Apps to help while cycle touring.  Links to make life easier if you’re planning a cycle trip in Japan and some cycling related blogs we like to follow.

Useful apps while cycle touring

• Maps me (offline maps)
• Pocket Earth
• Warm showers (the couch surfing of cycle touring)
• Ride with GPS (good for planning routes and checking elevation)
• Google Drive (for storing information on the cloud)
• Vee (excellent video editing app)

Setting off from Japan

(We lived in Japan for a few years, the links below should help if you’re touring this beautiful country.)

Outdoor gear can be expensive in Japan. Here’s a list of useful resources:

• Second Street – check for stuff here before you look anywhere else.  https://www.2ndstreet.jp/
• Rakuten – online shop. http://www.rakuten.co.jp/
• Amazon Japan – doesn’t always have what you’re looking for but shipping is free. http://www.amazon.co.jp/
• Campsaver – US company with free shipping to Japan if you buy over $400 worth of stuff. http://www.campsaver.com/
• Balba – Surly distributor in Kanazawa. http://www.balba.jp/store/kanazawa.html
• Montbell – outdoor shop with great quality gear and it’s not that pricey compared to imported stuff. http://en.montbell.jp/
• Kojitusanso – we have a members card for this outdoor shop. http://www.kojitusanso.jp/
• Google chrome – this browser translates Japanese to English making it easier to navigate websites.
• The touring store – We got a great deal on our panniers and Wayne couldn’t have been more helpful. http://www.thetouringstore.com/

Blogs We follow

• Travelling Two http://travellingtwo.com/
• Bikestronaut of the Western Steppe (Mongolia) by Ilan Goldstein https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=k1&doc_id=13810&v=K4#38173
• Lots and lots of knowledgable touring advice http://www.struck.us/CheckList/Bicycle_Touring_Tips.html
• Beautiful photographs http://goingslowly.com/
• A good mechanical resource site http://thebiketube.com/
• We met Harry and Veronica through warm showers. http://everydayadventureclub.tumblr.com/
• Rothar, bike cafe in Dublin Rothar
• Cycling and hiking adventures of Shane! Shane Cycles
• A great blog of eclectic bicycle related stories with an emphasis on the classic and handmade. Based in the beautiful Donegal in the North West of Ireland. Lovely Bicycle