This is a summary of some of our main items of equipment. We’ve also mentioned some of the less obvious items recommended by other cyclists or which we think may be useful. If you would like more detail on specific items or feedback on how our choices functioned, then contact us and we will try our best to help out...

 
Bike and fittings
Kona Sutra touring bike (supplied with Avid BB7 disk brakes, FSA Megaexo crank and BB, Mavic A317 rims and DT Swiss 14g spokes), Tortec Expedition pannier rack (stainless-steel, max load 40kg, modified connections...see below), Ortlieb back rollers (with additional strengthening... see below), Axiom Cyclone bar bag (with waterproof map-cover), Continental Travel Contact 37c foldable tyres, SKS Hybrid mudguards (sturdy chromoplastic with added skirt on front guard), Specialized Phat wrap (including shaped gel-inserts for extra padding), USE Sumo Shokpost (27.2 with adjustable travel), Shimano PD-M540 pedals

We also added further equipment to suit our individual requirements:
S: Specialised Alias saddle, Cateye Micro Wireless computer
C: Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow saddle, Rohloff Speedhub (14-speed internal gear hub)

Simon's Specialised Alias "man-friendly" saddle

Rohloff Speed hub 14-speed internal gear hub

Craig's Selle Italia Flite Gel flow saddle

                                   
Tools and spares
Spare tyre, 2 spare tubes, puncture kit (with plenty of patches), tyre levers, mini-pump (with flexible hose), brake cable, gear cable, spare spokes, spare allen bolts (of every description!), extra chain-links, cassette tool, adjustable spanner, disk brake pads, chain lube,cable ties...

S: Crank Bros Multi-Tool 19 (incl. chain breaker, spoke wrench, etc); Leatherman Juice S54 multi-plier (incl. cork-screw!)
C: Topeak Multi-tool; Gerber Suspension multi-plier, extra short spokes (for the Rohloff rear wheel!) 

To save weight we will have some spares sent to us at the half-way point, such as: 2 tyres each and chain/cassette for Simon.
We also won’t be taking a chain whip on the road, as this can be substituted by using the existing chain or by gripping the cassette with a glove, providing the cassette hasn’t been tightened too much!

Electronics
Zaptag USB bracelet (for emergency medical records & critical data), TechTrail Altitech 2 (compass, altimeter, barometer), Gerber Triode head torch (single AA battery!), SUNLINQ Solar Panel with various connectors incl. USB (for cameras, phone, PDA, IPOD, AA/AAA battery charger)

S: Casio Exilim digital camera with 3x optical zoom
C: Ricoh Caplio R5 digital camera with equivelent 28-200mm lens

To add longevity to our Ortlieb bags, knowing how much they'll be bouncing around on those racks, we've added a second hook to each (to allow for a fully locking fit to the rack - also a good anti-snatch/theft device!) and an extra layer of plastic to the rack-side of the bag (to reduce abrasion on the fabric)


In order to fit the Tortec racks to our bikes and avoid clashing with the disk-brakes, we have used a bracketed set-up that allows the rack to sit clear of the brake. (We hope to get some purpose-made brackets manufactured before we depart, to further strengthen this connection) The mudguards also need slight modification, easily done with a bit of creative bending! Why didn't we go for a commercially available disk-friendly rack? Quite simply, as they're all aluminium we didn't feel they'd last the trip as well as the stainless ones would...we'll see!

                      
modified mudguard/rack-mounting                                      mounting bracket with spacers                                           shortened mounting stays

contact us at cairo2capetown@gmail.com 

sponsored by www.KONAworld.uk.com & www.PaligapLtd.co.uk & www.Zaptag.co.uk

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