Mainly to carry my work stuff to and from and of course touring. I fondly called them “bags of evil” simply because you keep putting stuff in them, extra lock and a brick and some tools and a brick and extra layer as it might be cold tonight when going home and that brick you forgot, now did I take a lock might as well just put one in to be sure etc etc. And the pannier just takes it and you end up with all that stuff you don’t need to take.

Since I do carry heavy things in my panniers and rest my Surly Long Hall Trucker against the wall with pannier as the wall support I have already worn a hole in the pannier. Might resort to the classic repair job with some duct/gaffa tape to stop it wearing thin where it is rubbing.

For some reason the spacers or grippers (as Erin and Sam call them) are starting to fall out of the hooks, when taking the pannier of the racks.

Erin and Sam of “A honeymoon to remember” fame over on crazyguyonabicycle.com, are suffering the same problem as me. They have a brilliant review here about that problem and general use of the Ortliebs.

I would say that using it that heavily as Erin and Sam have done over the last 18 odd months. I can understand why something breaks down, though their problems started early on their tour. Peli is using her pannier as much as me and takes hers off more often than I do; don’t have the issue with the grippers. It is only one of the grippers on one of my panniers that keep dropping when taking the pannier with me.

I’m still thinking of a way to solve this problem, which Erin and Sam rightly states shouldn’t be there since you have paid good money for our Ortleib panniers. I have looked at ortliebs .de and .co.uk sites and neither of them have these grippers for sale, so I do need to find a way to secure them.

Super glue : Will only shake/brake lose after a few miles, I’m sure. Though that is the easy option atm since I got glue at hand. Will use this option until I come up with an permanent solution.
Cable ties : They will just stop the hooks and locking mechanism to work, so that option is out.
Dental flush or thin string : Will easily wear out and therefore replaced often. Which of course will break when you don’t have string or paying attention.
Heat : Heating the grippers up and expand them so that it sits more snug in the hooks. Though I got a funny felling that this will not work either.

Related posts:

1. Tubus Pannier Racks The Turbus racks are by the look and feel build...
2. Surly Long Haul Trucker (LHT), let the miles roll on and on and on … My review of the Surly LHT...
3. Ortleib Panniers Set Description: (From their site) With its classical lid closure...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

This book is written in the same way as A Bike Ride, very witty and page turning. You get into the book and just can’t get away, not that you are looking for a “whodunnit”. But because you are eager to learn what’s next – not only the touring tips and tricks, but also the history about the location she is touring through.

This book is not really a narrative from start to finish about her second trip around the world. It is split up into parts, each covering what you will encounter en route, such as where to stay, obtaining money and dealing with bureaucracy. One of my favourite chapters is “Men and Other Animals” where she spends a page or so talking about the problems with wild animals and the rest about men. :)

When we are touring we tend to avoid the metropolis and enjoy the countryside, but I still enjoy reading Anne’s books. Even though she states that “The country, abroad as in England, has less to offer and I try to avoid it … My cycling consists of a quick sprint from one city to the next.”
But because you are eager to learn what next not only the touring tips and tricks but also the history about the location she is touring through.

This book is not really a narrating story, from start to finish about her second trip around the world. It is split up in parts of what you will encounter as in where to stay, money and bureaucracy. One of my favourite chapters is “Men and Other Animals” where she spend a page or so talking about the problems with wild animals and the rest about men :)

Even though when we are touring we tend to avoid the metropolis and enjoy the country side. I still enjoy reading Anne’s books even though she states that “The country, abroad as in England, has less to offer and I try to avoid it … My cycling consists of a quick sprint from one city to the next.”

The other thing that gets me is that she ever eats much, well she does but her lunch is some dried fruits and nuts !!! We need a full square meal and pudding to get us up and over the Gospel Pass in Wales for example.

