world biking africa: what
we're carrying
bicycles.
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on the category to open the complete list.
- 2 Topeak Roadmorph pumps
- Triangle tool (koga): the three most common Allen sizes
- Cogset lock ring socket
- Multi-purpose
bicycle
tool ‘Pedro’ – with spoke key, chain
breaker and levers.
- Second multi-purpose tool in case the Pedro breaks, is
lost or stolen.
- Extra chain breaker: the one on the Pedro Tool broke
- Extra plastic levers for dismounting tires.
- 15 mm spanner (wrench) for pedals.
- Zip ties
- Spare tire: foldable is better. Our Continental Travel
Contact tires wore well up to about 18,000 kilometers, so if
you’re just doing a short trip don’t bother with a
spare tire. Having one sent over is another option if you’re
worried about weight.
- Inner tubes (at least 3x) better bring a good supply as
you’ll only find low-quality Chinese or Indian replacements
in Africa.
- Deore XT HG 93 chain (2x) The cogset will last longer of
you swap chains every 3,000 kilometers. We replaced the cogset and
chains after 22,000 kilometers.
- Chainlinks: get special ones that can be mounted without
a
tool.
- Glue and patches: take an extra tube of glue because it
tends to dry out easily. Take at least 20 patches and stock up when you
can while travelling through West Africa.
- Shimano oil stored in a
syringe-type container. Ideal for lubricating cables through cable
housing and other tiny areas.
- Old toothbrushes for cleaning drive train
- Cable housing: we had to replace them because friction
with the handlebar bag eroded the outer plastic and the rain rusted the
interior.
- Brake cables (5x) Keep in mind that if a rear cable
breaks, you can often re-use it for the front.
- Shift cables (5x)
- Caps for cable housing ends
- Extra screws
& nuts
- Insulation tape
- Teflon chain lubricant :
Classic oil tends to attract dirt so teflon is better.
- Chain links and special reinforced pins – had
more sent over
- Spokes- 5 of each size. Remember that the ones on the
cogset side of the rear wheel are shorter.
- Brake pads (8 pairs).
- Jockey wheels (derailleur): we didn’t
take these but probably should have.
- 4 Elite Lysso Alloy Titan water bottles
· - Superglue
· - Spare cleats for Shimano SPD shoes (2x)
· - Seam Grip Seam Sealer: for repairing tent
· - Seam Grip Pre-Cleaner
· - McNett Aquaseal: great for sealing holes in
panniers. Take a couple of small tubes because they tend to harden
quickly once opened.
· - Ortlieb QL-1-rail long with mounting screws,
w/o hooks for Back-Roller, Bike-Packer and Office-Bag
· - 1 QL-1-rail short with mounting screws, w/o
hooks for Front-Roller and Sport-Packer
· - Anchoring hook, 10 mm with lower rail, incl.
mounting screws from model ´96
· - QL1 screw set (5 screws) from
model´’93
· - Repair patches for Ortlieb waterproof stuff-bag
· - Ortlieb repair-set for PD 350 waterproof
stufbag incl. glue, various colours
· - Tent pole repair kit : poles snap easily and
then you’re really in trouble
- Big Agnes double entry
3 person tent. Double entry is a must for ventilation. Take along spare
pole sections in case one snaps...it happened to us
- MSR
WhisperLite Internationale stove
- 975 ml fuel bottle
- MSR stove maintenance kit
- headlamps and maglites
- Dog Dazer--this is an ultrasonic device that keeps
menacing dogs at bay
- Ortlieb folding bowl for doing the dishes and laundry
- Ortlieb waterproof map case to protect notebook computer
from moisture and dust
- 2 Ortlieb waterproof packsack dry bags for storing the
sleeping bags and mats
- Compass--so Amaya can one day find her way back to
Darmstadt
- Jack Wolfskin synthetic sleeping bag
- Down sleeping bag--for Amaya who thinks she'll be cold
even
in Africa!
- mosquito net
- 2 Decathlon 3/4 sleeping mats (therma-rest style)
- Leatherman multi-purpose tool
- Backpack for day trips and storing extra gear
- Assorted toiletries
- Decathlon women's cycling shorts
- Decathlon women's cycling jersey
- 2 t-shirts
- Lightweight short-sleeved top
- Lafuma long-sleeved top
- Fleece jacket
- 1 pair 'Traveller's Trousers'--convertible into shorts
- Decathlon lightweight rain jacket
- Adidas spd mountain biking shoes
- Chameleon multi-purpose head scarf
- Assorted socks and underwear
- Swimming suit
- Cycling gloves
- Winter gloves (for the Atlas Mountains in Morocco)
- Shimano spd mountain
biking shoes
- 2 pairs cycling shorts
- 3 t-shirts
- 1 pair 'Traveller's
Trousers'--convertible into shorts
- Decathlon lightweight
rain jacket
- Fleece jacket
- Quechua novadry
long-sleeved shirt
- Medion Notebook
Computer 96400
notebook computer
- Small electric water
heater--basically just a coil and a plug, but great for making coffee
in the morning or heating water for porridge--much easier than heating
up the stove.
- Jenoptik digital
camera--point and shoot
- Cannon EOS 350D Digital
camera with 18-55mm F4-5.6 and55-200mm F4-5.6 lenses
- Spare battery for
digital SLR
- 2 MP3 players
- Scotty solar battery
charger
- Selection of pirated
movies bought at various markets along the way. Initially, we could
never have imagined watching films on the laptop, but as the months
wore on and dusty villages lost their charm, these films were a real
saviour. Books and magazines (in any language) are extremely hard to
come by in most parts of Africa.
Thanks to the generous support of Bikemax
in Frankfurt we are now the proud owners of two top-class
Koga Miyata
World Travellers.
This is a tough touring bike with a robust 26" aluminum
frame.
Koga bicycles are assembled by hand in the Netherlands and
come fully equipped with everything necessary for a long tour over
challenging terrain. Kogas are made with only the
best materials and components, which means we won't have to worry about
part failures or being stranded in some lost corner of Africa.
kit.
Each bike is equipped with heavy -duty Ortlieb front roller
and back roller panniers.
Vaude's sturdy handlebar bag even comes with a
protective cover to keep our maps dry during the rainy
season.
We could hardly believe how long these tires lasted: 20,000 kilometers!
Continental Travel Contact tires are the
way to go.
This versatile 10 liter folding bowl will make washing up
and
doing laundry a snap.
Each of us will be carrying a dry bag to store and protect
our
sleeping bags and mats.
Whisper Lite
Stove runs on a variety of fuels from petrol to
propane and is lightweight and compact.
electronics.
Medion
96400 notebook computer
for updating our web site while we're on the road and storing
useful travel information.
- Medion Notebook
Computer 96400
notebook computer
- Mobile phone
- Jenoptik digital
camera
