TOUR.TK cycling adventures: equipment we use during our travels

BIKE TOURING EQUIPMENT & REVIEWS : CAMPING, COOKING AND CLOTHING

Packing up your entire home into a few pannier bags, strapping it all to the bike and embarking on the eternal path of world cycle touring takes quite a bit of planning. Even then, the real proof comes when you are actually on the road. Certainly, not all equipment is what they say it is, but then again sometimes you are pleasantly surprised. Any equipment that has a dual role in your traveling and camping lifestyle, normally gets to stay. On the next pages you will find reviews of some of the important, and not so important possessions, we took along for our world cycling tour. We review them as we go, so these pages are continually updated. If you would like to know more about bike and camping equipment, clothing, tools or travel electronic gear, then feel free to send us an e-mail. We'd love to hear from you.

page number 1: everything about our bicycles
page number 2: camping and bedroom (you are here)
page number 3: all about electronics and solar power
page number 4: pack list (our original pack list has changed somewhat. If you are curious, take a look)
page number 5: questions and answers

OUR CAMPING HOME AND BEDROOM

Helsport Isfjell 2 Tent
Our house on the road is the super-light-weight Isfjell 2 Camp from Helsport. It is big enough to fit two, plus all the luggage and (while we're not in it) the bikes as well, though we are yet to see how this actually goes. It is a decent size at 430cm x 155cm x 105cm (l-w-h), whereas the weight including pegs etc, is a measly 3.7 kilograms! Made from Helsport superlight® Polyamide ripstop silicone elastomer (65 g/m2) and including snowflaps, it's size in the compression bag is roughly 37 cm long.

Note: Helsport does not produce the Isfjell 2 anymore, but the Fjellheimen X-Trem is it's successor and very similar

Firstly, we love our Helsport tent and for many reasons:
+ colour is great as you are always hidden when wild camping
+ strength and durability is second to none
+ lightweight, bundles up small and dries ever so quickly
+ erecting is simple and really quick, once you get the hang of it (we keep the inner tent attached nearly the whole time). Since the tent has the poles on the outer fly, there's no getting the inside wet if raining before putting the fly over: we only consider these types of tents for the traveling we do. It is a big bonus
+ it has handled the most extreme conditions from blizzard snow storms, torrential rain to hurricane winds. We've had all the guy ropes on the tent once only and it was as sturdy as a rock, while most of the other tents where collapsed or had their owners lying on them to stop them from blowing away.
+ the big vestibule at the front is fabulous for storing all the Ortlieb bags (for two people) and cooking stuff
+ the snow flaps are well designed and so sturdy we have used them while camping on concrete and using stones to secure the tent down: has worked perfectly every time (even in a bit of wind)
+ Customer service cannot be faulted. Helsport will replace anything faulty free of charge and send it to wherever you want in the world. We are still getting gear from them: zips and poles, even though our warranty has run out. Their standard guarantee lasts five years and they will keep replacement parts in stock for ten.
+ and the best part, it is still going strong after 7 years (450+ days of camping)

Now the down points, and there are only a few:
- we've had to silicon the stitching up in a few places, where there's a lot of stress, but this has worked fine
- the tent isn't really suitable for very hot weather (+20° C in the night)
- airflow in hot temperatures is not good (though likely for most tunnel tents)
- we have gone through 14 odd poles, which is on average one per month of camping.They don't hold up well in (again) extreme hot weather conditions. But as I said, Helsport have sent us replacements free of cost up till now.

Sleeping Bags
Aaldrik received a present for his 36th birthday, that being a Helsport Dovre sleeping bag. Size is approx. 80 x 220 cm. Weight including compression bag; 1.3 kg. Temperature range Extreme -10ºC/ comfort -2ºC. Made from Airtex, Polyamide microfibre with Helsport no-slide, Polyester/Tactel on the outside and Airtex, polyamide microfibre on the inside. Filling Thermoguard 4000 (900 gr.) Son is still sleeping (like a log) in her Marmot sleeping bag completely filled with goose down. Somewhat heavier than Ali's but very small to pack and nice and warm.

