Our TOP 5 Bike Touring Gadgets // Cycling Around the World

After 11 months and 14,000 km on the road you pick up some pretty good tricks and find some pretty nice bike gadgets. In this video we discuss our top 5 bicycle touring gadgets that we definitely wouldn't want to miss anymore on our touring bikes.
Overview:
00:00 - Intro
00:44 - Feed Bags / Handlebar Bottle Holders
02:05 - Hiking Pole Kick Stands
03:23 - Dynamo USB Charger
04:52 - Electric Bike Horn
06:04 - Mirror
06:51 - Thermos (Bonus)
08:00 - Bike Light (Bonus)
09:06 - Outro
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[@Mike-ql4sz]

"Squirt agressive dogs"? Never thought about this option.😁 Great tip! Thx!

[@make.and.believe]

That collapsable hiking stick as a kick stand idea is brilliant! I've got a heavy cruiser that could use this hack.

[@gcprost]

One of our favourite gadgets was a small flag that stuck out on the left side of the rear. Cars give you a little more room when they pass. This was extremely valuable on the narrow ocean adjacent roads in Oregon and California as well as the Going to the Sun road in Glacier Park Montana.

[@fabiopunk1661]

right, my wife has one here in Italy and cars definitely take more respect.....

[@shuttle461]

Hi. Let me just ask you: your flag is pointing upwards or left sidewards? What's its length?

[@fabiopunk1661]

@@shuttle461 we have it on the side to the left, the objective is to prevent cars from "brushing" you while they sprint .... it is about 40 cm long, the protrusion is not more than end of a"trekking" handlebar, so we are street legal. It seems to work keeping cars at a distance.

[@gcprost]

@@shuttle461 It points to the left.

[@MrJx4000]

You can ride that Going to the Sun road in Glacier Park Montana?

[@stevek517]

Hiking poles! Genius

[@fabiopunk1661]

Excellent idea that of the hiking stick as a side stand! I will add it is useful to have a stick to wave at dogs when they attack/ chase you - which happens often in the Italian countryside.

[@fabiopunk1661]

I ordered a handlebar bottle holder, not for the bottle actually, but for other objects - neat idea you had!

[@tomsitzman3952]

Me too

[@leplessis8179]

Hardly technical, but the best thing you can ever have when touring is a little pack of those foldable tissues - for wiping youy nose (and other things).

[@tomsitzman3952]

I made my Click stand out of three old aluminum tent poles from an old tent long gone and ran bungee cord through them . I Put a rubber cup that goes on the bottom of a kitchen chair on the end and at the top made a "y" out of aluminum to stick into the top of the tub. I shortened the pole so they are easy to store on my bike, There is a company that makes one I think they are called Click Stand. I really like the large insolated bottles. I also like to carry a small insolated two cup bottle with the cup screwed to the top for cold or hot drinks.

[@MarcMallary]

I moved my dynamo light from the normal position, to the front of my rack, because I didn't like the shadow cast by the wheel.

[@louisaandtobi]

Yea, we thought about that too, but like the fact that we can turn it on and off while riding when it’s mounted in the “classical” position.

[@hemaccabe4292]

Still got the old saddle. I want one of those cupholders.

[@paulahavens2764]

I was surfing and came upon your video, thanks for doing it. It was great to see. Happy trails ahead. I am from Canada.

[@louisaandtobi]

Thanks! 😊

[@HermannKerr]

A dynamo light and usb charger are worth the cost, and a thermos bottle is a joy. When I can I fill my thermos bottle withe Ice and top with water. At three o'clock in the afternoon I down it and refill the bottle. I ride a trike so no need to hold it up. A friend say the best addition is a chair and he has done some big tours and of course I don't need one of those either. Thanks for the video - I am going to have to look at that horn.

[@louisaandtobi]

Thanks! 😊 Yea, we also have chairs for camping in really remote areas 😅

[@maninder1984]

Agree with your list. I get-by by using a 21 watt solar panel though. Its cheap and charges 2 devices at the same time at fast charging speed (when there is clear sun) , I use it to keep my 20k mAh powerbank topped up and I charge my devices from that Power bank. I put it in the front while riding on top of the the rear pannier bags, it has worked well. But yes, I need to keep adjusting it to keep facing it towards sun, and it would not work on cloudy days. But its cheap and fast charging!

