Buzz Monkey

Information to Set the Pulse Racing

What is an Urban Survival Kit?

Survival kit isn’t a catch-all phrase anymore like it used to be. These days, there are any number of different types of survival situations a person could find themselves in, and each requires a separate set of tools, equipment, and skills. There’s cold weather survival, desert survival, general outdoor survival, and urban survival, to name a few. What is different about urban survival? There are a lot of things that are required for urban survival that you might not necessarily need in the great outdoor wilderness.

Urban Survival

Let’s define the situation first: Urban survival is a situation in which you must survive for an unspecified length of time within an urban environment, such as a city. The specifics of the situation could be any number of things. Sometimes the buildings will be torn down or reduced to rubble, sometimes most people have evacuated but the buildings have been left standing, and other times the city is just as filled with people as it was before, but all water, electricity, and public services have been shut off – the most dangerous situation of all.

Survival Kit

Your Kit Depends on Your Situation

If you’re able to reach your home and shut yourself in after a disaster, that’s the most desirable situation to be in. But what if you are caught outside your house and have no way of getting back for at least a few days? An urban survival kit is specifically designed to facilitate travel, defense, and nourishment in an urban environment.

For one thing, food is usually plentiful in the city, although you may not always have immediate access to it. Grocery stores are a good example of this. They have all the food you need, but likely you will either have to force your way in or contend with other people who want the exact same thing. A crowbar is an excellent tool for forcing entry, and can be used as a defense weapon in a pinch as well.

Besides a crowbar, some of the tools you might want in an urban survival kit include:

  • Multi-tool or multi function knife
  • Approx. 50 feet of good nylon rope
  • A sewing kit
  • Safety goggles
  • Dust masks/gas masks (urban cities are prime targets for terrorist attacks, which could involve airborne nerve agents)
  • Leather work gloves

These tools will let you get over, around, into, or through just about anything in your path. A small tent works as far as shelter is concerned, but depending on the situation, you may have a choice of buildings in which to pass the nights.

Other Necessities for a Survival Kit

One thing you always want to be sure you have enough of is water and medical supplies. Standing water in the city is extremely likely to be contaminated and should never be drunk. Likewise, there are plenty of opportunities all around you to cut, scrape, bruise, break, or otherwise hurt yourself when you’re working your way through concrete, asphalt, and steel.

Lala Johnson encourages the application of survival kits during emergency situations and has years of expereince in this field.If you are interested in Lala’s survival kit articles or if you would like to find out more on her survival kits blogs, visit her website.

Three Adventure Holidays With a Kick

There are adventure holidays where you can swing from things and jump off stuff and then there are adventure holidays where you can learn something new, such as: how to kick the living bejesus out of someone. Below are three options that will turn your next adventure holiday into a kick-ass experience to be remembered for years to come.

Muay Thai

Learn the Secret Skills of the Ninja

Few trips could be as exciting as a journey into the psyche of the beguiling Ninja. This group of people is shrouded in mystery as no one knows for sure who was a Ninja and who wasn’t. One of the most fanciful tales you might hear when on your trip is the tale of Ishikawa Goemon. Legend has it that Goemon hid in the ceiling and tried to drip poison from a thread into his rival’s mouth.

Supposedly, the discipline was born from disgraced Samurais who, when offered the option of Harakiri (honourable suicide), picked the other, dark choice: to become a masterless rogue. One thing we do know though: the Ninja M.O. was unorthodox warfare. Espionage, assassination, sabotage… You name it, the Ninja were doing it.

On the few adventure holidays on which you can discover the secret ways of a Ninja, you will learn martial arts from Japan’s most venerable sensei – masters of karate. One of them is famous for taking on 13 yakuza (the Japanese mafia) at once, coming out merely with a few broken fingers. If this sounds like real life Kill Bill to you, you wouldn’t be far off the mark.

Flirt with the Cowboy Lifestyle in Argentina

For a romantic soul, a trip to Argentina to work with the gauchos can’t be beaten. Back in the 19th century, gauchos made up the majority of the rural population, using their horse skills to herd cattle on the sprawling estancias. For generations, the gaucho (thought to have come from the Mapuche word cauchu – ‘vagabond’) has captured the imagination of people around the world, much like the North American cowboy.

The life of a gaucho is a simple one, involving daily rides to tend to cows, lunches of beef grilled simply over an open fire and mastering the lasso. The latter is harder than it looks: do you reckon you can tame it?

