The Cycle Touring Review

Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HP Pump Review

Phil — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 06:25:41 +0000

RRP: £39.99

Available From:

Rating: 6/10

Choosing a pump for your tour can be a tricky one, you want something not too heavy, that’s built like a rock so it won’t fail on you and also, importantly, something that won’t take forever to get your tires up to

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Open Defication Free District

Phil — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:09:14 +0000

Er… that’s good to know. Thanks Nepal!

So... I assume the other districts are fair game?

SwissStop Green Break Pad Review

Phil — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:26:00 +0000

RRP: £24.99

Available From:

• Wiggle

Rating: 10/10

They are quite simply made of Jesus hair and dragon eyes. Go and buy them… what are you still doing here reading this crappy site when you could be buying them? You’re still reading aren’t you? *sigh* Fine – you need more convincing then; but you’re

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Out of Iran – Movember Day 29

Phil — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:41:52 +0000

So our Iranian odyssey finally draws to a close; after a sprint to the Persian Gulf with 3 other cycle tourists; getting the news that the ferry from of Banar-e-Lengeh was cancelled, (oh course it was going to be – and to think, for a second there I thought it would be easy) and having

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The Unglamorous Side of Cycle Touring

Phil — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:51:42 +0000

Now I know what you’re thinking, cycle touring is all champagne parties on yachts; eating caviar with dignitaries while watching an artificial sunset created especially for you by setting aflame 10,000 flammable eagles; and good naturedly high fiving Lance Armstrong after beating him in a race up Mont Ventoux while simultaneously saving Natalie Portman from

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Shiraz – Weird and a Bit Rubbish Actually

Phil — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:23:34 +0000

Firstly, I’m not talking about Persepolis or the other sights surrounding Shiraz… they were really good! I’ve not got the world’s greatest love for ruins and the like, (I much prefer natural beauty) but this was really well preserved, informative and interesting. Also as it was off season we scored a swanky cabin at the

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11 Things You Never Thought You Needed on a Bike Tour

Phil — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 02:41:58 +0000

This post is dedicated to those little bits of kit which you wouldn’t immediately consider when writing up your cycle tour packing list, but nonetheless can make themselves invaluable on a long tour. And long tours are really what we are talking about here; most of this stuff you wouldn’t bother with for a fast

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Standoff with the Police in Iran

Phil — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:23:26 +0000

So there we were, cycling along minding our own business on a road between Takeb and Bijar in Iran when 3 guys in a white pickup truck, parked at the side of the road, wave us over. Nothing unusual about that, we get people stopping to wave us over all the time in Iran, either

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Bike Shop Near Yazd, Iran

Phil — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 07:58:35 +0000

Bit of info for anyone cycle tourers in need of any spares and service near Yadz, (you’ll be going that way… everyone does!).

While spending time in the city we met up with Yaghob, a champion mountain bike, (and road) rider in Iran… and a thoroughly nice guy to boot! It was great, to spend

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Outdoor Grooming. Movember – Day 11

Phil — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:11:30 +0000

So a couple of days after leaving Yazd, (including one where we only managed to cover 25km before being taken home by an Iranian mountain bike champion!) and I’m in desperate need of a shave… unruly stubble is beginning to encroach on my Mo.

But being a well prepared Gentleman Explorer I had all the

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