Thanks Frank, yes I think we will catch up one day. I will have to upgrade BB, cranks and back cluster b4 I get back to any Mountains. If Sandy got latest custom build it look like better gearing but same shit rims. She is a lightweight but I've seen the heavy loads she hauls. Highly recommend upgrading if she's got the same rims.

New rims what a farking drama Sandy has just got a Surly Bridge Club will have to check what rims are on that hope they are not same as yours.
How was the gearing on the Orge will you need to change anything for the Pamirs .
Enjoy reading your updates if we ever get up there will meet for coffee and some Malaysian Curry yum .
Stay safe mate xxx

Hi Andrew.

Just catching up on the journal, my wife and I just returned from our 3 week spring tour of Arizona and New Mexico. Sorry to hear about the wheel failure.

Yeah, Surly definitely cuts it a bit short on the the wheelset on your Ogre. To compare apples to apples though, your Ogre is actually a $1500 bike in U.S. dollars, msrp of $1525, not $3,000 as you mention in your final entry - is that in Aussie Pesos?

On a $1500 bike kind of hard to expect much more than a 2-3 hundred dollar wheelset, and the Novatec hub/WTB rim combo you got is exactly that and it is really kind of a garbage setup. Neither the hubs nor the rim are strong enough for touring, especially for a larger guy with a heavy load. Unfortunately there is not really a lot of options for a durable wheelset that can be specced at that price point, and certainly not hand built.

For serious touring, hate to say it but you'd probably want to just take the loss and replace it before you head out or, even better, buy a frame only and build the bike with more durable higher quality wheels from the ground up. In the end, you end up spending the same amount or only a bit more on a custom build but perhaps end up with far less frustration?

On another note, saw your comments about pumps. I have been using the Topeak Road Morph G for many years as my touring pump, and really like it, seems like the best compromise between good ergonomics, relatively fast inflation, weight, and portability. It has lasted for a long time and has never failed me. The many Morph models are a bit confusing - the G models denote the inline gauge. Mountain is for wide mtb style tires that have a lot of volume but only require low psi, while Road is for lower volume higher psi. My feeling is the the one with the longest barrel, ie the Road, will inflate tires with the least amount of strokes as the longer barrel puts in more air per stroke. I tried a mini once to save a bit of space and weight and was disappointed with how long it took to pump up a tire. I see they now make a turbo morph which boasts even faster inflation but is a bit heavier and pricier but have not tried it. The gauge is not super accurate but is consistent so I figure the pressure I like on the Morph gauge before I leave on a Tour and then just inflate to that.

Cheers!

--BEN--

golly, so sorry to hear that you had an abrupt end to your exciting trip, we've been loving following your journey. Keith said the mountain morph is for mountain bikes and the road morph would be for narrower tyres, maybe some more investigating is needed, I'll have a look too see what I can find. Take care and we will keep in touch

Hi Sylvia, back home and getting new rims sorted and then should be right to get back to the tour early/mid May.
Looking into the pump u guys recommended. Pushys have it but show it as Topeak Road Morph G Compact Pump with Inline Gauge. Looks exactly the same as the Mountain Morph?
Cheers,
Andrew

Thanks Sandy, hoping to get back to it sooner rather than later.
Very poor wheels for a top bike!!

Bummer

That’s what happened to my factory wheels on my new Fuji bike on my Nullarbor trip

Safe trip home and look forward to you finishing this trip in the future and your next trip Pamirs? You’ll love that

Cheers
Sandy

Yes you would think so wouldn't you Frank, that's for your input again.

Thanks Bruce and for your excellent input.

Thanks Vince, looking forward to following the rest or your trip, good luck.

Thanks Bill and for your id on the ringneck parrots, what a beautiful bird.

Thanks Catherine, hopefully I'm bak on to it sooner rather than later.

So sorry you had to abort your trip due to poor quality rims. I was really enjoying your photos and your trip in general. You are tough to brave wind and a lot of barren country. But, as we discussed earlier, there is always a lot of something in all that nothing and it sure looked beautiful to me. You were lucky it was greener than normal. Thank you for your journal. Can't wait til our paths cross.

I am sorry to read about the end of your trip Andrew. Well done on you for just for starting a trip that many would find too harsh and unforgiving. Good on you mate!

What he said Shit he said farked rims ,sorry mate that the ride is over due to dodgy rims I thought Surly would have better rims on $3000 bikes,
I have enjoyed your ride and I don't envy you 22 hours on a bus take care xxx