistant and there's enough space indoor for myself and my bags. I can also sit up in this tent (just...), in case it would be necessary (heavy rain) to stay in my tent. Nevertheless it's a very small tent, but also pretty light weight (1.9 kilo).
My second tent is a Mini-Peak II (2015). I wanted a tent with a large vestibule, so that I would be able to cook inside my tent if necessary. A vestibule is also very useful for getting in or out the inner tent: without it you'll make the inner tent dirty a lot easier and rain will fall in your tent immediately. With the pole and all extra's included this tent weighs 2kg. I also have a very lightweight groundsheet, so that I will not have to sit on the cold and wet ground inside my vestibule. If necessary I can put my bicycle in the vestibule as well (when I use the S&S couplers).
Sleeping stuff
My sleeping bag for Japan was from Deuter (Dreamlite 500 L). I's a summer sleeping bag (comfort temperature is 17°C), weighing 650 grams. It's 220 cm x 80 cm x 50 cm. Because of a mistake it's a bigger version, which is 15 cm longer then the regular version (and 150gr heavier). Packed it is 13 cm x 30 cm. I also bought a cotton liner bag, to make the sleeping bag a bit warmer and to use when it's extremely hot at night.
For Asia I need a warmer sleeping bag and I've bought a Cumulus Panyam 600. It weighs 1 kg and has a comfort temperature of -8°C. My bag is shorter, to fit my length and also has a different color, since I"m not a fan of orange. Besides this bag I've also bought a Cumulus Lite Line 300. This bag is also shorter, but its grey color could stay. This bag has a comfort temperature of 3°C and weighs 640grams. This is the bag I'll use during the second part of my Asia trip, when I don't have to climb high mountains anymore.
My sleeping mat is a Therm-A-Rest Neo-Air Xlite Women. It's 6.3 cm thick, 51 cm wide and 165 cm long and it weighs only 320 grams.
Cooking gear
For cooking I have a MSR Pocket Rocket. This is a very small and lightweight stove on gas. Not every country has gas available for cooking, so you have to make sure you can carry the gas with you or find it wherever you go (you can't take it with you on an airplane!). The reason why I picked a stove on gas is because I have a slight fear of fire and don't feel comfortable with using the other systems. I also have a small cooking pot with me, with a cover that can also be used as a strainer. It's collapsible, so very useful. Of course I also carry a small Opinel knife with me, a fork, a spoon, chopsticks, a cup to drink, a big bowl, tea and sugar and some minute soup.
Bathroom
My bathroom is very small. I never use make-up and when you're on a bicycle every day you don't need much. I have a towel, soap, toothpaste and a toothbrush. I also carry deodorant and toilet paper. Finally I also carry a brush and a razor. I will leave the brush at home for the first part, since my hair will definitely be too short. I also might leave the razor at home.
Clothing
I take two cycling sets with me and two normal sets of clothing and a very light vest. Furthermore I also have some pj's with me that I can also use as swimming outfit. For cycling I take cycling gloves with me and a buff. In the mountains it will be colder and thus I'll take undergloves with me and a warmer hat that I can still fit under my helmet. I'll also have warm long underwear, a cycling vest, a down jacket and an undershirt with long sleeves. In case of rain I carry a rainjacket, rainpants, overshoes and waterproof gloves.