We think the temperature guides mentioned on our sleeping bags are a bit dubious as when sleeping in -°C, the bags haven't kept us warm and we have needed our clothes and sleeping bag liners too. It is a good thing that we don't make a habit of that. But for an all year / all season sleeping bag, these will do. After 15 years though, and with two and half of them being pretty constant use, the down in Sonya's Marmot sleeping bag needs refilling.

Helsport Dovre Synthetic Fill Sleeping Bag
+ easy to clean and dry; lightweight; built in hood keeps you snug in cold conditions; still performs even if wet or damp; quality stitching and fabrics; durable.
- not warm enough in any below zero °C temperature.
Marmot Goose Down Sleeping Bag
+ Goretex shell; very, very warm and comfortable; excellent quality zippers and stitching; feet opening feature; packs up really small; lasts forever; can refill the down if you like.
- difficult to clean and dry; becomes and remains damp easily in humid conditions.

Compression Sacks
We both have a compression bag for each of our sleeping bags, so they don't take up too much space either. One is from Helsport and the other is from Ajungilak.

The Helsport compression sack is very strong and still looks great, though it doesn't compress as well, due to the bulkier fabric. The Ajungilak one on the other hand is now starting to come apart at the seams and is not at all waterproof. It does compress the sleeping bag really well and considering it was cheap at under €10, it has done well.

Most of the well known brands on the market such as Hydroseal, Granite Gear and Sea to Summit make good quality compression sacks. They are a definite must for any traveller really and it all depends on whether you want them waterproof or not as to how much you will have to pay.

Helsport Compression Sack
+ very sturdy; shows no signs of wear and tear after 31 months of constant use
- doesn't compress as well nor as evenly as some other brands; bulkier form
Ajungilak Compression Sack
+ lightweight; compresses really well; inexpensive
- need to be replaced after two years of constant use

Silk Liners
We also bought two Black Bear silk sleeping bag liners for sleeping in when the weather gets warm or simply as an extra layer when it's cold. We are glad we did:

Silk liners are great: when it is cold, they are just like putting another layer on and when its hot, its nice just to have something to cover over you. We bought the Black Bear brand because they were the lightest we could find at the time and they were made of silk. Again there are lots of good quality, lightweight, silk sleeping bag liners out there on the market. Take a look at Sea to Summit or the Silk Sleeping range for a start. One thing we would change this time round is the colour. Get something dark and steer away from white.

The Travel Hammock Silk Sleep Sack is a versatile option as well if you like to have something light to cover you when you are staying in hostels and not in your tent.

+ keeps you warm in the cold and cool in the warmth; light weight and stuffs in anywhere
- extra thing to carry and you don't use it everyday; can be expensive

Mattresses
To sleep on: An Ultra Lite and Pro Lite Therm-a-Rest mattress, 680/550 gr. respectively (swapped for a Thermarest Pro Lite W for women in Bordeaux and another Pro Lite in Barcelona), both approx. 51 x 183 x 2.5 cm. Added to the traveling swag are two Therm-a-Rest Lite Chair Kits: you can fold your mattress into an extremely comfortable chair. Very handy if you don't know how to sit in front of your tent any more...

Although the Thermarest mattresses are the best in the market, they are probably not meant to be used continuously for several years. We love them and take good care of them, but we think that the constant use and the use as a chair (folded) causes the mattresses to delaminate continually. But, unfortunately, there is no alternative to a good night's sleep and a good chair all in one. Fortunately for us, Thermarest has replaced all our faulty mattresses so far at no cost...

Recently, we have bought two mattress sheets; they are a little on the heavy side, but hopefully they will protect the mattresses enough to prolong their life span.

+ comfortable, great insulation against cold, versatile by making a chair as well, light weight and small to pack, and customer service is brilliant
- expensive compared to alternatives

Pillows
Together with our compact Yeti travel pillows we think we'll get should get many a good night's rest.

