Month: January 2009


  • My Conscience-Free Kebab in Aleppo

    A while back I posted on the merits of vegetarianism. While not becoming a strict veggie, I decided that drastically cutting down my meat intake was probably a good thing, having the bonus effect of making occasional meaty treats more enjoyable. I said I was looking forward to eating a kebab for 50 pence without […] Continue reading →

  • Hitching from England to Istanbul

    Facebook has managed to almost entirely replace email as a form of electronic communication amongst friends. While I dislike the immense waste of human energy that is poured into it, I decided to use it to conduct a small experiment. I would allow my Facebook friends one chance to directly affect my life in the […] Continue reading →

  • Ride Earth 2009 Charity Calendar

    It’s a couple of weeks into January, so it’s likely you’re thinking about getting round buying yourself a calendar for 2009. If you like your calendars to be visually appealing, you could do far worse than stumping up £12.95 for our Ride Earth charity calendar. Produced and delivered by Red Bubble, all of the profit we […] Continue reading →

  • Magura Louise Hydraulic Disc Brake Review

    Disc-brake technology for mountain-bikes has progressed at lightning speed in the last few years. Based on long-standing concepts originating from motorbike technology, disc-brakes have traditionally suffered from complex set-up and maintenance procedures, and reliability issues. It’s just not as simple as a piece of wire attached to a caliper. It’s messy and expensive. People get […] Continue reading →

  • Magura Odur 100mm Front Suspension Touring Fork Review

    Choosing suspension forks for cycle touring usually involves a preliminary question — should I use forks at all? The answer, as usual, depends on where you want to go on your fully-loaded bike. A tour on good quality asphalt doesn’t call for the control, comfort and arm/hand protection offered by a good pair of suspension forks. […] Continue reading →

  • Is Hitchhiking Still Viable?

    I am committed to avoiding flying for tourism. Commercial air travel has been in existence for less than a hundred years. There must be another way. This probably meant that there were far fewer travellers, of course, but it probably also meant that those who did partake of long-term, long-distance voyages gained an intimate knowledge […] Continue reading →

  • My New Year’s Resolutions

    To ride my planned route with renewed purpose and enthusiasm, using the knowledge that Tenny, my girlfriend, is awaiting my return to guide me when the going gets tough. To return to Iran with less doubt, more experience, and a fresh outlook on the world and my future, friends and family. To live every day like […] Continue reading →