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Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Posted: 20 May 2014, 3:08pm
by Psamathe
Another thought: Something you said suggested you were new to cycling (or returning to cycling). Do all you can to learn about maintaining/repairing your bike 'cos I suspect bits will wear out/break. And you may have to "make do" with whatever parts you can source locally.

Ian

Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Posted: 20 May 2014, 11:00pm
by Jamesjohnson
Thanks guys. Day 1 was a success. Didn't go even half the distance that I expected but that's ok. Went from London to around Maidstone. The bike is heavy and hills are tough, but in satisfied.

My parents surprised me. My dad and brother joined me for the day and mum drove out to meet us. A small pub where we stopped has offered us a space in the beer garden to pitch the tent.

Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Posted: 21 May 2014, 8:56am
by Bike-Rich
Well done,

What kind of device are you using for web/blog use?

Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Posted: 26 May 2014, 11:33am
by Jamesjohnson
Hey!

One week down, 51 to go. Getting to Paris today. The weather is horrible but the road is treating us well and we managed 90km yesterday.

Also, the first blog of the trip is up. Check it out at www.
http://jamesvsworld.com/2014/05/24/i-may-be-some-time/

Bike-Rich wrote:Well done,

What kind of device are you using for web/blog use?


Hey Rich. I'm using an iPhone and a notebook laptop.

Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Posted: 26 May 2014, 6:18pm
by Weimarunner
Well done James, keep it up. I've just followed you on twitter so I'll look out for your updates.
How are you getting on with the bike, are you finding it comfortable, is there any changes you'd consider?

Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Posted: 26 May 2014, 6:43pm
by Jamesjohnson
Weimarunner wrote:Well done James, keep it up. I've just followed you on twitter so I'll look out for your updates.
How are you getting on with the bike, are you finding it comfortable, is there any changes you'd consider?


Hey Weimarunnner. Thanks for following @jamesvsworld.

So far the bike (Dora) is doing really well. I've ah a few problems with gears slipping and will probably need to replace the cassettes before I leave Europe but right now it's manageable. The Brooks saddle is amazing. I was riding my brother's bike and it was very painful and a friend who was cycling with us said his was awful too. I rarely even think about the saddle, even after a full days riding. I've also had no problems with the wheels or tires. I'm very happy but I might reward her with a service soon, either in a shop or by someone on the road who knows bikes better than I do.

Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Posted: 5 Jun 2014, 1:10pm
by Jamesjohnson
Hello Everyone,

The trip is gouing well and I'm now in my second week. No bike trouble so far and I've only had to roll out of the way of one lorry after falling off my bike due to some very dodgy paving and my bad steering.

Please take some time to check out my newest blwww.jamesog from the road, all about my surprise cycling companion, my brother, who sneakily packed a passport and sleeping bag when he offered to join me on my first day cycling out of london.

http://jamesvsworld.com/2014/06/05/o-br ... -art-thou/

Thanks, I hope you enjoy reading.

Also, if there is anyhting else you want me to write about as I do this trip around the world, please ask, you are my link to the cycling community and I'd love to know what you'd love to know.

Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Posted: 5 Jun 2014, 2:32pm
by tyreon
Take it easy...you'll reach the goal faster.

Skills for earning ££ and friends and so-on: TEFL sounds good. I always thought if you could give someone a decent haircut you could earn a few bob. Still,you're on the road now.
2 magic tricks: always amuses and fascinates people...unless,say,yer in Africa...and they take it you are a sorcerer.
2 funny jokes...to tickle peoples fancy
Some pics of yer family or house to show people your relatives,your home
A sunny disposition...to welcome adversity and make new friends(unfortunately I've bin cursed with an English disposition: cloudy and gloomy with rare breaks of sunshine)
Contentious(said with Ricky Gervais humour): another countries flag: us Brits and the US nationals aren't be the most popular pups in the world. (Oh,hold on...the queues at Calais to get in contradict me)
Flexibility: you're young,you'll have that already.
And...enjoy yourself! Don't let the goal become the chore

Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Posted: 7 Jun 2014, 12:01am
by vinyl_theif
Hi James.

The Iranian 'guide' requirement is unfortunately for Canadian and British citizens. Also recent changes from Pakistan means the visa has to be obtained only in one's home country so with a double blow like that - unless you're prepared to be followed by said guide, and pay for all his cost's, and have the pre-arranged Pakistan visa then the route is definitely closed.

I'm presently 3/4 weeks into my tour to Singapore and six months ago started my 'homework', and in April still both iranianvisa.co.uk and persianvoyages.com confirmed this. So have since re-plotted going to Georgia, Azerbaijan, over the Caspian sea and through the Stans into China...and hopefully through Tibet or Nepal into India to effectively gt back en-route!

mark.

Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Posted: 7 Jun 2014, 8:02am
by BeeKeeper
This journal covers cycling through Iran. It doesn't mention the need for guides. Might be worth contacting the author for their comment. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o= ... 13804&v=KO

Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Posted: 7 Jun 2014, 10:31am
by khain
You need a guide for Tibet too unfortunately.

Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Posted: 7 Jun 2014, 5:26pm
by vinyl_theif
Thanks BeeKeeper, I also publish a duplicate copy of my blog on CGOAB and had seen these two a while back. They acquired their visa's just before the political situation changed for us Brits (and Canadians) earlier this year.
I'll just keep Iran & Pakistan on my 'to-do' list for another time...along with all the other places!!

mark.

Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Posted: 7 Jun 2014, 5:52pm
by BeeKeeper
Still a battle between the hardliners and moderates going on in Iran I think. I'm not very optimistic.

Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Posted: 9 Jun 2014, 12:05pm
by hondated
James I am guilty of following your progress on here but as yet have not been on your blog so once this is written I will go on there.Well going by what I have read you have done the hardest bit in actually setting off so its all downhill now.
How you get your head around sorting out visa's is beyond me.It just seems so difficult. I have really posted to make you aware of two other sites you can get help or information from if and when you need to. One crazyguyonabike you probably know about but the other probably not.It is called horizons unlimited. Unfortunately I do not know how to link them on my phone so if anyone can please do so. I look forward to reading your future reports. I once met a cycle tourist author who had cycled through Columbia who was now approaching his forties who had done it in his twenties and he said to me that now he did not think that he would have the nerve to do it.So you are definitely spot on in setting off for sure.
Enjoy every pedal stroke because mundanity will come soon enough.

Re: First EVER Tour! (and I'm going RTW)

Posted: 14 Jun 2014, 5:14pm
by Jamesjohnson
Hey!

After battling over the Alps for the last few days I have finally made it with my brother. Unfortunatly, he has suffered a second ankle injury and so will not be able to continue.

Please have a read of my newest blog post on JamesVsWorld - http://jamesvsworld.com/2014/06/14/mountains-they-look-flatter-on-paper/

Hope you enjoy it. Please share and comment if you do, and tell me if you don't.

Thanks guys.