Surly Trollop

Having spoken to a number of bike shops where I got a few hints, suggestions and recommendations about what I should buy, along with having received a bit of feedback from a few cycling colleagues and having done a bit of Internet research, I've finally settled on a bike that looks like it will be more than up to the job.

I'm still to make a decision as to what type of braking system to utilise (mainly from a maintenance perspective than anything else) but I should have resolved that issue hopefully within the next couple of days and before I head in to the shop to part with my hard earned $$$$.

Now the only trouble is that I've always thought of my bikes as being female.... which means that I'll end up touring Sth America with a Surly Trollop as opposed to simply hiding under bridges with the Troll. Oh dear, what to do!!!

The need for a new bike or (N+1) in cycling parlance!

Whilst I'm still in the process of acquiring a bike, I am asking for something that these day's is a little unique being a steel hard tail mountain bike with rim (as opposed to hydraulic disc) brakes and 26 inch wheels.

As for why I'm asking for the above, as opposed to simply using my existing bike, or alternatively buying a stock standard mountain bike with all the latest and greatest bits and pieces, well let's just put it this way - The route is going to be a little trying, to say nothing of the lack of bike shops in order to pick up spares..... Essentially and it's something I'm still trying to get my head around, the vital statistics are as follows:

• It's a journey of 11,000 KMs, of which approximately 3,500 KMs will be on unpaved roads;
• We can expect to do approximately 100,000 metres of climbing;
• The altitude will vary from sea level to 4,800 metres;
• The longest stretch of climbing is around 65 KMs;
• The longest stretch of descending (I'm going to have to be extra careful) is around 60 KMs;
• Temperatures are likely to vary between -15C at night in Peru to around 40C in Argentina.

Travel insurance

On the basis that I've got another trip overseas in the wind, I've done a bit of research as to what is provided under various travel insurance policies, and I'd like to thank those of you who gave me their thoughts on the issue. 

I tell you what it's an interesting exercise and one which is worthy of a PhD thesis.

One of the first and most important things I discovered is, should you purchase your airline ticket using a personal credit card, the travel insurer will immediately endeavour to obtain restitution of fifty per cent of any amount they have to pay out to you the traveler against your credit card's insurer. That's assuming of course, though the majority of banks do, that your finance lender provides an "insurance" element on their credit card and that's irrespective of whether you wish to claim against said card insurance policy or not.

As a result I think that what this suggests is that you should always first and foremost read through your credit card's Product Disclosure Statement to see exactly what is / isn't covered by their insurance policy. 

I further suspect that it's only if your over sixty-five, are proposing to undertake some more adventurous activities such as skiing, will have particularly valuable camera or computer equipment with you, or have some pre-existing medical conditions that there's more necessity to take out travel insurance through someone not connected to your credit card.

Now in saying that, it still pays to read through "whoever's" Product Disclosure Statement, because as I found when I spoke to a representative from Velosure (a cycling orientated insurance company) their travel insurance policy did NOT cover my bike when taken on holidays. In order for it to be covered I had to purchase bike insurance separately. The only problem with that (once again and only because I asked for clarification) is that they would not cover the bike out of Australia for a period of more than sixty days.... IE: Not long enough to cover me for the full duration of The Andes Tour, and that's coming from a cycling affiliated insurer.... 

As a result I'll have to delve a little further to see what I can work out and I'll let you know what I decide in due course....