Ride Earth

by Tom on the 31st of January 2008

This page is for gear-heads, those prospecting for touring bike and equipment recommendations, and anyone else interested in our means of human-powered transport.

I’ve taken some time to write reviews of various items we’ve been using for just over six months on the road. Below that, you’ll find a summary of the type of thing we’re travelling with to make this expedition possible.

The Bikes

• Kona Explosif frame review
• SKF BXC600 bottom bracket review
• Wheelset review consisting of Mavic XM721 rims, Sun RhynoLite rims, Shimano Deore XT hubs, DT Swiss plain-guage spokes

The Luggage

• Extrawheel single-wheel trailer review
• Tubus Logo rear pannier rack review
• Carradice Super C rear pannier review

In summary, we’re riding Kona Explosif 2007 frames, with Magura Odur suspension forks and Magura Louise hydraulic disc-brakes, Shimano cassettes, derailleurs, cables and shifters, SRAM chains, and handbuilt wheels using Sun RhynoLite rims. We’re using Brooks Flyer saddles, Schwalbe Marathon XR 2.0 tyres with Smart Sam knobbly tyres for off-road and snow, SKF BXC600 bottom brackets, Chris King and Hope headsets, and ODI Yeti Hardcore lock-on grips. The remaining componentry is fairly standard and to personal taste. We carry a variety of spare parts and tools to cover a broad spread of common problems and ongoing maintenance. I have a cheap cycle-computer to keep track of my total distance, or to note a particularly long day’s ride - but I generally have it twisted out of view as looking at all the numbers becomes quite addictive.

For luggage, we’ve fitted Tubus Logo rear racks, Carradice Super C rear panniers lined with Exped drybags, Ortlieb Ultimate 5 bar-bags, Extrawheel single-wheel trailers, and a Crosso drybag strapped to the rear rack.

Our other equipment is similar but varies a little between us. It has changed depending on the environment, but I have variously carried:

Nikon D50 DSLR camera with wide-angle and standard zoom lenses, Sony A1E digital camcorder and lots of tapes, a Snugpak Elite 3 synthetic sleeping bag (good for everything down to about zero degrees), Mountain Equipment Iceline down sleeping bag (rated to minus twenty-four degrees), Multimat foam rollmat, Exped Downmat 7 inflatable mattress, British Army bivi-bag (for sleeping al fresco), cheap silk sleeping bag liner from eBay, British Army poncho (used in the woods as a basha, as a poncho in a downpour, as a bike cover, picnic blanket, groundsheet, etc), MSR Dragonfly multifuel stove with service kit, MSR Miniworks water filter, Vaude Hogan Ultralight Stormproof tent, a good length of para-cord (multi-purpose - makes a great washing line), a few plastic clothes pegs, cheap aluminium saucepan off eBay (Czech army surplus I believe), fork, spoon, lock-knife, cheap Leatherman-style multitool, chopsticks, Lifesystems compact first-aid kit (with added sterile needles and syringes), Lifeventure 90% deet insect repellent, Lifeventure extra-large trek towel (microfleece), Lifeventure iodine tablets (for water sterilization), Lifeventure Micro Box mosquito net, old tobacco tin containing mini survival kit, pocket-sized S.A.S. Survival Guide, Oakley sunglasses, Uvex ski goggles, British Army leather gloves, fleece gloves, fingerless cycling gloves, skiing mitts (depending on weather), 2 pairs of padded lycra shorts, winter lycra leggings, ski and hiking socks and leather walking boots (winter), ultralight cycling socks and sandals (summer), cheap woollen long-johns, thermal long-sleeved top, short- and long-sleeved baselayers, a number of different Buffs (used as a hat, scarf, headband, helmet liner, wristband, etc etc), wide-rimmed sunhat, 1 change of locally-acceptable clothing depending on climate and society, 2 pairs of boxers (1 cut up and relegated to oily rag status), lightweight fleece, Regatta breathable waterproof shell jacket, water-resistant trekking trousers, cheap fake Puma puffa jacket (for winter), small toiletries bag (including lip balm, high-factor suncream, Vaseline, toothbrush and toothpaste, nail clippers, ear-plugs), compass, waterproof map holder, waterproof document wallet, cheap USB MP3 player, memory stick, CD containing useful software, diary, pocket notebook and pen, assorted plastic carrier bags for food, various specialist tools and spare parts, bike pump and puncture repair kit.

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.