Cycle For Your Life

Stories on Two Wheels – Through a Lens, a Mic, and a Heartfelt Mind

Archives (page 3 of 21)

24th February 2018

Do You really Need All That Stuff She Said….

Portable power

Power monkey solar charger

solar power to mains power

Boys and their toys. Any excuse to buy a new bit of new kit. To be honest you don’t need it at all but some things are just nice to have. And for me, one of these things is power… Yes, power. Power in the form of electricity. On my last trip, I was always looking for ways to keep my phone and tablet alive. I felt connected and safe in the  Knowledge that I had my phone with me.

Anker Powercore 20100

Power on demand

 

I purchased the power monkey solar charger for my last trip and it worked ok. I tried charging it up by solar whilst riding but the constant movement of the bike prevented it charging properly.  If you were on a rest day in a sunny spot I’m sure it would charge up fine. The good thing was you can charge it up by the mains.

Although the power monkey solar extreme was good it still left me needing additional power. So for this trip, I’ve gone and purchased an Anker power cord 20100. I’m told this can recharge my phone up to eight times and also power my IPad and Garmin.

A Little Bit More Kit

I’m not taking a dedicated camera but will my iPhone X Instead. and for the blogging and general communications ill use the iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard.

Garmin Touring plus

Get me home, please

Tracking My Trip

Last of all in the Garmin touring plus which I purchased from eBay For £100. It’s a basic bike GPS and ill use it for basic navigation and to record my route. Not sure if I’m going able to update my route day by day but try.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bike Touring Bike
Thorn Sherpa Touring Bike
30th January 2018

It’s all about the bike and bit’s

The Bike & Bit’s costing

Thorn Sherpa Bike 510XL with Standard forks £999.00
Brooks Saddle £100.00
Ortlieb Front Roller Plus – Hazel/Black – 25Ltr £84.00
Ortlieb Back Roller Plus – Hazel/Black – 40Ltr £94.00
The Altura Orkney Bar Bag with 7 litre capacit £54.00
The Shimano A530 Touring Pedals £41.00
lights £100.00
Sub Total £1,472.00

Bike Touring Bike

Thorn Sherpa Touring Bike

The Bike In Detail

Frame:
Thorn Sherpa frame and fork set 510XL Satin Stealth Black with silver decals

Transmission:

Shimano Deore HG50 9 Speed Cassette – 11-32, Budget Sealed Bearing Tapered Bottom Bracket with Steel Shimano Splined Cups – 113 mm,FSA Alpha Drive MTB Chainset 8/9 Speed – 24/36/48T – 170mm, Shimano RD-T661 Deore LX Top Normal / Standard Rear Derailleur – SGS, Shimano Deore SL-M590 RapidFire 9 Speed Shift Lever / Pods,Shimano Deore FD-M591 9 Speed Conventional Swing Dual Pull Multifit Front Derailleur, KMC X9-93 116 Links 9 Speed Chain – Silver / Grey.

Brakes:

Shimano Acera BL-M421 V Brake Levers, Shimano M422 Acera V-brake Front, Shimano M422 Acera V-brake Rear.
Wheels: 26″ (559) Wheelset 36h Rigida Grizzly Rims with Shimano HB-RM70 Hubs in Black, Schwalbe Marathon HS368 Rigid Tyre – 26 x 2.00 Inch (50-559)

Finishing Kit:

Thorn Mk2 Comfort Handlebars – 25.4mm Clamp – Black, SKS chromoplastic 26in mudguards Black 55(include fitting kit), Velo Deluxe Sports Mens Saddle – Black,Kalloy AS-009 UNO 1 1/8 Inch Ahead Stem +17 Deg – 25.4mm Clamp – Black – 100mm, Herrmans DD08B Comfort D.D. Dual Density Ergonomic Handlebar Grips – 120 mm Length – Black / Grey.