Rating:

Again a fantastic read and a must read for any potential cycle tourer. A real feel good book, if she can circumvent the world then that long weekend in Wales is nothing for us. The other thing that gets me is that she ever eats much. Well, she does, but her lunch is often some dried fruits and nuts !!! We need a full square meal and pudding to get us up and over the Gospel Pass in Wales for example.

Related posts:

1. Anne Mustoe: a remarkable woman I have never heard about Anne Mustoe until I was...
2. A bike ride by Anne Mustoe Anne tells a lie in her book A bike ride,...
3. Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne I have just finished Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne, and...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Description: (From ukcampsite) Evergreen Farm is set in beautiful scenery of fields and woodland close to the medieval town of East Grinstead. Evergreen Farm has 12 pitches each with an optional fire pit (wood provided) set in 10 acres of idyllic woodland incorporating a natural pond. Natural wildlife on the site includes deer and badgers.

Site visited: 14,15,16th of May 2010.

As seen on the blog: Light my fire.

Last minute booking and since we had already booked the train tickets we had to go with the site or else we didn’t have a place to sleep that weekend. Jane at Evergreen Farm was very nice and even when we missed our train and would arrive late we were told that that would be fine. She even called up to check if we could find our way ok.

We arrived around 21:30 and were greeted by Chris and big pig and a few dogs, who are only doing their job. Chris took us to our plot, where he had already left two deck chairs, portable table along with some firewood and water. We didn’t expect the chairs and table at all, thank you very much for that, it made sitting around the fire so much more enjoyable.

We had a wander around the farm and woodland and still think that our plot on the edge of the forest was the best, since we would be able to enjoy the sunset. Though the plots within the forest look well kept and you were never right on top of your neighbour. Within the forest there is a little lake and every plot had a fire pit.

The toilet at the moment was just one very swanky, clean compost toilet, at the top of the hill next to the car park. There are no showers or washing facilities. You parked the car and Jane or Chris would take your tent and gubbins down to your plot on their quad bike. So no car driving around the site to worry about.

I must say that the price was expensive (£48 for two nights and a bag of firewood) compared to other campsites we have stayed at where there are only basic toilets (usually about £10-15 a night for two people). But if you arrive by public transport or bicycle you get a discount, which is a great idea. Chris even gave one extra bag of firewood for free to use, which made this “little” boy happy, hours of fun sitting next to a fire poking the ambers with a stick.

Contact Site:

www : No website as of yet so here is there listings on ukcampsite.co.uk.
phone : 01342 327720

The campsite was great, thanks Jane and Chris. It was worth it for the swanky compost toilet, and the big pig called big pig, and geese, and baby chicks, and horses, and miniature ponies, and sheep, and dogs, and a cat called Parsnip.

Related posts:

1. Light my fire Last Thursday I was utterly knackered and couldn’t see beyond...
2. Campsite review of Fforest Fields Caravan & Camping Park, Fforest Farm, Hundred House, Builth Wells, Powys, LD1 5RT, Wales, UK Description: (From their site) Fforest Fields is a secluded seven...
3. Campsite review of Mellow Farm Adventure, Dockenfield, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4HH Description: (From their site) Mellow Farm is a small,...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Everyone who I knew who had tried out merino wool couldn’t stop talking about it. So since we where putting in an order at Ground Effects we got a Submerino and a Hot Toddy woman merino base layer.

True to woolly style it was itchy but not as bad as I remembered wool would be. But the itchiness quickly disappeared from wearing it and washing the tops.

The Submerino just fitted me without being to tight and the Hot Toddy fitted Peli too but the hoddie is a bit of pain. The hod just gets in the way when wearing something over the base layer.

Since I have worn the Submerino for nearly two years it was time to get a new one. Mainly because every time I find something that I love to use, the manufacture stops making it – see Ground Effect Draft Dodger among others.

The new Submerino base layer is so much better than Ground Effect old version, since it is pretty itchy free from the word go. The merino wool is just so much softer and I’m sure that it needs only to be washed once before it is gone. I don’t know if it is something to do with the lightwave merino they are using, can’t remember if it was used in the old model.

