OUR GEAR
(Constantly being updated) We will not hold back
here! If the gear is good we will say so, if it is not we will be
scathing in our comments.
Doing
a tour? YOUR
GEAR (any
“essential tips” we learn will appear here)
When deciding on what you will take on a tour the
thing to remember is that there are “good kilos” and
“bad kilos”. A trailer weighing 30kg is not too much
to pull for the average Trike. BUT if it is loaded with bad kilos
then your journey will not be as pleasant as it could be. Pay
attention to your home (Tent) and your bed. Comfort here makes a
huge difference to most people. Remember you could be spending
“days” in your “Home” waiting out
atrocious weather.
Everyone is different , however what works
for us it to compartmentalise our “gear”. House,
bedroom, Kitchen, wardrobe, bathroom, tool shed, miscellaneous and
“her gear”. Look long and hard at each of the “smaller
pictures”. Don't become obsessed with “weight”
but do take care in this area. Bulk is just as important, compact
serviceable items are more important to me than just weight alone.
Be flexible, eg.. we have the capacity to carry about 40++
litres of water. We rarely carry more than twenty litres... We
HAVE carried more than forty. This flexibility will depend on a
whole range of variables... Your route, time of year, etc.. these
will determine your needs. Sometimes we need to carry food for 10
or more days... What I am getting at, is the need for flexibility
and reserving “space” in your storage for these
variables.
TRIKE (Good
Value) (Updated April 07)
Catrike Trike: Faultless to date, no component
failure. (5800 klm and 26 weeks use). My admiration for this
product is growing... It is a very durable, comfortable Trike.
TRAILER (Far
too expensive)
“Radical Design” Bag faded
significantly due to Sun. (2900 klm and eight weeks use). Spacers
worn out between wheel and frame (Replaced with garden hose), Rain
covers do not fit properly, Velcro could have been used in the
manufacturing process. Otherwise ok - so far. UPDATE April 07:
Trailers continue to give good service - our bad “buying”
experiences aside. Tyres lasted about 5000 k's and were replaced
at the “Greenspeed” factory with an excellent
substitute.
SCHWALBE MARATHON PLUS TYRES (Updated April 07)
So far 5800 as at April 07 kilometres and Lee has
had one puncture - I have had five... Given I am double her weight
this is understandable. Tyres are showing sign's of wear as
expected but stll have good life left. Will keep you informed
(Note: good/bad bike design and bike “tuning” can
affect this number) These tyres are proving to be an excellent
choice.
ROHLOFF HUB (Updated April 07)
Bloody Superb... and still bloody Superb at over
5000 k's
SCHLUMPF (Updated April 07)
High
speed drive – would like to try the “Speed Drive”
for touring with heavy loads. Faultless operation. Still Faultless
and superb
TENT
(Updated April 07)
Trek
Lite series purchased at the camping store Albany Highway
Kelmscott WA. I am amazed at it's durability and ease of use. A
light spacious 3 person tent for everyday use. Am astonished at
the continued durability of this product The Trek lite as
performed way way beyond ALL expectations and for Australian
conditions we would whole heartedly recommend.
UPDATE July 2007.
We
have changed our tent to the “Vango
Spirit 300+”. We were led to believe, after reading
their website, that these were from a “Scottish
Manufacturer.... We have since found out that they are “Made
in China” which was evident when we examined the tent in
detail... As at the 28th
July 2007, we could find NO reference to the country of
manufacture on their website. I have called them and “Stephanie”
did say she would “bring it up”.... Of course, she
will not and if I tried to claim I was mislead money would win as
it always does. The very heavy rain and constant precipitation
indicated the need for a functional vestibule.
UPDATE
SEPTEMBER THE 10th
The Chinese made “VANGO” Tent is very inferior to the
“Trek Lite” with MANY shortcomings resulting from poor
design by the Chinese Manufactures. One door and a sleeping area
that is both too small ( I cannot stretch out, the sleeping area
is too short – I am 185CM tall) and VERY poorly ventilated.
I suggest anyone buying this Chinese made tent be aware of the
poor quality and TOTAL inadequacy for a tropical climate such as
Australia – you would suffocate and if you did open the door
to let air in, you would be eaten alive by insects. .
One never knows the Scottish importers “VANGO”, of
these Chinese made tents may foist them on Australia.
SLEEPING MATS
Thermarest:
Functions well, storage bag too small to be useful.
Would not buy again as too expensive for what it is and bag too
small. (Be careful here, the salesperson
may be able to squeeze it in, at the camping store, you will need
to do it in the rain, wind, etc.. ) Update
after 10 months and a little over six mths use. Faultless
so far.
