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