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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.
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Grayson Perry Book Review
August 11, 2017
Perry’s book focuses on the under-appreciate topic of what constitutes male identity in these times. Grayson Perry is an artist who is known for his pottery work but has received acclaim for his documentary work in recent years. Perry’s work explores male identity as he has in his own life. Particularly he explores certain communities where males are lacking a positive identity, due to decline- whether as one example the mining industry in the UK.
Tags: BookBook review
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Book Review & Takeaways: Outliers, The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
August 8, 2017
I was lent this book recently after striking up a conversation about The Tipping Point and my friend had read it and also recommended this book. Experience The experience of reading this book was very similar to ‘The Tipping Point’. The whole book has one major, overall, ‘argument’ to present and each chapter is made of research, stories and case studies that present ‘sub-arguments’ that support, unpack and flesh out the main argument.
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Books
July 25, 2017
Whilst travelling I picked up new experiences and I kept journals each day. I decided to share them in the following books and guidebooks. Travelogue books The Only Man to Cycle from Stoke Albany to Kathmandu - special edition version including cycle tours across Europe and Asia Weave of the Ride Between Worlds - The Promise of the Road Scotland Bikepacking ‘06 Guidebooks Prepare, Pack, Pedal - A Practical Guide to Cycle Touring Open Wilderness Guiding Book Mountain Biking Routes in The Republic of Georgia There are more… View all books on Amazon
Tags: books
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Travel Philosophy: Tricks for the Road
July 23, 2017
On the road, you pick up a few tricks. You are more vulnerable by yourself, in an unfamiliar place and you need to be able to trust and cooperate with people you meet and make do with what you have. A few things that served me well on my travels. Accept invitations more readily Saying yes just opens you up to so many experiences. Trust pretty much everyone (give benefit of the doubt) Open up your heart to people and they will do the same for you.
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Mountain Biking in Georgia Video Edits - GoPro / iPhone
July 22, 2017
Between 2009 - 2015 I spent time on a project to offer mountain bike tours in Georgia called Georiders. I didn’t get around to creating these videos from some of the footage shot, mainly because I found there wasn’t a bit of software out there that just let me create little videos on the fly. GoPro’s studio software is available as a free download and you can use it to edit not only GoPro footage but footage filmed with other devices.