Before you read the article, have you seen my books? Please check them out. Thanks!

• 10 Lessons Learnt from Cycling to Mongolia and Other Travels
• Mountain Biking Routes in The Republic of Georgia
• The Only Man to Cycle from Stoke Albany to Kathmandu
• Prepare, Pack, Pedal: A Practical Guide to Bicycle Touring

The On One Inbred Frame - ebay affiliate link is a steel mountain bike frame designed for British trail cross country riding. The frame is low cost but offers good value for the money. You can now get a 29er version of the frame. I first heard about the frame because some friends were racing it in a singlespeed competition circa 2003. It is a long-standing classic cross-country frame with its roots from the single speed world. You can get a sliding drop out version. The manufacturer (Planet X) is based in Sheffield so was local for me when I was living in York. With it being steel and having rack mounts, its a good candidate for an expedition touring bike or a bikepacking build. The article is for the on one inbred 26er review. I have not tested the 29 inch wheel version so I cannot comment on it.

A good pair of sunglasses are essential if you are cycling to protect your eyes from dirt, dust and the sun. This is my review of the Oakley Radar cycling-specific sunglasses.

Features / Benefits

• Radar® features an interchangeable lens
• Hydrophobic™, anti-static lens coating repels water, skin oils and debris (lens coating that prevents water from leaving streaks and sheens - Skin oils, fingerprints and lotions are easily wiped )
• The frame architecture creates a cooling flow of air
• Impact Protection The materials and geometries of Oakley eyewear provide unsurpassed protection against impact.
• interchangeable nosepiece

These hiking trousers from Craghoppers are lightweight, quick-drying, and comfortable. They consist of sun-protective fabric, stain proof and water repellent fabric.

Features

• 8 pockets including OS map-sized cargo pocket and zipped security pockets
• Reinforced knee and seat
• Part elasticated waist for comfort fit
• Mobile phone holder
• SmartDry nano water-repellent finish
• Belt included
• Heel tape
• SolarDry 40+ UPF fabric
• Polyester Cotton

These trousers are ideal for taking on a bike tour as you can wear them on and off the bike. They are no-nonsense and perform as expected.

Upon kitting out my long distance touring bike I knew from past experience that I tended to wear out middle chainrings faster. A worn chainring had proved to be problematic even causing the chain to slip once it had completely worn out. I considered ways I could mitigate this. I wanted something that would be light but also tough. A steel chainring would potentially add weight but be more durable whereas an aluminium chainring would perhaps be lighter but wear out more quickly. Step in the Middleburn Coated Chainring…

This sock was sponsored by a company for Ride Earth. It contains a yarn called Marfil which apparently is very good at wicking away moisture so your feet stay dry. They are also very thin so good if it is hot and there is a chance that your feet will overheat. However, conversely they are also useless by themselves for cold weather.

According to the company, “The sock is environmentally friendly to produce and is easily recyclable.”

I managed to get a pair of these beauties sponsored from Chain Reaction Cycles. They are a hiking-style boot with a solid sole for riding efficiency. They are useful for long distance riding where comfort, water resistance and durability are paramount. 

Protection: Rubber reinforcements on toe and heel for protection and durability/ Volume+ last for a more accommodating toe box

Upper: Natural Nubuck leather paired with waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex Performance Comfort Footwear liner

A base layer is a really important item of clothing as it sits next to your skin. Having a long sleeve base layer is good in the winter, and can be doubled up with a t-shirt underneath and a micro fleece over the top makes a good winter riding combination. 

The garment is lightweight. I had a navy blue and a black one with the stripy arm-band which is good for visibility and looks great. 

Some people don’t like tents and prefer to sleep under a shelter or just in a protective breathable ‘bivvy’ bag. However, there are times when a tent has obvious advantages like if it is really cold, wet or there are a lot of insects.

A tent seems like such a simple concept; a sheet over some poles that keeps the weather out, but there is plenty of variation out there. With simplicity comes subtle clever design principles such as advanced material choice. With a tent focused on minimising weight there could be trade offs in terms of durability.

A really useful item for travelling overland is a good multi-tool. Gerber and Leatherman are the main brands. The blast is a lightweight, solid-feeling tool which comes (unsurprisingly) in a leather case.

Technical specification

It has the following tools:

• Bottle Opener
• Hard-wire Cutters
• Large Screwdriver
• Needlenose Pliers
• Phillips Screwdriver
• Regular Pliers
• Saw
• Small Bit Driver
• Small Screwdriver
• Wire Cutters
• Wood/Metal File
• Wire Stripper
• Spring-action Scissors
• 420HC Blade

Materials

• High-carbon (HC) form of 420 stainless steel optimized by heat treatment.
• Black oxide powder-based metal coating for reducing glare and reflection.
• Zytel® is an abrasion and impact resistant material that can be inserted into handles for comfort and protection from scratches and wear.

How I used it

The tool was useful for cutting fingernails with the small scissors. I used the main blade knife for cutting food and it took a while to lose its edge and was easy to sharpen.

Before I had any experience of travel I had no idea what a Buff was and when we were sponsored by Buff they sent us about 12 of them featuring different varieties for warmth, visibility, wackiness of design. However, a Buff is now the first thing I throw in my bag if I am travelling anywhere. I even wear one in bed.

What Buff say

More than 20 years ago, BUFF® invented the tubular headwear category with our Original BUFF® product. As the outdoor industry has progressed, we have evolved with it, incorporating the latest in technical fabric innovations while remaining true to our heritage of quality and craftsmanship. It’s the reason that athletes and outdoor enthusiasts trust our products, and why BUFF® is the original multifunctional headwear. The manufacturing process takes place on a specially developed tubular loom to make the finished garment seamless. As you can imagine this makes them very stylish, functional, versatile and comfortable. Originally developed for wind protection while motorcycling. It can be worn as a scarf, bandanna, headband, beanie, face mask, tube top, helmet liner, wristband, cap, pirate, Sahara style and other variations.