[@exploringmensfashion4830]

From where u get.. Solar panel

[@felipericketts]

Great information! Thanks for the tips 🙂

[@charlesblithfield6182]

Thanks for sharing. I like the pole idea a lot.

[@georget.9496]

Great tips, love the charger and the horn thanks for sharing

[@sparkyvespa]

Great video, very interesting thanks!

[@bosanderspublictheology]

Well that was super informative and helpful. Thank you.

[@smedleybutler1969]

Great content,The thermos and feedbag,The mirror is essential for me I ride mostly in NYC,The hiking pole is a great idea with the bonus of maybe defending myself from muggers!

[@FarFlungHeel]

Hiking pole hack is brilliant!

[@pradeep5965]

Thanks 🙏

[@andylpratt]

Thanks for your sharing 🙂

[@register1430]

Instant sub ! after the horn test, that is slick. I like your presentation style.

[@louisaandtobi]

Thanks! 😅

[@skdiamond]

Nice list. I’ve never felt the need for a kickstand myself but I do have a tent which can use a hiking pole. I’ll check out how light of a pole I can get. Never heard of the horn. Cool!

[@flossybum]

I found the bike horn, and I love it. And bought a couple for friends, too. Thank you for the information.

[@louisaandtobi]

Nice! 😊

[@rexretirado5262]

Thanks for useful tips gadgets,,hope can buy any

[@WanderABit]

Thank you for sharing. As for the vacuum bottle I know that first what comes to mind is drinking, but food vacuum one in some cases could be better option, because when you don't need it for drinking you can use as a container (unlike drinking model the food/lunch ones have wide opening). I carry Primus TrailBreak and you probably wouldn't guess I have thermos on the bike, it packs so neatly :-). Nice bonus is there is wider pouch from Acepac which by coincidence fits this particular thermos bottle.

[@louisaandtobi]

Nice, thanks for the tip! 😊

[@secretdaisy6484]

I have most of what you have. The insulated handlebar bottle holder I use for coffee in my travel mug in the early part of the day. I wasn’t good with a mirror on my handlebars but found the small one that clips onto my sunglasses or attaches to my helmet is better for me. I don’t have a dynamo hub. I bought a Kona Sutra that arrived the first week of the pandemic lockdown in the US. It hasn’t been on any trips. I’m getting a PedalCel to generate power for iPhone, iPod and GPS. My ultimate goal is to get a Tout Terrain with everything that I need already on it. I have multiple mountain bikes for off road touring if I ever decide to do it. I like your idea for the trecking pole bike stand. I have an odd unmatched one that I can use. Great idea. The only thing I don’t have yet are lights. I want to get that right so I’m taking my time. Thanks for sharing. 👍☮️🌞🚲❤️

[@louisaandtobi]

Thanks for sharing your insights. 😊

[@drivestorage1779]

brilliant! Subscribed.

[@bigmac3006]

Great vid!!

[@nullifiednullifidian5973]

Came to support the comment on mirrors, having one has changed my riding experience completely, far more confident riding in the city and on busy roads. As for "using the mirror" in normal life, just walking about, hilarious how my mind expects that to be available.

[@2wheelsrbest327]

Just found you great video. Safe travels. I am going to try and buy that horn.

[@louisaandtobi]

Thanks 😊

[@DieterLo1]

Great video to share your experiences! Greetings from Germany!

[@Destide]

Great real world products a lot of multi use items

[@HrRossi-dv7id]

WoW, die Große Thermos ist ja Hamma 💪🤩👍 Allzeit Gute Fahrt 🚲

[@louisaandtobi]

Danke 😊

[@borisgurevich5504]

I mam a complete novice, but i do have a quad lock and a mirror, which gives a feeling that I belong :) But bottle holder may be a great idea...

[@kazkazimierz1742]

If you are worried about your water freezing just keep it in your sleeping bag overnight. I like the idea of using a hiking pole instead of a kickstand. The latter are heavy. I try to minimize weight on long rides so I don't use bells. The human voice is good enough.

