On the previously mentioned touring holiday, there was another equipment failure that I didn't expect. The bearing in the lower pulley of my rear derailleur disintegrated! The BBB Rollerboys sealed bearing pulleys had done around 10,000 km in a Shimano Tiagra long cage derailleur. Most unexpected and perhaps a lesson to be learned! 25km of hills to go before the camp site...

On my recent touring holiday, I had a couple of equipment failures, a fairly bad cut to my rear tyre by a sharp edged stone on the Bairnsdale to Nowa Nowa railtrail, and a derailleur pulley failure. More on the derailleur pulley another time.

I was carrying a spare Schwalbe Stelvio folding tyre, but it was not very suitable for use on a gravel railtrail.

What to do?

Le Tour de Dave, an eight week coastal cycle tour from Geelong to Mooloolaba, is my friend Dave's dream ride which has captured many others including myself. I tagged along for the 640km from Sale to Quaama in NSW.

As this was my first unsupported camping trip in a decade or three, it required some thoughts on equipment. Others used front and rear panniers, some used rear panniers alone, and a couple used trailers. Having seen Dave and others towing their BOB Yak trailers, I decided to try one as well - a new experience. Besides, I didn't have panniers and racks ready to go.

Did I mention? I ride a two wheel low recumbent. While I went the recumbent way for comfort, a heavy engine and small frontal area are a great recipe for speedy descents as well (yeah I never thought of that !!). Check your tyres and pressures first, look in the mirror for signs of sanity, then remember to keep your mouth closed - flies can't do 90 kph and aren't that tasty!