Something about tech....

So clothing items have been selected after assessment against a number of criteria:

• Wherever possible an item should have more than one use e.g. underwear black, opaque, robust enough to double up as a  bikini.
• Should be light and compact but still sturdy
• Should wash easily and dry quickly

We have been advised that if you are not wearing everything on the coldest day - you have taken too much. We have born this in mind but I think we might have a little more than this. We will be experiencing a range of temperatures from below freezing to 30+degreesC. The solution we hope will be layers. We will have two cycling outfits and a hot and a cooler non-cycling outfit option.

Julia's Wardrobe

• 2 x Cycling Shorts - Assos and Rapha
• 1 x Cycling Shirt - Rapha Brevet
• 1 x Merino Wool t-Shirt (doubles as base layer and cycling shirt) - Findra
• 1 x Merino Wool long sleeved top (doubles as base layer or mid layer) - Findra
• 2 x cycling socks
• 1 x cycling shoes
• 1 x Merino wool vest (doubles as base layer or cycling shirt on really hot days)- Findra
• 1 x Lightweight walking trousers (can be used as over trousers to cycle shorts if very cold) - Rohan
• 1 x Skort (my smarter option!)
• 1 x Merino tights (use with Skort or trousers for cooler nights off bike, use in bed for really cold nights!) - Rohan
• Flip Flops
• Training Shoes (need something for walking on those days off)- North Face
• 1 long sleeved shirt (with insect repellant) - Rohan
• and the black bra and knickers (also the bikini) - Sloggi
• 2 light sports bras - Sloggi

David's wardrobe

• 2 x Cycling Shorts - Rapha
• 2 of Cycling Shirt or technical T-shirts for cycling (not yet fully decided / identified)
• 1 x Merino Wool short sleeve base layer
• 1 x Merino Wool long sleeved top (doubles as base layer or mid layer)
• 2 x cycling socks
• 1 x cycling shoes
• 1 x Lightweight walking trousers (can be used as over trousers to cycle shorts if very cold)
• 1 x Shorts for off the bike (lightweight pair still to be sourced)
• 1 x bib tights (for cold days on the bike and to use in bed for really cold nights!)
• Flip Flops
• Training Shoes (need something for walking on those days off)
• 1 smarter polo shirt
• boxer shorts

Description of Tent

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The Workhorse Bike was specced by Will of Cadence bike shop - it drew on his considerable  I suspect that it was a bike that it was a bike that was specced for him and one that we would like to have ridden half way around the world.  But seeing it was almost 30 years since I last owned a touring bike, I was happy to heed his advice.

I wanted a bike that I would enjoy riding and keep on my return to the UK, so we started off with a Titanium Enigma Escape 56cm frame.

https://www.enigmabikes.com/pages/enigma-escape

The standard Carbon Fork from the Enigma will not accept a front rack so it was replaced with a Niner Fork 

The wheels were handbuilt by cadence using

DT Swiss rear hub  built onto DT 545D Touring rims.  

36 spoke rear, 32 spoke front

The front hub is a Son Hub Dynamo, this neat bit of kit is a 3W dynamo connected to a USB port on the stem.  This can be used to charge lights, gamins, mobile phones or a battery pack.

https://nabendynamo.de/en/products/hub-dynamos/for-thru-axles/

Panaracer Gravel King tyres 42mm

Shimano Ultegra 8000 series RX shifting group

Rotor Chainset with inPower Power meter.  Gearing choice is  30/46 chainrings , 172mm cranks, 11-34 cassette.

TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors.  The choice of Mechanical discs over Hydraulic was for ease of maintenance when in remote locations.

Deda Zero 2 stem, Deda Gravel flared bars (42cm) with Pro gel bar tape, Deda Zero 2 seatpost (aluminium)

Saddle started out with the same saddle as on my racing bike (Fizik Arione), but after the first couple of weeks of use, i decided that my riding position was different and had a saddle fit. The extra width of a Brooks B17 was a lot more comfortable in the more upright touring position,

Racks: Tubus Cargo Evo rear, Tubus Tara lowrider front 

the final weight of the bike with pannier racks is 12.5kgs.