This page displays a table of bikes that I have reviewed or included in the bike reviews section with links back to the articles. From this list you can see the kinds of bikes have been of interest to me and the kind of riding.

• Steel framed hardtail
• Steel framed tourer
• Electric tourer
• Fatbike
• Multipurpose steel framed bikes
• Long wheelbase, short stemmed slack head angle hardtails
• Specialist adventure tourer

Why are these bikes of interest to me? The steel framed hardtail was what I used originally for my touring so I since researched a lot of steel framed hardtails to see if this was still feasible. However, since then companies have come up with specialist adventure tourer frames and multipurpose steel framed bikes, which cover both touring, bikepacking and even mountain biking. Basically there were a lot of people on the same wavelength and it is no longer necessary to use a mountain bike frame for touring if you are buying a new frame, but older steel frame mountain bikes would definitely still work.

Disc Brakes

Braking is a very important part of cycling. If you can’t stop effectively you are in trouble. Rim brakes are the brakes that have rubber pads that are applied onto the rims of the wheel. These can be quite effective and are lightweight. However, they also wear your rim out and are not as powerful as disc brakes.

Disc brakes come in mechanical and hydraulic forms and can be found on all types of bike now- road and off-road.

Charging setup laid out before going hiking in Spain see above.

• Gopro Hero Black Edition
• Portapow AA charger
• Portapow Solar Panel 11W
• iPhone 5 Life Edge Rugged case
• Sansa Mp3 player
• Portapow battery / solar panel

I used the solar panel to charge up the back up battery

Advantages of the folding solar panel

• Good portability
• Rugged, surface doesn’t damage as easily
• Can be strapped to backpack
• 2 usb charging ports

Advantages of AA charger

Folding bikes offer additional flexibility as they can be packed up and put on a kayak or inflatable boat for example. Storage is the main benefit, although there is a philosophical angle behind the benefits of small wheels vs big wheels in terms of rolling resistance and weight. Here is a nice set up I was lucky to come across in Cornwall.

Tech Spec

• Front Spartan™ Rack and rear Tern Cargo Rack™ for hauling a load
• Andros™ adjustable handlebar stem so you can find the most comfortable riding position during long days in the saddle
• BioLogic PostPump™ for on-the-road maintenance and repairs
• BioLogic Joule™ 3 electricity-generating hub and powerful wide-beam Valo™ 2 front light
• Extreme gear range (22 – 117 gear inches) for loaded hill climbing
• Frame lock seatstay bosses for convenient security
• Folds in under 10 seconds to go on trains, planes, buses and boats

What Tern Say about the Bike

Whether you’re on a long distance trek or your daily commute, the Verge Tour carries you and your load with sure-footed confidence. The mile-eating bike stands out from head to toe with front and rear racks, an extra-strong cromoly fork, elongated seatstays and ultra-wide 27-speed gearing.

In a survival situation what do you need in a “grab-and-go” kitbag. Here are some essentials that you might need.

Sleeping

If you are leaving your usual residence and facing days on the move you want to ensure the best night sleep you can.

• Sleeping Bag
• Down Mat
• Tarp

Clothing

No additional clothes other than the ones you are wearing will be included.

• Poncho
• Dust Mask

Tooling

A basic knife is usually suggested enough for a real survival situation. However, a multitool might come in useful in some situations.

Giro HV

Giro HV are the wide versions of Giro Shoes. Check out the Privateer.

Shimano wide-fit

Shimano do wide fitting versions of their shoes/boots. I own the wide version of the RC-7 road shoes. They aren’t that wide though.

The RC7 cycling shoe outer scuffs easily

Researching I came across a forum thread recommending the Shimano mt41 and the Shimano M089 in wide fit.

Sidi

Sidi do an ultra-wide fit. One forum post recommended the SIDI Mega fit claiming they were the best shoes they had owned. More on Chainreactioncycles.

Solar Storm 3 lamp bicycle light is the light I use on my commuter bike and for mountain biking. It is a metal-cased multi-LED light with a rechargable battery.

Bought from?

I got the light from eBay. Cost £15.

How I used it

For mountain biking I used the O-ring to attach the light to the handlebars and used a different light for my helmet. This lamp is too bulky to be attached to the helmet.

Looking for gifts for cyclists? Why not try these items (or similar):

Winter Cycling Gloves: dhb Windslam Stretch Cycling Gloves

Some warm gloves for winter riding. Personally, I use some gardening gloves bought from Aldi, but when the weather gets really bad, I switch to some proper winter gloves.

Windproof gloves offering more protection than their slim construction suggests, these stretchy gloves offer brilliant protection in cool, windy conditions.

Tested on a multi-day hike in Spain carrying enough food and water for 3 days. The pack was my choice after doing of plenty of online and in-shop research, looking at different options from brands such as Deutar and Berghaus.

Features

• 70 L capacity
• Removable top compartment
• Frame can be removed and be replaced
• Walking pole attachment
• Access to the bag from the bottom and top
• AirScape backpanel with foam ridges for ventilation, sternum strap with emergency whistle
• Stretch mesh side pockets with InsideOut compression, top lid access
• Twin zippered hip belt pockets, twin ice axe loops
• Pre-curved IsoForm CM moldable hipbelt, removable top lid, converts into lumbar pack
• Integrated & detachable raincover, weight : 2.29 (M) kg, maximum dimensions : (cm) 90 (l) x 36 (w) x 35 (d)

I wanted the smallest, lightest possible roll mat, and this one fit the bill at the right price. A good product recommended.

• After much research this offered the best value to weight ratio
• 3/4 length
• Packs up small
• Has held up so far without any leaks
• Would recommend