Well the trip to Cardiff went well and I spent some time in the tourist trap that is Cardiff bay before I went to a pub for a quiet pint.
I met up with Peli at the station and after some delay and faffing around with the platforms we were on our way. Arrived in Abergavenny and made our way to the campsite. Pen-y-dre is a nice little site attached to the farm, but located right next to the busy A486 and the local road. Which made it a noisy night. Though that wasn’t the biggest problem, while pitching the tent I suddenly realised that I hadn’t packed my sleeping mat. So the night was spent listening to traffic fighting over space on our only mat.
The next morning we started of at 9:30′ish and headed for Hay-on-Wye over the Gospel Pass. Stunning weather made the journey. We passed the Llanthony priory which was started by two hermits back in 1108.
The Gospel Pass isn’t that bad but fully loaded and not in peak touring condition we found it hard. And the ice cream at the top was a nice treat that hit the spot. We even spotted some snow on Lord …

So I’m sitting on the train to Cardiff, Wales. I just managed to get on the train after a mad dash across town. I left home with plenty of time to spare and pootled across town, hey it is a beautiful day in the smog.
Then it hit me, the map the f#beep#ing map. Yes we are armed with two good mobile phones with gps and google map. But where we are going in Wales I really don’t think there will be a good mobile cover.
So back I sprinted on my fully loaded touring bicycle. The Surly Long Haul Trucker ain’t the fastest of things unloaded so I was glad that I had a tail wind back to the flat. but that just ment that I had to battle the wind to the train staion. Yes it is not that windy today in London town but you do feel it much more fully loaded.
I managed to throw my bicycle on the train, no time to lock it up, and run to the first and best carrage before the train took off. So I’m now looking out the windows every time we stop.
Now that my heart rate has come down …

We are about to go on a small tour of Wales and England this weekend. Taking the train from London to Abergavenny in Wales where we will stay at Pen-y-Dre Farm the first night. Then up and over the Gospel Pass to Hay-on-Wye, then over to the very nice Fforest Fields campsite near Hundred House. Then over and down the Golden Valley to Goodrich to camp at the YHA there. Then via Newent to Gloucester around 102 miles over 3 days.
So the last few days I have been studying the maps for a route we could take. I got a 4 miles to 1 inch (2.5km to 1cm – 1:2500,000) map that covers the whole of Wales and it is pretty good. We used it with great success when we last where in Wales hunting for Dragons. While planning the route Google map is brilliant since you can plot a route and if you don’t like it you just click and drag the route to where you want to go.
Since Google Street View is now nearly all over the UK it is very easy to see if your route will take you somewhere that can be done on a …

Good news our dream is now so much closer that it is getting a bit scary. We have talked about going Australia and New Zealand for a while and this week we got the ok for taking some time off. So we are looking into flights – do we go with one or more stops, route – where the heck are we going and what is there to see and then there is the visas etc.
So we are heading down under in late September or early October for eight weeks of cycle touring. The plan at the moment is three or so weeks in Oz and the rest in NZ on the south island. In Australia we are planing to visit friends in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane just need to figure out in what order and what else to see. Then fly over to New Zealand where the cycle touring starts in ernest.
So we better get used to how they talk down there and this click from the mighty Monty Python’s is a good start me things :)

Any advice – on what to bring, where to go, what to see and of course what to EAT ! That last …

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 died. At least it was in Syria doing what she loved, what a way to go.
Anne did something that was and still is totally unheard off as woman (in some countries), she travelled the world on her own and on a bicycle. And remember when she did her trip the world wasn’t that much travelled as it is now. You couldn’t just pop into a shop write an email or call over VoIP and ask for money.
The book is a joy to read and it tells her journey around the world where she among other things follow the Romans, Alexander and the Pony express across the world. Great history lessons and reminder of what I have leaned in school but happily forgot over the years. While reading about her hardships and low moments, she still manage to put a smile on your face. The stories …

Last Tuesday I went and had a little meet up with other bicycle touring mad people, some clearly madder than me, just. Alastair Humphrey’s came up with the idea of a bicycle tourist meet up. We took over the top of the pub and had a good old natter, oh and a few beers was drunk.
It was great to meet Friedel of the travellingtwo.com fame, if you are thinking about jumping on your bicycle for a world tour or just a weekend away their website ain’t a bad place to start you read up.
Then I met David, tra-velo-gue.co.uk, who have done the around the world off road tour a few years back. David also told me about Vin Cox’s attempt on the world record around the world on a bicycle. You can follow Vin on his site, http://www.greatbikeride.com/, he is at the time of press (erm press of the button) cycling across India.
I also meet Justin from www.rolling-tales.com who with his partner Emma is just about to leave for their six month tour from Spain to Turkey and then more ?
I also managed to talk to Stephen Lord who wrote the The Adventure Cycle-touring Handbook, definitely the next book on …

Yesterday I had a grand day out with a handful of leather nuts to the Brooks saddle factory in Birmingham, UK. We were split into 2 groups and had a tour on the factory floor. Where we could see, hear and smell the production of these beautiful leather saddles. The whole production is done in true industrial style, e.g big and noisy with oil and steam (ok just added that last bit for effect).
I do have a weak spot for old industrial craftsmanship, ok CNC, robots are great but each has its place. The Brooks factory is any one’s dream to go and see, you can get right up and close to see, smell and hear how it is done and the craftsmen are happy to answer your questions.

You really get to get a feel of the craftsmanship and the hard work and skill they put into their saddles. We got to see every step of the way nearly from the raw metal to the finished product. And none of the steps is a computerised conveyor belt knocking out 1000 units an hour.
I had taken the old neglected Brooks saddles I got the other day with me. Our tour …

I was at a friends place today helping him out with some computer problems, as payment I got two rather knackered looking Brooks saddles. My friend have found them on dumped bicycles or on bicycles left outside to rot. He was thinking that he could use them for a wee bit of art work and have now painted them black. But then figured out after I said that I was looking for a new saddle that I might have some use for them if I could save them.
After a little clicking around on the Brooks website I think I figured out that they are a B66 and a Team Pro.
The B66, is the most knackered one, the steal railings looks ok with a bit of rust and dirt here and there. Though the leather is dead, looks very brittle and cracked up, therefore I don’t think the leather can be saved.
The Team Pro, looks like it can be revitalised if I can get the pain off without damaging the saddle. It does have some scrapes and looks a bit rough but I think some proofide would do some wonders. The tightening screw looks in a bit knackers but …

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 planning their own expedition.
So, if you think I can help you with anything you may be planning then do come along!
I will be on the top floor of the Iron Duke pub in Victoria station, London at 6.30pm on Tuesday March 9th until about 9pm.
Since I’m a self proclaimed pootling cycling tourist I will be there for sure, will you ?
LINK : Travelling two, London Meet-Up for Bike Tourists
LINK : Alastair Humphreys, Can I help you plan your expedition?

Today is the sad anniversary of the departure of Sheldon Brown two years ago.
I have never met Sheldon but I have heavily used his website and learned a lot from reading it. If I’m asked where is a good place to learn about bicycles and how to maintain a bicycle, I always send them to Sheldon Browns website.
We are all alive just so long as someone remembers us.
The above quote I totally agree with and I will use and will pass on Sheldon great work to others, thank you Sheldon.
LINK: Sheldon Brown