MYOG Handlebar bag

I've just finished sewing this snazzy new handlebar bag for my bike. It is a randonneur-style bag which sits on top of a small rack over my front wheel. It opens towards the rider, so the "front" of the bag faces the rear of the bike. It's a bit smaller than most bags of this style, about 6" x 7" x 5". Construction is of X-pac fabric, with a recycled sailcloth lining. The interior is fully lined, and has a hidden, removable stiffener made of coroplast...

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Tools for a Mobile Bike Shop

Here are the right tools for the job, in my opinion, if the job happens to be an extended bike tour in South America. Many people would carry less, a few would carry more. Of course, there is little point in carrying a tool you don't know how to use! 1) 2x inner tubes 2) adjustable wrench (spanner), fits pedals, axle nuts, crank puller 3) zip ties 4) extra chain links 5) random nuts and bolts (more on frame) 6) spare brake cable (doubles...

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There's Nothing Like the Right Tool for the Job

This one's a bit of a ramble, part philosophy, part documentary. Postyn and my Iceland trip almost went very differently (and badly!) because of lack of a couple key bike tools. We found ourselves pushing our bikes along a rough dirt road in Iceland's interior, the nearest bike shop three day's ride the way we had come. Just walking our bikes through Iceland's interior, as one does My bike was unrideable, and I was without two important tools...

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Independent Living in Cochabamba

Well my title may be a little misleading, as I have not moved out of my host family's home as it may make you think. Here's the fam (plus Lenka, at whose house I spend nearly as much time!) at the SIT farewell dinner:Why a farewell dinner already? You may wonder. Well, we have finally reached the final stage of the program: the month of independent research! The options are pretty much endless for this project, as long as you stay in Bolivia, tell...

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Projects: MYOG tool roll

So this is the first of probably a bunch of posts on similar subjects: this autumn, in preparation for heading down to Bolivia to meet Lucy for our bike trip, I have been working on a bunch of gear/bike/sewing projects. Here is the first of them, a tool roll made of recycled sail cloth. The material is actually from an old ripped Laser sail that we had lying around--it's fun to work with  a fabric that has some history to it! I have made...

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Halloween in Bolivia

Before I begin my Halloween story, here's a photo that captures the general sentiment of our time in the department of Santa Cruz:Photo by Emily Wyler, who collapsed onto the fourth bed immediately after. Also, I finally had cause to take a family photo for the farewell dinner we had this week (the program's not over, just some students are headed to other cities for their independent projects). Here we are:My sister Faby on the left, me, my...

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Long Day Hike

Last weekend, my Dad and I went on a long day hike on the Coast Path. We began walking at 8:30 and walked back to our house, arriving around sunset, 5:00pm. We figure the hike was about 18 (hilly!) miles. Here it is in pictures. We left the car on the side of the road in Crackington Haven Tim looking dapper in khaki shorts. Oh, and a view.  Can't beat the coast path for views. Full time views. The air was hazy, probably because...

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The Other Side of Bolivia Part 2

Well, I'm back to continue the story of my time in the department (read: state) of Santa Cruz. First, a photo of the couple who hosted me in Santa Rita:After our stay in the community of Santa Rita, we made the trek back to the city of Santa Cruz: six sweaty, sticky hours in a bus, where the breeze is life-saving but also barely tolerable because of the hot, humid air that it slams into your face. The initial bus ride to the town had been tolerable...

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Bike Touring Scotland

After returning from Iceland in mid-August, I had a 10 day break from bike touring before heading up to Scotland with my old friend Will. The plan was roughly 3 weeks cycling north along the West Coast and islands, starting in Glasgow. My photo-taking was a bit lax on this trip, so some days I simply didn't take any (worth posting). Consequently, I will do this one a bit differently: one long post with lots of pictures and not much text. Here...

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