Many just stuff clothes in a dry sack or coat, but after a few trips of doing this, we decided to invest in a travel pillow. At the time, Yeti was the lightest and most compact, but there are many other similar products available now: Cocoon or Thermarest for example. All you need is just the slightest elevation to make your nights sleep a lot more comfortable. We wouldn't be without them now and they can double as the shock support around your camera in your handlebar bag. Nothing like a dual purpose for travel items.

THE BASIC KITCHEN
Multifuel Stove
When we set off, we carried a second-hand Primus Multi Fuel Burner (it looked brand new!) and two fuel bottles; one of 1 liter and a smaller one of 0.6 liter (both Sigg). It is all a question of fuel accessibility: the multi-fuel stove burns everything and because we probably won't be able to buy CampingGaz canisters in Central Asia for example, we decided to go with the multifuel cooker. Using unleaded petrol is really good, cheap and efficient. It was decided not to use diesel anymore after everything in a short distant range went black!

We used the Multi Fuel for several years under the most extreme circumstances and it hardly ever let us down. Only once did it not start it's engine; at 4000 meters in the northern Pakistani mountains. Possibly due to the dirty fuel from Central Asia. We cleaned it and it started working again. When we were in the USA, we tried to find some replacement parts, so we could keep using the stove for the remainder of our trip. When we got in touch with NA Gear, the US distributor of Primus stoves, they offered us a new one! We didn't have to think about that very long, so we are now the proud owners of a brand new Omnifuel. This one's even better! It has better control over the flame, with two levers.

+ all fuel types; efficient; reliable; durable; sturdy base; cooks well; easy to operate and clean; flame variation control; new model is so much quieter
- doesn't always work at high altitudes

Heat Reflector and Windscreen
You just have to have one of these on board if you intend to have an outdoor kitchen. There's no way around it.

The MSR, Primus or Brunton flexible aluminum versions are by far the best. We had a concertina folding screen like the Liberty Mountain or Coghlan's brand for a while, (only because we could find nothing else in western China), but it was rubbish when it came to keeping the wind out and they are build too high for fuel stoves. One small tip for the heat reflector disc, which usually breaks up before the windscreen does, is to buy a cheap aluminum flan dish with removable bottom. We've had ours for nearly the full trip and it doesn't look like giving up the ghost yet.

Pots and Pans
We like to cook every night if we can and not just packet soup or noodles. Out kitchen is extensive, probably more so than most: we still like to eat well, even though we are on the road. The trusty aluminum Camp Art cookset, which we had for 12 years or so was recently replaced in South Korea by a French brand called GM Sports cook set.

Choosing camping cookware is a very personal thing, but this is our criteria when looking for cooking gear: Because our menus are more elaborate than just spaghetti and a tin of tomatoes, we like to have several pots and pans. We therefore prefer the stackable cooksets. Hardened aluminum, without teflon coating is also what we generally look for. Both the Camp Art and the GM Sports are made from this. Some will complain about things burning and sticking, and sure that can happen if you try and cook like you would at home. Instead you need to develop a method of pot changing and be organised about the order of cooking things. Then you won't have any trouble with aluminum cooking gear. We make delicious curries and stews and even fry pancakes without the washing-up hassle that so many describe. Aluminum is durable enough but more importantly lightweight without the titanium cookware price tag.
Essential though is that the pots have a good grip or handle system. We don't like dangling wire handles like the old scout billy can: they are simply a hazard and pot clamps or grippers are just plain annoying. If you should opt to buy a set that requires pot grippers, then for goodness sakes invest in the more expensive heat-resistant type. You'll be grateful for the extra cash spent. Instead we would prefer any of the flip together or clip in place handles that are permanently attached to the cooking pan. Furthermore, these should have some plastic insulation on them as well. Examples of this can be seen on the following products: the GSI Bugaloo frypan, Optimus Terra Weekend cooking pot or Stansports Black Granite cookset.

So the key factors to look for when choosing camping cookware are the price, stacking qualities, bulkiness, weight, the handle or grip system, (will they last the life of the pot) and general durability. When purchasing, hold the thing in your hand as though you are cooking with it and imagine a bit of weight inside the pan. Does it feel good? Does it feel sturdy? If you say yes to these two questions and all the other factors are what you are looking for then it will probably do the job. It took us a while to get used to our GM Life Sports cook set after so many years with the Campart set, but it has proved to be a pretty good replacement.

