Imagine the scene … it’s a bright, sunny morning. You emerge from the confines of your cosy tarp, pulling your shorts up while still trying to get your left shoe on properly. Your bike’s lying on its side a few feet away, you amble over, unclip a couple of straps, poke a hand inside your […]
Why should it be that what we ‘believe’ and what we actually ‘do’, appear at times, to be completely at odds with each other? Could it be that what we ‘know’ plays a major role in separating the two things and ultimately forces us to dwell in the ‘real world’, rather than a largely fictitious […]
The 2015 Genesis Longitude was a bit of a hit, in fact, it was so much of a surprise hit that demand outstripped supply and in just a few short months all the stocks of both complete bikes and framesets had been sold. Why did it prove to be so popular? I think there’s probably […]
When you’re trying to minimise what you carry in terms of either weight or pack-size, any items that are dual-use can make a real difference. Using the same pot you cook in, to eat or drink from isn’t anything new or revolutionary but surprisingly, it is something a lot of people don’t actually do. Being […]
The meths stove is a thing of beautiful simplicity, just air and fuel. Get the combination right and even the most basic design will be transformed into a light, efficient and usually compact travelling companion … however, get it wrong and the lightweight shine will wear off all too soon. Luckily, the inherent simplicity of […]
If you were ever unfortunate enough to watch the X Files, you’ll know that they were fond of telling us that “The truth is out there” but sadly, they never actually bothered to clarify quite where it was. With no clues forthcoming, I decided to take my personal search for the ‘truth’ to the Berwyn […]
It’s difficult to avoid the word Adventure at the moment. It’s become very, very popular, seemingly the world has decided to forgo the settee, get off its arse, embrace the great outdoors and embark on an adventure of some shape, size or form. Personally, I think this explosion of interest is great, encouraging people to […]
Bikepacking is like touring, just as pears are like apples … they look different, they smell different and they taste different but they’re both fruit. Some people will dismiss that last statement, believing wholeheartedly that ‘bikepacking’ is just a fancy new name for touring dreamt up by suited marketeers in an effort to sell the […]
Hello again weight watchers – last time, I promised to return armed with a few real life kit lists and here they are. They’re taken from this years Welsh Ride Thing and give a fairly detailed view of what each rider was carrying … the weights stated at the side of the riders name are […]
No one sets out on the Highland Trail thinking that they won’t finish. To do so would be to undermine your chances even further than the 50/50 where they stand prior to the start. The unforgiving terrain, fickle weather and not inconsiderable distance involved, can conspire against even the fittest and most well prepared, leaving […]