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Brompton Electric Bike Review
December 1, 2017
I reviewed an electric tour bike earlier this year and was pleasantly surprised by its power and build quality. I decided to take this one step further and try the Brompton Electric Bike. Tech Details Complete weight of 13.7kg (2-speed) or 14.4kg (6-speed) Dual pivot brakes Choice of 2 or 6-speed gears Selection of three seat posts depending on the height of the rider: standard, extended and telescopic 16” wheels Dual pivot brakes 20 Lux Busch & Müller LYT lights 1.
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Winora Yakun Tour Electric Adventure Touring E-Bike Review
October 26, 2017
I tried this bike out along with a number of other e-bikes at the National Cycle Show at the NEC in Birmingham. The test involved riding a section of single track and then some obstacles (bridge and slalom) on an area of solid ground. The bike The Winora Yakun electric bikes come with Yamaha’s PW-X mid-engine and 500 Wh battery. The Yakun Tour has Magura Hydraulic Disc brakes and the proven Shimano Deore XT 20-speed groupset.
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Cycle Show, Latest Bikes And Components 2017 Part III - Blackburn, Altura, Kinesis, Shand
October 11, 2017
Blackburn Whyte gravel bike with Blackburn Outpost range of bikepacking bags. Altura Charge Plug with Altura waterproof Bikepacking luggage range. Kinesis Kinesis Titanium Racelight with Wildcat luggage. Ed Shoote of Welovemountains.net with his Kinesis Racelight set up and Apidura bikepacking luggage. Shand Emily Chappell’s Shand with Apidura luggage. Conclusion Gravel bikes have seem to have their own segment of the bikepacking market which corners the touring on road and some poor quality road, going quick and eating up the miles customer base.
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The Cycle Show 2017 - Latest Bikes and Components Part II - Mondraker, Boardman, Cannondale Bikepacking, Apidura
September 27, 2017
Mondraker Podium Carbon Pro Tech Spec Highlights Frame: Podium 29er Stealth Air Carbon, redesigned internal structure , Integrated Stem Technology (IST EVO), XC Forward Geometry, PF30 bottom bracket, Tapered head tube, HHG internal cable routing, Boost rear axel 12x148mm, Flatmount brake compatible, steel chain protector. Fork: Fox 32 Step Cast Float 29 Factory Kashima, FIT4, EVOL, Tapered head tube, remote locking control, 15x110mm Boost axle, travel 100mm.
Tags: ApiduraCannondale BikepackingBoardmanMondrakerMountain bikesRoad bikesLatest bikes2017Cycle showBikesBike
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Urban Cross Country Trail Network - Trails in Cities
September 25, 2017
‘Desire paths’ are where people cut off the corners of paths because it is more convenient. If you look in fields near to housing estates you will often find footpaths and bridleways that are more worn than the countryside. Trails could be created that joined up bits of off-road trail, cycle path, trails through small areas of landscaping on business parks. Most of the infrastructure is there perhaps just needs a few more markers.
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New Project Wants to Connect Mountain Bikers
September 25, 2017
What they say: Mountain biking can create great friendship stories like ours. Jonathan and I started riding when we were 13 years old and we quickly understood that this passion would drive our lives…We enjoyed our local trails in Reunion Island until we had to move for our studies. Wherever we travelled, our bikes always followed. In this way, we have been exploring trails in Europe, Africa and North America…One evening while preparing our next MTB trip, we noticed that we’ve always struggled to find riding buddies to guide us through the trails and to book bike-friendly accommodations.
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Cycle Show, Latest bikes and components 2017 Part I - Elite, Shimano, Genesis Titanium
September 24, 2017
Yesterday I went to the Cycle Show at the Birmingham NEC to check out all the new bikes and try out mountain bikes and e-bikes. It was a good trip and this is my first in a multi-part blog series about my experience. Highlights for me include testing the Nukeproof Mega 290 Factory trail bike and the Calibre Bossnut as well as the Winora Yakun Tour e-bike with Yamaha engine.
Tags: Genesis TitaniumEliteCycleshowShimanoEquipmentReviewGearBikebike-components
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Surly Troll - Steel Frame 26 inch Touring Bike Review
September 16, 2017
A troll is a class of being in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. In Old Norse sources, beings described as trolls dwell in isolated rocks, mountains, or caves, live together in small family units, and are rarely helpful to human beings.* Tech Spec Frameset Frame: Horizontal slotted with derailleur hanger; Surly “Gnot Boost” 135, 142, and/or 148mm hub spacing compatibility Fork: 420mm axle-to-crown x 43mm offset, tapered and butted straight blade, , 4130 CroMoly.
Tags: 26 inch wheelsSurly trollAdventure touringSteel frameBike
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What Trainers do I need Autumn 2017?
September 15, 2017
In the last couple of years I have used my Merrell Trail Glove 3 and Inov Trailroc 255 trainers and wrote long term reviews about them (linked above). The Merrell Trail Glove 3 have become a shoe I wear for walking. The Inov Trailroc 255 I use for crossfit and running. Why I stopped running in the Merrell Trail Glove 3 I stopped running in the Merrell Trail Glove 3 because:
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Genesis Tour de Fer 30 2017 Touring Bicycle Review
September 12, 2017
Tech Spec Highlights Full dynamo light set up Burly Reynolds 725 frameset Full Tiagra 3x10 groupset Front and rear Tubus racks Tech Spec Frame: Reynolds 725 Heat-Treated Chromoly Fork: Cr-Mo Unicrown Disc Headset: Prestine PT-1606 1-1/8” semi cartridge Shifters: Shimano Tiagra ST-4703 / 3x10 speed Rear Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra RD-4700 / GS cage Front Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra FD-4703 Chainset: Shimano FC-4703 / 50-39-30T / XS, 165mm / S, 170mm / M-XL, 175mm Bottom Bracket: Shimano BB-RS500 Chain: KMC x10 Cassette: Shimano CS-HG500-10 / 11-32T Rims: Sun Ringle Rhyno Lite / 36h Hubs: SP PD-8/Shimano FH-M615 36h / front / rear / 6-bolt / centre lock Spokes: Stainless steel 14g Tyres: Schwalbe Marathon Mondial 700x35c Brakes: TRP Spyre-C 2-piston mechanical disc brake w/160mm TR160 rotors w/ rear adapter Levers: Shimano ST-4703 Handlebars: Genesis X-Race Pro / 16deg Flare / XS, 400mm / S-M, 420mm / L-XL, 440mm Grips: Velo tape w/Gel Stem: Genesis AS-027 / + - 7deg / 100mm Saddle: Genesis Road Comfort Seatpost: Genesis Alloy / XS-M, 27.
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Difficulties with providing a guiding services in Georgia
August 28, 2017
This is a positive post reflecting on some experiences of working in a team to provide tours to tourists in Georgia. Working together: Communicating with a language barrier You can be understood but it takes more effort. You don’t need an intermediary but it can help and another person involved can also add ideas and prevent the me vs you issue. Difference in attitude An incentive is not always needed to turn up but it can help whether that is money or passion.
Tags: Georiders
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Oakham Ales Citra Golden English Beer IPA (Ale) Review
August 13, 2017
This is a beer I discovered quite recently and has become one of my favourites. Brewery: Oakham Ales Oakham Ales is an English brewery now based in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, but first established in Oakham, Rutland. The original owner, John Wood, left Oakham Ales in 1995. Its headquarters is the largest brewpub in Europe, The Brewery Tap, which opened in 1998 and is located in the old labour exchange in Westgate, Peterborough.