[@louisaandtobi]

The problem with keeping water in the sleeping bag (in cold temperatures) is that the large volume of cold water really cools you down and it takes way longer for the sleeping bag to warm you / water. When we’ve been camping in really cold temperatures we were happy about every bit of warmth available.. 😅

[@dpierre]

Hello, Thank you for your well presented and interesting videos. Beautiful bike (looks like Titan 😉). For water bottles on the handlebars, it is best to attach photo lens cases (70-200mm = 1.5 L) with Colson/serflex attachments (adjustable/reusable) because they are deeper and better designed with a real closure also for store things away from heavy rain. Because with these small shallow cases, in a descent with jolts, if the bottle is ejected and it gets caught in the wheel of the one following, it could be the cause of an accident. Losing a loosely attached mini photo tripod it bounced off the ground and blew my rear wheel off breaking a spoke as I drove approx. 25 km/h! For the back lighting, I use a fluo conical stick mounted on a powerful fenix torch (versatile for other uses). Firstly because I would never break down being able to change the battery, and also because I fix it on the left side and the cars leave more space even during the day!

[@louisaandtobi]

The bike is just Chromoly steel :) Nice idea with the lens case, although it would be important to add a little drainage hole so it doesn't fill up too much with water. We have never had the issue with our bottles getting ejected or loosening in the holders, even on really rough roads.

[@mikascamp]

omg the walking pole🤯, fantastic idea I have been looking soooo long for a stand capable of supporting my bike while touring, I already have 3 walking poles from my backpacking days, well originally I had 4 walking poles but one saved my leg from snapping down a mountain and ended up crooked. cheers guys👍

[@FabiOnRoad]

👏👏👏👏👏Great! I am using the trekking poles too! 😅😅😅

[@louisaandtobi]

Nice! 😅

[@primorodolfolamco8475]

using classic bike v-brakes is amazing..... simple is best.....

[@yipfrank2721]

For the rear mirror, I strongly recommend Ergotec's M-99 model. Maybe you can think about it😄

[@MrJx4000]

Currently out of stock.

[@iaredavid]

You should do a video of crazy food you have eaten.

[@miguelatambucho748]

Hi guys. I really enjoy your videos👌🏽 I hope you come to Florida US and I’d have the chance to meet you.

[@louisaandtobi]

Hey, thanks! 😊 We’ve actually already been to Florida.

[@6dmiller]

Can you use the walking-stick kickstand with gear on the bars and front rack? I've never even considered the possibility of a kickstand because I figured everything would flop over. Some of my favorite gear: (1) I have a plastic trap on which I put large grommets into all 4 corners ("dog earring" each corner first for extra strength). The grommets are large enough that I can bungee and/or run my bike lock cable through them, and it's really convenient for covering/wrapping bikes at night, especially when expecting weather. Or for performing any other tarp-related duties. (2) SPD sandals for summer. I eventually stopped even carrying any other riding shoes, opting for waterproof socks when needed. (3) Tyvek jackets. Tyvek is perfect for a "pocket jacket"--virtually weightless, wind & water-proof while modestly breathable. I got some cycling-specific jackets once with venting and back pockets and they might be more valuable to me than my bike. (4) Though it almost never gets used, a "Z-spoke tool" I picked up a long time ago. I don't recall ever carrying it with me on rides, but it allows me to make a few spokes of any length I need to carry with me, even if the specific length I need isn't available. (5) One non-ortlieb panier with lots of zippered pockets and compartments. I want most of my bags to be weatherproof, but it's convenient to have one bag with accessible zippered compartments for random stuff like rain gear, lock, etc. I currently have a used REI bag with a separate rain cover.

[@louisaandtobi]

Thanks for the insight. Yea, the walking-stick kickstand we use for the reason that its really strong and stable even when the bike is completely loaded. Even holds in sand, wind, etc. We also have two tarps with us. A 2x2m to use under our tent for extra protection and a 3x2m with eyelets for covering our bikes at night. The Z-spoke tool looks very interesting, never heard of it before, but something that could definitely come in handy! Thanks for the tip.

[@6dmiller]

@@louisaandtobi Thank you for the reply! You've sold me on the idea of the walking-stick kickstand. Best wishes for your travels, -Brent

[@dutchboynl2082]

My little Ebike with 3 batteries in paraller powers also my phone phone and runs all my lights. Range 300km with light pedaling. no dynamo to waste energy

[@allanrobins1564]

Very useful. I'm particularly taken with the first three: the bottle holder (I'd get two: one for a bottle and one for snacks like fruit and nuts), the USB charger (an idea I've been keen on for quite a while but it's good to get a good recommendation of the B&M one) and, unexpectedly, the hiking pole; what a great idea to replace a kickstand, which I've always been a bit wary of too to the top-heaviness of a laden bike. What brand bottle holder and hiking pole do you use? I need to find one in Australia.

