equipment

I'm riding a 60 cm Norco Monterez...I think...I've got trouble figuring out exactly what the decal says on the side. I do have on good authority that it cost about $600 some twenty years ago. I bought it for $200 in the summer. A good price in terms of dollars and therefore in terms of peace of mind. Bertrand Russell says 'It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly.' The more expensive a thing is, the more preoccupied you are with it. In short, I interpret Russell on a sliding scale, and the cheaper things are the freer and nobler you can get with them. Although you can only get so free and noble when buying a bicycle for a tour.

I ying-yanged between Russell-esq princple and common sense when getting the rest of my gear. I bought Schwalbe Marathon plus tires. I went into First Cycle works in London, Ontario, (the only great bike shop in London) and asked for invincible tires, and this is what they gave me. The set I had on my bike were the originals, and they were sore.

I bought front and back racks. The bike was not really designed to carry racks, and they've been professionally jerry-rigged.

I have a MSR whisperlite. I bought it a couple of years ago, and got the standard one instead of the international one. I think the standard is $10 cheaper or something. I'm regretting that savings now. The international is more versatile, and is able to burn kerosene. I'd like to burn kerosene. I'm also bringing a small wok; I want to be able to cook well on the road.

I don't have a tent. I've got a Hennessey Hammock. Which weighs something like 2 lbs. I think a pair of jeans weighs more. But, those savings are lost on the fact that since I've chosen a hammock, I'm afraid of getting too cold and so am bringing a minus 12 sleeping bag. I think I'm going to bring my standard minus 5 bag aswell; it packs smaller. I'll send one back depending on how I feel.