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Gear Germany Hungary Kickbike Thoughts

Kickbiking. How’s the set-up?

A set-up of any form of transport is important. Not when you are cycling or rolling back and forth to the bakery but when you try to get some distance done, it better be the right set-up for you. We did not had the chance to test any kickbike before we started the journey through the USA. We ordered straight from the Kickbike supplier and that is not the way I’d recommend. When I ordered my bicycle years prior I had it more or less custom made. This is crazily expensive, something I would not recommend either.

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Gear Thoughts

Review: Bushcraft-Essentials Bushbox Outdoor Pocket Stove

Yet another stove I bought.

I have used all sorts of stoves, from Primus and Optimus Multi Fuel when I started a 5 year worldwide bicycle trip to an Optimus Svea 123. I tried a gas stove, a self-made hobo stove, an alcohol stove and plain wood fires.

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Gear Thoughts

Therma-A-Rest Self-Inflating Air Mattress

Sleep is one of the most important things to enjoy life. Isn’t that equally so for a cycling life?

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Creativity Gear

Build a Hobo

How to make a hobo stove

When stoves break down, often exactly when you really need them, it has you think: ‘This is not the time for you to break down’. 

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Gear

Review: Magura Hydraulic Brakes

These brakes are excellent. That is, if you know how to repair them when they snap. I cycled with Magura for about 2.5 years without much problems. They are expensive so I hoped they would have lasted longer…

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Gear

Review Optimus Svea 123

The Svea was designed in 1920 and the technology is simple. A design that is not the best option to choose for a stove on an extended cycle trip. The Svea is currently used in Sweden and Japan for stationary use or as a working antique stove with a nice look. An Optimus Nova would have been a better choice, since that is a modern liquid fuel stove for mobile use.

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Gear

Review Hilleberg Soulo

The Hilleberg Soulo is a great one person’s tent. It withstand fierce winds, it adds about 4 degrees to the outside temperature and it has enough space not to feel imprisoned.

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Gear

Review Optimus Nova

First and foremost, after cycling more than 4 years, only a few brands are so good that I chose them again, would I have to. Therm-A-Rest, Cumulus and Optimus.

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Gear

Review Rain Jacket Patagonia

The very last moment before I would set off to South America, including rainy Patagonia, I decided I needed a new rain jacket.

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Creativity Gear

Homemade natural tick and mosquito repellent

Always being bitten by mosquito’s and awake for hours while trying to sleep, itching myself until bleeding and ever so often on the search for any kind of repellent.

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Gear

Downy Suave Cloudy Cumulus

An honest review about (6 years old) Cumulus sleeping bag

And I remain of the assumption that (bicycle) gear last forever. I should get rid of that tale. Yet, Cumulus comes close.

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Gear

Review Optimus Svea 123

Plus

I am was quite fully satisfied with the Svea 123. I even use it in hotel rooms, though I am very careful not to spill fuel and always put a folded windscreen underneath the stove as not to burn the hotel down.

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Gear

One thing I dislike about cycling

One thing I absolutely do not like about cycling

Besides rain and getting stuck in branches with my helmet when I search for a place to camp, it is the cycle short. A tight synthetic underwear kind of garment with a thick patch of foam. It feels unnatural. It looks strange. It is not hygienic.

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Gear

How many spare & repair parts do you need on a world tour?

Over the years I conclude this is all you need for spare and repair parts. Another visual list of those parts is here to see: ‘Spare & Repair’

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Gear

How many tools do you need on a world tour?

For all who wonder what you actually need to carry in your tool bag, here is a neat clear list of contents: tools.

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Gear

Helmet: Yes or No?

A helmet or not?

While cycling in the Netherlands I am aware of the many looks I receive. Dutch don’t like to wear a helmet when commuting. Understandable. What is less understandable is that even racers often cycle without a helmet. I think we believe it is not cool to wear a helmet.

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Gear

Reviews

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Gear

Big Brands Blemishes

45,000 kilometer further. Am I still happy with my gear?

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Gear

Useful Tips

Over the years one will find out what works and what not. I might be able to shine a light on saving money for you, because one thing I found out is that when you start a trip, you ALWAYS spend too much money.

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Gear

What’s in it?

Many people  asked me what I was carrying in all those bags. Most people did not understand that I carried my whole household with me. So let me explain without too many words what I am taking with me, still too much though…

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Gear

The 15.000 KM Big Gear-Update

The 10.000 kilometer Gear Update becomes the 15.000 kilometer Big Gear Update

Why? Haven’t I already enough to do? Why an update? Is that necessary? No, it isn’t at all. Actually, a whole blog is not necessary. Thing is, I made photo’s all through the whole Africa trip, with the intention to make a nice little update about my gear, some items really expensive, some really not that handy or good.