Tom's Bike Trip
  • Blog
    • Latest
    • Touring Help & Advice
    • Inspiration & Motivation
    • Tales From The Road
    • Philosophy Of Travel
  • Advice
  • Bikes
    • Current Bikes
    • Past Bikes
    • What’s The Best Touring Bike?
    • Best Sub-£1,000 Touring Bikes
    • List Of Expedition-Grade Touring Bikes
    • How To Build An Expedition Bike (With Pictures)
  • Kit List
  • eBook
  • Janapar
  • More
    • F.A.Q.
    • About Me
    • Bike Trips
    • Contact

MSR-Hubba-Hubba-Fly-and-Footprint_l

January 20, 2014 By Tom Allen

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Hi! I’m Tom.

Profile picture thumbnailSince 2006, I have...

  • Cycled in 50+ countries,
  • Pedalled 20,000+ km, and
  • Published over half a million words on this blog to help you get started with cycle touring & bikepacking.

Complete beginner? Start with the absolutely massive advice & planning page, or perhaps the Kindle ebook. Otherwise, feel free to have a good old browse. Welcome!

Join The Community

I send out a monthly(-ish) newsletter with the best bits from my adventure cycle-touring blog, as well as the latest about what I’m working on.



I’ll never spam you, and you can leave any time.

Let’s Do Social Media!

What’s your New Year’s Resolution? Mine is to What’s your New Year’s Resolution? Mine is to give up flying for (at least) the next 365 days. As a professional explorer and travel writer with family on four continents, my life and work seems inextricable from air travel, so a pledge to join the #flightfree2020 campaign is far from trivial. I'll be blogging about this challenge throughout the year, recounting the impact of staying grounded on someone who has dedicated their life to evangelising adventure and exploration. Is it possible? Is it sustainable? And is it actually necessary? Let’s find out! #tw
Biking in England, Mongolia and Egypt, ski mountai Biking in England, Mongolia and Egypt, ski mountaineering in Armenia, trailbuilding in Georgia, hiking in Iraq and Iran... says it all, really. A vintage year just gone, and another on the horizon. Happy New Year! #bestnine2019 #2019bestnine
Merry Christmas! Always time for a river swim... # Merry Christmas! Always time for a river swim... #unflatteringangles
I'm best known for cycling alone on unknown roads I'm best known for cycling alone on unknown roads for vast amounts of time. This year I went on a ride that flipped this on its head. Link in bio to read about my 5 Unexpected Lessons From Bikepacking The Length Of Armenia...
Another brand new hiking map of #Armenia is coming Another brand new hiking map of #Armenia is coming soon, featuring the #TranscaucasianTrail across Vayots Dzor and funded by @hike_armenia! This is the only copy of the finished product in existence right now, but I'll be on the shelves early next year. Another great success for @alemambelli.earth and @cartisanorg. Many more to come!
Instagram post 2190445949062852221_190458853 Instagram post 2190445949062852221_190458853
Final day in Iraq for this visit. The sights, smel Final day in Iraq for this visit. The sights, smells and tastes of modern-day downtown Erbil with some scattered history mixed in. A challenging, eye-opening trip, and one that's only stoked my curiosity for more. @abrahampath #kurdistan #kurdistan🇹🇯 #iraq
The final leg of this thru-hike took us through to The final leg of this thru-hike took us through to Choman, at the centre of what I can only describe as an undiscovered mountainous wonderland on the Iran-Iraq border. These are a few images from the trail that took us there. I have a strong feeling I'll be coming back here in the not too distant future. @abrahampath #kurdistan #nfbtm
Hiking today in the stunning valleys upstream of D Hiking today in the stunning valleys upstream of Dargala towards the peaks of Karokh and Hendrin. I spotted a church on the Soviet military mapping of the area but we only found a couple of gravestones. @abrahampath @leonmccarron @laweenmhamad #nfbtm #kurdistan
Follow me on Instagram
Tweets by tom_r_allen

New To Cycle Touring?

The TomsBikeTrip.com Guide to Adventure Cycle Touring

Get everything you need to know to plan your first big bike trip in a single digital guide.

Find out more →

Watch The Movie

Janapar: Love on a Bike — the award-winning documentary

The award-winning film of a truly epic four-year bike trip (with bonus love-story).

Watch the trailer →

Suggested Retailers*

I tend to order bike parts from:

Chain Reaction Cycles
Wiggle Online Store
Evans Cycles

And camping/outdoor gear from:

Gear for climbing, mountaineering and outdoor sports - buy online at Alpinetrek.co.uk
Sport Pursuit

Learning Resources

Cooking on tour can be way better than instant noodles:

Bike. Camp. Cook.

Adapt your career to make a full-time living while you travel (I did):

The Unconventional Guide To Working On The Road

Learn languages fast, while riding or before you hit the road:

Join the Language Hacking League for free

Search The Blog

Footer Banner

* What does this mean?

Buying via affiliate links helps me keep my content 100% free. I'm upfront about this. Find out more.

