The gear update
The best bits of gear (other than our Koga bikes) are our 10L ortlieb water bags, Ortlieb 5L folding wash tub, Thermarests, plastic tablecloth, a tiny handlebar compass. Clothing wise, merino wool shirts and socks have proved superior to fancy techno fabrics for warding off b.o!
Cycling and camping for tall men / big men: Adam uses SIDI shoes (Size 52) and Seal Skinz socks instead of overshoes. Our Vaude Mark II tent is 2.3 m long. He got a sleeping bag custom-made at Shona's Alpine Rental, Jyoti Street, Kathmandu, Nepal for €80.
www.wiggle.co.uk was invaluable for getting discounted gear
The packing and prep
We are far from elite athletes; only did three cycle afternoons before departing. Thanks to Mark at Bigfoot Bikes (Koga dealers) we learnt to repair our bikes. www.bigfootbikes.com
The nurses at 1st Contact travel clinic punctured us on numerous occasions. www.1stcontact-travelclinic.com Greater challenge has been finding insurance to cover our 18month trip. A choice between insuring body or bike! Bikes are sturdier; barely a scratch despite our training escapades (Cat's bellyflop ointo Thames Canal, Adam turning into a motorist's hood ornament). We´re insured with World Nomads; insurers for cycle touring (all nationalities) www.worldnomads.com.au
To minimise load and in spare parts emergencies, we've had 'care packages' sent post restante to Turkey, Georgia, Nepal and China. Thanks in advance to our 'home teams' for those! (Note for cyclists: don't use post restante for India!)
The essentials
* Our beloved Koga Miyata 'World Traveller' touring bikes. www.koga.com/uk/bike.asp?collectionid=10&segmentid=82&id=5028557&FullSpecs=1
Comes with 26" wheels, Shimano Deore XT parts, Brooks saddle, and new comfy handlebars. A hefty15.7 kg but a Koga is "as solid as my girlfriend," according to Adam, "Built like a tank!" A recommendation like that makes every man want a Koga...
* Brooks leather saddles for our tender rears. Great service for replacing a broken part on Adam's saddle www.brooksengland.com
* 8 Ortlieb roll-top panniers, 2 Ortlieb handlebar bags & 2 Ortlieb dry bags (one pannier lined with a plastic cooler bag) www.ortlieb.com
* Spares: 2 Continental folding tyres (pah! we switched to Schwalbe tyres), 4 inner tubes, 2 gear cables, 2 brake cables, 12 spokes, 4 brake pads sets, few chain quick-links and an emergency hangar part. Hindsight: which we'd carried a spare chain and rotated the chains every few thousand kms.
* Bike tools: 4,5,6mm Koga hex tool, 8mm hex, Park tool, 2 tyre lever, small wrench, spoke key, chain breaker tool
* Chain degreaser (diesel just as good), lubricants and grease
* Cat Eye mini bike computers for momentous occasions such as surpassing the first 100km www.cateye.com
* Leatherman tool
* 2 Ortlieb 10L water bags
* Vaude Mark II Long 3 man tent - it's 2.3m long and that extra 30cm means Adam doesn't have to sleep with his feet exposed to the elements! www.vaude.de
* Therm-a-rest inflating mats, Thermarest covers, silk sleeping bag liners
* Kathmandu 3-season sleeping bags - only had half-fill after 6 months so replaced them with 4-season sleeping bags from Shona's Alpine, Kathmandu, Nepal
* Dragonfly MSR multifuel stove with two gas bottles, wind shield and repair kit
* 2 super-light cooking pots (Denali brand), plates and mugs (GSR)
* Ortlieb 5L folding bowl for washing up and soaking feet - this is one of our best bits of gear
* Slip slop slap: sunnies, 30+ suncreen and hat . Jublo sunglasses for snow and desert www.jublousa.com
* First aid kit and basic toiletries
* Pegs and long rope for washing line
* A small backpack
* Phrasebooks, novel and diary. We're foregoing guidebooks in favour of Europe's tourist offices for when we want to see something ecclesiastical or monumental. Farther on we'll pick them up second-hand or in a care package.
* Maps with ratios 1:250,000 to 1:400,000 - except for the vast swathe of empty Central Asia which is 1:1,750,000! Reise or Marco Polo maps for the contours and detail, Nelles second choice. Cycle path maps from local tourist offices in Europe.
The electrics
* SolarGorilla solar charger with USB cable - ended up sending this home
* Digital SLR camera and lightweight laptop Samsung NC10 for battery life
* Archos 504 media player for tunes and vids when staring at each other across a campfire/cooking pot becomes just too much... broke after the year warranty...
The sartorials
* 1 pair long tights ("real men wear bib tights") and 2 pairs padded shorts with leg warmers (slinky early-morning cyclist style, not '80s pop stars)
* 3 cycling shirts - various lengths and fibres - favouring wool or wicking for weight, comfort and fast drying - now we're down to 2 shirts each
* 1 fleece vest and wool jumper
* 2 casual outfits for mix & match - we are now down to 1 raggedy outfit each
* Cycling shoes, hiking shoes and thongs (flip-flops for those who speak phonetically). Hindsight: wouldn't have bothered with cycle shoes or boots, just a walking shoe
* Cotton trousers for Cat to be worn over the Lycra shorts from eastern Turkey until we Australia, just to keep everyone happy and comfortable.
* Iranian dress for Cat to be purchased before Iran - headscarf, loose trousers, long jacket/loose blouse and eyeliner as is custom. Not a drama to be honest, as it's glamorous Persia not one of the burqa countries!
The indulgences
* See electrics list...
* The many carpets we plan to purchase on the way
* A plastic table cloth for all our outdoor dining/siesta
* A biscuit tin - also useful for transporting raw eggs in socks!
* Adam's tea tin - "Ahmad of London's finest tea", available Georgia to Iran, but never in London funnily enough...