| A bike is a wonderfully elegant creation-true | | | | pedaling-the shank reduces the flexing of a normal |
| technological genius.A well-made bike can take you | | | | shoe or runner. Biking shoes reduce the strain on |
| thousands of trouble-free miles. When it does break | | | | your feet, and happy feet are good things to have |
| down, even the most mechanically challenged can | | | | on a long trip.Biking gloves make those hundreds of |
| repair it. The near universality of bikes-even in | | | | miles easier on the hands. Even on paved roads (and |
| countries like Bangladesh-means parts and skilled | | | | certainly off-road) there can be a lot of jarring. You |
| repairmen are readily available-at reasonable rates.I | | | | can get the ones that enclose the whole hand or the |
| use a 21-speed Norco with DX gearing and a light | | | | ones that leave the fingers free. Either type is good |
| frame, a pannier rack on the rear with two panniers, | | | | as long as they have good thick padding in the |
| mud guards on rear and front, bell, two water bottles | | | | palms.One thing that I didn't bring on my first trip |
| with corresponding attachment points, flat bars with | | | | was a pair of proper biking shorts. This was a very |
| extension grips, a bike lock, reflectors, a tool kit (see | | | | big and painful mistake-don't go without proper bike |
| below), a helmet, biking shoes, a spare inner tube, | | | | shorts. The Lycra type with thick padding in the |
| and biking gloves.ASIDE: With the exception of the | | | | crotch and bum areas is the best.I didn't bring a bike |
| extension bars I strongly recommend all this | | | | computer the first time. Get one as you will want to |
| equipment-the bell and helmet are legislated in some | | | | know how far and how fast you are going. Using the |
| countries. Extension bars are only required if you | | | | bike computer in conjunction with a daily mileage log |
| purchase a mountain or hybrid bike-they allow you to | | | | will help you plan your itinerary-point to point-and of |
| hunker down, making you more streamlined. A road | | | | course will allow you to exactly state how many |
| bike does not require the extension bars. DX refers | | | | hundreds of miles your journey has taken |
| to Shimano's middle cost range for bike gearing-not | | | | you.Panniers (portable suitcases for bikes) fit on |
| bad but not the best. My Norco is a hybrid-a cross | | | | either side of your back rack. Do not go cheap on |
| between a road bike and a mountain bike. A limited | | | | them as they are carrying all your worldly goods. |
| budget with a desire for flexibility-to ride on paved | | | | Bring small garbage bags to stuff your clothes |
| roads and in wilderness areas-made the purchase of | | | | into-then into the pannier-as well as Ziplocs for your |
| a hybrid clear to me. The cost for the bike and listed | | | | food, because panniers are water-resistant but not |
| accessories was $780 CDN-still about the same in | | | | waterproof.Front and rear fenders may not look chic |
| 2006.ASIDE: I never rode my bike on any rough | | | | but they are extremely effective at preventing |
| terrain, always on paved or good gravel roads. I | | | | water/mud going up your back or in your face.I |
| never regretted my selection and used the same | | | | strongly recommend that you bring a small bike tool |
| bike on other long-distance tours as well as around | | | | kit. Most bike stores sell these kits. They usually |
| my hometown-to this very day. I will not get | | | | consist of four or five Allen wrenches (hex heads), a |
| technical about bikes but will give you some sound | | | | fork and pedal wrench, a tire repair kit, and a spoke |
| advice. Get as much bike as you can afford but | | | | wrench. I augment the kit with a plastic bottle of |
| never buy a cheap one-medium- to high-quality only. | | | | bike grease for the chain, a chain breaker to join the |
| Cheap department store bikes cannot take the | | | | chain together if it breaks, a bike pump, two spare |
| punishment of a long-distance tour and you will have | | | | spokes, and a spare inner tube. A small book on basic |
| nothing but problems-problems that will eat at your | | | | bike repair would be advisable-there are plenty of |
| soul and pocketbook. The threshold for medium bikes | | | | those around. Bike repair is not rocket science and is |
| varies, with a bottom of around $350 (US or CDN | | | | very easy to learn and do.The need for a water |
| dollars). Spending more, if you can afford it, makes | | | | bottle should be obvious to anyone but the need for |
| very good sense, as a good bike will last for | | | | two may not. The more water you have and drink |
| decades.ASIDE: Expensive bikes are attractive | | | | the less dehydrated you will be. Dehydration can be a |
| targets for thieves all over the world. If you do buy | | | | serious health risk-especially when you are exerting |
| one, you'll have to be more vigilant than you might | | | | yourself. Even low levels of dehydration can affect |
| like-certainly extra security precautions are in order. A | | | | your strength and, therefore, your pedaling speed. |
| few words about accessories:Biking shoes are a good | | | | Two bottles and/or a Camelback give you enough |
| buy even if you only plan one long-distance tour in | | | | water to maintain hydration between stops.Alex G. |
| your life. They are constructed with a steel shank, | | | | Landels is the author of 'Bike Guru Dairies: Travels in |
| which means you can impart more energy into your | | | | Europe'. |