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