Kitchen Sink
A kitchen sink seemed a helpful tool to take as well; for washing, the dishes, even water collection. The Sea to Summit sink designed in Australia holds 10 liters of water and is only 110 grams (when empty...) Keeping with Ozzie tradition and the best use so far: to keep the beers cold!

We have used this sink for more than two and a half years, almost constantly, for the most diverse purposes. Doing the dishes, washing clothes, washing ourselves, keeping drinks cold, testing bicycle tubes for holes etc. It is perfect, small to pack and lightweight. Better than any of its competitors for size, weight and price!

Water Purification
We bought a water purifier, the Katadyn Pocket with a weight of 550 grams. It filters 1 liter per minute and the element can filter up to 50,000 litres. It protects against bacteria, protozoa and chemicals in the water.

This amazing pocket filter from Katadyn has saved our lives and lots of money on so many occasions we can't speak more highly of it. If you plan to go off on an extended bike tour, or will be visiting countries where the tap water is not drinkable, then this is brilliant.

+ easy to use; easy to clean; guaranteed good drinking water for 50,000 litres under prime conditions; possible to replace the cartridge without purchasing a new filter.
- bit on the heavy side, can clog easily in silted water areas; expensive

If you intend to venture into areas where you know the water will be fairly clean, then a very leightweight option is the Steripen: either the classic handheld or the adventurer version with solar re-charger kit attached.

OTHER CAMP KITCHEN GEAR AND UTENSILS
Storage Containers
Our Markill butter container went along with us, well at least the metal bit did. The manufacturers have to work on the plastic insert and rubber seal. The whole thing has now been replaced with Lock & Lock systems containers. These products are sold all over the world and so is the plain old plastic baby bottle for storing jam, honey and soya sauce. The are also easy to clean and seal proof as well

The Markill container is an overrated piece of rubbish. I wouldn't bother buying this product ever again and in actual fact we threw it away. Yes, all €34 euros worth of it. The problem lies in the inner plastic section cracking all the time and you have to replace it at €8 a pop. They have bettered it over the years (we have bought enough of them to know this), but the plastic rubber always stretches way out of control, so you can never seal it properly. Conveniently, they don't sell the seals separately.

A much better choice are the Lock & Lock containers. They're just brilliant for anything: food, loose items, you name it. Not only are they lightweight, they come in all sorts of sizes, both square and round. They are air and liquid tight and supposedly indestructible unless you have a spare week to open and close the hinges around 3,000,000 times. And the best thing is they are cheap. No, really cheap!

Fold-a-Cup
We purchased these cause they looked pretty groovy

Foldable cups from a tough rubber material that can fold down, so they are half the size. They take up little room, though because they are made from plastic they do tend to take on flavours and smells of the drinks they have in them.

+ half the size; light; sturdy form
- smell a bit

Flexible Cutting Board
Again this is one of those things that is up to the individual to decide if it is important or not. Being vegetarians and always chopping up fresh vegetables and herbs, means this is a kitchen must for us. We can't live without it and over the years we have tried all sorts of cutting boards out.

The cutting boards that are lightweight and that fit in the panniers easily are definitely the flexible boards. Not only are they great because you can curl them up and not spill anything when putting the chopped veggies in your pot, but they are dirt cheap too. So, if one gets a bit messy after a while then just throw it away and buy another. Only disadvantage is, they usually come in sets, so you have to buy more than one, but hey if you are at a campsite at the time, give the others away as a present. You'll be liked for that!

Personally I prefer the style like the Norpro Cut and Slice boards, but other people have been satisfied with the thinner versions like those from Progressive International. Some campers even cut these boards up so they have just a small circular disc that fits inside there pots and pans. That would be a little too small for me, but I can see it working well for others, less into extensive camp cooking.

Mesh Storage Bags with Zippers
Plastic document bags or specially designed zipper mesh travel bags are great when you are travelling for extended periods of time on a bike. Think of them as lightweight drawers of your pannier bags, your filing system for the kitchen, the electronic gear, whatever. Makes travel life easy and organised. In any case we love them.

