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| our equipment list | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The following is a brief summary of the equipment we took with us from England. We wouldn't pretend that this is the perfect inventory for a long tour abroad, but we managed to get by with a modicom of comfort. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bicycles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dawes Galaxy touring cycle for Jess, and a Falcon Proline sports cycle for myself. Both bikes had front and rear carriers fitted. The gearing (30"-100") allowed us to cycle up all the mountains we encountered (except one near Lamego where we had to walk!). We would not recommend taking a bike with 27" wheels across to the continent as tyres will not be available in that size. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Luggage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All our equipment (except the tent and sleeping mats fitted into the 4 pannier bags (a mix of cheap and better-quality bags) fitted to each bike. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A cheap Outreach dome tent provided enough room for the two of us, as well as the eight pannier bags, and was sufficiently waterproof to keep out most of the rain. For sleeping we invested in a pair of expensive Thermorest inflatable mats - much more comfortable than Karrimats - and they didn't puncture despite the sharp stones. Our experiences with camping stoves has led us to believe that the popular Camping Gaz C206 stove is the best for an extended tour. The canisters can be found anywhere whilst those for more modern self-sealing stoves might be impossible to come by. Our sleeping bags were cheap mummy-shaped bags rated for 2-season use. We found though that by wearing thermal vests and long-johns we were warm enough even when it was snowing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Camping Equipment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Besides two pairs of cycling shorts, two pairs of cycling bottoms and two tops, we took a fleece-lined cycling jacket and a cheap (but waterproof) nylon cagoule each. A wooly hat and warm gloves were also taken but sent home once we'd reached Spain. Our intention was to "wear one - wash one" and this worked well, but we spent a lot of time doing the washing! For off-bike use in the evenings we wore a white shirt with a pair of ourcycling bottoms - this was just smart enough for us to be allowed into restaurants. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clothing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spare inner tubes, spare tyre each, tools to mend bikes, washing line and pegs,and a host of other assorted but easily-forgotten items. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sundries | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All of the above came to an impressive 35lb weight for each bike, which had to be lugged up every single hill..........and believe me there were plenty of them! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Things we did not take but would take next time include:- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - a copy of the "Rough Guide" for every country visited | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - a thermometer - (to see how hot it really is!) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - some steel tent pegs - (alloy ones bend in hard ground) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - lightweight cotton trousers- (more presentable than cycling tights | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - a Short-wave radio - (our radio did not have SW so we couldn't pick up BBC World Service) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - an Umbrella - (to shelter from the heavy deluges.......of which there were many!!!! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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