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Producing Absinthe in Georgia
September 16, 2018
When I was staying in Georgia running mountain bike tours in 2015, in between work, a French friend, Vincent, who makes alcohol invited me to collect the plant that is used to make absinthe. We drove out onto the plains of Georgia to pick “Artemisia absinthium”, commonly known as Wormwood. Wormwood herb contains bitter substances and a volatile compound called thujone. In popular culture the spirit, Absinthe, made using the plant (and other ingredients - anise and fennel) has some notoriety for making drinkers hallucinate however, a couple of source say this is not likely and more down to alcohol abuse.
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The Best Bikepacking Luggage Straps
September 8, 2018
I was looking for some ways to strap stuff onto my bike. I started searching “bikepacking straps”. This is a thing, but the straps are silly expensive. Cue ebaying and finding alternatives. This is a product of some of my research. The repurposed ski straps Rubber straps with a buckle originally used for strapping skies together when carrying. The ebay leather straps Simple leather straps with a buckle off ebay.
Tags: StrapsBikepackingTouring
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Low Bicycle Theft Is an Advantage for a Cyclist Living in Singapore
September 6, 2018
Singapore is among the safest and best places to call home on earth, thanks to the low crime rate. The city-state is inhabited by various nationals who coexist peacefully with the locals, setting a very good example for non-Singaporeans. Many expatriates have found a second home in the island state and go about their work and life with very little worry, if any, since theft and crime incidents are almost unheard of.
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Bike Maintenance Resources & Videos
July 17, 2018
Bike maintenance is essential knowledge for the adventure cyclist. You don’t need to be Sheldon Brown but you need to know the basics. Truing the wheels Fix a puncture Servicing hubs Servicing headset Removing grips How to service V-brakes Cables Disc Brakes Drivetrain Bottom Bracket Fixing a chain
Tags: Bike maintenanceVideo
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Bikepacking the Gower Peninsula in Wales
July 4, 2018
A couple of weeks ago I came across an article on bikepacking.com for a route round the Gower peninsula in Wales. I had been looking for a trip to do whilst I have some time off in between jobs. A friend had talked about doing Ultramarathons at the Gower and I used to go there on holiday when I was a kid. From the photos that accompanied the route on the website, it looked beautiful and varied with a bit of challenge in there although pretty doable.
Tags: GowerBikepacking
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Im Selling My Marin Pine Mountain 1 2016 XL 27.5 bike on eBay
June 30, 2018
ebay listing Very good condition. Frame has a few minor paint scuffs from use. Bought as new from previous owner. I’ve used it for a recent bikepacking trip to Wales and in local forest trails. Total miles done approx 250. The best points IMO for this bike are the steel frame which is very responsive and the big plus sized tyres which you can run at a variety of pressures. The SRAM drivetrain ensure smooth gear shifting and brakes offer good performance.
Tags: EbaySalePine mountainMarinBikepackingMountain bikeBike
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The Destruction of Tbilisi's architectural heritage
June 20, 2018
I went to a talk at the British Georgian Society in London about the architectural heritage of Tbilisi. Ecommos Georgia organisation is a French restoration NGO working for architectural preservation and is lobbying against the loss of the architecture heritage and town plan. They argue it is destroying the spatial coherence of city. Many different architectural examples were spoken of in the talk. Islamic aspects, Neoclassical baroque aspects, Art nouveau aspects in some areas.
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Interview with Charles Denby : Subversive Cartography
June 20, 2018
This is an interview I did recently with Charles Denby, Geography student from Kings College, London. What do you think maps do? I think that maps can make people see places differently. The maps I’m interested in are not necessarily maps that are tools to get from A to B but tools for getting lost or maps that provide routes around your local area. It doesn’t really matter about the scale actually.
Tags: CartographyMapCity
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Steps for Road Cleat Adjustment
June 13, 2018
The following video is the best information I found on cleat set up. Be aware the diagrams are the wrong way round! Switch the 2 and 5 metatarsal diagrams and follow everything else. The line drawing part in the vid still holds true to find the central cleat position. Previous attempts at cleat setup Cleat adjustment has, at times, been my nemesis. A good cleat position can be achieved quite easily as long as there are no other factors in play like injury, tiredness or wrong bike size.
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Options for 27.2 Dropper Seatpost
June 11, 2018
Sometimes steel frames and older frames use a 27.2 (inner diameter) seatpost size. Many newer frames don’t and therefore dropper seatposts for 27.2 are a bit more rare. Here are some options from my research. X-Fusion Hilo KS Eten Thomson Elite External Satori borata pro Kind Shock ExaForm 861 Remote Adjustable Seatpost DSP Racing Bighorn Gravity Dropper Descender KS Lev RSP Plummet
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From the Archive: Cycle Touring and Expedition Notes
June 9, 2018
Before going cycle touring I did some preparation right from the reasons behind why I was going, through to the equipment I would need. Why do I want to do a big adventure? Endurance Enlightenment Promote alternative existence Cycling Extreme Wilderness Charity Creatity People Philosophy, perception of space, time Mindset Be truthful about aims. Show respect to locals, schools, customs, authorities. Clear aims, end outcomes Minimise environmental impact.
Tags: AdviceExpeditionNotes
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Life Skills Brainstorming Session
June 9, 2018
UPDATE 2024: This post outlines various life skills and topics relevant to personal and professional development. It covers aspects such as critical thinking, productivity, overcoming distractions, navigating workplace dynamics, financial management, location selection, and maintaining physical and mental health. Each section delves into specific subtopics, providing insights and strategies for practical application in everyday life. Overall, it serves as a comprehensive guide for individuals seeking to enhance their skills and lead a more fulfilling and balanced life.