Accessories:

Thorn Expedition Steel Rear Cycle Pannier Rack – Black Powdercoat, Thorn MkV Cro Mo Steel Low Loader – Black Powder Coat, Zefal Ping Bell – Black NO PEDALS

Brooks Saddle and Ortlieb Panniers

Saddle and Bags

8th January 2018

The Alps are calling

My friends and I have formed a tradition of cycling Mont Ventoux. For the last few years, we have climbed the famous stage of the Tour De France. This will be my third year climbing the Ventoux with my colleagues and friends.  The yearly climb forms a great training goal and serves to keeps us focused on our fitness. Not forgetting the banter that goes along with it.

This year is sure to be a vintage one with two guys really battling for the top spot. Posh Mick and Rocket Riyadh have been training like mad even though none of them will admit to it. There has been an underlying battle ragging for years and battle lines are drawn and many a conversation has been had to who will be victorious. I’ll keep you posted on that front.

Sitting at home over the Christmas break, my mind started dreaming of cycle touring again. My last major ride was with the Fireflies back in 2015 where I rode from Geneva to Cannes for ten days and cover 1000 kilometre. So as I am riding Mont Ventoux in June I thought It might be an idea to ride back from there to the UK. Initial investigations into distance is about 700 miles not including any climbs. I recon it will take about two weeks to get back.

So that’s the plan as it stands. Ride back from Mont Ventoux to the UK

 

1st October 2017

Walking in Llandrillo

This weekend I was invited to celebrate a friends birthday with a walk in Llandrillo Wales. Although the weather was wet the views of the valleys are simply amazing. I took the opportunity to practice my photography and I hope I captured the scenery and the views of the breathtaking valleys. We stayed at Tyddyn Llan and enjoyed the fabulous food and wine with

28th August 2017

Cycle For Your Life “An interview with John Merrill The Marathon Walker ” EP3

In today’s podcast, I play the audio track from the interview I filmed last year. Where John tells me about his early life as a young boy struggling at school, his adoption at nine months of age and finding his lost family. John goes on to tell me about his passion for climbing and walking and his relationships with his father. The interview also explores the lows and highs of his life and his role as an interfaith minister.

John Merrill Is the worlds greatest marathon walker. John has walked over 219,000 miles, worn out 133 pairs of boots and written over 440 books about his walks. Today John is an all-faith minister and still continues his walking journeys.

If you want to find out more about John you can visit his websites listed below.

http://www.johnmerrillwalkguides.co.uk/
http://www.thejohnmerrillministry.co.uk/

Below are some links to his books

The Peakland Way: 100 Mile Circular Walk Around the Peak District

John Merrill’s Surrey Hills Challenge Walk: 23 Mile Circular Challenge Walk Over the S.E. England’s Highest Hills, from Abinger

Walking the Grand Union Canal from London to Birmingham: 153 Mile Walk from the River Thames at Bentwood to Gas Street Basin, Birmingham. Can be Done in 9 Stages (Canal Walks Series)

6th August 2017

Cycle For Your Life “How cycling saved my life” EP1

Welcome to the Episode 1 of Cycle For Your Life.

Back in late 2012, my life changed path dramatically. I remember the day when my then wife asked me for a divorce. For me, this was a total bolt out of the blue and left me total and utterly in a spin. The following month’s left me feeling lost and depressed.  As the dust settled on the bombshell. I felt I had to take control of my life. This is when I decided to go on an adventure. This is the start of my three-month cycling tour of Spain, Portugal, France and finally, Italy.

Podcast: Download (Duration: 38:07 — 52.3MB)

Click here to listen to more Podcast 

London to Cambridge bicycle ride
1st July 2017

London to Cambridge 60 Mile Bicycle Ride

So I’ve been signed up a 60 mile back ride. We kick off on Sunday 2 July 2017 from Pickett’s Lock in Edmonton and head off for Cambridge at 8 am in the morning. So if anyone fancies a ride out tomorrow please come join us. The more the merry. Look out for the Instagram pictures tomorrow.

Here is the route 

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