









Bike Ramble - Cycle Adventures on Planet Earth
That’s everything I own. I lost the helmet actually.
Altogether it’s about 33kg including the bike.
I’m trying to stay part of the “three bags only” club, it’s hard.
Weight including bag: 6.8kg
Weight including bag: 5.6kg – 8.0kg (depending on food)
Weight including bag: 4.0kg
Don’t ask me how I fit it all in this little bag. A little bit of magic and lots of trial and error I think.
I don’t carry a lot of tools. I’ve learned to get by with what I have. I can fix anything on my bike with the tools below, except problems with the bottom bracket.
People think that you need the best and most up to date equipment to go on a long distance cycle, which is nonsense. I would say that 75% of my equipment is more than 4 years old and around 30% is second hand. The bicycle itself is 80% second hand. You don’t need the “best” stuff to go on a bike tour. You just need the stuff. My first tent was a Gelert Solo bought for £25. I still have my original sleeping bag and stove. Once you get the cheap things you can think about upgrading later. If you do feel the need to buy new and expensive things, splash out on these things first:
This is one of the most useful things I have. I piece of elastic cord I bought in Vienna for a Euro. Tied to some carabiner clips, it can expand for taking extra water or quickly sticking some clothes on the back of the bike to dry. You can even make a bike stand from it to do some maintenance with the help of a tree, or lamppost. Or you can tie it between the wheel and the frame for a super quick bike lock.
You don’t exactly want to be on an island with nobody or anything around or at 2000m in the Alps when a bolt snaps. But that’s exactly what happened to me.
There are 2 common types of screw bolts for bicycles: M5 and M6. The number 5 or 6 corresponds with the diameter in mm. It’s better to have a bicycle that supports a rear rack with an M6 bolt, as this reduces the risk of it snapping.
Taking U-clips / P-clips means if anything happens, you can attach your rear rack (or front rack) back onto your bike with ease.
And that’s it for now. Think I’ve missed something? Let me know in the comments.
Hello from Germany.
I found your blog by chance and im really enjoying it! i like the information you provide.
I am planing a similar bike tour to central asia with my bf and am stoked about your stories you provide.
Also i like the pictures you take 🙂
and i feel like i can relate to a lot of travel experience you talk about.
Greetings and all the best.
Hope you have adjusted well to your return
Elsa
What great information and I am not even halfway through the website! Thanks
You! 🙂
x