Train with Muay Thai Kickboxing Champions in Thailand

Of all the boxing styles that exist around the world, Muay Thai is by far the most impressive. While traditional English boxing makes use of only two contact points (the fists), Muay Thai uses no less than eight, and is called ‘The Art of Eight Limbs”. Eight? Don’t we only have four limbs? Yes, but Muay Thai also allows the use of elbows and knees in a stunning clash of wills.

Muay Thai is Thailand’s national sport and as such, much folklore surrounds it. The most famous legend is that of Nai Khanomthom who was a prisoner of war of the Burmese King Hsinbyushin. During a festival, Nai was invited to combat a champion of the Burmese sport Lethwei. Nai beat the Burmese heavy-weight and beat nine others without a break. Thanks to his prowess, all the other Thai prisoners were released.

You can discover this awe-inspiring sport through watching the greats at fight nights in Bangkok’s finest stadiums. The excitement on these nights is increased ten-fold by the delicate Thai music playing in the background and the ceremonial dance of respect that each combatant has to complete at the start of the match. After that, it’s an aggressive fight for survival. Once you’ve watched, you can learn with some of the city’s greatest champions. After all that, the only thing left to do is to delve into Bangkok’s chaotic nightlife.

Lalage used all the Ninja skills she could muster to seek out these adventure holidays for you.

Citations: Image by Idirectori

Adventure Options: Travel to The Alps This Summer

Most people associate the Alps with winter holidays and ski breaks. Certainly, the region boasts hundreds of ski resorts, some of which are among the world’s best, but aside from that it is also a fantastic summer holiday destination. If a summer holiday in the Alps does not make you jump with enthusiasm, read on. Perhaps you will change your mind!

Six activities you can do in the Alps this summer:

Mountain Biking

Mountain Biking - Alps

Miles of trails await the cyclist in the Alps. Cycling holidays are a good option for both beginners looking to do leisurely rides, and for expert riders wanting a challenge. Many ski stations open their lift system to cyclists, so apart from getting into shape you get to see some spectacular views over some of Europe’s highest peaks.

Pony Trekking

Pony Trekking

How about a horse-riding holiday in Austria? Some companies now offer week-long holidays which include riding lessons, routes across the stunning alpine scenery and stays in luxury accommodation venues, such as a medieval castle.

Paragliding

Paragliding

Flying over some of Europe’s most ancient geological features on a warm summer day surely makes for an unforgettable experience. Paragliding is available at many locations throughout the alpine region, but we must highlight the locations of M and Chamonix in France, and Innsbruck, in Austria, where vast green fields guarantee a soft and uneventful landing. Additionally, the towns mentioned above are charming enough on their own, so there will be no shortage of things to do after your daily flight.

Rafting & White Water Kayaking

Kayaking

These are exhilarating activities not for the faint of heart. If you are a good swimmer and are not afraid of being spun around by powerful currents, this could be a great choice for a summer holiday. The fresh waters of the alpine rivers will relieve you from the summer heat, and after a day of paddling you can take a rest at the accommodation of your choice, which can range from self-catering apartments to luxury chalets.

Walking

Austrian Sign

Whether you are a fit walker or just a beginner, the Alps are the perfect location for a walking holiday. European transalpine routes cross France, Switzerland, and Italy, so there are plenty of trails to suit your level of fitness and your interests. Typical holidays last seven days, during which you are taken across some of Europe’s most beautiful landscapes by expert tour guides. For those who are avid gardeners and nature lovers, the Dolomite region offers wildflower walking holidays. There are even “watercolour strolls” for those with an artistic penchant.

Relaxation at its best

Alps View

For many, that’s exactly what a holiday should be about. The good news is that you do not need a beach in order to relax, and in fact the alpine region is home to some of Europe’s best hotels. Some of them even specialise in wellness and rejuvenation, offering the latest spa treatments, which can be personalised to include your partner or friends. Head to the Austrian Tyrol for the best 5-star luxury hotels.

This summer your holidays can be different. Options to suit all tastes and budgets are just a couple of hours away from the UK by plane. Visit the Alps this summer, and you will be soon recommending them too.

This article was brought to you by VIP SKI – visit their website to view their porftfolio of luxury chalets in French Alps

Citations: Images by Hans Fransen; Aphexlee; Tim*A; s.schmitz; Jeroen Fossaert; Artur Staszewski

Is a Fixed Gear Bike the Right Bike for Me?

