4 More Things You Should Know About Selecting A Bicycle Mirror
September 28, 2008 by Darren Alff · 1 Comment
This week I had the pleasure of working with the fine folks from CycleAware (a company located in Aptos, California that makes mirrors and other bicycle safety products) at the 2008 Interbike Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. I was asked to work the CycleAware booth after writing a review of the various types of bicycle mirrors… and I was happy to accept their invitation.
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You Don’t Need Half The Things You Think You Need
September 10, 2008 by Darren Alff · Leave a Comment
Imagine: You’re out on the road, climbing a five thousand foot pass, when you suddenly look back and realize you’re carrying an awful lot of stuff on your bike. As sweat pours from your forehead and your bike slows to a stop, you think to yourself, “Did I really need to bring my pillow? My blow-dryer? Those three Steven King novels? What in the world was I thinking bringing all this stuff on my bike tour?”
Packing for a bicycle tour is not an easy task. It’s difficult for a beginner to determine which items are essential and which items can be left at home. And to make matters worse, there is no list on earth that details the essential items needed for every bicycle adventure. What you decide to pack will ultimately depend on where you are going, what time of year you will be traveling, and what comforts from home you will be able to do without. Read more
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Sea To Summit Titanium Spork
August 23, 2008 by Darren Alff · Leave a Comment
When traveling by bike, you should always be on the look out for ways to make your load lighter. Weight is not a cyclist’s friend, and if you can find a way to reduce the weight or size of your packs, you should do it! Sometimes this is done by buying lighter or more compact equipment, but other times this can be done by combining two separate items and into a single item that can be used for both purposes.
That’s why when I was recently pursuing my favorite sporting goods store in Ventura, California – Cheap Sports; I came across the Sea To Summit Titanium Spork
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How To Pack Your Panniers: An Inside Look
August 12, 2008 by Darren Alff · 6 Comments
Currently, the most popular article on the site here at BicycleTouringPro.com is an article simply titled, “How To Pack Your Panniers.” The article features a detailed breakdown of everything I carry in my panniers and also includes a 30 minute video where I physically show you the contents of my bicycle touring bags.
Since writing that article, I’ve received a lot of feedback and questions. My goal today is to expand further on the information I provided in that first article by showing you exactly how I place my gear inside my panniers and by pointing out two very important things you should consider when packing your panniers for a bicycle tour. Read more
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Why Color Is So Important On A Bicycle Tour
August 9, 2008 by Darren Alff · Leave a Comment
Color isn’t something I first thought about when I began traveling by bike, but over the years I’ve come to the realization that color is very important. When traveling by bike, there are a number of areas to pay attention to when selecting colors… and I want to talk about these areas today.
Panniers:
When traveling by bike, most of your days are going to be spent in the saddle. If you are traveling with panniers, you need to make special effort when selecting your pannier colors. As you will see in a moment, color says a lot about you and can instantly determine whether or not you will remain safe while out on the road. Read more
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An Interview With World Traveler & Documentary Filmmaker: Brook Silva-Braga
August 3, 2008 by Darren Alff · 5 Comments
When Brook Silva-Braga left his job as an Emmy-Award winning TV producer for HBO to spend more than 11 months traveling around the world, his co-workers didn’t know what to think. Carrying 5 pounds of clothing and more than 30 pounds of video equipment in a backpack, Brook would spend the next year traveling through 26 different countries and 4 different continents… recording his journey on tape as he went along.
Upon his return to the United States, Brook moved in with his parents and spent the next few months editing his footage into the award winning film, A Map For Saturday. Read more
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How To Make Your Own Working Camp Stove
July 31, 2008 by Darren Alff · 2 Comments
Finding the right stove for your bicycle tour can be difficult. There are dozens of different stoves to choose from and it seems as though each one requires a different type of fuel. That’s why, years ago, when I came across the designs for a working camp stove made out of two ordinary soda cans, I knew I had stumbled upon something special.
Today, I have a short video for you where I am going to show you how to make your own working camp stove – perfect for your upcoming bicycle adventure. The best part about this stove is that its lightweight, easy to use, and runs off denatured alcohol (which can be found just about anywhere in the world). Read more
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Ultralite Cooking For The Traveling Cyclist
July 26, 2008 by Darren Alff · 6 Comments
It’s Finally Here! The Bicycle Cooking Information You’ve Been Looking For!
If you are planning a bicycle tour and have been wondering to yourself…
Do I need to bring a stove with me to cook my food?
What is the difference between base camp and ultralite cooking?
What kind of cooking gear and utensils will I need?
What foods and recipes work best for traveling cyclists? Read more
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Bicycle Touring At Night: A Guide To Riding In The Dark
July 23, 2008 by Darren Alff · 2 Comments
Riding in the dark is not something many bicycle tourists consider. When night falls, most traveling cyclists are fast asleep, recuperating from a long day of riding. But there are times when riding in the dark is not only possible, but also a good idea!
Today, I want to talk about three reasons for traveling at night and follow that up with a short and simple guide to staying safe when riding in the dark.
It was on my second long distance bicycle tour that I was first introduced to the idea of bicycle touring at night. I was in western Kansas, traveling on the Transamerica bicycle route, and never in my life had I experienced so much wind. Each and every day seemed like a struggle against an impossible breeze… and frankly, I didn’t think I could take much more of it. Read more
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Interview With The Authors Of “Ultralite Bicycle Camping”
July 20, 2008 by Darren Alff · 1 Comment
Dr. Bernd Fischel and Barbara (Barbie) Garrett are the authors of the book, “Ultralite Bicycle Camping: The Cyclists Guide to Ultralite Camping and Touring in Europe.”
This 349 page book covers numerous aspects of bicycle touring, but centers around how you can travel in Europe on an ultralite bike… and on an ultralite budget.
This 41-minute interview is packed with tips for traveling light, saving money, and navigating your way through Europe. Whether you are an experienced bicycle tourist or a complete novice, you’ll find a number of useful nuggets in this interview with Bernd and Barbie. Read more
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