The Daily Fix

I am off on my one and only warm up cycle over easter; the current plan is to head down towards Exmoor, which could be quite an ordeal based on this weather forecast! (yes, SNOW!!).  More on that another time.


Anyway, the ride is my first and last chance to try out all my new gear.  My biggest concern about the USA cycle trip is being able to make a good coffee each morning.  I figured it was worth giving it a go at home before I set off to ensure I am not waking up to a sub-standard coffee over easter weekend and in the states.


The obvious solution is to make instant coffee, but I like my coffee.  There are options for ground coffee on a bike, the Handpresso was a particular favourite of mine.  However, this gucci bit of kit costs £60 and my budget is already stretched, plus the less kit the better.


So, the solution?  I decided to try this technique for making fresh coffee.  In short you stir and reheat the coffee until the grounds have gathered at the bottom of the pot and then just pour off your coffee.  

It worked a treat.


So, the verdict??  I'll let you know; it seems easy enough at home, but as with most things it's a whole different story out on the road.  One thing is for sure, I need a new cup as this one tasted of rubber!


Thanks www.travellingtwo.com for the recipe.

My Kit has arrived!!!!

The excitement levels are growing in Corner to Corner HQ as I have assembled most of my kit in the past few weeks. 

The Tent

When cycling, one of the biggest concerns with kit is weight (every gram I save is a gram less I will have to haul up to 11,500ft over the Hoosier Pass!!!)

With that in mind, I have a fantastic new tent.  It is an Easton Kilo 2-man tent.  The tent is insane, it has room for me and all my kit, space for me to sit upright…….all that and it is lighter than my (lightweight) sleeping bag!  The major weight saving made in the tent are the carbon fibre poles, so you could say I have the McLaren F1 of the tent world!!  You can read about it here.

So far I have had the tent partly assembled in my living room, but as I don’t have a garden I have been unable to put the tent up properly.  I am hoping I will get chance to take it somewhere this weekend.  Will post some pictures when I’m done.

The Stove

I am also now the proud owner of a multi-fuel gas stove.  The Stove can be run on gas canisters, petrol, diesel, paraffin or even aviation fuel so it will give me plenty of options for how to heat my morning coffee.

I have made myself a coffee and some scrambled eggs on the stove and it was delicious!  This bodes well for my daily consumption of 6,000 calories for three months!!  If you know any good camping recipes please let me know.

My camping kit is from Taunton Leisure, a cracking bunch of people who know their stuff!!  If you are planning any outdoor activities, be it in a weekend in a campsite or an expedition through the Himalayas, Taunton Leisure is the place to look.  (they are also giving away a gore-tex jacket on their facebook page).

So, I hear you ask, what is left to get?  All the big chunks of kit are now purchased, the things I still need to get are the little bits.  I do not have a list of these items and I’m sure it will change as I get closer to the departure date. 

The plan is to take all my equipment on a three day tour of the Chilterns over Easter, see what works and what doesn’t.  Just hope it doesn’t rain too much!

My First Press Appearance!

I have been in touch with ShelterBox about the bike ride, they were very interested in my plans and ran this story on their website. 


This is all starting to seem real now.

The Story Begins...........

the challenge!

I have decided to make a difference in 2012. 

I aim to raise money for, and awareness of, the charity ShelterBox - my target is to raise sufficient funds to purchase 10 complete ShelterBoxes through a series of fundraising events. The main challenge will begin in August 2012 when I set off from Vancouver, and cycle 5,000 miles solo and unsupported to Miami, Florida.

why?

I am supporting the charity ShelterBox in their disaster relief efforts. My aim is to raise sufficient funds to donate 10 complete boxes; £5,900. ShelterBox is a charity whose work is close to my heart and values. They provide an instant response to disasters worldwide, providing emergency shelter & lifesaving supplies to families at a time when they need it most.   

when?

The provisional start date for the Corner to Corner challenge is 6th August 2012.

how?

I will complete the entire journey by bicycle. The bike I will use is a Thorn Raven Tour, designed and built in Bridgewater, Somerset. A rough route will be planned prior to departure, the finer details will be sorted day by day ‘on the road’ to allow flexibility. I will undertake simple maintenance and repairs during the tour, carrying sufficient spare parts to deal with most foreseeable failures. I aim to camp and cook my own meals wherever possible throughout the tour.

I plan to cycle an average of  60 miles per day and expect to burn in the region of 600 calories per hour while cycling; roughly 3,000 calories per day. This is the equivalent energy burnt in running a marathon, every day for 3 months! To maintain my body weight, I will need to eat double what I would normally consume.