Picked up a copy of 'Adventure Cycle-Touring Handbook'. They have various trip report pages like the old Chris Scott ones (Adventure Motorcycling - Trip Reports), but I can't seem to find them on the web. Anyone have a link?

Doug

Try Adventure Cycle-Touring Handbook - A Worldwide Cycling Route and Planning Guide - Stephen Lord - Trailblazer Publications
He was asking me the other day for my AMH trip report template to set them up on his site.

He's looking for material for edn II btw - and we're doing KKH together later this year.

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

only just seen this, thanks!

my search for a suitable (cheap) mountain bike failed miserably. Plenty around in edinburgh, but all in use and with owners! Like motorbikes, it definitely seems 'progress' has hit mountain bikes. Is aluminium really cheaper to produce than steel? had problems trying to find a rigid fork on a cheap mountain bike too. seems it's cheaper to put some poor quality suspension on the front.

anyway, cheers for the link. my first 3-week cycling trip is next month. then I think UK-Ghana, if I leave now I'll get there for the world cup 2010...

cheers,
Doug

There are some interesting biking blogs on Africa Overland, including these guys

Cycle Touring Asia

who got their bikes and all their gear from thrift stores. Seems like it's the same as cars, if you really want to do it, it doesn't matter what kit you've got.

I do my first cycle end of August, which is the JOGLE (John O'Groat - Land's End). Although it could also quite easily be my last.

Because of time limitations (I'm contracting and on a daily rate saving up for the BIG trip to Oz, by car) I've ended up spending £750 on a bike, which seems a LOT. But hopefully it will do me good.

I'm aiming to cover 70 miles a day. Will see how it goes, but managed the London To Brighton at the weekend. Too many people for my liking ........

Anyhow, keep us updated how it goes, as I'm starting to like the simplicity of cycling round the world ......

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Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009

I trawled ebay for ages and found no steel bikes in my size. I've been round the cash converters, charity shops, etc. I ended up with a brand new £280 bike, though the forks are laughable. but (just like motos) add on panniers, rack, etc, etc...

I read this, and it got me thinking about the cycling idea: A Bike Ride, by Anne Mustoe.

I guess for JOGLE you'll head down the west of scotland? however, if you pass edinburgh and need a place to stay, you're welcome.

cheers,
Doug

Thanks Dougie - but you're right in your guess, we will be folling Loch Ness down and then heading to Glasgow. Thanks anyhow!

My wife read that very book. Still haven't convinced her of the long term cycle, but she loved that book. Currently we are considering both cycling or sailing, when we have finished driving round the world. Might not do either, but would love to ...

Good to dream anyhow ......

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Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009

Is aluminium really cheaper to produce than steel?

it is now coz they produce so many of them and fat tubes are considered sexy.
But you can still find old Cro Mo Specialized and Marins on ebay for 200 quid in need of new components. I'd sooner spend 200 quid buying an old bike than 200 quid on a new one.

Check out a Kona Smoke (current - cro mo - rigid - cheap; a 90s MTB base)
There was one going in Fort William a while back but was too small for me. Would make a nice cheapie IMO.

Or just fly in and buy a local hack. That's what I'm doing - then leave it at the airport.

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

yeah, size is a problem. not many second hand 20" -ish steel frames kicking about, that I can find. the search continues, but for now I have a bike and can travel...

why are there so many 16" second hand bikes for sale!?!?!

cheers,

The trouble with buying one of the old Speccy Rockhoppers etc. is that you have to go a long way back to get a steel frame. Many of these bikes will have had dogs abuse. I'd probably replace a bottom bracket, chain, chainset and cogs before a long trip anyway (or take spares) but there are other things to think about.

Alloy wheels suffer from fatigue and, assuming a bike of that age will have rim brakes, the pads eventually abrade away the sides of the rim until they wear out. (My last set of wheels just disintigrated!) It's difficult to tell how badly worn the rims are but if you feel them with the tips of your fingers a rim that feels slightly concaved is probably stuffed.
Wheel bearings can be a problem too, fine if it's just the bearings but if the races are shot...
If you need to a v.good place to buy wheels is 'Merlins'

Derailers loosen over time: the bushes wear out. a sloppy derailer means poor gear shifts, frustrating at the best of times. There's nothing you can do about this other than replace the derailer. Fortunately play is easy to feel. One good thing to do to an older rear derailer is replace the jockey wheels, this can help make shifting snappier.

The old STI shifters are terrible for wearing out, sometimes they just jam altogether. Old thumbies are great though, they seem to last forever.

Headsets: Old bikes have 1" headsets, newer ones 1.1/8" 'aheadsets' I've no idea what they use in the third world but it could be either. The good thing is that if you have good quality components they rarely fail and a bike can go for ages with a rough headset without many people even noticing.

That's all that springs to mind right now. But if you did buy a worn bike, and had to replace a lot of the kit it would end up costing a fortune. Having said that, get one of those 'barn discovery' type bikes and it'd be ideal.

Interestingly I was in the Edinburgh Bike co-op a few months ago and they were selling a retro Specialised Stumpjumper, new, but made just like the bikes of the late eighties. Unfortunately it was ridiculously expensive (well over a grand I think).

If you decide you can live with alu then one of their courier bikes might be a good option. My dad recently bought one model for £300. It would be an excellent 3rd world tourer with panniers etc. added. It had an alu frame, but no suspension (no frills at all really!) was nice understated black, slicks on 26" wheels (nice and easy to get tyres for), and, best of all, one of those 7 speed nexus hub gears. Not the lightest things in the world but largely maintenance free. Some people don't like hubgears because they are nominally less efficient than derailers, but I have heard that derailers lose this advantage very quickly when they get dirty and soon run less efficiently than hub gears. This is here-say however so might be worth looking into.

Matt

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http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!