Category: News
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MSR WhisperLite Universal Canister/Multi-Fuel Stove: Owner Review
Full disclosure: In 2012, Cascade Designs sent me a WhisperLite Universal for testing, review and feedback. As with all such arrangements, I reserve the right to write honestly. If a product is crap, I’ll tell you why. We are already spoilt for choice with camping stoves, but MSR have recently brought out a hybrid-fuel version of the classic Whisperlite, which burns propane-butane canister fuel as happily as the unleaded petrol/gasoline/benzine/diesel/kerosene/white gas we’ve come to rely on as cycle-tourists. This is interesting. Who is the MSR Whisperlite Universal for? Why would you want to burn canister fuel? It’s more expensive, the canisters… Continue reading →
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The Man Who Lived On His Bike [Video]
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/35927275[/vimeo] This isn’t exactly a cycle-touring video, but I love it nonetheless. It’s just a masterful demonstration of the creative breadth of short film. As a filmmaker still very much learning the craft, I’m awed by the passion for the concept and the skill of the execution in this 3‑minute piece. No fancy visual bollocks, just jaw-droppingly clever storytelling. Practice, I suppose, makes perfect. Chapeau! (There’s a making-of video for it too.) Feel free to post links to your favourite short films here, even if they’re not exactly cycle-touring related… Continue reading →
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Calling All Adventure-Loving Clubs & Societies From Gibraltar To The Urals
With six days left to go, the Kickstarter campaign is going from strength to strength. After the stressful two-year process of creating the book and the film, flying by the seat of our pants throughout, James and I are now in the slightly more comfortable position of being able stop and to look a little further ahead. Continue reading →
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The Best Cycle-Tour Planning Weekend In Existence Is 11 Days Off
Is it really that time again? Really? Continue reading →
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Why Crowdfunding Has The Power To Make Better Lives
Those who think crowdfunding is about money are missing the point. For the uninitiated, crowdfunding is — loosely — putting an idea on the table and politely asking the world if it would like to help make the idea a reality. If a project resonates, its needs are met through a culmination of small, individual contributions. And thus can it come to fruition. Continue reading →
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3 Journeys In Progress You Should Be Following
I dip in and out of a multitude of blogs these days, in between finishing up my book, writing my own blog and getting ready for Janapar’s release. But there are few which exude the sheer quality and craftsmanship to hold my attention long-term. Here are the best examples I know of in three traditional storytelling media: film, written word, and still image. Film: Brazil 9000 Aaron and Gareth are barely out of the starting blocks on their latest journey, but they’ve set the bar incredibly high with this professional-quality video intro. It alone beats most of the trash on Nat… Continue reading →
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Meetups: Plan Your Journey, And A One-Off Opportunity
In the spirit of sharing knowledge and stories and meeting up with like-minded people, I’ll be taking part in plenty of events over the next few months (hence the new calendar you’ll see in the sidebar of the site). Here are details of two during September: Continue reading →
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Schwalbe Marathon Supreme Touring Tyre Review
Full disclosure: Schwalbe gave me a pair of Marathon Supremes for my 2012 U.S. West Coast trip, asking for feedback and an honest write-up of the tyre in return. From the ashes of the much loved Schwalbe Marathon XR expedition tyre arose a phoenix. Or, more correctly, a number of phoenixes. Or perhaps phoeni. Anyway. The point is that Schwalbe now make no fewer than 10 varieties of touring tyre, instead of just two or three; each specialising in a particular kind of touring. Continue reading →
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Kona Sutra 2013 Touring Bike: First Look
Kona have just announced their bike line-up for the 2013 season. While I don’t usually post on product launches, Kona have supported my adventures for half a decade, and last week they reminded me why I’m glad to be working with them (aside from getting to ride their bikes for free). I wrote a detailed review of the 2012 Sutra touring bike after riding it from Vancouver to San Francisco in the spring. In the review, I pointed out a couple of big improvements I’d like to see made to this very capable long-term expedition tourer. Several other owners echoed these sentiments… Continue reading →
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Vaude Hogan Ultralight Review – 1–2P Tent for Cycle Touring
This review was extensively rewritten in August 2012 with more photos and additional information on long-term performance over four years of real-world use. My Vaude Hogan Ultralight 2‑man tent has performed almost flawlessly for four years of regular touring use between 2007 and 2011. The design is well suited to a solo cycle tourer or a very cosy couple, especially if you’re expecting harsh weather conditions. The tent does have a couple of minor drawbacks, which I’ll come to later. Continue reading →