I've now used the Extrawheel trailer for nearly six months and 3500 miles, in nearly every condition you can throw at a cycle tourer, so it's probably time for an updated review of this fantastic trailer.
The first part of our tour saw us cycling for four months in Patagonia in southern Argentin...
I have always wanted a hat but most hats nearly always require a "uniform" to go with it. Bowler hat, you need a pinstriped suit. Stetson, you need a horse and boots. Flat cap, you need a landrover and a pigsty.
Suffice to say that I could never find a hat that did what I wanted it to do and still...
If you're an optically-challenged cyclist like me, you may have considered getting some prescription specs designed especially for cycling. Riding in normal glasses is possible, of course, but they don't perform too well in wet, misty or sweaty conditions. Having ridden with contact lenses plus fanc...
Using a trailer when touring is a very personal thing. Some people can't do without one, while others manage to tour the world without. It's different strokes for different folks.
NOTE : Click here to read an updated blog post about the Extrawheel, after 3500 miles, in nearly every condition yo...
Description: 2.5 acre, level. Advance booking advisable. Taunton to Bridgwater canal for walking nearby.
Site visited: 8th of June 2011.
At first glance this site just looked like a back yard to a rather run down farm. But when you got past the old disused caravans and other equipments, you w...
Description: (From camping.uk-directory.com) Rushbanks Farm is a minimum facility site. It is the only official site on the banks of the River Stour and is very suitable for boaters and canoeists. Tents Caravans and Campers are all welcome.
Site visited: 17-19 June 2011.
As seen on the bl...
I'm not much of a "girly girl" at all, but one item of women-specific cycling kit has really fancied my tickle. It's the Terry Stretch Mini skirt. It's a simple piece of lycra, mid-thigh length, with little slits up the sides, so is actually rather dear at around £30.
But, when cycle touring in N...
Having tried out SealSkinz waterproof socks, with great success, I just had to try out their gloves.
Sealskinz Waterproof Ultra Grip Gloves: Link
I wouldn't say that I have big hands, but even the XL versions are rather tight at first. But after a few weeks using them they loosen up, but still...
Just before we were off to the southern hemisphere my Pro Bike Gear Rev sunglasses broke. Being summer where we were heading and with a strong/bright sun I really needed some new sunnies.
Why I needed new specks and how I got them.
I really liked the PRO Bike Gear's Rev, frame less wrap around s...
I'm now coming up to 5,000 miles on the Surly Long Haul Trucker, aka my little Tank, and boy have they been my most comfortable 5,000 miles ever.
But, as there always is a but, the fecking Long Haul Trucker is the reason that I can't ride my other bicycles any more. As my good friend at my LBS s...
Up to two years ago I never tried merino wool and was pretty sure that it was just a gimmick. Thinking back at my old woolly jumpers I could only think about how itchy they were to wear.
Everyone who I knew who had tried out merino wool couldn't stop talking about it. So since we where putting in...
I don’t wear lycra but don’t mind some padding on my dear derriere. I wear a normal pair of shorts with some sort of padded shorts under, more like a under liner.
This is where the Kiwi company called Ground Effect comes in with their Underdogs shorts liner. They are pretty much liners for their...
My old Keen sandals needed updating. So I was looking around on Keen's website for a new pair. The Newport H2 are probably their best seller and I now know why. While looking on their site I also found a pair of cycling shoes they called the Commuter. Since my old pair was so comfy to walk in and...
Well not really, since I will go back to them any time. I got the Lake I/O SDL last year in May simply because I could get them where as As you can see they are well worn down from all the walking. Though last month I did feel a difference in the sandal in how they were clipped in and I was at first...
Anne tells a lie in her book A bike ride, she doesn't cycle 12,000 miles around the world. She only cycles 11,552 miles around the world, but I too would round it to the nearest thousand if I ever managed what she did.
I only learned about this truly remarkable woman last year when she untimely...
A few years back when I decided to go clip less, I search for something that was easy to clip into and easy to learn to use. I don't like the "proper cycling" shoes as you can't just jump off your bicycle and have a walk as you please, so I was looking for MTB style cycling shoes. Out of them all st...
I was reading The Travelling Two website tonight as fell over a post there, Alastair Humphreys is planing a meet up for bike tourist, March 9th.
I thought that it may be helpful, now that I have done a few trips, to arrange an evening in a pub when I can try to help other people who are plan...
I got the dhb Wickham eVENT Waterproof Cycling Jacket a few weeks back and as sods law is, I didn't get to use it in anger before yesterday. 25 miles ride in solid drizzle with a heavy shower thrown in for good measure. What can I say it did what it said on the tin, e.g it was waterproof.
Waterpro...
I got the SuperNova E3 Pro with the handle bar mount.
The reason is that I didn't fancy having my expensive light sitting on my bicycle when parked up. When packing up the bicycle for cycle touring I didn't fancy fettling around with more bits as I'm sure I would knock or bend it while packing i...
I have never heard about Anne Mustoe until I was told about her untimely passing.
... what she termed her “new career”. When she resolved to cycle round the world, Mustoe was 54, somewhat overweight and unfit, and without any idea of how to mend a puncture. She had not ridden a bike for 30 years...
I'm not a big fan of standard drop bars. The main reason is that I don't feel I got a good grip when it comes to braking when you are riding in the hoods. I know that flat bars would not be a good thing either for touring and carrying heavy loads.
I looked at the Titec H-bar, which looks very go...
I have now used these since May and love them.
I wear them pretty much all day both cycling and walking in them. Since the cleats are set back in the shoe and the way that sole is made. I haven't worn down the cleats yet, like I did with my Shimano MT40.
They are still nice and warm, with a pa...
Description: (From their site) The CARGO has been a modern classic since 1988. As the first carrier from Tubus it remains our bestseller: The epitome of reliability, thousands have been manufactured over the years and are still in use worldwide today.
The Tubus racks are by the look and feel bui...
I have a few things from http://www.groundeffect.co.nz and all are brilliant.
The Draft Dodger is just great. I got the XL and even with my long arms I got plenty of jacket covering them. And it is big enough to put enough layers under it e.g. merino wool base layer, cycling top, other long slee...
I have had this trailer for around four years now and simply love it. It is a TW-Bent trailer which is pretty much the same as the BOB Yak trailer but is called Revolution Cargo Load Trailer and is from Edinburgh Bicycles Coop.
At time of publishing this post it is going at £149.99 though when I...