[@louisaandtobi]

Thanks! The hiking poles are very basic ones from Decathlon and the bottle holders are from a brand called “Pro Discover”, not sure if that’s an international brand though.

[@MatthijsPlender]

That 'bottleholder' is my snackpack.😉

[@neilpenny5475]

Thank you for a very informative video. What brand of Thermos is that please?

[@christophe8292]

Great video, thks ‘! What is the make of your electric bike horn ?

[@louisaandtobi]

Hey, it’s a “no-name” brand from amazon. Like this one: www.amazon.com/LESOVI-Rechargeable-Waterproof-Anti-dust-Certified/dp/B07QMFNLZT/ref=mp_s_a_1_16?crid=Z1DVX41M1KBB&keywords=electric+bike+horn&qid=1655820509&sprefix=electric+bike+horn%2Caps%2C542&sr=8-16 But there might be better / newer versions of it now.

[@benjaminthomas6585]

An excellent review , The Hiking pole, but tell me How do you stop the front wheel from turning, I tried but my front wheel has a mind of its own

[@louisaandtobi]

We used a little bungee strap on the front brake lever as a “hand brake”. 😊

[@MrJx4000]

You can see his bungee strap at the 7:38 mark.

[@mariconor242]

I use a garmin varia radar instead of a mirror, it flashes brighter when cars approach and you can see up to 8 cars from 140m back on the bike computer. Rubbish for the city but essential on country roads.

[@NoLefTurnUnStoned.]

Number 8: Socks with sandals!

[@louisaandtobi]

True! 🙌

[@arpadkoncze5813]

we just love you..me and my girlfriend. what you two are doing its amazing

[@louisaandtobi]

Thank you! 😊

[@shuttle461]

I agree with the mirrors. They are very useful. I wouldn't miss them in a trip. Just a question: how do you get by with clean, drinkable water in places where it is not even purified?

[@louisaandtobi]

Generally we ask the locals if the tap water is potable, and surprisingly it’s drinkable in way more places than we would have expected. But if not, we either buy bottled water, filter it, or use chlorine tablets to kill possible bacteria, etc.

[@rodneypantony3551]

Would you change your bike helmet for a sun and rain hat if your route was low risk?

[@louisaandtobi]

We do actually both have a hat which we wear from time to time, sometimes also under our helmets. But mostly we wear it when taking a break and there’s little shade, for example.

[@rodneypantony3551]

I just use lighter $20 or 3/$20 (Amazon) mini air horns as "Karen" horns but I do maximum 70 kilometers along Edmonton River Valley. Also LifeStraw collapsible for any water source, Gatorade powder, Biolitenergy headlamp for reduced weight as I'm a senior although I used a generator 45 years ago.

[@neilsaunders3752]

Raleigh

[@hemaccabe4292]

With to stick, where do you stow it and how do you make that transition?

[@louisaandtobi]

The stick is on our rack pack when we cycle.

[@robertrobhog]

great video thanks. What is the name of the electric horn

[@louisaandtobi]

It’s a no-name Brand (Link below). But there might be better ones out there now, just Check Amazon or something. www.amazon.com/LESOVI-Rechargeable-Waterproof-Anti-dust-Certified/dp/B07QMFNLZT/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?crid=621FWAJI2737&keywords=electric+bike+horn&qid=1656351482&sprefix=electric+bike+horn%2Caps%2C321&sr=8-6

[@user-tr6hz4tn4b]

Absolutely agree with the honk. Have a little different model, but it basicly a motorcycle honk with usb charging. The charge last litereraly forever. Saved my life several times in city traffic. Cars really react on it. But make sure it is souds like regular honk and not like any electronic nonsense. And !do not! use it on sidewalks on pedestrian. Don't be a d_ck :)

[@tconnolly9820]

My bike came with a nice little polite "excuse me" bell. I got an electronic horn because I wanted something a little more "authoritative" but took it off because it sounded too aggressive for most occasions like "f u". I replaced it with a really cute sounding bulb horn that sounds like a cheery "hel-lo hel-lo" every time I use it. But after a few near misses and other incidents I put the electronic horn back on because occasionally "f u" is the most appropriate option 😳! So now I have all 3 to choose from as the occasion arises!

[@robertkribs9513]

I wanted to look at and maybe buy the thermos you discussed here but there is no link in the description nor can I find it on your website. Can you please share?

