My Round The World ride (inc top blagging at Spa & The Ring)

[B1G GK]

I would fancy doing something like this, but as youve said its putting your life on hold for a couple or so years, think thats where the bottle is myself, although there is a funding issue to be looked at, how can you budget for the unknown?
truly amazing though and very very envious.

I have followed this guys blog from near me,
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1r4vFZo&...

Brilliant chaps.

[neilski]

F

B1G GK said:

I would fancy doing something like this, but as youve said its putting your life on hold....

What life? I used to sit in an office looking at a computer all day!

[B1G GK]

neilski said:

F

B1G GK said:

I would fancy doing something like this, but as youve said its putting your life on hold....

What life? I used to sit in an office looking at a computer all day!

Family, friends, career, house etc,
Ok so your family and friends will still be around when you get back, or do you not look that far on about the dreaded idea of dirty old England.

[neilski]

From today, I'm doing the rest of my ride for charity but I won't post any direct links up due to "the rules" so you'll have to find the donation page yourself (if you want to that is).

I've also created a Facebook page so that I can separate the shenanigans I've been getting up to in the cities from the more serious cycling stuff. If you're interested in seeing more content than will fit on twitter, the page is here.

https://www.facebook.com/IWereRightAboutThatSaddle...

It's a bit light on content as the rest of the stuff I've posted is on my personal page but it should get filled up from today onwards.

What you'll see....

Kite surfers on Lake Balaton at sunset.


What you may or may not see, depending on how I feel!

Dressing up box night at Budapest Bubble.


Yes I do like a beer from time to time after spending lots of time in the saddle by myself!

[neilski]

Ouch!



For those not following me on Facebook yet, this is what happens when you get forced out of your lane onto tram tracks and the bike starts to handle like it's on rails. (Because it is).

So that's one accident in about ten weeks of cycling. Hopefully it'll be the only one on my trip and I've got it out of the way early without too much damage to me or the bike.

I'm starting to get epic tan lines too!

[neilski]

It's a jungle out there! Not Asia, not Australia but Slovenia.

[Minemapper]

Concur.

A another cycle touring buddy once told me; "the coldest, wettest, loneliest day on the bike is still a million times better than one spent sat at a desk."

Keep the updates coming.

[croyde]

Minemapper said:

Concur.

A another cycle touring buddy once told me; "the coldest, wettest, loneliest day on the bike is still a million times better than one spent sat at a desk."

Keep the updates coming.

I like that

[neilski]

Minemapper said:

Concur.

A another cycle touring buddy once told me; "the coldest, wettest, loneliest day on the bike is still a million times better than one spent sat at a desk."

Keep the updates coming.

So true!

[neilski]

So how was London to Brighton? I couldn't make it this year because I was doing this instead:



The view of Kotor Bay from the top:



I hope the sun shined as much for you as it did for me!

[neilski]

And while I think about it, I hit the 5,000km mark the other day.

[Silver940]

That hill looked like hard work!

[daz3210]

If you don't mind me asking, how do you deal with maintenance on the bike on a trip like this. Is it just a case of hope there is a LBS that can deal with it quickly for you?

And yes I am jealous, wish I had the balls (and finances) to do this.

[neilski]

I worked as a bike mechanic for 7 years in my yoof and can do most jobs with just a Topeak multitool & a Leatherman and can replace broken spokes with alarming regularity with an NBT2. I think the only jobs I'd struggle to do would be a bottom bracket or headset swap so I'd leave those to an LBS.

[neilski]

Silver940 said:

That hill looked like hard work!

I've been up worse on this trip but it did take a while to get to that height (over 900m) from sea level. The descent was epic although my brakes aren't a fan of all the weight I'm carrying!

[daz3210]

neilski said:

I worked as a bike mechanic for 7 years in my yoof and can do most jobs with just a Topeak multitool & a Leatherman and can replace broken spokes with alarming regularity with an NBT2. I think the only jobs I'd struggle to do would be a bottom bracket or headset swap so I'd leave those to an LBS.

Thanks for that, I was more thinking though about what you would need to carry by way of spares.

[neilski]

daz3210 said:

Thanks for that, I was more thinking though about what you would need to carry by way of spares.

10 spokes (now 6), chain (now used & another bought in Budapest), cassette, brake blocks, brake & gear cables, lube, cable ties, gaffer tape, assorted nuts & bolts, pannier hooks & anti-sway catches, Brooks proofide, CR2032 batteries (watch & bike computer) fork sensor battery, inner tubes x 4, loads of patches, tyre boots, one spare road tyre (now used), two off road tyres to put on when I get to Asia and can't find 700c anywhere.

It's a lot of weight but I can't be sure I'll be able to find obscure stuff in the back of beyond or rely on international postal services.

[daz3210]

neilski said:

It's a lot of weight but I can't be sure I'll be able to find obscure stuff in the back of beyond or rely on international postal services.

That is exactly what I was thinking about, and thanks for the list.

Its one thing whizzing round local, but when the bike is your only mean of transport you cannot afford for it to break down I guess.

[Minemapper]

Any thoughts about putting disc brakes on it? Seems like a no brainer with the extra weight and hills. They also wear a lot more slowly and are easier on rims (in my mtn bike experience).

[neilski]

Minemapper said:

Any thoughts about putting disc brakes on it? Seems like a no brainer with the extra weight and hills. They also wear a lot more slowly and are easier on rims (in my mtn bike experience).

The reason I haven't gone the disc brake route is because when I did my research before buying my bike I came across some info from SJS Cycles who refuse to sell a touring bike with discs because while discs might be good at stopping a mountain bike & rider on a short downhill course they're pretty ste when it comes to overheating & warping on a 20km descent on a fully loaded tourer.

I've got well set up cantilevers which may not be as powerful as discs but they're easily fixable at the roadside once the pads start to melt, something that can't always be said about discs.