Talking about washing, this merino wool is just great for a touring cyclist you can easy skip a washing of the top or two (even more). And not worry about it smelling like the synthetic materials do after you have worn it once.

And it is great to wear while sleeping in your tent on a colder night, it will keep you nice and toasty. And will keep you warm if you need to do a call of nature in the middle of the night and it will warm you up fast when you call back into your sleeping bag.

Wearing this under my Ground Effect Draft Dodger I’m toasting down to fairly cold temperatures and true to form merino wool dries fast so again great for cycle touring.

Rating:

As I have said elsewhere, even with Ground Effect being on the other side of the world for us, the delivery is very fast. Though the first time we order from them the Pound Sterling was very strong against the New Zealand Dollar, so the order was value for money. Even with the strong $NZ our last order was well worth it.

LINK: Ground Effect

Related posts:

1. Ground Effect Draft Dodger The Draft Dodger is just great. I got the XL...
2. Ground Effect, Underdogs cycling shorts I don’t wear lycra but don’t mind some padding on...
3. dhb Wickham eVENT Waterproof Cycling Jacket 25 miles ride in solid drizzle with a heavy shower...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

This is where the Kiwi company called Ground Effect comes in with their Underdogs shorts liner. They are pretty much liners for their cycling shorts but can be used with other shorts.

I got a pair two or so years ago, which were very good. But compared to the new Underdogs the fabric was rough, a bit like sandpaper. The hem on the thighs left a mark even after wearing them for a short while. Though the pad was nice and comfy even on long and sweaty rides.

The new version is simply bliss, so soft to the touch compared to the old. Though still a bit rough compared to say lycra or cotton. The hems at top and bottom are firm which hold the legs to you but do not leave a mark.

And there is pad, oh boy, I was a bit worried when I saw the “wings” on each side of the pad as it was very big compared to the old pad. But they are soooo comfortable. The wings/sides just hug your inner thighs and along with my Brooks B17 I have the most comfortable ride yet. The Softail Pad – 3D anatomical shaping, multi-level foam, rapid drying, seamless synthetic ‘chamois’ pad with anti-bacterial finish – just holds me bits in place and I really doubt that I ever will get any “nappy rash” while on long hot rides.

The pad could be a little bit longer at the front, but otherwise these are the best padded shorts I have used.

Rating:

Even with Ground Effect being on the other side of the world for us, the delivery is very fast. Though the first time we ordered from them the Pound Sterling was very strong against the New Zealand Dollar, so the order was value for money. Even with the strong $NZ our last order was well worth it.

LINK: Ground Effect

Related posts:

1. Ground Effect, Submerino and Hot Toddy merino wool base layer Up to two years ago I never tried merino wool...
2. Ground Effect Draft Dodger The Draft Dodger is just great. I got the XL...
3. Keen Commuters vs Newport H2 My old Keen sandals needed updating. So I was looking...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

But unfortunately I could not find a shop here in London that had the Commuters in store. And if I wanted to try them on I had to get the shop to order a pair in at my cost*), which I wasn’t prepared to do. What if I didn’t fit them.

*) They would order in, if I don’t fit them they would send them back at a cost around 25% in some shops.

I then contacted Keen US, since at the time I couldn’t find a contact details for the European site. They were very helpful and got me in contact with their office in Rotterdam, who helped me to track down a pair on webtogs.co.uk who have a 60 days return policy, which is cheaper than what the high street shops would charge me.

I then put in an order for a pair of Keen Newport H2 and a pair of Keen Commuters, which arrived 2 days later.

Keen Newports H2: As with my old pair felt just like a glove at size 10.5UK. Nice and light shoe that just fits and “hugs” your foot. No sliding around, no rubbing just fits. The sole is nice and firm yet still soft, which my knees like. They really feel like they will last for a good while.

