Well for those of you interested, it is 5 days before I fly out to Cairo, and after a 8 month wait my bike has finally turned up. The only thing missing was my Brooks saddle that was being broken in on a different bike.

DSC00067 by ianpindir, on Flickr

DSC00066 by ianpindir, on Flickr

DSC00065 by ianpindir, on Flickr

why have you converted a childs canoe paddle into a seat post?

it helps with the aerodynamics

why slick tyres and a thudbuster where are you planning to ride it?
Not a troll just curious tbh

you seem to have a nicolai hybrid?

Junkyard – Member
why slick tyres and a thudbuster where are you planning to ride it?
Not a troll just curious tbh

Its for the Tour D’Afrique. 7500 miles across africa.

that makes a lot more sense.

Thudbuster is actually better than I thought it would be. Actually works quite well. Better than them telescopic ones.

Agreed. Thudbuster is a good piece of kit.

Its for the Tour D’Afrique. 7500 miles across africa.

That explains why it’s a bit ‘odd’. Cool.

7500 miles with Fox forks and no servicing? Wonder how long the Kashima will last!

No servicing….

Don’t be daft 🙂

Only takes 10mins for the wiper service! 😉

I did want masochism, however we had trouble getting hold of them. Which was a shame. Tbh most of the time they will be locked out, there is only about 2000 miles of off road bits, the rest is on Tarmac.

Thudbuster is a good piece of kit.

In’t it though? Tbh, I’d never have gone out and bought one, cos I’ve always thought they were ugly, and a bit pointless. But in use, they’re surprisingly effective. I’d say Ian’s made a good choice for this sort of trip.

Looks like a decent bike for that purpose. Supported though I’m assuming? Cos of the lack of pannier fittings.

Yes, it is supported, though I do have a little clip on rack for a small bag of spares, camera, and inner tubes for when my wheels explode

there is only about 2000 miles of off road bits

‘Only’.

ONLY.

😯

How long’s that gonna take you then?

It did cross my mind as I wrote it….. Never mind, best not think of those things. Ride out of Cairo on the 14th of January and arrive in cape town on the 14th of may. So four months!

FOUR MUNFS?!?!?!?!?

😯

Seven and a half thousand miles in four months?

😯

Forking hill.

Is this for some charity or something?

Its for the Tour D’Afrique. 7500 miles across africa.

Probably worth mentioning that in the OP. Was wondering about the weird set up.

7500 miles? Thought about getting clip on tri bars or something?

That’s around 450 miles a week isn’t it? So about 65 miles/100km a day?

Pretty epic challenge, best of luck to you, and I hope you enjoy it.

Wow good luck with that, I look forward to your write up, are you writing a blog we can follow?

It’s to raise money to rebuild a school in Kenya, however it’s not the best time of year to be fundraising.

Website is here http://www.tda2012.com

Is on average 123km a day. Around 97 riding days and 23 rest days. Might help with the new years resolution to loose the next 4 stone.

Well I’ll bung a few quid in if you do it! Great cause, and a tremendous task ahead of you!

enjoy 🙂

Good luck with the ride and hope it goes well.

7500 miles…I’d offer to come with you but bit busy & stuff, you know how it is. I would of though. Honest. 🙂

Bah, i was hoping to see the new Nicolai with the pinion box 😥

Good luck with the ride though.

5 days before I fly out to Cairo

I might have given myself a bit more time to play with the bike setup/hose lengths etc 😉

Good luck on the ride 🙂

good luck with the trip, and nice bike for it btw.

It’s to raise money to rebuild a school in Kenya

would it not be easier to sell your bike, work 4 months and send them the money 🙂 .. wish you luck with your trip!!

Have yo got a blog or anything? I’d love to see photos from that!

Where’s the route go?

would it not be easier to sell your bike, work 4 months and send them the money

Easier, but not as much fun.

It’s not about the charity. 😉

Good luck!

We have had this discussion with ianpinder befoer – its nothing to do with charity. he is spending many thousands to raise a few hundred pounds. Its all about a holiday for him.

he said he was going to raise tens of thousands of pounds – he has raised almost none.

looks great Ian, had a look at you’re blog a while back, very interesting!

What model is the Nicolai as i want one?

Did ou manage to sell all your other kit, DH bike, Tranny, etc?

And finally good luck and more importantly, enjoy!

JB 😀

my apolagies to the op, I didn’t mean to start “them” off

really hope you have a great time…

Sounds like a good trip to me, take no notice of TJ 🙄

Might want to sort the saddle position on the fugly though

nickf

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/so-doing-something-for-charity
and other threads.

He claimed he was going to raise £45000 and build a school. as it is he is spending many thousands on a holiday instead. I have no issue with people having amazing adventure holidays and this will be such. I object strongly to dressing it up as a charitable activity

We have had this discussion with ianpinder befoer – its nothing to do with charity. he is spending many thousands to raise a few hundred pounds. Its all about a holiday for him.

It doesn’t really matter does it? If he’d been given the money to support his trip then that would be pretty loathsome but if he’s spent his own money to fund it and then raised a few quid on top of that to donate to charity then fine.

My brother in law asked family and friends to sponsor him X amount of quid to do the New York Marathon but the money we were donating was to pay for him to just do the marathon and anything raised above that went to a selected charity. So he didn’t have to fork out any cash himself which in turn meant we were basically paying for him to go to New York. The thin veil of charity fundraising becomes thinner all the time.

Well http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/tell-me-about-raising-lots-of-sponsorship-money-1

I got ripped on that by the STW hand jockeys, so it doesn’t surprise me!

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/so-doing-something-for-charity
and other threads.

He claimed he was going to raise £45000 and build a school. as it is he is spending many thousands on a holiday instead. I have no issue with people having amazing adventure holidays and this will be such. I object strongly to dressing it up as a charitable activity

So has he funded this trip himself or have donations part funded it?

The original entry fee is stated as £8000 which the organisers put the profit towards a donation to their chosen charity so by just doing this event he’s raised a fair bit for charity already I’d imagine.

I don’t agree that the sponsorship should be used to offset the entry costs but that’s up to Ian.

Enjoy yourself Ian 8)

Good luck Ian, yours has been a very inspiring journey before you even start.

I’d be fitting some tri bars and fatter slicks though, I’ve experienced African ‘tarmac’ and desert head winds!!!

why go for an ultra-stiff Nicolai frame, and stick a thudbuster on it?
Why not use a ti, steel or carbon frame that has its own natural flex?