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Prepare, Pack, Pedal - A Practical Guide to Cycle Touring
February 26, 2017
After I finished my cycle tours across Europe and Asia, I organised all my research and planning into a guidebook, including route choice, equipment, budget and even communicating the journey. All the information you need to help plan your own journey taken from first hand experience
Tags: cycle-touringguidebook
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6 Shoes for City Exploring
February 26, 2017
This post started as research for comfortable shoes city exploring in London and Tbilisi. The criteria was lightweight, durable and able to wear in city context in a range of situations. The following are shoes that started off as off-road shoes but work well for urban adventures and city / mixed used. Desired Shoe features: Protected toebox from scuffing / scraping / tearing Trail running style sole for grip Lightweight Ankle support and protection Able to be worn in a casual context Salomon Men’s City Cross Trail Running Shoes These shoes look stylish but have a trail running pedigree.
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Wandermap - City Walking
February 26, 2017
Wandermap is inspired by the Situationists movement of the Dérive and Psychogeography. You experiment with maps to create inventive and unusual ways of navigating the city space. There are quite a few benefits but some include: Physical exercise of walking Getting closer to natural surroundings Getting closer to other people Experience the surroundings differently by looking differently References Psychogeography and the Situationists Psychogeography is an approach to geography that emphasizes playfulness and “drifting” around urban environments.
Tags: walking
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Krakow, Poland and Auschwitz - Birkenau
February 18, 2017
We went to Poland, Krakow. The food was amazing. A lot of hot stews. There was good beer too; draught lager or some dark beers. One pub had a selection dark, fizzy bitter and honey beer. The weather was cold -5 the first couple of days but warmed up. We wanted to visit all the historical sites in the city and go and visit the concentration camps at Auschwitz and Birkenau later in the week.
Tags: Poland
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Review of Binatone Terrain 750 Walkie Talkies
February 9, 2017
Bought to use for mountain bike guiding. Pros Solid construction Work well Easy to charge with stand Cons Batteries wear out too quickly If batteries are replaced with normal AAs, device can’t be used in the charger stand Conclusion Could be better options now. With mobiles tempting not to need this kind of radio. But still handy as a backup when there is no signal.
Tags: Walkie Talkies
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Review of Garmin Etrex Vista HCX Portable Handheld GPS
February 9, 2017
Bought to track route on cycle tour Pros Rugged design Accurate Reliable Feature packed Cons AA batteries run out too quick Not user friendly Conclusion Now there are cheaper, better, options out there.
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Photography
February 8, 2017
My photographic practice began in 2007 when I bought my first proper camera- Nikon DLSR D40x to take photos on my cycling journey around the world. Favourite things to photograph are architecture (places, Buildings, Interiors, features), documenting journeys and people. Cameras Zenit was bought in a market in Tbilisi. Nikkormat, bought on eBay. iPhone 5 Processing Take photos, after shooting, discard technically bad ones immediately. Pick ‘Keepers’ and ‘Marginals’. Use photos for something, print them or exhibit them somehow.
Tags: photogrphy
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How to Write for Magazines
February 8, 2017
Excerpt from RGS Expedition Handbook 35 WRITING FOR MAGAZINES Miranda Haines 06 RGS Expedition Handbk 4/3/04 3:54 pm Page 401SELLING YOUR PIECE Mind the gap: dealing with the media Strangely, and most editors moan about this, it has been very difficult to ?nd reliable professional expeditions to write a good, relevant, interesting piece that stands out from the pile.Undoubtedly, both sides are missing something here. It is always worth remembering that we both want the same thing: a good and visually exiting result in print that readers will enjoy and come back for more.
Tags: Writing
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Advice for Cycle Touring in Zanzibar, Africa from Seasoned Expert Pete Gostelow
February 8, 2017
What is the best time of the year to go? Anytime. Tanzania has a wet season from March-May and short rains October. It’s hottest in Jan/Feb. Rainy season has never restricted my travels here. What is the best flight / way to get there. Are there any obvious directions to cycle on from there? You can’t fly direct to Dar es Salaam from UK. Emirates/Turkish are possibly cheapest (about £450-500 for return from London).
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30 Things Mountain Biking has Taught Me About Life
February 8, 2017
Good writers have often used sport as a metaphor for life. Preparation wins races. Keep your gear clean. Gear isn’t everything. Don’t ride tired or hungry if you can help it. Relax. Stay loose. Go with the flow. Balance is first among the virtues; momentum is second. Ensure traction by digging in. The fun starts when you push the limits. He who dares… Sometimes speed is your friend. Sometimes, the best way past an obstacle is to fly straight over it.
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How to Get Sponsorship: Company Sponsorship Email Template
February 8, 2017
Back in 2006 when I had the idea to go on a cycle tour, it was my idea, and no one else’s. I thought, that I alone would take my bike, escape from the everyday drone of my life in England and find excitement and bliss. Great. The reason I had the idea was due to a whole range of factors, not least, many pub conversations about such things with friends, a long term love of cycling and the support from different people that had given me the space to be able to create the conditions to leave.
Tags: SponsorshipExpedition
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Between Worlds - Cycle Touring in Asia
February 8, 2017
Between Worlds chronicles a real journey of discovery from the harsh winter of Georgia to the wilds of Mongolia by bicycle. A lone ride which began in Tbilisi and continued through Armenia, Iran, Pakistan, India and Nepal ending in Mongolia. It is one man’s exploration of place and space, full of detailed architectural observations which question the nature of the spaces we inhabit and encourage consideration of the profound effects of architecture on our thoughts and habits.