Most Popular This Month

  1. What’s The Best Touring Bike? (2020 Edition)
  2. What’s The Best Tent For Cycle Touring & Bikepacking? (2020 Edition)
  3. How To Wild Camp Anywhere For Free And Not Get Busted
  4. How To Build The Ultimate Round-The-World Expedition Touring Bike (With Pictures)
  5. Do You Really Need Ortliebs? A Complete Guide To Panniers For Cycle Tours & Expeditions
  6. 27 Incredibly Useful Free Apps For Cycle Touring & Bikepacking In 2019
  7. What’s Really The Difference Between Bikepacking & Cycle Touring?
  8. The Best Sub-£1,000 Touring Bikes for Low-Budget Bicycle Adventures in 2019
  9. Is Komoot The Most Powerful Route Planning App A Cycle Tourist Could Wish For?
  10. About The Time I Upcycled A Vintage Hardtail For Bikepacking & Rode It Across Armenia

Search my blog

Blog Archive 2006-present

  • January 2020 (3)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • November 2019 (1)
  • October 2019 (1)
  • September 2019 (3)
  • August 2019 (1)
  • June 2019 (2)
  • May 2019 (1)
  • February 2019 (3)
  • January 2019 (6)
  • December 2018 (1)
  • June 2018 (2)
  • May 2018 (1)
  • April 2018 (5)
  • March 2018 (3)
  • February 2018 (2)
  • January 2018 (2)
  • May 2017 (2)
  • April 2017 (1)
  • March 2017 (5)
  • January 2017 (12)
  • December 2016 (1)
  • October 2016 (1)
  • April 2016 (3)
  • March 2016 (1)
  • February 2016 (3)
  • January 2016 (4)
  • December 2015 (23)
  • November 2015 (19)
  • October 2015 (9)
  • September 2015 (4)
  • August 2015 (4)
  • July 2015 (4)
  • June 2015 (1)
  • May 2015 (3)
  • April 2015 (3)
  • March 2015 (4)
  • February 2015 (10)
  • January 2015 (4)
  • November 2014 (4)
  • October 2014 (2)
  • September 2014 (10)
  • August 2014 (5)
  • July 2014 (7)
  • June 2014 (5)
  • May 2014 (6)
  • April 2014 (10)
  • March 2014 (1)
  • February 2014 (1)
  • January 2014 (6)
  • December 2013 (8)
  • November 2013 (10)
  • October 2013 (10)
  • September 2013 (4)
  • August 2013 (2)
  • July 2013 (3)
  • June 2013 (6)
  • May 2013 (8)
  • April 2013 (2)
  • March 2013 (3)
  • February 2013 (6)
  • January 2013 (10)
  • December 2012 (5)
  • November 2012 (6)
  • October 2012 (6)
  • September 2012 (6)
  • August 2012 (8)
  • July 2012 (3)
  • June 2012 (6)
  • May 2012 (7)
  • April 2012 (6)
  • March 2012 (2)
  • February 2012 (3)
  • January 2012 (7)
  • December 2011 (7)
  • November 2011 (5)
  • October 2011 (5)
  • September 2011 (10)
  • August 2011 (8)
  • July 2011 (6)
  • June 2011 (8)
  • May 2011 (7)
  • April 2011 (9)
  • March 2011 (8)
  • February 2011 (26)
  • January 2011 (8)
  • December 2010 (5)
  • November 2010 (3)
  • October 2010 (3)
  • September 2010 (4)
  • August 2010 (7)
  • July 2010 (6)
  • June 2010 (3)
  • May 2010 (5)
  • April 2010 (6)
  • March 2010 (2)
  • January 2010 (1)
  • December 2009 (6)
  • November 2009 (3)
  • October 2009 (5)
  • September 2009 (4)
  • August 2009 (3)
  • July 2009 (4)
  • June 2009 (4)
  • May 2009 (4)
  • April 2009 (4)
  • March 2009 (3)
  • February 2009 (2)
  • January 2009 (7)
  • December 2008 (1)
  • November 2008 (1)
  • October 2008 (2)
  • September 2008 (2)
  • August 2008 (1)
  • July 2008 (2)
  • June 2008 (2)
  • May 2008 (1)
  • April 2008 (3)
  • March 2008 (1)
  • February 2008 (2)
  • January 2008 (8)
  • December 2007 (2)
  • November 2007 (3)
  • October 2007 (1)
  • September 2007 (1)
  • August 2007 (3)
  • July 2007 (1)
  • June 2007 (2)
  • May 2007 (2)
  • March 2007 (1)
  • November 2006 (2)

Blog Topics

  • Articles & Essays (135)
    • Adventure Lifestyle (2)
    • Guest Posts (15)
    • Inspiration (18)
    • Interviews (6)
    • Just For Fun (7)
    • Personal Updates (49)
    • Philosophy Of Travel (53)
    • Rants (4)
  • Big Adventures (201)
    • #freeLEJOG 2014 (12)
    • Armenia 2018 (2)
    • Bikepacking Armenia 2019 (7)
    • Bikepacking Southern Iran 2016 (12)
    • Europe & The Near East 2007 (31)
    • Europe Again 2010 (8)
    • Farsi In A Year 2013 (8)
    • Iran 2014 (10)
    • Middle East & Africa 2009 (29)
    • Mongolia 2010 (16)
    • Rio Santa Cruz 2014 (1)
    • Scandinavia 2011 (38)
    • Scotland Off-Road 2006 (1)
    • Thailand 2018 (2)
    • The Caucasus & Iran 2008 (9)
    • U.S. West Coast 2012 (16)
  • Creative Projects (178)
    • Audio & Podcasts (4)
    • Books (12)
    • Craft & DIY (5)
    • Films (35)
    • Gear Pool (1)
    • Guides (2)
    • Janapar (104)
      • Book Serialisation (45)
      • The Book (22)
      • The Film (40)
    • Janapar Grant (4)
    • Photography (21)
    • Websites (5)
  • Learning (10)
    • Books & Reading (10)
  • Microadventures (18)
  • News (109)
    • Charlie (3)
    • Gear Reviews (32)
    • Other People's Adventures (32)
    • Product Launches (19)
    • Upcoming Events (16)
  • Touring Advice (116)
    • Bikes (29)
    • Blogging (1)
    • Budgeting & Finance (16)
    • Country Guides (7)
    • Equipment (45)
    • On The Road (12)
    • Planning & Logistics (22)
    • Technology (7)
    • Touring Bike FAQ (8)
  • Uncategorised (2)

© 2020 Tom’s Bike Trip