16.000 KM 400 DAYS
EAST – BYCYCLE, LOGG #3
EAST – BYCYCLE
In March, Matt and Lene ( @eastbycycle ) set off on a wild adventure by bike – from Oslo all the way to Singapore. For us, it’s been the perfect test ride for our philosophy: Own fewer clothes. Use them more. Use them for everything.
Their first log was all about packing light. The second? Washing clothes on the road when laundry options are few and far between. Now, in their third and final log, they dive into wear and tear – and why we choose to fix, not toss, the clothes that have been through a lot.
South East Asia
Hanoi to Singapore. The fourth and final leg of our adventure took us from the Ho Chi Minh trail in the north to the ultra modern metropolis of Singapore in the south. We cycled through chaotic roads in Hanoi, via sleepy, rural Laos and into the bustling throng of the Mekong delta as we made our way south. We were challenged by bad roads in Cambodia and increasingly oppressive heat as we reached the mega city of Bangkok. Pedalling further south we hopped between islands, cycling along white sand beaches lined with palm trees, before refilling our stomachs with the delicious comfort foods of Malaysia.
6000km and almost 5 months later we sit in Singapore with our feet up. Job done.
A bit on our gear
After over a year on the road things inevitably start to wear out. Bike parts need replacing, camping equipment needs fixing and clothes begin to deteriorate. Our gear from Northern Playground, whilst defiant, is no exception. A daily drenching in sweat and sun screen, along with the constant exposure to muck from the roads, meant our clothes have had a tough time of it. Now, after over 400 days on the road, cycling 16 000km through 23 countries our shirts are wearing thin, their backs bleached by the relentless sun. Still, we use the same couple of t-shirts we left Oslo with on day one. Blemishes and marks from wear and tear only serve to tell the story of well worn, well used shirts.
Considering all this, they’ve held up pretty well - we think. Recently we took some time out to give a bit of love to our gear which meant mending some holes in the thinning fabric of some of our Northern Playground t-shirts. Repairing these holes wasn’t so much about ensuring the t-shirts ‘just’ made it to the finish line; but was more about preparing them for further use and life after the tour. Whilst tired, they have plenty of life in them yet.
