Each month we publish a tip of the month and this comes straight from our site:
So, sorry if it is way too long and repeating other tips already posted, but I don't believe in re-inventing the wheel if you know what I mean
A lot of the tips are leaning more towards the long-term tourer
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Bear-proofing
Camping in a spot with no food cache? Then, here's a tip, besides the tedious hanging your food bags between two trees solution:
If a rubbish bin is in close vicinity, then open up the back (you'll need two hands for this operation) and underneath where the rubbish bags hang is enough space to store your food overnight without it getting contaminated by the rubbish that comes in from the front.
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A FlatOut Tupperware Treat
The Tupperware FlatOut™ 3-Cup Container has come in so handy during our travels, that we thought we had better share the secret with everyone. They are expandable airtight containers that flatten to a disc for easy lightweight transport when not in use. There are different sizes but we found the 3-cup (700ml) variety to be the best for us. Being expandable, also means it has three different sizes for storing the left over rice dinner or salad that can be enjoyed the next day while on the road.
Just take a look at the storage section on the Tupperware site for more details.
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Best travel value valve...
There are lots of debates about which valve type is better and we don't really want to enter into that debate, but as far as travelling in out of the way places and in not so westernised countries, it is better to take the common car valve tube (Schrader) along for the ride.
There are a couple of reasons why we recommend this:
1. You can purchase these tubes nearly everywhere in the world. Biggest bonus!
2. You can pump them up with air everywhere at petrol stations, tyre establishments, bike and motorcycle repair shops. This valve is truly universal!
3. Once you have the car valve fitted, then the hole in your rim will accomodate all other tube types, whereas the French valve (or Presta), for example, won't.
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wet boots!
It's all a bit of a common sense thing really, but seeing as we had to use this antidote yet again, after the skies opened up on us in Malaysia, we thought we'd share it with you too:
Basically, if your shoes are wet, stuff them full, (and I do mean to the brim), with tightly screwed up balls of newspaper. The paper absorbs the moisture quite quickly, so be sure to check them after a few hours and see if you need to replace the wet with fresh paper. Furthermore, if they are not completely dry the next day and you have to wear them, then line them with a few pages of neatly folded newspaper. Much better than wet socks, I can tell you and helps dry them out as well.
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pillow equipment stabiliser
It was always a toss up whether we would take a pillow along or not on this trip. Comfort won out and amazingly enough, the super small and lightweight Yeti pillow gives just that little bit of angled support that it really does makes all the difference to your night's sleep.
And, as time went on we found a dual role for this little creature comfort...
After trying all sorts of foam padding, which works well, but does take up a lot of space, I now pack my camera in the pillow, which fits perfectly double folded around the equipment, in my handlebar bag.
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recycled reflectors
Anyone who has travelled in Asia will have seen this numerous times before:
Old cd's used as bicycle reflectors. I only use one on the back of my Ortlieb dumpsack which I think is enough, but I've seen wheel spokes completely filled with discs. Another popular spot is to attach one behind the usual back red reflector for added visibility.
I made a custom ripzip (velcrose) strap so I can attach it to my ocky straps or anywhere else on my luggage.
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Thermarest chair: not just a campers best friend!
Time to giveTherm-a-rest a plug. Not only have we experienced some of the most curtious and quick remedy service but their Lite Chair kit has become a faithful friend even away from the campsite. For long term camping phanatics, they are a must and the dilema of "which position to sit in next" is solved immediately. The chair, being filled with your thermarest matress is also insulated and will provide a warm comfortable seat in the most uncomfortable of places.
Outside the camping field, we have used them in hotel rooms without chairs or with chairs that we didn't dare put our bums on. But it truly outdid itself when I recently had back problems: it supplied me with a very supportive, back-relaxing seat.
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multi purpose shower cap
And you always thought that a shower cap was nothing more than to keep grandma's hair dry
while she was under the shower. Well you are wrong...
Of course, grandma still uses hers, but cyclists can make use of them too.
Perfect for keeping your seat dry while you're not sitting on it.
For extra waterproof on your handlebar bag and even your day bag in a downpour.
Available world wide for almost nothing in an amazing assortment of colours.
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Take your spares to India!
Although we only travelled in the north of India, we imagine that finding specific parts is difficult all over the subcontinent, even though there is a bike shop to be found in the smallest of villages. Any of the bike bazaars in the bigger towns had only kit bikes and everything was of a pretty poor quality or completely different sizing to our mountain bikes. No car tyre valves or French valves on their tubes either, so, if that's your fancy then bring them with you. There is a chain of Firefox Bike Stations throughout India, stocking Trek bikes and associated parts so this could be an option in the future.
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Smelly Tevas?
Tevas are renowned for stinking. So if this happens to you, soak them overnight in a bucket of reasonably concentrated Dettol solution. Can't hurt to give them a bit of a scrub in the stuff as well.
Should stay pretty fresh for at least a month.
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when the ergon-grips wear out...
I think most people that use ergon grips or similar brands have felt the benefits while touring. We both have fitted the GP-1 series on our bikes. After a little more than a year of cycling however, they were wearing pretty thin on the top side and although the manufacturers will surely dissuade you from doing this, we decided to turn them over and see if the grips had the same supportive effect on the reverse side.
Turns out they worked perfectly, however they did take a few days.to wear-in, but then again, so would a completely new set. We cycled happily with them up until last month, when we both decided it was definitely time to replace our well weathered grips. That was an extra years worth of riding and all in all we cycled with them for a total of 26 months.
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the everyday cotton tea-towel for multiple uses
Okay, you are thinking, what do you need a tea-towel for with all that microfibre out there these days?
Well actually, some things are just good the old fashioned way and our cotton tea-towel, a seasoned 6 years old when we left, has remained strong throughout its further 2 year bashing on the road.
So, we use it roadside as a picnic cloth, for making sandwiches on or just plain sitting on. It hangs almost permanently from a bungi cord on the back of my bike so it's always accessible and this is how it usually dries as well. Also, when preparing pasta or rice, we cook it halfway through and then wrap the saucepan in the towel for the other half of the cooking (soaking) process and while we get the sauce ready. It keeps the pot piping hot. And then at the end of the day, it works well for drying your dishes as well.
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