Revolution Cycle - first irish circumnavigation of the world by bicycle

camping

One of the reasons we both love cycling is because we'll be self powered, and with this camping gear, we'll be self sufficient as well. As our expedition is unsupported, we'll need to carry our tents, cooking equipment, food, water and essentially everything we need to get by.

tent

Our tents will effectively be our homes for over 16 months so they must be as comfortable and spacious as possible while being strong, durable and lightweight. We'll have to pitch and take down our tents every day so they must be quick and easy to use.

These 2 man Hubba Hubba tents from MSR use a single main aluminium pole that forks into a "Y" at the ends. This forms a self stable shape that ensures that they will be stable in the strongest winds and can also be used without guys in light wind conditions. The clip on inner and efficient design means that this tent can be erected and dismantled in less than 5 minutes.

stove

While on the road, food is one of the things that keeps you going. As we'll be expending a huge amount of energy, we must be able to cook proper meals at the end of the day.

We'll be using MSR's excellent XGK EX and Dragonfly multifuel stoves that can burn aviation fuel, diesel, petrol, kerosene and virtually any combustible liquid. A low profile should prevent our meals from being blown over in strong winds and the simmer function on the Dragonfly Stove will ensure that our meals are cooked to perfection, whatever they may be!

water purifier

This MSR Hyperflow water purifier will allow us to drink water taken from lakes, rivers or dirty water sources. It is capable of inactivating viruses, as well as protozoa and bacteria without the need for adding iodine.

The Hyperflow is compact and lightweight and easily pumps water into our MSR DromLite water carrier bags. This 6 liter bag is made from a tough but lightweight material and will be our lifeline while cycling through the deserts where water isn't readily available.

sleeping bag

After a lot of consideration with the guys from Marmot, they recommended their Hydrogen down sleeping bag which delivers enough warmth for most situations, while still weighing in at a wispy one pound. It will be comfortable down to -1.2 degrees C but in extreme cases, could be used at temperatures as low as -17 degrees.

We've also got a silk liner that adds an extra 2 degrees of warmth to the sleeping bag, or can be used on it's own in hotter temperatures.

meal kits

The MealKit contains everything you need to prepare and eat a meal any where: two plates, a cup with lid, a combined colander and cutting board, a "spork" (combined spoon and serrated fork) and a small waterproof box for all those things that just have to stay dry. It's made of an environmentally friendly plastic and comes in a choice of bright colours that'll be sure to lift your mood!

shades

Our eyes need to be protected from a range of nasties, blinding sun, dusty winds, stinging hail. These Julbo Cross shades fit the bill well. They've got 3 different sets of easily changeable lenses to cope with different lighting conditions and the sides wrap around nicely to protect from any sun that tries to sneak through.

hydration sack

During any exercise it is important to stay hydrated. But gulping down a bottle of water each time you stop is a sure way of wasting the water that you've carried since your body can't absorb it in one go. Drinking small sips regularly is the best way to stay hydrated.

We'll be using hydration sacks that have a water bladder built into the bag and a hose that hangs over your shoulder with a special teat at the end that allows for easy drinking. The insulated backing ensures that the water doesn't get too warm, a good feature considering that we'll be cycling through some of the hottest places on earth.

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