They have some sort of fabric a bit like wet suit / soft shell, called Hydrophobic quick dry mesh, which holds the sandals to your foot, so you really don’t need to use the straps while just walking around. They are nice and wide on your feet and don’t squeeze your toes in together, your toes has room to move and is well supported.

I can not recommend them highly enough they are right up there along with ECCO shoes and that is saying some for a Dane, trust me on that one.

Top: Keen Commuter, Bottom: Keen Newport H2, you can clearly see the width difference.

Keen Commuter: Are what I think the first attempt by Keen to make some cycling sandals, since I have never seen them before. Just by feel and look they are just like the Newport H2s build to last. With an extra stiff sole which is good for a pair of cycling shoes.

Since I could not try them on, I search the net for reviews about the Keen Commuter cycling shoe. All of them said that they were narrower than normal Keen sandals. So with a bit chatting around with Keen US and EU I settled with the size 11UK a half size bigger than my normal size.

The Keen Commuter size 11UK where nearly one inch longer than my foot but still narrower than my foot. I really don’t think that a size bigger would make the sandal any wider or wide enough. As soon as I walk in them e.g. putting weight on my foot/shoe my foot “falls” out over the sole of the shoe. Which made the sandal uncomfortable to wear, yes the fabric is bound to expand over time, but the sole is smaller than my foot which is not good.

I wonder why Keen have decided to make this sandal so narrow, when all the other sandals they make are so wide. If only the Keen Commuter was wide like the Newport H2 I’m sure that I would have loved to wear them. So unfortunately they have to go back to the shop and I will go and order some Lake I/O SDL since they lasted well for the year I had them (and they are nice and wide).

And is it just me who thinks that putting “waterproof” on a pair of sandals is a bit comical?

Rating:

Keen service and the quality of their sandals and the Newport H2 gets five oinks. They are that good and well worth the money. If only the Keen Commuter cycling sandals were wider I would own a pair for sure.

LINK: Keen sandals (opening soon a .eu site)
LINK: webtogs.co.uk

Related posts:

1. Keen Taos sandals My at least five years old Keen Taos (now called...
2. A final review of the Lake I/O SDL The Lake I/O have served me well for the last...
3. Lake I/O SDL I have now used these since May and love them....

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Both sandals have the crack but it is the left sandal that has the biggest crack. Probably because I clip in and out with that foot much more than the right on my daily commute.

I have used them throughout the winter with a pair of winter socks and some over shoes and they have been warm enough down to a -5c. The soles are much more insulating that the Shimano shoes I had the winter before, as I wasn’t frozen in them as I was when walking/standing on cold pavement as I was in the Shimano’s.

The only two gripes I have with the Lake I/O SDL sandals are:

- They are very warm, the material don’t breath that well. So in the summer I had to wear socks with them, well I’m in the UK so I fit right in :) Simply because you will sweat very easily in them and you will soon have a lake in your Lakes.

- The straps are very long and it is a bit of a hassle to tuck them in every time you wear the sandals, because if you don’t your chain and chain set will eat them faster than you can say, bon appetit.

Rating:

I would happily go back to these again, they felt comfortable from the word go and still are. Because of my job I do go through shoes fast and they get USED heavily in all weathers. I would give them four and a half to five oinks, five if they were more breathable.

LINK: Lake I/O SDL cycling sandals

Related posts:

1. Lake I/O SDL I have now used these since May and love them....
2. No lake, better check Google Earth In my dream last night I was getting someone to...
3. Remember my new shoes … … the Lake I/O SDL? They have now been tested...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

We went into PSM Outdoors in Hay On Wye where we had a great service and had a look at what they had. I didn’t want to spend a lot on a mat which I only had to use for 2 days.

So I settled for the Trekmates Mummy camper lite, which weights in at 900g and is 183cm by 51cm and 2cm thick. The mat rolled up is pretty much the same size at the Exped I got and is around 500 or so grams lighter. And also it is smaller than me, but I have become used to that there aren’t many beds that suit me at 194cm (6’4″).

