Search found 45 matches

by vinyl_theif
27 Apr 2015, 5:11pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: A few photos from China
Replies: 14
Views: 2726

Re: A few photos from China

That's strange, my footer link works okay when I click it, it's at: http://www.wallisonwheels.net ,if the links not working just google wallisonwheels.net

There's a map at the bottom showing the route I've rode. Although arriving in Singapore today I'm a few countries behind in my writing so will continue to publish when I'm back in blighty.

The crossing into Singapore was over what people called the 'causeway' but is basically a low bridge with an adjacent rail line.
by vinyl_theif
27 Apr 2015, 1:39am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Back on the bike pre tour
Replies: 1
Views: 1759

Re: Back on the bike pre tour

Pre-tour excitement, it sounds like a great tour. I cycled across the U.S. on Route 66 and loved every moment of it, hopefully your tour will be just as much fun. :)
by vinyl_theif
26 Apr 2015, 11:00am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: A few photos from China
Replies: 14
Views: 2726

Re: A few photos from China

mercalia wrote:very nice and u are just wandering around China with out any hindrance?


Sure, it was no different to cycling around any European country, just once we were pestered by the police for ID in one of the Xing Xang cities, apart from that we were left to our own. (I rode the Kashgar to Lanzhou with two Manchester lads)

Sooper8 wrote:Great photo's and I love the way they are presented. What did you take them with and what is that frame technique/software/app?
ps. did you tweak the colours?


I use PhotoScape on my Windows XP Asus (a free download) for the border - styles, width, colour, etc can all be customised, it’s a doddle, personally I dislike 90’ sharp edges (so un-natural!) and feel the curves make them more presentable…a bit like a lady! :D I also reduce the file size from ~ 4.5 MByte to about 500 Kbyte.
I never tweak any colours, I’m a bit of a purist in that sense although I do use a polarising lens, just occasionally I’d lighten a photo up if too dark using Google’s Picasa.

simonhill wrote:Nice photos. I loved touring in China, a wonderful place to ride.

A few labels on where the photos are would be useful, China is a large country.


I agree but I take so many pictures and as writing a blog-post takes about two days I can’t really warrant any more time at the P.C., so they’re kind-of summarised where they are from what section I’ve wrote about...albeit big sections they may be!!

I’ve recently wrote about Laos with plenty of good photos…at least I hope you’ll agree!

Tomorrow is a big day of my tour…I cross the bridge to SINGAPORE!! :P
by vinyl_theif
23 Apr 2015, 1:01pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: A few photos from China
Replies: 14
Views: 2726

A few photos from China

Here's a few photos from the Chinese section of my present tour.

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And here's a couple of stitched panoramic's:

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by vinyl_theif
27 Dec 2014, 6:34am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Kyrgyzstan blog-post
Replies: 1
Views: 1148

Kyrgyzstan blog-post

"Within seconds a snow storm had blown in, a strong gusty wind buffeting the tent and every so often ‘whoosh’ as a build up of hail / snow slides down the tent, this continues on and off through the night whilst I lay awake, worrying about how deep the snow would get, few people new where we were, and only the ‘Lada lads’ had seen us on the trail, would it be too deep to even take the bike back down?"

A snippet from my latest blog-post "Kyrgyzstan", enjoy! :)

http://www.wallisonwheels.net
by vinyl_theif
25 Dec 2014, 1:48am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: A few photo's from Kyrgyzstan
Replies: 8
Views: 1774

Re: A few photo's from Kyrgyzstan

matt2matt2002 wrote:Great pictures.
I hope to do the Pamir Highway next summer.
Any tips?
Any blog I can read on your trip?
Thanks
Matt


Hi Matt and a merry chrimbo.

I backed out from riding the Pamir due to time of year, my next blog-post explains all - it’s at http://www.wallisonwheels.net. I’ll certainly return there for a 2-3 week trip in 2016 but with suspension forks fitted on my bike.

(I’m presently in Vientian, Laos capital. Due to visa time constraint through China I’m now a country behind my normal writing so presently drafting the post about Kyrgyzstan, should be ready in a day or two – enjoy.


Graham wrote:Impressive !

PS. Is Sary Tash as bad as others report it to be ??


I called it Scary Trash, It’s hardly the place for a pub-crawl or honey moon as there’s little there, just a ram-shackle of homes and tin sheds! but the surrounding scenery is obviously awesome, I waited a day there for the Chinese borders to re-open as they’d been closed for 9 days so was rather lucky timing for me.
by vinyl_theif
22 Dec 2014, 3:07pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: A few photo's from Kyrgyzstan
Replies: 8
Views: 1774

A few photo's from Kyrgyzstan

I've been wanting to post these photo's for a while but as Google accounts (where I store my photo's) was not accessible in China I've had to wait. Kyrgyzstan was an amazing country with awesome scenery, It was a bit too late (for myself) to ride the Pamir Highway though but nevertheless I thoroughly enjoyed the route I took.

