Where were we? I had a plan, the paperwork and a bike. But I had no equipment, and more importantly nowhere to put the equipment even if I had it! Time for more research.
First the bike. Those of you in the know are aware that there are a number of companies that make equipment for "overlanding" on bikes. As with anything, sorting through the huge amount of information and opinion is quite a task. I decided that I needed to:
1. Make the bike more rugged for off road riding.
2. Have somewhere secure to put my posessions.
3. Increase the fuel range, as there are large distances between fuel stops in some of the countries I was planning on going through.
Tougher footpegs, gear lever and rear brake lever were required together with handlebar risers to make standing up more comfortable. New tyres were neeeded, a set of "knobblies" from Continental would fit the bill.
I decided on aluminium panniers for the bike, as they can be locked (useful for keeping light fingered members of the community from pilfering your stuff!). They would also protect the bike and my legs in the event of a fall (something that I saw as inevitable).
I also decided to get a long range fuel tank for the bike. Although this was a rather expensive option I figured that it was better than having a number of jerry cans dangling off the back of the bike as I sped across the desert like Lawrence of Arabia! (It also had the advantage of making the bike look better!)
For navigation assistance I would require a GPS together with a mount to attach it to the bike.
With my shopping list decided I set to work ordering the bits. It was 3 months before the off date, plenty of time! Or so I thought!....
I managed to get hold of most of the bits pretty easily, but 4 weeks before the date I was due to leave I still had not received my panniers and fuel tank! As each promised delivery date came and went I began to get worried, and I was tearing my hair out with frustration. Everything that I had read about preparing a bike for a major overland trip had been categorical about two things:
1. Never make major alterations to your bike immediately before a trip.
2. Always find time to have a trial run out on the bike before you set off to iron out any last minute problems.
It was becoming increasingly likely that I was going to break both of these cardinal sins!!
Finally, three weeks before I was due to leave, the panniers and tank arrived. All I had to do was to fit them! As I started to dismantle my 5 month old bike I wondered if I had gone completely nuts!Would it ever go back together again, and even if it did go back together would it work, or would I be setting off on my travels on my bicycle instead? With the bike in bits the latter option seemed a distinct possibility!
Work commitments conspired to limit the time that I had at home and with 10 days to go the fuel tank was still unpainted! I rushed down to my local paintshop (Briley Coachworks in Goudhurst, Kent) to ask advice on spray paint for plastic. I obviously portrayed the image of some poor lost soul who was out of his depth and completely clueless, because by the end of my sorry tale the owner of the paint shop had said that he would spray them for me for free!! I could have whooped for joy! In one moment my despair had vanished and been replaced by optimism again! Maybe I would still leave on time!
24 hours later I had the tanks back , they looked excellent. More late nights in the garage saw the tanks and panniers fitted, and then a few days later I had finally wired in a power supply for the GPS, and sorted out a charging system for all the electrical gizmos that I was taking. Five days before my departure date I was finished, all completely untested, but I was finished! Two days before I left I filled the fuel tanks for the first time....they worked!
The bike was ready, I had all my stuff assembled (but not packed!) and I was nervous as hell.
In the meantime however, a major part of my plan had unravelled and had left me with a very big decision to make.........