DMH
(Australia) Hike Lite series (Long). Good
mat well priced. Storage bag a sensible size but requires better
quality stitching ie.. webbing at top of seam. Would buy again
UPDATE
SEPTEMBER THE 10th
2007.
It can be said the measure
of a company is in how they support their product when things go
wrong. I purchased an “Exped” sleeping mat and after about 8
nights it began to lose air. I figured not worth ringing or trying to
get help.. Wrong!! I emailed today:-
[Dear
Alistair, Feedback from us re the "Exped" sleeping mat we
purchased from you a few weeks ago. The seam along the side "parted"
and the mat is no longer airtight despite many attempts to re-seal
it. I used it only 8 times before it failed me. I realise there is
warranty, however I am in Shetland cycling. I am guessing, but to
prevent a warrant claim, they will insist the mat be sent to you or
them then I must sleep on the floor until they pontificate over it's
repair/replacement. I will be in Norway on Friday the 14th Would
appreciate a contact email to your supplier so I may pass on my
worthless feedback. I do have over 6,000 readers on my website I
guess I should warn them but I will wait and see what happens.. Hope
you are well, Kind Regards Mal & Lee ]
Within 30 minutes Alistair
telephoned me from Campcraft in
Bolton. (“On Line”
and “In Store”, supplier of good camping gear at truly unbeatable
prices) He had organised a replacement
mat to be sent to me ANYWHERE in the world; AND after
I receive it, I can return the faulty one
(which still is far better than not having one) to them. That is the
measure of a company that is offended when what they believe is a
quality product, lets them down in this way. The company should be
commended for their support, but even more so Campcraft
in Bolton for the support and after sale service they give their
customers. They even offered to replace it with a “Thermarest” at
more than double the price – at their expense! Wow!!! For the most
part Aussies believe in a “Fair go mate” - I felt it's not their
problem, (Campcraft) so I said I was happy to have the original
replaced.
UHF RADIOS
Uniden
40 channel: (About $60.00) SUPERB!!! Good
to “many” k's and have used in town when Lee is in
C/Van park, me inside Supermarket 1-2 k's away
“SEA
TO SUMMIT” Stuff Bags
Top Notch
gear, used daily no problems.
HUFFY BIDDONS (Water
bottles)
Sold by K-Mart. The bottom of
the bottle says guaranteed not to taste of plastic, this
of course is a lie. The water tastes of
plastic so much so, that it is undrinkable. Other “Huffy”
products caused us terrible grief and Kmart (Armadale WA) would do
nothing to assist. I will steer clear of all “Huffy”
products.... I suggest you do also. Just buy commercial bottles of
water, with a teat, sold at any shop/deli. (eg.. PUMA) The plastic
used in these is “Guaranteed” not to have an after
taste as they are “forced”
do it this way, or it would not sell, nor would it
have a shelf life.
MSR Water bags
Water
stinks and tastes of plastic... Drinkable if used in cooking or
masked with other flavouring... Try and find a better product. The
10 litre water bag cost over $80.00. Way
overpriced. Remember if you can taste
plastic you are drinking it!!!
MSR Cookware
Very
thin pots (to keep lightweight) do not work very well as many
things burn. Pots have kept most of their shape the lid has not.
VERY expensive to
buy and you can probably find better.
COLEMAN Dual fuel stove
Works
very well – recommended. If I were purchasing again I would
probably go for the same brand but “Multi” fuel.
Rechargable AAA and AA and alkaline batteries
–
Those alkaline batteries from Kmart –
usless!
Well
advised to buy NiMH rechargeable. The NiMH batteries we purchased
from Battery World have proved superb. They cost about 3 times the
price of the alkaline.
FLAGS (Warning
take note)
Brand of flag (pennant) unimportant in my
opinion, however, Lee lost three flags and flag poles. It really
is dangerous to ride without a flag. They are terribly difficult
to buy outside a capital city. You would be well advised to carry
at least one spare
per bike. The wind rips the top pole from the two parts of the
flag pole. If you choose to put an Aussie or other country flag on
there (as well as the red one) you double the chances of the wind
tearing it out. The other thing of course, is that the pennants
(Flags) get battered by the wind and wear out. By about 2000 k's
we has thrashed one to bits. Attempting to find quality amongst
the (mostly Chinese made) available pennants, has, for us, proved
impossible. Those amongst you with the skills can make your own.
If of course you can find the “day glow” material,
what's more it should be orange/red.
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