It was very easy to roll out and pump up not that I had to do much since it did the most of that by itself. Since it had been rolled up for a while I let it lay for around 20min before I blew some air into it. Rolling it up and packing it up was very easy, just one roll, not like the Exped where I have to roll it up a few times to make sure that all the air is out.

It does feel nice to the touch and the quality is tip top too, I’m sure that it would last a while.

Sleeping on it now that is a different matter, since I have become used to the bed that is the Exped Downmat. It is not warm, just about kept the cold and damp ground at bay when I used it in early April. I’m sure that the temperature don’t have to be much lower before you can really feel the cold ground. If the ground was harder and more rocky then I wouldn’t have slept at all, the soft grass helped a lot. The Exped DownMat was warm to the touch where the Trekmates was cold. The only reason why I managed to sleep on it was that I was knackered after a day of fully loaded hilly cycling and had my Alpkit SKyeHigh Down sleeping bag to keep me warm.

Plus sides : It is light, easy to roll out and pack up and cheap.
Minus sides : It is not wide, thick or warm enough for me.

Rating:

I’m sure that the Trekmates Mummy camper lite would do it for some, but it is not good enough for me since I have become very used to the Exped DownMat. I’m very happy with the idea dragging the extra weight around on tour because I know I will have a good night sleep after a long day in the saddle.

LINK: Trekmates mat, Mummy camper lite

Related posts:

1. Exped DownMat 7Pump DLX, if only the Princess (and the pea) had this. Description: (From their site) Exped DonwnMats: super comfortable, infinitely...
2. Alpkit SkyeHigh 800 Sleeping bag, a hug in a bag :) Description: (From their site) A serious sleeping bag choice...
3. What I have learned while cycle touring This is a little list in no particular order of...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

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 that she tells about the people who she meet and the ones that she shared a meal with. No matter what you think the world is full of great and wonderful people and clearly a bicycle brings the best out of you.

If this middle age woman who was in her own words somewhat overweight and unfit, and without any idea of how to mend a puncture can cycle the world, you can cycle to the park and back.

The only gripe I have with this book is, why the heck isn’t the world any bigger! Because then this journey for Anne would have lasted longer and therefore more for us to read in her book.

Her other books are for sure on my to read list.

Rating

If I only could give this 6 or more oinks. Yes this book doesn’t go into the details about planing, what equipment to bring or what route to take from A to Z. But what it does it gives you an insight on what it is like out there alone touring and bucket load inspirations and lust do to more than a ride to Brighton one Sunday afternoon. I truly recommend this book even if you are not planing a tour of the world on a bicycle.

Link : Mrs Anne Mustoe
Link : Mrs Anne Mustoe – wiki

Related posts:

1. Anne Mustoe: a remarkable woman I have never heard about Anne Mustoe until I was...
2. Lone Traveller: One Woman, Two Wheels and the World After I read Anne’s book A Bike Ride, I just...
3. Bike Touring Basics: A Free eBook The TravellingTwo have just written a free eBook about the...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Four sided : The four sided design made them extremely easy to learn to use. Simple to clip in, no flipping the pedal around to be able to clip in, e.g. just put your foot down and you are clipped in. The four sided design also meant that if you walk around in your cycling shoes or get mud on the pedals, the mud will just fall right off and you still can clip in.

Look : the eggbeaters just looks way cool, great design and the feel of them is like something that will last long and can handle a beating.

Simple : Being new to the game of cycling clip less and cycling shoes, back then, they looked well simple compared to others. Didn’t have fancy screws here and there to adjust them. Which can be a problem for others, if you like to set your pedals up, but I was a beginner, so KISS (keep it simple stupid). There are two settings for clipping out, 15 and 20 deg angle, plenty of float which I read was good if you have knee problems. Which I have especially with my left knee, I only had to change of the angle of one cleat a bit to get it to work, well it was the first time I have ever put cleats on my shoes. In the four years I have cycled clip less I have never had any problems with my knees, so that is a win for the Crank Brothers pedals.