[@louisaandtobi]

Hey, the thermos is from a brand from Greece, so unlikely that it will be available anywhere else. We picked it up along the way, not from the internet. Best to just google, then you can also find the best size thermos for you, or go to a good outdoor store. You may also have to get a universal / special bottle holder to fit it, depending on the thermos.

[@paulm2666]

Hi guys Keen to know which mirror you are using. Enjoying your vids thanks 🙏

[@louisaandtobi]

Tobi has the B+M Cyclestar. You can find out more here: www.louisaandtobi.com/bikes-gear/bike-tobi

[@gerardfangeau7162]

Your best gadget is your anti-theft T-Shirt... No way to take it out !!! 🤪

[@samyfisher3755]

Nice video! Is it a titanium bike?

[@louisaandtobi]

Thanks! No, actually its a 20 year old steel frame. 😅

[@64maxpower]

You two are pretty hardcore if you were keeping water in a thermos so it won't freeze overnight and you'll have something to drink in the morning. That's cold!

[@louisaandtobi]

Yea, recently in Peru and Bolivia we had this almost every night for weeks / months.

[@64maxpower]

@@louisaandtobi you must have had such an amazing time. Few people will ever experience anything like that. I would love thar trip. As long as I had a thermos with me

[@selfactualizer2099]

these are great setups you guys do for bike touring, but i cant find any channels for more aero/minimalist/hardcore touring stuff, i want to challenge myself but i want to do it safely, any good channel recommendations?

[@tunlynn3664]

Is it possible to sync your long trip on strava. I am new to cycling and plan to go short touring. Thanks

[@louisaandtobi]

Hey, we have our whole route on Google MyMaps. You can view it on our website: www.chainsandchords.com

[@tunlynn3664]

Thanks. That's what i want to do to my tour. Can you make vlog about how to record cycling tour. I dont know how to do it and what gear i will need to do .Thank you so much.

[@louisaandtobi]

@@tunlynn3664 Yea, we are planning to record a “how to film” video at some point! 😊

[@tunlynn3664]

Enjoy watching your tour vlog

[@jocktigernuts680]

I would have a bottle filled with something stronger than water to deal with dogs trying to cause you serious injury💪

[@louisaandtobi]

The problem is that you then waste a bottle / space only for dogs.

[@mauriciotorres6285]

What is the brand of your usb charger converter

[@louisaandtobi]

It’s the B+M USB-Werk.

[@duxxling103]

The background and the sand looks like you're near a beach shore? Philippines or Thailand?

[@louisaandtobi]

El Salvador 😉

[@lesleykenwood2715]

What is the name of the horn. I could not find it on your website.

[@louisaandtobi]

It’s from a no-name brand from Amazon. Just search for “Electric Bike Horn”, there might also be newer /better ones available now.

[@Velo_Safari]

What solar panels would you recommend?

[@louisaandtobi]

We have a 21 W USB panel from Anker and are pretty happy with it 😊

[@chadsteverson4990]

How did u cross the ocean? Plane? Boat?

[@louisaandtobi]

By plane.

[@mauriciotorres6285]

hellow, Iam planing to buy a hub dynamo and I think I will need a Dynamo USB charger just like yours can you tell me where can I get one . and I am from El Salvador by the way. thanks.

[@louisaandtobi]

Hey! Hard to say where you can get one in El Salvador. Probably best to order it on Amazon or something similar.

[@chamindadharmendrawickrama3457]

What is the dynamo you are using?

[@louisaandtobi]

The SON28

[@DenisForigo]

Do you javé links tô this gadgets?

[@louisaandtobi]

Hey, the hiking poles and mirror are pretty generic. The lights and USB charger are from the brand “B+M”, the “USB-Werk” and “IQ-X” light. You can find it online. The bike horn is from a no name brand from Amazon. There might be never versions of it now so maybe just have a look.

[@moloreanm1657]

What is the name of the horn?

[@louisaandtobi]

It’s a “no-name” product. If you search for “Electric Bicycle Horn” on Amazon or similar, there will be plenty, probably also newer ones. 😊

[@wildirishladdavy7965]

Have you got a link for them items ?

[@louisaandtobi]

No, as some of them are more generic items, but you can find some more general infos about our gear on our website: www.louisaandtobi.com/bikes-gear/gear-lists

[@PInk77W1]

I live in Texas. I want to ride my bike from Panama City to either California or Texas. How far are you two going ? Awesome 14,000k !!!!

