Whether you need help setting yourself up for what’s to come or to soothe away what’s been, there’s nothing better than a lovingly prepared mug of hot coffee is there? With so many options, choosing the right one is nothing short of a minefield, so in an effort to help guide you through the complex […]
We had our first look at Alpamayo luggage quite a while ago. At the time, I banged on about attention to detail and how incorporating it into luggage design makes the life of a bikepacker a more enjoyable and hopefully, less frustrating one. Well, since then, both the Alpamayo front harness and accessory bag have […]
For the third time in as many hours, I drew to a halt, climbed off the bike and lent it against a gate. I looked at it square-on, then I squatted down and looked at it from below. I tipped my head on one side and looked at it again. No matter which way I […]
Modern waterproofs are great, on the 95% of occasions you’re likely to require one, they’ll do a great job of keeping the elements at bay. They also do a reasonable job of preventing you from drowning in your own sweat should you be stupid enough to ride a bike vigorously, while confined inside one. Unfortunately, […]
This bloke walks into a pub, goes up to the bar and asks the landlord for a packet of peanuts and … well, nothing, it’s not a joke, it’s simply something I witnessed on Saturday night that left me slightly stunned. The ‘bloke’ in question was Ian Barrington who’d just ridden 185km in the previous […]
It can be hard to motivate yourself to get out when the days, let alone the nights are dark. The excess of Christmas hangs heavily around your middle and the prospect of a night outside isn’t much of a draw. It’s a good job not everyone thinks like this because if they did, ‘Mach ‘n […]
With the passing of each birthday, I seem to become that bit more cynical. I no longer expect my sexual magnetism to be elevated to unimaginable levels after applying a certain deodorant and I’m fully aware that any product carrying a lifetime guarantee, is only guaranteed for the life of the product – not mine. […]
We’ve all done it, a place for everything and everything in its place. Driven by an unrelenting desire to minimise the number of bags adorning our bikes, we pack and repack, allocating the minimum possible amount of space to each and every item of essential equipment. After countless trial runs and endless hours, our hard […]
Amongst the many questions I get asked such as, “Why don’t you shut up?” and “Really, are you sure?”, one of the most common is, “What’s the difference between bikepacking and touring?”. I have to say, the question is usually asked with a subtle sneer or at very least, a slight smirk; my inquisitor having […]
You really need to be careful when it comes to bags, they’re not always what they seem. Many masquerade under a name that bears little or no relation to their intended purpose. This shameful misrepresentation can lead to all kinds of problems for the unwitting purchaser or would be user. Take ‘Lucky bags’ as an […]