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Total weight including bike and water: 45kg (each)

The Bedroom (individual kit):

  • Hilleberg Akto One Man Tents (excellent and light weight) link to full review
  • Macpac Névé Sleeping Bags (excellent, very warm and light weight) link to full review
  • Silk Sleeping Bag Liners (very useful)
  • Ultralite Thermarests (good but puncture easily) link to full review
  • Inflatable Travel Pillow (SO good! Picked them up in Germany)
  • Lifesystems Mosquito Net (not used them yet)
  • Ear Plugs (essential piece of kit)

The Chemist (individual kit):

  • Lifesystems Travel Medical Kit (plus extra needles and syringes)
  • Lifesystems Dental Repair Kit
  • Anti-Malarial Medication
  • Antibiotics
  • Ibuprofen
  • Nurofen
  • Paracetemol
  • Imodium
  • Rehydration Sachets
  • Vermox Worms Medication (nice!)

The Kitchen (mostly group kit):

  • MSR Dragonfly Stove (good but needs cleaning regularly) link to full review
  • MSR Cooking Pan Set (scratches easily)
  • MSR Fuel Bottle
  • Lighter
  • Waterproof Matches
  • Plastic Bowl
  • Plastic Mug
  • Knife, Fork and Spoon
  • Katadyn Pocket Water Filter (A great but expensive piece of kit) link to full review
  • Iodine Water Purification Tablets
  • Platypus 2 litre water carrier
  • Ortlieb 2 litre water carrier

Other Stuff (mostly individual kit):

  • Mini Headtorches (white LED ones!)
  • Swiss Army and Leatherman Pocket Knives
  • Dog Dazer (possibly the best piece of kit we have. SO useful) link to full review
  • Wash Kit
  • Toilet Paper
  • International Bath Plug
  • Ear Plugs
  • Mini Sewing Kit
  • Lonely Planet Guidebooks ("Eastern Europe" and "Istanbul to Kathmandu". They've been useful)
  • Lonely Planet French Phrasebook (?) (That was Matt's idea, not ours!)
  • Local Maps
  • Playing Cards

Techno-Geeky Stuff (individual kit and group kit):

  • Psion Series 5mx Computers with software, extra memory and sound recording capabilities (excellent)
  • JVC GR-DVP3 Digital Camcorder (excellent - all movies and pictures on this site are taken with this)
  • Pentax ME Super SLR Camera (with slide film) (good but heavy)
  • Olympus mju II Compact Camera (with print film) (good)
  • Suunto Watch (with altimeter and compass) (but the battery has run out! Can't find any more)
  • Mobile Phone
  • Spare AA Batteries

    Note: the web site is updated by Adrian at internet cafes along the road. Dreamweaver, Fireworks, PsiWin and REAL Producer software is installed where needed to create these pages. Updates and sound files are written and recorded on the Psion handhelds and then downloaded at the cafe using a serial cable. Photos and movies are created on the camcorder and downloaded using a USB cable. No problems to date have been encountered on this.

The Office (individual kit):

  • Passport
  • Insurance Documents
  • E111 Health Insurance Form (for Europe only)
  • Notebook and Pens
  • Permanent Marker
  • Additional Passport Photos
  • VISA Cards
  • Foreign Currency and Travellers Cheques

The Wardrobe (individual kit):

  • 2 Pairs Cycling Shorts
  • Pair Padded Cycling Underwear
  • Pair Normal Shorts
  • 4 Short Sleeved T-Shirts
  • Long Sleeved T-Shirt
  • Lightweight Fleece Jacket
  • Gore Windproof Sleeveless Top
  • Karrimor Vail Goretex Paclite Jacket (great)
  • Karrimor Waterproof Trousers
  • Thermal Underwear
  • 3 Sets of Underwear
  • 3 Pairs Cycling Socks
  • Pair Seal Skinz Waterproof Socks
  • Ron Hill/Polaris Cycling Trousers
  • Lightweight Trousers
  • Cycling Gloves
  • Waterproof Gloves
  • Helmet
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Shimano MO58 Cycling Shoes (very good)
  • Sandals

The Bikes (individual kit):

  • Dawes "One Down" Reynolds 653 Steel Frames with CrMo Forks (great)
  • Shimano LX/Deore mix groupset
  • SRAM PC48 Chains
  • Shimano UN72 Bottom Brackets
  • Time ATAC Pedals
  • 26" Mavic/Alex Rims with LX/Deore Hubs - 32 and 36h
  • Schwalbe Marathon Tyres with Schwalbe Tubes (OK but wear quickly. Replaced tyres in West Turkey)
  • Shimano/Tektro V-Brakes
  • Ritchey Seatpost
  • WTB and Rolls Saddles (Rolls saddle is the best. WTB are ok)
  • 3 Bottle Cages
  • 3 Bottles (2 x 1 litre, 1 x 0.5 litre)
  • WTB Grease Guard Aheadsets
  • KF Stem
  • Cannondale Handlebars
  • Titec Bar Ends
  • Trip Computer
  • Rear View Mirror
  • Silly Horn (Matt only!)
  • Tubus Cargo and Tara Steel Pannier Racks (very, very good. Not heavy either)
  • Vaude World Cycle and World Tramp Waterproof Panniers (fine)
  • D-Lock and Cable Locks

The Workshop (individual kit and group kit):

  • Park, Topeak and Cool Tool Multi Tools
  • Spoke Key
  • Locktite
  • Chain Lube
  • Grease
  • Tyre Levers
  • Puncture Repair Kits
  • Spare Schwalbe Marathon Tyre
  • Spare Inner Tubes
  • Spare Spokes
  • Spare Cables
  • Spare Bolts
  • Zip Ties
  • Insulating Tape