I am doing this ride ‘unsupported’, but only in that I won’t have a team car driving alongside me to hand me jam sandwiches and repair my punctures. In reality, I will be accepting more support on this adventure than I ever have in my life.
So, thank you to:
Brixton Cycles, for hours and hours of advice and assistance, for rescuing me from many a bike disaster in my courier days, for staying open late when I had an urgent repair or query, for sourcing all sorts of odd bits and pieces for me, for answering my stupid questions and lending me their tools, and for their unfailing good humour when I come in for the third time in a week with some ridiculous and convoluted problem for them to solve. If you live in London, go and spend some money there. I can’t recommend them heartily enough.
Andy Welch, for inspiration, advice, and helping me get this website off the ground. Between 2007 and 2010 Andy covered much of Europe and Asia as part of the Ride Earth project, and he now blogs at Slow Quest, studies Design at Goldsmiths, and has recently released a book.
Titta M. Laattala, for acupuncture and general medical advice. Titta is a fully qualified and insured practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Medical Qigong, and has practices on Harley Street and in Chislehurst. I cannot over-emphasize what a difference she’s made, both to my physical health and to my mental wellbeing in the run-up to my departure. Her website is here.
The fabulous Grace Wong, for her skills as a photographer, which can be seen elsewhere on this site. I was very privileged to be the subject of one of Grace’s portrait sessions a while back, and was blown away, not only by how good the end result was, but by how adeptly she put me at my ease, got rid of my initial nerves, and captured aspects of me that normally elude other photographers. And she’s helped immeasurably with several other aspects of the trip as well – thank you Grace!