[@louisaandtobi]

Hey, we plan to cycle around the world. Meaning now we will cycle all the way down through South America and then either back from Asia to Europe or via another route. Sounds like a great trip you have planned! 😊

[@6dmiller]

Many years ago I was planning the same trip in the other direction--thinking I want to ride to the panama canal when the U.S. was still controlling it before 2000. But the canal was relinquished ahead of schedule and I delayed my excursion due to kid-raising.

[@6dmiller]

@@louisaandtobi If only one could ride across the Bering Strait. Seems like it might be complicated passing through eastern Asia for a while. What route are you thinking?

[@louisaandtobi]

@@6dmiller Cycling back from Southeast Asia to Europe is currently difficult if not impossible, for sure! You either have to pass through China, Russia and/or Myanmar / Pakistan, all not great options currently. But cycling around Southeast Asia is possible, around Vietnam, Thailand, etc., for example. So that might be something we do and then either go from Kazakhstan via the Pamir Highway back to Europe, or from South Africa back up to Europe. Most likely we will cycle through Australia though after South America. 😊

[@truprzemo]

What's the large handlebar bag model?

[@louisaandtobi]

Ortlieb Ultimate Six (6.5L)… as far as we can remember 😅

[@truprzemo]

@@louisaandtobi thx a lot for the answer... 🚴‍♂️ 👍

[@MrNo-hb4xi]

Mich würde die genaue Bezeichnung der Bottle Holders oder ein link dafür sehr interessieren. Ich verwende ähnliche schon seit vielen Jahren auf meinen Rädern, finde Deine aber von der Stabilität viel besser. Danke und viele Grüße aus dem verregneten München

[@louisaandtobi]

www.pro-bikegear.com/global/accessories/on-bike-bags/discover-bottle-pouch Das sind unsere 😊

[@TJLovering]

I notice the Quad lock???

[@louisaandtobi]

Yea, Tobi has a Quad lock

[@TJLovering]

@@louisaandtobi my fav item is our 3 person tent for the 2 of us after those comfy chairs.

[@ozgurcatal95]

Damn bike is too heavy. my legs hurt when i watched it

[@louisaandtobi]

Maybe, depends on the journey 😉

[@josephfredbill]

Please can you provide some links to where you bought (or product descriptions) for 1. Your hub dynamo and usb charger, 2. Your folding hiking sticks - thank you

[@louisaandtobi]

We have more information about our gear on our website: www.chainsandchords.com/bikes 1. SON 28 hub dynamo & B+M USB-Werk 2. Our hiking poles are very basic ones from Decathlon

[@josephfredbill]

@@louisaandtobi thanks

[@davidwilliamson2115]

Where can I get the holders for the thermos flasks in South Africa?

[@louisaandtobi]

No idea, unfortunately, maybe look on eBay / Amazon for XL bottle cages.

[@tconnolly9820]

I have never toured but I have such a variety of racks and bag's for the front and back of my bike for carrying luggage/cargo/shopping many people assume I do. Plus I have two pretty large trailers for carrying really large loads. 💦 I use my bike as a real world practical alternative to a car. But anyway, I was surprised at how many similarities you have to what I do. I have never heard of a feed bag before but I have what looks like a mini double pannier at the front of my top tube. I use it for holding one bottle (or two either side) or anything else like easily reachable snacks. I don't bother with a bottle cage. Now I can call it a feed bag even if it's not really. My bike came with a nice little polite "excuse me" bell. I got an electronic horn but took it off because it sounded too aggressive for most occasions like "f u". I replaced it with a really cute sounding bulb horn that sounds like a cheery "hel-lo hel-lo" every time I use it. But after a few near misses and other incidents I put the electronic horn back on because occasionally "f u" is the most appropriate option 😳! So now I have all 3 to choose from as the occasion arises! Mirrors are a must and every bike should have them. They're an essential safety item and I have them on both handlebars. Plus I always wear a bright orange hi-vis vest summer or winter, rain or shine. The walking pole is an excellent idea and I am going to borrow it. I already have a kick stand but it is limited as was described. I've already broken one. I haven't got a dynamo because I recharge everything at home or have a power bank with me. 100 lux (I presume that's the same as lumens? Actually I just checked, no it's not really*.) isn't very bright. I just have a selection of rechargeable lights but I would consider 500 lumens just enough for safety on an unlit road and I have a 3,000 lumen light but I rarely need to use it on full power. 1,000-2,000 is normally just fine for safety in complete darkness on rough roads or paths. For additional safety behind I have a 70cm length of black plastic water pipe attached to my carrier rack with two pipe clips. I can take it on or off in 30 seconds if I'm not using it. I have a pair of very bright 150 lumens flashing lights I put on either end. The idea being it makes my presence on the road appear considerably wider to traffic coming from behind and so they should give me a wider berth when passing me. It's exactly the same width as my handlebars plus the mirrors. If anything coming from behind gets close enough to clip the light behind then it's going to also take my arm and the handlebars too. If you are not filtering at speed in tight traffic it's a great additional safety measure and I'm swearing by it. And the plastic pipe is flexible and won't mark or leave scratches if it does accidentally touch something. I do the same with my trailers when I'm pulling them too. One of them is 90cm wide anyway. *One lux (1 lux) is defined as being equivalent to one lumen spread over an area of one square metre. To put it another way: A specification in lux tells you how many Lumens (total light output) you need given the measured area you are trying to illuminate.