Travel Mesh Bags you buy these days can work out expensive. However, in some countries, especially in Asia, you can find versions of these at the stationary store. They often come in colours so it's also a really easy system of telling someone else where something is. "Can you get me the peanut paste in the yellow zipper bag" is a lot easier than saying "Can you get the peanut paste in the back pannier bag." Sometimes they will crop up at a dollar shop in the cosmetic shop section. Otherwise you'll just have to hunt around the travel goodies shop near you. Oh what a pity, don't you just hate that.

Just a Couple of Things We Threw Away
Some things we threw away, not because it was a bad product, we simply didn't use it and considering we have to lug our weight with us, we stick to the motto, that if we don't use it, we ditch it, give it away as a gift to locals or fellow travellers or send it on to Australia.

We were carrying a Zippo lighter, which burns on all kinds of petrol and a Primus fire steel, the optimum way of starting a fire or lighting your stove in all weathers. Water resistant, durable and effective (according to the manufacturer). We gave these away, we actually never used them at all during our trip. Buy two lighters at your local supermarket before you go and use those. Just before one runs out, keep your eyes glued to the road, there's always a lighter on the side somewhere. Pick it up again and you'll be fine for another few months. And as far as the fire steel was concerned, we just don't do enough backcountry camping to warrant carrying it along with us. Needless to say, the people that got them as presents appreciated them.

BATHROOM
Travelling Towels from the Bathroom
Fine-Well sports towels from Rubytec are a necessity in any travelling bathroom, so we have two of them.

These quick dying towels are not only very light and compact but they dry so easily. Throw away the plastic container they come in and you'll have no nasty smells either. Just hang them to dry during the day on the bike.
In recent years there has been an influx of Micro-fibre products on the market so you have your pick of many brands. MSR Packtowl or Sea to Summit Dry Lite have a great range of colours and sizes and get rave reviews from happy customers. Ours, from Rubytex, have lasted us for the last couple of years and we are really happy with them. One thing I'm going to do when this one is no longer any good, is go up one size to something a bit bigger. We both bought the small size for weight and space issues but honestly for such a long tour a little bit of comfort should be permitted on occasions. Oh yeah, and get a different colour to Ali's!

The Camp Shower System
Together with two Ortlieb Water Bags both 4L each, shower nozzle and the biodegradable soap products we thought our outdoors bathroom was pretty much taken care of, but...

In hindsight, we were probably thinking that we would do more back-country camping and that just hasn't really happened. Besides if we camp wild, we either use rivers, lakes or use wet-ones (baby wipes), if there is no water supply or if we have to watch how much we consume. The 4 litre Ortlieb water bags were a nice idea as well, but they are awkward to attach to the back of the bike and we tend to strap 1.5 and 2 litre bottles on the back now. Hence we have sent our complete shower system back to Australia.

Diva Cup or Glad Rags Moon Cup
That time of the month comes around like it or not, and then a menstrual cup, either the Diva or Glad Rags Moon Cup, is one of those toiletry items a travelling gal should not be without.

Okay, so there's no remedy for the moody spells or uncomfortable disposition, but you can end the endless hassle of finding tampons and sanitary napkins in countries that are not quite as far advanced as the western world, or as open about the on-goings of a woman's body. Besides all those products take up extra space in the bag and the Diva Cup is so small. It's also perfectly clean and simple to use. No more being caught off guard, no more leakage problems and you can wear it safely for up to twelve hours at a time. All you need is a bit of water to wash it with. The only down point would be the first few cycles, when you need to get a hang of using it, but that is a small price to pay for future ease and convenience.

What you also shouldn't forget is you'll not only be saving yourself loads of money, but you'll be doing your bit for the environment as well. It has to be the perfect female travel mate. Can't recommend it high enough.

WARDROBE
Listing our entire wardrobe would be a hassle and for that matter, probably not very interesting. However some items or ideas are definitely worth mentioning.

