Search found 238 matches

by khain
24 Aug 2017, 7:09pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Slovenia
Replies: 17
Views: 2456

Re: Slovenia

It's worth learning a few phrases of Slovenian but most people speak English well.

The roads are moderately busy and there aren't many side roads in most of the country. It's still a really nice place to cycle though. It's heavily forested so there aren't always great views but often the views are stunning.

In most towns and cities there are excellent cycle paths.
by khain
8 Jan 2017, 3:44pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Small blow up tents?
Replies: 37
Views: 2919

Re: Small blow up tents?

Gattonero wrote:
khain wrote:
Gattonero wrote:
What's the faff in sticking one end of the tent pole into the other one, especially when the shock-cord is keeping them together (and nearly makes them already snap-in together) :?: :?: :?:

You just leave yours lying on the ground then? I generally have to insert them into the flysheet.


Where's the big deal in inserting the poles in the flysheet? :roll:

I didn't say it was a big deal, though I have managed to break a pole when inserting them in the dark. If you like tent poles then I'm glad you're happy with them. I find them a minor nuisance but then I probably would find blowing up a tent even more of one.
by khain
8 Jan 2017, 12:05pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: How to travel the world with no money?
Replies: 32
Views: 4935

Re: How to travel the world with no money?

Vorpal wrote:This sort thing makes more sense if someone is actually working their way around, beginning with passage on a freight ship or something.

I agree with that and it would make a much more interesting article. I have heard of people doing it too. Unfortunately today's media allows little subtlety. The headline is all.

In the past I've thought of doing something like that myself, essentially becoming a nomad, but doing web stuff, casual work and maybe some busking. I've kind of gone off the idea now. I must say it never occurred to me to simply beg for food. The challenge should be how to earn enough while travelling to pay your way, not how to live off the generosity of others and simply ignore costs like flights and equipment.
by khain
8 Jan 2017, 11:54am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: How to travel the world with no money?
Replies: 32
Views: 4935

Re: How to travel the world with no money?

simonhill wrote:The pure joy of just travelling for yourself, without need for self promotion, sponsorship, blog following and all the other trappings of the modern celebrity culture is rarely reported by the media. Nonetheless, I am sure its what most of us here are about.

Pedal on!

Amen to that. I find the ever-more-extreme challenges people are doing just to get noticed quite tedious. Why does a cycle ride have to be an achievement? Why does everything have to be a competition? For me a large part of cycle touring is to get away from that mindset.
by khain
8 Jan 2017, 11:45am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Small blow up tents?
Replies: 37
Views: 2919

Re: Small blow up tents?

Gattonero wrote:
khain wrote:I doubt it would save much weight but might make putting the tent up easier, or maybe not since you'd need to blow it up. Presumably you just lay it out and pump it up. No faffing around with poles sounds quite attractive. I can't see it will be very solid though.


What's the faff in sticking one end of the tent pole into the other one, especially when the shock-cord is keeping them together (and nearly makes them already snap-in together) :?: :?: :?:

You just leave yours lying on the ground then? I generally have to insert them into the flysheet.
by khain
7 Jan 2017, 6:36pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: My Ortlieb Back-roller Classics failed me
Replies: 29
Views: 6358

Re: My Ortlieb Back-roller Classics failed me

The fact that people have had Ortliebs that lasted for decades means nothing if Ortlieb are cashing in on that reputation by lowering quality to increase profits.

I'm not saying they are doing that, just that the durability of products sold 10 years ago may not be the same as products sold now.
by khain
7 Jan 2017, 4:11pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Small blow up tents?
Replies: 37
Views: 2919

Re: Small blow up tents?

I doubt it would save much weight but might make putting the tent up easier, or maybe not since you'd need to blow it up. Presumably you just lay it out and pump it up. No faffing around with poles sounds quite attractive. I can't see it will be very solid though.
by khain
7 Jan 2017, 3:57pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: North Coast 500 next year...
Replies: 10
Views: 2268

Re: North Coast 500 next year...

kbrembo wrote:Living local I have captured some NC500 Highlights...enjoy your trip!

Isn't the idea here to do it on a bike rather than a helicopter?
by khain
7 Jan 2017, 3:54pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring Thailand
Replies: 13
Views: 1834

Re: Touring Thailand

Thanks for the info. I'm looking for somewhere to go this summer so Thailand is probably not the best place.
by khain
7 Jan 2017, 3:51pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: How to travel the world with no money?
Replies: 32
Views: 4935

Re: How to travel the world with no money?

A more practical suggestion is to write to and boycott her sponsors and give them hell on social media.

It's obscene that companies like Rab and Gore are sponsoring someone to go begging in places where most people could not dream of affording their products.

Also, despite what I said earlier, if you're touring in the developing world with camping gear, surely the cost of food and shelter would be pretty minor compared to flights, visas, insurance and equipment. It's ridiculous to claim this is 'travelling the world with no money'. It's a shame newspapers like the Guardian are reduced to this sort of clickbait headline. It does cycle tourists no good either.
by khain
7 Jan 2017, 12:30pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring Thailand
Replies: 13
Views: 1834

Re: Touring Thailand

What's the best time to go?
by khain
6 Jan 2017, 9:19pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: How to travel the world with no money?
Replies: 32
Views: 4935

Re: How to travel the world with no money?

Oh, I've no doubt she is isn't stupid and has a talent for self promotion. Perhaps buttock-orifice is the word I was looking for rather than idiot.

I say everyone on this forum turns up outside her house and asks for a meal and to camp in her garden, and film her reaction. Invite people from the countries she's travelled in too.

Fair's fair.
by khain
5 Jan 2017, 6:13pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: To cook or not to cook?
Replies: 37
Views: 3141

Re: To cook or not to cook?

I say not to cook.

While you can get fairly compact and light cooking stuff it does complicate things quite a lot and can be time consuming. If you're just going for a fairly short tour in developed countries it should be easy enough to find places to eat and drink.
by khain
5 Jan 2017, 6:09pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: How to travel the world with no money?
Replies: 32
Views: 4935

Re: How to travel the world with no money?

Interesting that the article provoked such negative comments.

Going to another country with no money, just for a life experience, is pretty selfish and stupid. And the crying girl talked about ultralight gear and goretex gloves so I didn't get the impression she was poor. She just seemed like a self-promoting idiot.

At the same time, we don't actually know that these people are all rich and privileged, which seemed to be a common source of criticism. They may be extremely poor and have saved for ages for the flight. The fact that Britain is a rich country doesn't mean that everyone in Britain is rich, nor that everyone living in poorer countries is poor.

Bikes can be acquired cheaply and the cost of a flight is much less than a month's rent in Britain. If you just take a tent and earn meals like one of the people in the article talks about, rather than begging, I don't see a problem. In fact, I think it's important that such opportunities exist, and that people take advantage of them, otherwise we're just rent and debt slaves, which in Britain we are fast becoming.
by khain
23 Dec 2016, 11:41pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Recommend me a head torch
Replies: 93
Views: 6277

Re: Head torches

I used to own a headtorch that looked just like one of those but under a different brand. I have a Petzl now. The Petzl is miles better - brighter, more settings, more reliable. I found the older one kept getting switched on by accident when in my bag and was bulky compared to the Petzl.

I wouldn't trust online reviews much these days. They're about as reliable as some random bloke on an internet forum. :D