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Interview with Bicycle Traveler Mag

By October 16, 20168 Comments

Bicycle Traveler Magazine recently interviewed me regarding the hybrid cycle touring/bike packing set up Hana and I are using for our Alaska to Argentina tour. I talk about the bikes, some of the special gear we are using and the camera kit I have on board. I’ll follow this up with a more detailed post about bikes and equipment in the future, but for now download the latest issue of Bicycle Traveler Magazine (it’s free!) and read on…

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Thanks to Biomaxa and Revelate Designs for supporting Alaska to Argentina.

Join the discussion 8 Comments

  • just downloaded and read your segment. great tips as we have kind of the same philosophy towards cycle travelling, meaning taking a lot of photo gears and try meanwhile to stay as light as possible. however – one question:
    – how do you carry your camera and lenses? i reckong in your bar bags, right?

    • Mark Watson says:

      Thanks Andrzej – I carry my camera kit in a small Lowepro backpack. Three lenses, camera body, spare batteries, cleaning kit, cable release and filter mount. The filters live in a pouch in the front bag (on front roll).
      Many cycle tourists loath wearing a pack, but for me it is the best way to keep the camera and all the gear as accessible as possible. I hardly miss a shot, and all I need to do to set up is drop the bike and walk to wear I want to shoot. If you had a more compact system than I do, using front bag, or a -over-shoulder bag could works well too. Hope that helps.

      • Yep! Thats it – many bikers avoid backpacks, but actually i think a small, durable and waterproof (is yours lowe is waterproof?) backpack serves the aim of quickly taking a photos. IMHO there are no many options for more photography oriented bikepackers – Class Gilbert from While Out Riding puts everything in the bar bags (tank and bottle-like bags) but it only works in dry environment.

        • Mark Watson says:

          Hey Andrzej – it’s this pack: http://store.lowepro.com/ca/flipside-sport-10l-aw-ca
          They don’t make any more but you can pick them up on Amazon. It’s perfect for the gear I have. It’s not waterproof though. It does have a rain cover, but this is only for showers/light rain. However the padded section of the bag is designed to lift out, so when it rains heavily, I just put the whole padded case in a ultralight dry bag and put it back in the pack.
          On long road (pavement) sections I have sometimes put the pack on my rack too, with the zip panel facing up, so my gear is all still quickly accessible.
          Hope that helps!

  • rik says:

    Tik um aan, ouwe 😛

  • Sally montgomery says:

    What wonderful photography you do mark. It must be amazing to have the skill you have. I love the one of Mt Aoraki with the boulders in the foreground.
    Regards
    Sally

    • Mark Watson says:

      Thanks Sally! Photography’s one of those never ending pursuits that you never stop learning from… It’s great to have the opportunity to practise it everyday on this bike trip 🙂

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