Lou x x

We are just over a month away from setting off on our trip and have made some steps forward with our preparations... and my some steps I mean just one!

Last weekend I went on a bicycle maintenance course to learn how to fix brakes (mostly fine), gears (all in working order) and the chain (definitely needs replacing!).

Transport for Greater Manchester is taking some wonderful steps forward to make the city more bike friendly, it is in the process of building separate bike lanes all around the city and they are offering free learn to ride, maintenance and city cycling courses. All free!! 

It really is wonderful to see a city embrace it's cyclist and work together with local shops and communities to get everyone involved. You go Manchester!

A year ago I went on the basic maintenance course with TfGM and Edinburgh Cycles and last weekend I did the intermediate maintenance course with Ceracycloan and both were absolutely fantastic. 

I learnt so much about bikes, met some wonderful ladies and the guys were really helpful and didn't mind our constant insistence for tea breaks (thanks Kate!). 

For me, the biggest thing I learnt was  that I have been using my gears wrong my whole life! Who knew gear ratios were a thing?! In case anyone else is like me, it's supposed to go:

Left Gears               Right Gears
1                                  1 & 2
2                                  3, 4 & 5
3                                  5, 6 & 7

This way the resistance goes up smoothly with out you having to mess around to find the right gear when you change. And you aren't in danger of cross chaining so your chain will last longer,  you can thank me later:)

If you live in Manchester and have a bike definitely get yourself booked on a course, just click here to see the range they have on offer.

Charlie x x

Life in South Sudan is currently 0% inspiration and 100% perspiration as we hit March and the temperature sky rockets into the 40’s! I’ve implemented a self-imposed movement restriction to only go to places with air-con so it’s given me a bit of time to write an update on our preparation.  It’s the 4th of March and a lot of deadlines are coming up very quickly now:

1. I’m leaving South Sudan in 3 and a half weeks.
2. Charlie is leaving  her job in 6 weeks.
3. We’re taking our first pedal in the direction of Hong Kong in exactly 57 days.

So here’s what we’ve been working on:
 
Lou –        Writing sponsorship letters to companies.
Charlie – Updating and tweaking our blog.
Lou –         Searching on ebay for a bike.
Charlie –  Training.
Lou –         Trying to convince Charlie to stop training.
Charlie –  Posting photos of her training.
Lou –         Researching visa requirements to make a comprehensive visa tracker.
Charlie -   Making a kit list and geeking on gear reviews.
Lou –         Thought about going for a run, decided against it.
Charlie –  Plotting a route through Europe on the Eurovelo cycle paths from Rotterdam to Istanbul.
Lou –          Researching the transport in Turkmenistan for the notorious “Dash”
Charlie –  Arranging for friends to stop by and join us for a section – Germany and Austria are looking popular at the moment. If you’re interested get in touch, the more the merrier!
Lou –          Did a purely professional reconnaissance mission to the Austrian Alps to assess snow conditions, mountain incline and gravity-to-gradient ratio to reaffirm our decision to go around the Alps rather than over them.
 
Lou xxx