Jackets
Son is still wearing her faithful Marmot Goretex jacket that she bought back in 1994 in San Fran and when it downpours, Ali is coping well in his Gore Bike Wear Goretex Rain Jacket.

Marmot Jackets
Unfortunately Son's Marmot jacket had seen better days and she had to replace it in Barcelona. She loved that jacket and it was a right ceremony throwing it in the rubbish skip at the campsite. Marmot makes great quality sports gear: the stitching, the fabric, designs are all good and well thought out, so she decided to try the, new at the time, PreCip Rain Jacket. They only had the men's design, but that was fine.

Unfortunately as far as a rain jacket is concerned, it just doesn't hold up. She wished she had forked out more money on the Marmot Exum jacket with full Goretex protection and performance. After 6 months of use on the bike, and keeping the raincoat very clean, the PreCip Rain Jacket was no longer waterproof. It is still a great riding jacket for windy or cold conditions and even a small shower for that matter. But if it really rains, then guaranteed you'll get wet. The other problem is, it doesn't dry very quickly at all. The design has some super features though: like the pit zips under the arm; and the slanted pockets for easy access, especially while you are riding; plus the holl-up hood which fits perfectly around the face. The velcrose fastening for the hood does however catch in your hair constantly. But in general, this very lightweight jacket has great moveability with no restrictions for action sport and it is beautifully made with taped seams and great stitching work. And by jove it feels great on and even looks good too.

PreCip Rain Jacket
+ quality made; great design with good moveability; feels great to wear; easy access slated pockets; pit zips underarm; holl-up hood; really good windstopper; inexpensive
- isn't completely waterproof; doesn't dry when you're sweating a lot; velcrose hood fastening catches hair

Ali's raincoat, similar to the latest Gore Bike Wear Alp-X 2 Jacket can't really be faulted. It keeps you dry and warm and yet still has the ability to wick away moisture in both rainy and sweaty conditions. The pocket system inside allows you to keep documents dry and the roll-up hood is easily accessible when the rain really comes down. Unfortunately, you have to buy the hood separately on the recent seasons jacket. It is a snug fit but still allows good movement while riding.

Gore Bike Wear Alp-X 2 Jacket
+ great fit; keeps you really dry and warm; reflector are very visible;.
- no colours to choose from; have to buy hood separately

Shoe Covers
The Gore Bike.wear City Overshoes. Cycling with wet shoes and socks isn't pleasant for you or your feet, so it was not hard to make the decision to buy these rain and wind covers to keep our pedalling partners happy.

While they are not 100% proof, they are at least something to protect your shoes in downpours. In really cold environments they can also make cycling a little more comfortable.

As mentioned above, we have a version from Gore but Louis Garneau and Pearl Izumi make a couple of Neoprene shoe covers with great reflectors as well. Also something to think about when cycling down highways in dark gloomy wet weather conditions.

The Race Power Gore-Tex Thermo shoe covers are the finest available thanks to the design, construction and materials of GORE BIKE WEAR. It starts with the Gore-Tex outer layer with strategic stretch panels that enhance the fit and taped seams underneath.

Patagonia Capilene Layer Wear
Also, Son is totally crackers about Patagonia tops and bottoms. So much so she is also trying to convince Ali by buying him tops and things for his birthday and any other celebratory event. It's expensive but it lasts for years (already proven) and of course, the most important factor. . . it dries with the wind from a fairy's exhale.

Son has since changed her mind about Patagonia. It is still good stuff, but there are many more products out there on the market that are just as quick drying and cheaper to purchase. Patagonia has become a real elite brand name and consequently you have to pay for it. Also the quality is not as good as what it used to be. Son still has a top from 15 years ago and while it looks like it has been through the wars, and it has, it is still in better condition than the last couple of Capilene Men's t-shirts Ali returned to the Patagonia Store in San Francisco. Capilene 1 and 2 seems to get tiny holes forming randomly all over the shirt, which eventually lead to long ladders and rendering the shirts completely non-wearable.

