CHRIS ROLLINGS PHOTOGRAPHY BENNY LITTLEJOHN
It’s not very often a man looks you dead in the eyes and says that what you’re about to do could kill you. That man was the owner of the Mount Dare Hotel, the last bastion of hope before entering the world’s largest sand dune desert.
We’d already had the ranger try to talk us out of it, found alternatives to our leaking water containers, the crows had got to our food supply, and based on the ranger’s advice we’d decided to change route, adding a few hundred kilometres to our journey. And this was meant to be our rest day…
Ranger Frank, the frank ranger.
OK, let’s back up a little and start with Tim ‘Adventure’ Bondi. I should add this is how Tim is saved on my phone and for good reason. Tim lives for adventure and instigates the most daring trips we go on. He’s full of beans, hard as nails and insanely optimistic. If Tim gives you an estimated distance, double it. Tim is the guy responsible for this trip and the driving force behind making it happen.
The logical and detail-oriented side of Tim’s brain comes in the form of Benny, who we joke keeps us alive. He really does keep us alive (thanks Benny), and is a dead set legend. When Benny’s not working for our charity, Act for Peace, he’s taking photos (like those in this article), which I think you’ll agree aren’t too shabby.
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About Singletrack
We’ve got our usual dose of adventure for you, with three UK based rides to inspire you to hit the trails.
Path of a Prince – Pete Scullion takes us on another historical Coffin Road tour, this time in the wilds of Scotland, in the footsteps of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Trail Hunter – Border Blasting – Tom Fenton heads to the northern fringes of England in search of more of the best trails the UK has to offer, this time skirting the Scottish/English border on a frigid day.
Classic Ride – Duddon Valley – Tom Hutton takes us on a tour on the Western side of the Lake District – away from the big tourist crowds, but still big on scenery.
Quit Your Job – We look at people who have made the leap from ‘normal’ jobs to working in the bike industry. Could you quit the rat race and turn your hobby into a job?
Bamboozled – Wil takes on a build-your-own bamboo bike kit. Will he glue himself to the frame? Will he be attacked by a panda? Will he build himself a bike, or a bike shaped object? Wil tells us the tale through his epoxy-induced high.
Bike Test – Unsprung Heroes – Chipps checks out fully rigid bikes from Kona, Pinnacle and Surly and discovers that no suspension doesn’t mean no fun. It just needs a re-evaluation of your outlook.
Group Test – Platform Clip Ins – Wil checks out eight pairs of pedals with platforms for support as well as cleats for security. Full reviews of the best four will be published in this issue, along with summaries of the runners up.
Room 101
Charlie The Bikemonger sets all judicial process to one side and passes his decrees on what will or will not be banished from the cycling world for ever.
Column: Jason Miles
Our award winning columnist is settling in to his new life in Scotland – by going on a ski holiday, where he learns that being a beginner again can be refreshing. And finding a whole new avenue of kit to need.