[@louisaandtobi]

Interesting insight! And very true, many aspects are very similar. Sure, the lights aren’t super bright, especially when compared to battery operated LED lights, but they’re pretty much the strongest dynamo lights you can get. For us it’s very important to have dynamo lights as we have so many other things we need to keep charged already, that it would be a hassle to also have to charge the lights. We want to have light available when we need it and not have to think about charging it.

[@tconnolly9820]

@@louisaandtobi I understand your dilemma and choices with your lights and having additional batteries to keep recharged while doing a massive tour. And my life and priorities are different from yours. I am especially obsessed with being highly illuminated front and back because my main occupation is as a white van driver doing 13 hour night shifts. I cannot tell you how many times I have often nearly run over cyclists who have either no lights or poor lights and almost always wearing dark clothing, no hi-vis or helmet. And those suicide jockeys on e-scooters are the worst! All of these often appearing almost out of nowhere. They have no idea how unseen they can be. Even with lights. Almost every other night there is a near miss one way or another. As an example, I'm about to pull out of a junction. I look left and right and left again. There's fairly bright street lighting in between the darkness and other bright glaring lights. I move to cross the road and suddenly there is a bike whizzing past in front of me with perhaps a weak light I've almost hit. With bright lights behind him as he was coming towards me, he was even more difficult to see than if it had been much darker. And he probably has no idea how difficult he was to see because he can see me clearly as he is approaching me and is not expecting me to unexpectedly move forward as he is passing me. I could spend an hour giving examples but I see it from both sides as a cyclist and as a driver and that's why I don't want to be the effing idiot on a bike that someone else in a car, van or truck doesn't see until it's too late. I cycle defensively and often decide to give way even if technically I have the right to proceed. Discretion is oft the better part of valour. And I'm not perfect either. I sometimes get it wrong on the bike or behind the wheel too. I am someone who tries to use my bike as much as possible and I try to prove that it is possible to replace a car with a bike for the majority of every day use. So that's why I make a point of having so many really good lights front and back and even carry a backup just in case. Yes, this is a bee in my bonnet thing for me. If you saw someone on a motorbike travelling at just 30km/h down a dark or poorly lit road at night with just a crappy little light front and back like you'd be lucky to see on most bicycles, you'd say he was crazy and how could he even see where he's going safely? It's even more dangerous on a bicycle. 💀 And I need you to know all of this is not directed at you on your world tour. It's directed at all of those gobshites whizzing around on the streets and roads not realising how vulnerable they are. Pedal on safely. 🚲👍

[@louisaandtobi]

@@tconnolly9820 Very honest and true insight!

[@shuttle461]

Hi! The problem I've got with my mirror is that images of objects or cars reflected on it look farther than what they are really are. Does it happen to you as well?

[@tconnolly9820]

@@shuttle461 There are two kinds of mirrors I have used both bought from Ali Express. Flat mirrors which give you a look straight back and give you a good representative idea of how far approaching traffic is behind you from several hundred metres back. The larger the surface area of the mirror, the more you can see easily. And slightly curved convex mirrors which give you a wide angle of what is close to you and around you. Very good in heavy traffic but anything 100 metres away is so small it's practically invisible. Because I'm on open roads 95%+ of the time I prefer the first. I don't filter through traffic or anything like that. You can also get motor bike style handlebars mirrors which are fairly big but give you the advantages of both. I actually got a pair of those from amazon last year but never put them on yet. I'm waiting until the current one's I'm using eventually get broken. They're just generic long stemmed adjustable mirrors from Ali Express. I have also been meaning to get one of those clip on helmet mirrors to see what they're like. I hope that helps?

