keeping the sparks flying (16/02/2016)
Hmmm … POWER : there are certain things that I need to keep ticking over for the 30 days, and because I’m SUCH a modern man (!) I’m keen to stick with the self sufficient lifestyle. Here’re all the ‘lectrics I think I’ll need with me :
Camera; bike lights; mobile ‘phone; GPS; MP3 player; e-book; cables, chargers; power pack; and … not forgetting, my ukulele tuner.Without these tools … well, I just wouldn’t be comfortable!
I looked into the swish dynamo wheel hubs you can get these days, and three things put me off :
- Crikey they’re pricey, and even when you get one you might need to get a new wheel as well for it to fit, and then maybe some new disc brakes to fit the new wheel … ARGH!
- They’re kind of stuck on the bike, so once I finish this daunting trip (and yes – I’m more and more daunted by this trip as we’re down to days not weeks anymore!) and go back to normal daily cycling with occasional weekend trips, I’ll have this flash power pack on my bike that will likely never be used … GRRR!
- I’ve already got a bunch of stuff from other activities I do, so why not try to bring them all together and make them work off each other … YEAH!
So I’ve got a swish solar panel with a built-in 10,000 ‘thingys’ battery (that’s technical speak for quite a bit) and a special AA & AAA battery charger that can either charge batteries, or be reversed to use the charged batteries to charge other devices, as below :
These are, of course, all quite heavy as batteries tend to be, but I reckon it’s worth a try at least for the first wee while.
Now all I need to do is find a way to strap the solar panel onto the bike so it can charge all day. I was thinking about making a little dashboard with elastic straps. thoughts anyone?? hf
balancing restrictions (02/01/2016)
I’ve been putting a bunch of thought into what to take and what to leave behind … I am not getting very far! To try to achieve some sort of decision, I have restricted the amount of stuff I can take by choosing small bags, as I know if I take bigger ones I’ll just fill them up.
This time last year I cycled to Mapua, near Nelson, and had this set-up :
Although there were a few Christmas pressies in the bags as well, this was a pretty weighty load and especially when we headed off-road. The front pannier bags are good for rolling along, but in a head-wind they really slow you down, and they stopped me dead going through a river – a classic halt-then-slow-motion-side-tip into the water!
Putting all the weight onto the back, though, means that when you’re tackling Wellington hills the front wheel is constantly lifting off the ground – very annoying and tiring. I also want to get bags off me and onto the bike as much as possible, as otherwise I’ll overheat in the summer and early autumn weather (let’s face it – I sweat my way through winter as well!).
So, for this adventure, I am going with the following combination (and yes, I WILL be wearing corduroy flares and sheepskin slippers for the ride … the WHOLE way!) :
This includes :
- my fancy new handlebar roll-bag for weight balance on the bike;
- weight-saving by removing the front pannier rack entirely (not yet removed in the piccie);
- shifting my front pannier bags to the back, limiting what I can carry – a very good thing; and,
- reducing my backpack to a bumbag, which I might end up tying to my handlebars anyway.
And that leaves just one more item which I don’t know how to attach yet, though I was thinking of some sort of holster like a cowboy has for his rifle, for ‘on the ride’ access … any ideas, mes amis? hf
bags of personality (15/12/2015)
Last weekend we had a rough Saturday, so I used the time to finish making the bags I think I will need on the tour. I thought it’d be useful to explain what I have been up to.
Why not just buy some?
First off, I have made pannier bags before which have been successful and have also failed, and I’ve got a lot of great advice from real live bike-people who actually know what they are talking about.
Secondly, Once you’ve got the basics which I discuss below, making your own is way cheaper (especially in NZ) and you can get just the bag you want (and in fancy colours), rather than making do with what’s available in the shops. It’s also local, so a smaller carbon footprint (I know, I know : materials still need to get here).
But mostly, I really enjoy the challenge of seeing if I can improve on what’s out there, or just make my own style of something which already works well. Give it a go – it’s quite fun!!
This is what you need to start with …
- PU coated tough canvas (basically dry-bag material) which is really durable as well as water-proof, as long as you “seal” the seams (visit a tent shop for the right gunk);
- super-thin plastic chopping mats for flexible reinforcement to the back of the bags (can double this up for more rigidity, and make them removable to use as a chopping mat if you’re camping);
- Super tough thread (quilting stuff?) and a bunch of needles, because you’ll break a few;
- An amazing steel thimble, which will allow your hands to put up with tough stitching for more than a few hours in a week;
- A bunch of buckles, clips, draw-cords, loops (steel or cord), 19mm straps, 25mm straps, 38mm straps and so on to suit the bag you’re making;
- sharp scissors, craft knife, pins, fire (for sealing strap and cord ends), pencil, pen and long straight-edge;
- reflective tape;
- some basic maths including trigonometry for getting things square or intentionally not square; and,
- lots of time, even more patience and a freshly polished set of eyeballs!
Next you’ll need a design …
… and you should stick to it! It’s worth doing your research and finding out just what you want, then drawing it up and trying not to make too many changes as you go. I’ve ruined a couple of bags by thinking “this would be much better if I just trimmed this … oh.”
Lastly, you’ll need one of these …
Yes, that’s correct : a manky hand. And if it’s not manky to start with, then it won’t take long! I recommend taking up climbing as the skin hardens in all the right places!
With the thick durable materials and for all the fiddly stitching around buckles and loops, I think hand-stitching is the way forward. For the long runs of stitching, you’ll probably need access to an industrial sewing machine to not break your normal sewing machine … but I still recommend just hands!
Remember, it’s rare for the tough materials to fail before the stitching. Bomb-proof stitching is worth taking time over, and is the secret to a successful bicycle bag!
Bags what I’ve made, guv’nor
The bag I finished last weekend was a roll-bag that attaches to the underside of the handlebars. Here it is :
There’s a few like it on the market, but as I had a heap of left-over materials from the last pannier and rope bags I made, this one cost me … $3 for a clip I didn’t have. I tried it on Flash on the weekend, and it fits like a dream!
I’ve also made two rear pannier bags, adapted from army surplus rucksack pouches. I really like these because they are simple, and when you want to got walking away from your bicycle they are designed to zip together and clip to a yoke to wear them as a backpack. From the little bit of touring I’ve done, I really didn’t like having a bunch of awkward-shaped bags to carry around whenever I was not cycling, and so these are the bees knees … or is that the bees wax, Maria?!
the flashing blade (09/12/2015)
I think it’s important to establish a relationship with the things that help you do the things you want to do, so names are essential. It may sound a bit fancy but my bicycle is called The flashing Blade … flash for short. It’s certainly the flashest bicycle I’ve ever owned, and now I’ve pimped it it’s even fancier … and the name is better than my crampons, Nibbles and Giggles, though I wouldn’t say that to them.
Someone recently said it looks like a WW1 bicycle, and I’m fairly sure it wasn’t a compliment … I had no quick retort, but now through the powers of social media I am able name and shame TEREZA for being quite harsh : you’re on the list, Tereza, and no it’s not the good list.
Well, I’ve not got very far on preparing for the ride and still have no real idea how to go cycle-touring, but there’ll be stuff coming here about how I’m going to set up my bicycle, what I’m going to take and all that stuff … any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
hf
re CYCLING kai 