Fully Loaded Touring A question frequently asked ‘Do I need a tourer for touring?’ No, not necessarily. There are advantages to tourers Designed to carry a heavy load. Long wheel-base to more stable Multiple hand position The geometry means that it’s more upright. It is possible to make a few adaptations to your bicycle to…… Continue reading What Gear Do I need for Touring?
Author: Susan Doram
I am passionate about cycling and enjoy encouraging others to ride their bicycles. I am a cycle coach and founder member and chair for Leicester Women's Velo and Founder member and club secretary for Ride on Sistas.
I love to encourage others to get active. I am an award wining personal trainer and one of Cycling UK's 100 Women in Cycling 2019.
I've been on numerous cycle tours and have encouraged others to join me. Part of my cycle touring experience has included cycling around the world for just over 2 1/2 years.
Am I Fit Enough to Tour?
Cycle touring is exciting and challenging but without the fitness it will be hell. I know that some people do build up their touring gradually on a very long tour, and this is possible, but it may also mean that you’ll be doing quite short rides initially. It could also mean without the miles and…… Continue reading Am I Fit Enough to Tour?
Lisbon, Madrid, Leicester
My flight from San Francisco to London Heathrow was only $115 and there was the option of having a layover of up to 5 days in Portugal. So of course I stopped off on my way home. I wasn’t really ready to go home. Lisbon I took a real liking to Lisbon. I loved the…… Continue reading Lisbon, Madrid, Leicester
Marin County and Oregon, USA
Apparently there are only two Filbert Streets in the whole-wide world, one is in San Francisco the other is in Leicester. (I’m sure that that’s wrong, but it makes for a good story) This photo was taken in San Francisco around about 1998 with my old university chum Amy. My biggest worry before I started…… Continue reading Marin County and Oregon, USA
Seoul to Busan, South Korea
South Korea was the last country that I would be cycling in on this tour; sadly my cycle tour is coming to an end. Also I’m heading North during the Northern hemisphere’s winter, which admittedly is a bit daft, so it’s getting cooler and I have no intention of cycling in the winter. I knew…… Continue reading Seoul to Busan, South Korea
Around Taiwan
Taiwan is the Bicycle Kingdom where most mid to high end bicycle are made, and where my trusty steed was actually made, so it was meant to be a bit of a home-coming where I thought that I’d meet other Surly cyclists but I quickly realised that most people rode Giant bicycle and that no-one…… Continue reading Around Taiwan
Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand
After completing two weeks of an intensive two week TEFL course in Chiang Mai in Thailand my course provider placed me at a government primary school in Kamphaeng Phet (KPP). KPP is mid way between Chiang Mai and Bangkok; it takes about 5 or 6 hours to get to either city. I was given the…… Continue reading Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand
Cycling Across Thailand
Leaving Cambodia and crossing the border into Thailand of course wasn’t straightforward, I ended up going back and forth between the two countries trying to find the departure office for Cambodia, I finally did find it. Entering Thailand was okay, I really don’t like immigration and at the Thai border the immigration officer did come…… Continue reading Cycling Across Thailand
Cambodia
I arrived in Cambodia via a land border crossing. I’ve realised that land and sea border crossings are always a culture shock for me as I am expecting a gradual transition from one country to another, but so far that hasn’t been the case. I managed to avoid the passport control scams on the Vietnamese…… Continue reading Cambodia
Susan Doram 