[@markmulvey3681]

Kick stands don’t last forever.

[@louisaandtobi]

True, that's why we use our hiking-poles!

[@twokois7032]

What type of biked ate you riding + I'd like to know some ways of making money on the road. Possibly work.once settled.

[@louisaandtobi]

We are riding two second-hand, 20 year old steel frame bikes. You can find out more in our bike review videos.

[@mathieutallard6328]

This reminds me souvenirs. I stayed at Jose place in Salvador on my way to Nicaragua. I travel a bit more easier than you and I have different gadgets that are essential to me and to each his own way ! Oh . No fucken helmet for me and more time on the beach with nice allover tan !! I stayed over a year in Nicaragua because stupid covid. I liked San Juan del Sur so much i think I'm gonna go back. No new countries anymore for me. San Juan has pretty much what I look for in travels. Maybe Brazil would be different but too dangerous in many ways for my liking. Ah, if you want to do a great zip Line tour, i know the perfect guy and you can stay at his place also.... That's for Nicaragua. In San Juan , you will most likely meet someone called Nelson. He speaks good English and he's a criminal. Avoid him.

[@louisaandtobi]

We also stayed at Jose’s place! :) Sure, everyone has their own gadgets they prefer.

[@hza.609]

the best gadget i found is a security camera with a monitor that let's me see what's coming behind.

[@louisaandtobi]

Wouldn't a mirror do the trick, without the need for batteries? 😅

[@thierrysf]

I would not venture riding in El Salvador. I suggest an extra gadget: a mace spray.

[@louisaandtobi]

We actually had a really great time in El Salvador. 😊

[@thierrysf]

@@louisaandtobi lucky you. Please be careful and stay safe.

[@filacio30]

remember coming into my first town in EL SaLvador a kid puLLed up to me in a truck and greeted me with a hearty 'fuck you'..just figured he was working on his engLish so just smiLed, waved, and moved on

[@BobLinton]

6:38 LOL

[@HarryClark-sz7fs]

Clutter

[@billweberx]

I noticed you both wear long sleeve shirts, but not long pants. I assume it's for sun protection. Why not for the legs? I prefer to use a good high power Li-ion light (5X the power of yours) that flashes on the front as it really catches the attention of cars that you are approaching that are turning onto the road. You can still charge it with your hub generator. I also like very bright flashing tail lights, one on the bike and one on the helmet. I wouldn't ride without them. Mirrors are crucial. Lastly, I have a flag on the back that matches the country I'm riding in. The waving catches attention and you get support of motorists with nationalistic tendencies. I noticed that your tires appear to be somewhat narrow. I ride with 2 inch Schwalbe Mondale's. They ride well on roads and trails and they're very flat protective. They don't come tubeless, but I ride them that way anyway. Works great. I'm enjoying your videos. Thanks for sharing them.

[@louisaandtobi]

The legs are usually better protected from the sun than the arms (in the shade of the frame / panniers) and in our experience the legs get warmer when cycling in hot climates, so it's nicer to have more air on them than on the arms. We generally prefer to have as few things as necessary battery powered, as it's already hard enough to keep things charged if we don't have access to electricity for several days. In our opinion, lights should always be "available" and not out of battery in the exact rare moment when we need them. And we've never had a situation where our lights haven't been bright enough, both for creating awareness as well as providing light for us to cycle in the dark. We would definitely prefer a little wider tires (Louisa has 1.5 inch, Tobi 1.75), but unfortunately our old frames can't take any bigger ones.

[@billweberx]

@@louisaandtobi With respect to the shorts, that makes sense. I totally get what you're saying about the lights and batteries. But, a flashing light could save your life and they don't take much power. I rode 18,000 km around the US perimeter last year and had no trouble keeping the lights charged, even when I had no access to electricity for a week at a time. I just carried a few small batteries to keep them topped off. I would be in constant fear without my flashing tail lights. My bike also couldn't handle 2 inch tires, so I replaced the front fork with a wider one. The back chainstay was just barely wide enough for the wider tire. I'm pretty happy with the change.

[@hemaccabe4292]

You should get haircut. Its cheap down there and you'd stay cooler.