Welcome to my blog! This is a story
about cycling from Sweden to (South) Africa.

Equipment

My portable home and all the equipment will be carried in waterproof bags that are attached to the bicycle. Items that are needed more often (cooking and clothes) are placed on the left side, because I always step off the bike on that side and lean it against the other: Hence, my “home” will roughly be organized in the following manner:

Left front bag: Kitchen
Right front bag: Workshop

Left rear bag: Wardrobe
Right rear bag: Bedroom

Rear rack: House (Tent)
Handlebar bag: Office

Bicycle

  • Frame: Thorn Nomad Mk2 590M
  • Rims: 26″ and 32 holes. Ryde Sputnik CSS in front and Ryde Andra 30 CSS back
  • Spokes: Sapim Race
  • Forks: Reynolds
  • Gearing: Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 Black Anodised 32h with disc fitting
  • Front-hub: Shimano 105 HB-5700
  • Brakes: Shimano Deore XT T780 V-brakes
  • Bottom bracket: SKF BAS-600 113mm
  • Cranks: Sugino XD 170mm
  • Chainring: 38t
  • Sprocket: 16t
  • Chain: Wippermann Connex 7R8
  • Handlebar: Modolo Yuma Traveller
  • Headset: FSA Orbit XL II
  • Seatpost: Thorn
  • Stem: Cavo 100 mm, +/-7°
  • Saddle: Brooks Flyer Special
  • Pedals: Shimano PD A530
  • Tires: Schwalbe Marathon Mondial Evo Folding 2” and Panaracer Pasela TourGuard 1.75” (for Europe)
  • Mudguards: Gilles Berthoud 60mm (stainless steel)
  • Front rack: Tubus Duo
  • Back rack: Tubus Cargo
  • Kickstand: Pletscher ESGE Multi
  • Bottle cages: 1 x Topeak Modula XL Adjustable Bottle Cage and 2 x Topeak Shuttle Alloy
  • Brake pads: SwissStop RX Brake Pads Blue Sky
  • Other stuff: Hebie Chainglider, combined bell with compass

Bicycle Accessories

  • Back panniers: Ortlieb Back-Roller Classic Anniversary Edition “Around the World”
  • Front panniers: Ortlieb Front-Roller Classic
  • Handlebar bag: Ortlieb Ultimate 5 Classic L + map case + extension block
  • Bicycle lock: ABUS GRANIT Futura + wire
  • Helmet
  • Mirror
  • Bicycle computer: CatEye CC-MC200W Micro Wireless Cycle Computer
  • Pump: Blackburn AirStik AnyValve Mini Pump
  • Bicycle bottles
  • Extra quick release chain link
  • Extra brake pads
  • Extra sprockets
  • Extra spokes
  • Extra tubes
  • Repair kit for flats
  • Tire levers
  • Screws & nuts
  • Bungee cords
  • Bicycle multi-tool
  • Sprocket removal tool
  • Chain link removal tool and spoke key
  • Rohloff oil kit
  • Ortlieb plastic insets

Cooking

  • Stove: MSR Dragonfly (multi-fuel) + cleaning kit
  • QuietStove 107 with professional nickel plating
  • Pot: Primus Eta Pot 1,8L
  • Pan: Optimus Terra Frying Pan
  • Fuel bottle: MSR 650 ml
  • Spice/oil jars
  • Foldable cup
  • Sporks
  • Fire steel: Light My Fire Army 2.0

Sleeping

  • Tent: MSR Hubba Hubba
  • Sleeping mat: Exped SynMat 7 Pump DLX
  • Sleeping bag: Marmot Arroyo Left Long
  • Sheet: Cocoon Ripstop Expedition Liner XL
  • Pillow: Western Mountaineering Cloudrest Pillow + pillow-case
  • Mosquito net: Sea To Summit Mosquito Net Single Permethrin

Electronics

  • Laptop: Acer Aspire One 725 11.6″
  • Techtrail AltiTech 2 (barometer, altimeter, compass, thermometer, clock etc)
  • Headlamp: Black Diamond Spot
  • Music: iPod Nano 16GB
  • Headphones: Koss PortaPro + Apple EarPods
  • Portable speaker: X-mini II
  • 3 x SanDisk Cruzer Fit USB 32 GB (to backup photos and videos)
  • Mobile phone + international SIM card (TravelSim)
  • Chargers

Photography

  • Camera: Canon EOS 550D
  • Normal lens: Tamron AF 17-50mm f/2.8 SP XR Di-II VC LD Aspherical (IF)
  • Tele lens: Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS II
  • Memory card: 2 x Transcend SDHC 8GB ultra high speed (class 6)
  • Tripod: Hama Star 61
  • Other stuff: Wireless remote control, lens hoods, uv filters and extra battery

Clothes

  • Bicycle gloves
  • Bicycle shorts: Craft Active Shorts
  • Bicycle pants: Craft AR Tights
  • Buff (multifunctional headwear in merino wool)
  • Fleece jacket
  • Gore Helmet Cap
  • Shell jacket: Norrøna Bitihorn Gore-Tex Active Jacket
  • Rain pants: Tierra Pac Pant
  • Swimming shorts
  • Favourite pants & favourite shirt
  • T-shirts
  • Underwear & socks
  • Converse shoes
  • Bicycle shoes (SPD)
  • Flip-flops

Documents

  • Passport
  • Mission statement letter
  • Insurance card
  • Vaccination certificate
  • Embassy telephone numbers
  • Medicine list
  • Copies of the above

Health

  • Antibiotics
  • Antihistamine
  • Compresses & plasters
  • Malaria pills
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Painkillers
  • Sunscreen + sun stick with high SPF
  • Tiger balm

Miscellaneous

  • Lock blocker
  • Small padlocks
  • 2 x credit cards + security tokens
  • Rock climbing shoes + harness + chalk
  • Books
  • Sea To Summit eVent® Compression Dry Sack M
  • Diary + pen
  • French dictionary
  • Dry bag (used for storing the tent and as a bag for shorters hikes)
  • Duct tape
  • Earplugs
  • Plastic clips
  • Maps
  • Photos from home
  • Multi-tool: Leatherman Blast
  • Strong rope (3 mm)
  • Sunglasses: Fit-overs (polarized)
  • Swedish flag
  • Water bag: MSR Dromedary 10L
  • Water purification: Aquatabs
  • Smaller pack bags: Exped Vista Organiser A6 & Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil View Dry Sack 1 liter
  • Needle & thread
  • Tear-Aid repair patches
  • Fishing equipment
  • Toothbrush & toothpaste
  • Flute