And on top of that, their website look very slick and the packaging the pedals come in felt and looked like this is a good investment.

I have two sets off candy C, because now and again I would like to be able to cycle with out clipping in, the candy’s makes that happen for short distances, which I need. I also got one set off eggbeater SC and a set of eggbeater C on my other bicycles, you can get by cycling with normal shoes on the eggbeaters but you can easily slip.

In the last 4 years I have used both the candy and eggbeaters I have gone trough two set of each. That last pair of candy’s I got just managed to clock up just under 3000 miles before they broke*). That is not very long compared to other pedals out there. Many of my cycling friends use SPD’s and do many more miles than I do before they need service or new pedals.

*) that is mainly commuting with one week long tour over the last 6 months. And definitely not been knocked or banged as they are on my new pride and joy, the Surly Long Haul Trucker.

I don’t do MTB’ing or drop my bicycle onto the road or push hard on my pedals I use the gears. Most of my cycling is commuting in London and the odd cycle tour. And therefore I would like my pedals to last quite a bit longer than 3000 miles before they break on me.

What breaks all the time is the ball bearings, the spring and “hooks” hold on much longer. Though I did break one “hook” on one eggbeater but that is probably linked to the massive pedal strike I had on my fixed a half year before. And with only 3 hooks and therefore only 2 sided the pedal lasted a few more months before the bearings went.

I contacted Crank Brothers last year when my last pair died, and their answer was …

As to your comments on not having to buy rebuild kits; Crank Brothers pedals are designed to be rebuildable as this will provide the longest lifespan of the pedals. Other brands may appear to last ‘forever’ but after they break they will need to be replaced as a complete unit. A simple regrease of the spindle every now and then will reduce bearing wear significantly and reduce the need to do a full rebuild.

Well my argument against this is the friends I know who got SPD’s or the like, pretty much fit and forget their pedals and get many more miles out of them before they even have to think about servicing them. I talked to a friend the other day and he told me that he had a set of TIME pedals which have been going for ten years without service.

I should have some left over bits from my last repair and should hopefully be able to fix the candy C’s. I also do hope that the eggbeaters SC I just got will clock up more miles than just 3000 miles before they fall apart.

I really don’t know if this is linked to the price I pay for them, as I can’t afford the high end titanium pedals that Crank Brothers produce and therefore have to go for the lower end pedals.

The worrying part is that while I was writing this up I checked out ,citycycling always a good read and .anth is top bloke too. In his post on the blog “second fall in as many weeks” he tells us why he came off. He have come of his bicycle the other day because his Crank Brothers (candy) spindle snapped. I’m lucky and haven’t come off any of my bicycle when the pedals have failed but .anth came off quite dramatically. Lucky it was only a scrape to the bicycle and his jacket, though it could have been much worse since it was in rush hour traffic. Sadly as he report no one stopped to ask if he was ok when he was laying on the road all tangled up in his bicycle.

I really don’t fancy splashing out for 3-4 set of new pedals and cleats for my shoes, but if the pedals from Crank Brothers still fall apart I have to. Because I don’t fancy a drop just like .anth because my pedals have failed and I have had four sets fail in the last four years, that is too much.

Raitings:
I would have loved to give Crank Brothers more but because of so many failing in the last four years I can’t. Though the easy of use, when they work, and their look still pulls the rating up. If you still want Crank Brothers do spend a lot of money on the pedals as I do hope that the top end last a longer than the low end pedals. Which I can’t afford to test out for you.

LINK : Crank Brothers

Related posts:

1. Shimano XT HollowTech II bottom bracket When I was reading up what to get when we...
2. A final review of the Lake I/O SDL The Lake I/O have served me well for the last...
3. A love letter to my bicycle You came into my life in the summer of ’95....

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.