All three of the bikes were extensively serviced prior to departure to the extent that even when wheels were removed for tyres, tubes and tapes, wheel bearings were replaced. It's much easier to do something like this at one's leisure than on a fully loaded up bike in the heat of the noon-day sun somewhere.
Henry made use of his copious panniers to take as many spare as he thought we might need and could manage to squeeze in. On top of this, I had spare cables, tubes, a mini compressor, and as many tools as I could manage. Bill had one of his wife's old leather handbags with a selection of tools, a compact, comb and a lipstick! Now there's confidence for you. He must have thought he was going to get lucky at some point.
Henry and I both had cycle computers fitted to allow for a more accurate record of mileage and speeds etc. We had enough cable ties to tow a small ship, various nuts and bolts and, most importantly, full breakdown and repatriation cover.
We had all bought camping gear. Bill's first atempt at a tent was a £12.99 thing from Argos. It turned out to be the sort of thing you might buy for the kids to use in the garden on a Sunday afternoon. He had a "try-out" in it and found it was more akin to a canvas coffin. Henry and I had also bought weatherproof "stuff bags" which proved invaluable.
Added to that was a liberal amount of bungees, super glue, magic metal, liquid gasket, copper grease, spark plugs, insulating tape, rabbits foot....... and we were good to go.
Henry made use of his copious panniers to take as many spare as he thought we might need and could manage to squeeze in. On top of this, I had spare cables, tubes, a mini compressor, and as many tools as I could manage. Bill had one of his wife's old leather handbags with a selection of tools, a compact, comb and a lipstick! Now there's confidence for you. He must have thought he was going to get lucky at some point.
Henry and I both had cycle computers fitted to allow for a more accurate record of mileage and speeds etc. We had enough cable ties to tow a small ship, various nuts and bolts and, most importantly, full breakdown and repatriation cover.
We had all bought camping gear. Bill's first atempt at a tent was a £12.99 thing from Argos. It turned out to be the sort of thing you might buy for the kids to use in the garden on a Sunday afternoon. He had a "try-out" in it and found it was more akin to a canvas coffin. Henry and I had also bought weatherproof "stuff bags" which proved invaluable.
Added to that was a liberal amount of bungees, super glue, magic metal, liquid gasket, copper grease, spark plugs, insulating tape, rabbits foot....... and we were good to go.
