The bikes are steel - forget aluminium, it's too brittle and can't be welded. The trailer is also steel. So are our racks - really heavy-duty and bolted with hi-tensile studs to plates we've had specially welded to four points on the rear triangle (in addition to the top attachment). They take a lot of punishment.

We carry most of the bulky gear - tent, tarp, cooking gear (up to 40kg) in the BobYak trailer. We wouldn't consider travelling without it. Our rear (only) panniers are Ortlieb rolltop waterproofs but we are less than rapt in their attachment system and have hit on a bombproof modification. The panniers are just for personal gear.

The sprockets are 20/32/42 on the front , and 11-36 (9 speed) on the back. The hills can be long, steep and rough. We use V-brakes because the downhills can be wild.

We don't use clipless pedals either - we ride in hiking boots or sandals and the cages and toe-straps protect our feet.