My highest pass (to that date)
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A happy customer.
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An awesome view.
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Nearing the town of Sary Tash (check the mountains in the back-ground)
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The three "Manchester to Oz" lads and I.
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by vinyl_theif
23 Aug 2014, 8:10pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Ten Bike Touring Convoy!
Replies: 9
Views: 2006

Re: Ten Bike Touring Convoy!

Jamesjohnson wrote:I'm right on your tail! Trying to catch up with the Manchester Lads.

Completed the 2025m two days ago and today I got to Tbilisi. That road was HORRENDOUS!!


Hi James. Yer that pass was the worst 'road' I've ever been on (and I've cycled to Cape Town!!). We've had a good laugh with the Manchester 3, they take the ferry tomorrow over the Caspian sea, while us other three await our Uzbekistan visa, recent changes within Kazakhstan means Brits & 9 other countries are visa free..yee bloody ha!! Maybe we'll meet up.

mark :D
by vinyl_theif
16 Aug 2014, 6:05pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Ten Bike Touring Convoy!
Replies: 9
Views: 2006

Ten Bike Touring Convoy!

Georgia’s Batumi was most definitely the place to meet other tourers!

Cycling along the beachfront from where I free-camped I’m whistled at by Holy + David, they’re cycling from England to Oz, whom in Turkey ‘picked up’ Tom, a Lithuanian cyclist on a two-year five continent tour, later we’re joined by Jose’, a Spanish who had previously met Tom - he's heading for Malaysia, then a few days later at the hostel we meet three Manchester lads, also cycling to Oz. Heading the same way we decide to ride out together, and on the second day out we met Marcal + Ingris, a Dutch couple presently in the third year of their tour, travelling in whichever direction they choose each day.

Here's the ten of us on a bridge making our way up the (extremely rough) Goderdzi 2025 metre pass.

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by vinyl_theif
8 Jun 2014, 10:00am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Your next tour Georgia (the country)
Replies: 12
Views: 8759

Re: Your next tour Georgia (the country)

cyclingnomad wrote:We have just cycled through Georgia ....


Hi. I'll also heard great things about. I'll effectively be following your route after the recent changes to Brits entering Iran. I'm presently in Budapest and head for Istanbul next, who knows, maybe we'll meet up!

Safe journey!
mark.
by vinyl_theif
8 Jun 2014, 9:30am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Who uses a mirror?
Replies: 20
Views: 7726

Re: Who uses a mirror?

The 'Blackburn' in my first photo, attaches with Velcro straps, L / R mountable, and has a ball/socket joint to position exactly as required, and is a descent sized mirror....I bet once you fit it you'll feel lost without it.
by vinyl_theif
7 Jun 2014, 5:31pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: bike tour companies in europe
Replies: 4
Views: 5488

Re: bike tour companies in europe

If you're wanting a 'self guided' tour why use a company to arrange it? Cycling in Czech, Slovakia and Austria is relatively simple. A good selection of campsites, guest houses, supermarkets (Lidl, Aldi, Penny Market). If I can be of further assitance I'd be glad to answer your questions, just message me.

Toby's hostel in Prague makes a good, well priced, free unlimited coffee (!!) starting point. :P

mark.
by vinyl_theif
7 Jun 2014, 5:26pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)
Replies: 69
Views: 30202

Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Thanks BeeKeeper, I also publish a duplicate copy of my blog on CGOAB and had seen these two a while back. They acquired their visa's just before the political situation changed for us Brits (and Canadians) earlier this year.
I'll just keep Iran & Pakistan on my 'to-do' list for another time...along with all the other places!!

mark.
by vinyl_theif
7 Jun 2014, 4:43pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Washing a tent inner
Replies: 15
Views: 10690

Re: Washing a tent inner

When my tent has been damp / wet in the morning I wait until my early afternoon lunch on a quiet field / park and lay the tent outer (and sometimes inner) to dry, takes 10 minutes when it's hot, so how about on the morning you intend to depart Hamburg simply clean it in the shower/bath with luke warm water and mild soap, packing it away wet, then dry it later in the day when out of the city along one of the inevitable cycle routes?

mark.
by vinyl_theif
7 Jun 2014, 12:12pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Who uses a mirror?
Replies: 20
Views: 7726

Who uses a mirror?

For safety reasons and peace of mind I've always rode with one.
Initially I had used the Blackburn bar end type, but when cruising along out of town I found it hindered my comfort as was just slightly in the place where my palm rests, on the top corner of my bars. One advantage of this mirror being it can be mounted either side. (It's shown mounted on the R.H side just for the purpose of this forum post photo)
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Wanting to remove this comfort annoyance on this years tour I bought an old school (almost moped?) style mirror. Initially a reluctant change as the mirror has a slightly different concave surface so the reflection was slightly different, but have since come to prefer it now it's mounted out the way from my hands. I fitted two additional washers on the top-nut so it wouldn't chew up the plastic bar-clamp, and enables it to be turned inward slightly if required (when going through occasional doors) or even reducing chances of damage if it gets knocked.
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I know many prefer riding with a helmet and - although maybe not true in all circumstances - I feel prevention is better than cure. So who else uses a mirror?