Georghe Zamfir panflute eg 'Lone Shepherd'

Opinion - Don't use one. I've seen a guy with his eye and surrounding tissue cut up real bad, due to a fall he had and the helmet mounted mirror going psycho during the fall. I know this does not answer your original q, but please consider the danger when using a helmet mounted mirror.

You have a lot more control over the light for singletrack with a helmet mounted light, but sometimes the illuminated surfaces can seem flat with no contrast or depth, with virtually no shadow to provide depth of field.

I found the pic of the fork mount:

Topeak and minoura make handlebar risers for lights and computers, but you can also make a cheap one with some reflector brackets and a piece of electrical conduit/plastic pipe.

I used a Minoura handlebar bracket, modified it to mount into the hole in the fork crown, under the handlebar bag.

If the steerer isn't long enough for another stem, you can add a steerer extender that installs like a quill stem and replaces the star nut, you can then add another stem. Can go as high as you like with a high rise stems, ore even adjustable if you want to dial it in. Then add a set of cut down road bars that are clip-on compatible, for the aero bars.

Another instalment of my ultimate adventure on the blog:

http://troyszczurkowski.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/anchored-down-in-anchorage.html

Try one of those retractable keyrings.

Velcro does work pretty well.

You can buy a longer hose and quicklink type of attachment, but you'll have to suck harder to get a drink.

Buy the longer insulated hose if you can, then you can shove a spoke down between the neoprene sleeve and the hose, and bend it to shape to bring the mouthpiece up a bit and hold shape.

Top marks. Very well thought out and executed. 

Ahhh, drool.

Vargo Bot.

Depends on so many factors though whether this system will work for you. Best way is to try it 

Hmm, I just need to find a good work related reason to be in CAN for this...

Topeak Mini 18+ and Leatherman Charge Al. Tools to build a bike from scratch!



Hehe, I keep a first aid kit with my smartphone (a coupla bandaids between the back of the phone and the Otterbox)

Disc trucker or Vaya for dirt/road, El Mariachi for more offroad. I'm not overly familiar with the options you have stateside, but for what we have here, these are the options I recommend as a base for my clients. Definitely Fargo in there too, great setup flexibility IMO. Kona Rove?

Here's my little snow rig:



More here:

http://troyszczurkowski.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/muru-witjira-fatbike-build-for-ultimate.html  part 1
http://troyszczurkowski.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/muru-witjira-fatbike-build-for-ultimate.html  part 2

Outdoor Research 'Cirque' pants. Brilliant technical pant, used them as an outer layer in Alaska and Oregon during a longish trip in Jan/February this year.

Very happy with the stretch, breathability, durability of the fabric, tech features and all round riding comfort. I wore them all day and slept in them for 2 weeks. Grey colour hid the dirt and grime very well. Light insulation factor. Windstop softshell fabric. Tabs on the waist for braces/bib straps. DWR kept off light rain. Long ankle zip, gaiter hook to attach to boot.

Not real packable.

Rate them highly.

I really rate my power monkey extreme, was very happy with the cold weather performance too (of the battery, did not use the panel in the cold - not a lot of sun)

I've used my little explorer on many trips too - small enough to shove the whole lot on the helmet, so you know it's gonna get some sun!

Camcaddy for the cam batteries (panasonic FT2)

You bet.

I haven't had it happen with a GPS and a wireless computer, but have had it happen with wireless computer and a handlebar light. Wireless computers are very susceptible to RF interference so it wouldn't surprise me that a GPS would send it a little loopy. Running a wired computer might be a guaranteed fix.

Yup, what he said.

Were you running any cadence or HR devices with the etrex? Might have caused additional interference. Proximity might also cause some sheilding issues, experiment with relocating the bonty computer closer with better line of sight to speed transmitter.

Wired computers maybe old skool, but they can add a lot of reliability to signal, they rock.

You are absolutely right Addy - we grow up around the fauna in our environment and develop the instinct, respect and knowledge over the years, automatically knowing how to act and understanding where they hang out etc. When in a different country it all seems foreign, and sometimes there is no shortage of locals that will give you false info for a bit of a laugh...'nah mate, those teeth are just for show eh, he's a herbivore, just go pick him up'


Common sense, be aware of your actions and your surroundings in high risk areas. Yes, snakes and spiders do curl up in boots, but they'll only bite you (the snakes/spiders) if you don't shake them (the boots) out before putting them on.  Snakes do curl up in bivvies, swags, tents, bags etc. I've been out riding and had several highly venomous snakes slither across in front of me. I've seen pics of snakes caught up in spinning wheels - the snake has lunged at a rider and become entangled in the wheel. Spiders will cast their webs across paths (look up the golden orb spider - some as big as your hand) and you get caught in the web and wonder where the f$6* the spider is.

Precautions like long pants and/or gaiters if riding in long grasses, watch where you put hands and feet, keep tents/bivvies etc zipped up at all times in risky areas - all the common sense stuff. Research the animals, understand what they're about, you'll work it out from there.

The risks are real (except from the drop-bear), but like most animals they are just going about their daily business of survival.

More animals to consider - feral pigs, wild dog packs (not wolves or dingoes) oh and the old story of the escaped mountain lion from the circus/old US military base. This last one may have merit, many hunters and old timeys in the high country report large felines. We don't have large alpha predators like bears, mtn lions/cougars etc, just crocs, sharks, box jellyfish, stonefish and localism at good surf breaks.


Great vid there Ross of the female, how about Trent to represent the male: (not work safe, language warning!)

Trent from Punchy

Nick Boshier is an actor, but Trent is real.  

Some places are scarier and more dangerous than any animals - ie like LA's Compton, parts of 'multicultural' western Sydney, or many microbeweries in Portland at night

Animals  you may encounter- Emus (may chase you if you disturb them with young) kangaroos (big reds may engage in boxing type behaviour, also some will hop into your path if they are startled, but they are delicious) long haul truckie (long haul truck driver in both male and something that closely resembles a male but may have been female many generations previous) Cassowary (mainly up north, territorial birds similar to emus) snakes and spiders (King brown, red belly black, tiger, Funnel web, redback - too many to mention, I'll leave you to google the joys of our reptile and arachnid collection) crocodiles (yes, they are actually pretty smart and have more chasing stamina than 'gators) the aussie redneck (they come in both male and female genders and closely resemble humans, mostly recognisable by their smell and almost un-intelligible dialect, often greeting each other with 'howzagarnyacarn') Possums and other small marsupials (will steal your food if left out some are bold and cunning like a raccoon) swooping magpies (during nesting season they will swoop riders, will slice open ears and people have lost eyes from encounters) ticks (lyme disease) mosquitoes (ross river fever) sandflies/midges, marchflies/horseflies, leeches, stinging tree (okay, not an animal) B&S uter (cousin/sexual partner of the redneck and nephew/grandfather of the truckie - possible to be all of these roles at same time, but strictly hetero)

Australia is very multicultural, so bring along your stereotypes - they may help you in deciphering the language, the culture (search for spisodes of Housos VS Authority, Swift and Shift Couriers or Fat Pizza to get you up to speed on the vast equality that is multicultural Australia) and your sense of humour. You'll need that.

The UV is killer, so lots of sunscreen and broad brim hat, or cover up. Something about some ozone hole thingy and latitude whatsiname.