Some of the Formula 1's can be a bit downmarket and I tend to look for an alternative unless things are really desperate. We used one near Lille last year and as we pulled into the car park, the police were leading someone away in handcuffs. Didn't give a very good first impression. Going one step u...

Pic below shows how cans are mounted. The panniers are DIY so I'm not bothered about wielding the welding torch on them. The cans sit on a V shape bracket welded to the bottom of the frame and are held in place by a couple of small ratchet straps. Prior to the petrol cans I had water bottles in the ...

I have 2 five litre metal jerrycans mounted on the back of my panniers I've toured France quite a bit with them like that and not had any problems. They are however empty as I don't need the extra range in Europe (they're for a coming up West Africa trip)but you wouldn't know that just by looking at...

The dragon rally, Oh yes!

If the Elephant rally = snow, the Dragon rally = mud. A kind of bikers version of Glastonbury!

Guess which pic was taken where:

Any suggestions as to a tube repair kit "best buy"?

Since I started camping (in the 70's) I've tried all sorts of sleeping bags but the main ones have always been down filled. Yes they have problems when they get wet but the advantage of more warmth per pack size has been enough to make me live with that. If you're careful down bags can last a long t...

My current overlanding ride, a CCM604 photographed during a winter trip to the alps. http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r222/pisquick/IMG_0025.jpg Before the CCM, a Honda XR600 - again in overlanding trim. Photographed in Western Sahara http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r222/pisquick/Africa%2004/Af...

Riding in a heavy thunderstorm rates right up there with crashing the bike as something I really try to avoid. Twice I've had lightening strikes come closer than I ever want to experience again when I've been on the bike. First time was in northern Spain about 20 yrs ago when it hit the telegraph wi...

Just to pick this up again, I have a favorite circular route covering three passes in the French Alps. Starting point can be either Bourg d'Oisins or St Michael de Maurienne and it takes you over the Col de Croix de Fer, the Col de Telegraphe and the Galibier. Not particularly long at around 200km b...

Done it four times in the distant past and keep thinking I should go again, but I usually think this in the summer and it never seems such a good idea in January. You should be ok on an outfit, it's the likelyhood of ending up in a ditch (which I've done twice) en route that concentrates the mind. I...