Still Patagonia sticks by their quality assurance and they replace them every time. We have done it before in Japan. So we have to give their customer service ten out of ten, and as long as Ali keeps getting new shirts each time, we can't really complain. That is until we are in countries where there are no Patagonia shops: then it'll be a problem. But more news to come on the most recent t-shirt aquisitions...

Gloves
Besides the normal gel cycling gloves, we both bought breathable, waterproof, winter down gloves from Kolon HiPora. Hopes are, we don't have to use them that often...

...unfortunately we did, and they didn't perform at all. Not only were they not waterproof, but the inside lining kept coming out of the finger section when you took them off and it was then almost impossible to put your fingers back in. You had to poke the lining back down with a stick. Try this at freezing temperatures and you'll know what a pain in the neck these gloves were. Well, Sonya hated them in any case and Ali tolerated them... just. Luckily for Son, she found a pair of brand new ski gloves, in her size, on the side of the road, on her way to Las Vegas, in stinking 35 degree heat. However, she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth and stopped to pick them up. She has yet to try them out.

Cycling gloves are a pretty personal thing...

but Sonya really wants to give her latest ones a plug. Well she says latest, but really her Giant Women's Plush Gel gloves were bought in China 20 months back. And they are still going strong and probably will for another 8, maybe 12 months more. That's pretty good going for hand covering that cost around $US 10. Anyway, if anyone is interested in trying to source a pair the product numbers are Women's 11596-11599 and there's a guys version as well Men's 11592-11595.

Ali left with a pair of Trek Club Gloves and only just replaced them in the US with a pair of Ironman ones, though it was definitely high time to do so. They were literally falling off his monstrous fingers, which is why he likes Trek cycling gloves in the first place: the X-Large fits him perfectly.

Bike Shorts
Aaldrik also owns a couple of Agu padded cycle shorts...

...and he had to badly replace one of them in Vancouver; which he has done with a cheap MEC home brand. No amount of searching on internet has answered our question as to what model number or design of the original cycle shorts were from Agu. Guess we will never know; only that they were damned good bike shorts... It would have been better to safe the money spent on the MEC shorts. They gave up within six months; they lost their stretch, shape and thickness, so were replaced by a pair of Cannondale shorts and a pair of Colombian Suarez bike shorts. Better padding, better fit. See how they last...

Son bought two pairs of Gonso Mona Lisa bike shorts along with her and...

...though the cycling padding has worn a little thin and they really do need replacing from an aesthetic point of view, she hasn't yet done so. A couple of machine sewn patches and repairs later and she took off from San Fran with the same bike shorts she bought 31 months ago. Now that's some wear and tear. The DRYUP®-Seat Pad is amazing and remains in a usable state to this very day, though expectedly thinner than when they were new. Her attempts at trying to get a couple of pairs sponsored from Gonso have been to no avail. They just didn't answer her emails. What a pity :-(

One recommendation for women's cycle shorts is to look for the designs that don't have that plastic elastic around the waist or legs. Girls, you know the stuff that makes your legs look like sausages bursting out of their skin. They are definitely deigned for young skinny waifs without an ounce of fat on them. Shebeest Nirvana Shorts or Giordana Body Clone Forma or Women's Laser Cycling Shorts are just a couple of designs. Beware though, they are expensive.

Sports Bras
This is Son's department but Ali has expressed an interest in giving a comment or two as well.

She left with a couple of cheap no-name brands from Aldi but they were completely done with in a couple of months. It wasn't until Florence, Italy that Ali found himself hanging out in a women's lingerie store waiting for Son to decide on purchasing the Fila front fastening sports bra that they sadly no longer make. She still has it, but uses it for the beach these days. She has recently become the proud owner of a Moving Comfort Clara sports bra and thinks it is amazing. Not only does it provide medium impact comfort and support, but it gives really good lift and shape. Just ask Ali about that last point, he'll will certainly vouch for it. For a bit of variety, she also bought a Champion Women's Powersleek sports bra as well and while that is a higher impact bra, it still looks good and wicks well in sweaty climbing conditions. Ali likes this bra too, but prefers the Clara much more.

All this and more can be seen at our newly opened outlet: the bicycle touring and outdoor shop !

top