You’ve seen them at stop lights, weaving in and out of traffic, and likely cruising through the park… they look like any other ten speed or mountain style bike, at least at a glance, but you’ve probably noticed many of them don’t have gears or a derailleur and they appear to have no hand brakes either. They’re called fixed gear bikes – fixies, singles speeds, track bikes are all known aliases as well – and they’re all the rage. They were once almost the exclusive domain of bicycle messengers, but in the last decade or so they have come to be a staple of urban culture and lifestyles. Thinking about getting yourself one? Be aware, these aren’t quite like any other bike you’ve ridden and it takes some adjustment to get used to the challenges of these unique two wheelers.

Big Shot - lodo2

At a Glance

A fixed gear bike looks like a ten speed, but look closer and notice that the rear hub only has one sprocket, and not the multiple sizes set-up most ten speeds and mountain bikes have. This means that the bike will always move in the direction the pedals are going – no coasting. Stopping on a fixed gear bike is a bit tricky too – initially, you have to learn to slow the bike momentum by applying force to the pedals. And since you only have one chainwheel and one sprocket, the chain tension is absolutely vital to the correct operation of the crank.

The Ease of Maintenance

Now, not having a derailleur with multiple sprockets on the rear hub means changes in how you ride, and how riding feels, but it also means a cleaner look for the bike and a mechanical advantage of sorts too – without the shifters and multiple chain rings there is a lot less to maintain and fix, making a fixed gear a great economical choice for those looking to avoid having to spend time working on their bike, or spend additional money to replace extra parts. Generally, fixies are brakeless too – this is another area where a track bike can save you some time spent on maintenance as well as save you some money (although you may find your back tire needs replacing a bit more than usual). Less time spent on maintenance, save money by using fewer parts and get a great workout for your legs in the process!

Starting Out

It would generally be recommended that riders who are new to fixed gear bikes should begin with a low gear ratio as this will make learning to ride up and down hills a bit easier during the transition to your new bike. Also, it is highly recommended that newbies have a front brake while learning; much the same way you required training wheels when you first learned to ride a two wheeled bike as a child, a brake can be removed once you’ve mastered the bike and feel comfortable. Having a brake lever to pull will also ease you into brakeless riding a little more smoothly – you may find yourself instinctively grabbing for it if you immediately jump to riding brakeless (note – some bylaws require a brake for all bikes, so check your local bylaws regarding bike safety standards and regulations first).

Big Shot Fixed Gear Bike

Because of the way a fixed gear bike must be ridden – with much more attention paid to the actual riding experience – you may find after a while that it feels far more natural to you, and more natural than a freewheel driven bike. Having to remain more focused and aware during the ride and adapting to the brakeless and gear-less experience will feel like you’re learning to ride a bike all over again, but once you’ve adapted to it, you may never ride a standard freewheel bike again.

Build your own single speed bike at BigShotBikes.com! Create unique fixed gear bikes for an affordable price. With Big Shot Bikes you can design and customize your own fixie just the way you want it!

Citations: Images by Big Shot Bikes

CHICKENHEADS & COW’S TAILS – Rock Climbing Terminology

CHICKENHEADS AND COW’S TAILS

Chickenheads, cow’s tails, Camalots, slugs and Flexible Friends – and not those of the credit card variety – are all part of the lexicon of climbing, as confusing to the uninitiated as attack points, arm locks, sprags, rock-overs and flakes.

As climbing began to become more popular in the 1930s, and dedicated equipment started to appear, so too did the technical terms develop into a language almost of its own – a literal A to Z of terminology from Alpenstock to Z-Pulleys, Arête to Zdarsky sacks.

Along with helmets, harnesses, chockstones and crampons, one of the more universally-known entries in any climbing dictionary is ‘climbing shoe,’ aka rock shoe, a fundamental part of any enthusiast’s equipment.

Scarpa Vantage

Lightweight, Flexible and Grippy

Where heavy, hob-nailed mountain boots were the norm in the early days of climbing, today’s equivalents are lightweight, flexible and grippy – as personified by Scarpa with their high-tech Force, Vantage, Helix and Vapour Lace rock shoes, amongst others, designed for multi-purpose routes.

When you’re living life on the edge, whether jamming in a straight-in crack or pitching a horizontal flange, the shoes on your feet are as important as any climbing equipment you use.

Today, Scarpa are at the forefront of the outdoor footwear industry, with not only their world-renowned climbing shoes, but also with a highly-technical range of mountaineering boots including the Phantom 8000 designed for high altitude expeditions to the Himalayas, and – for those who prefer to say closer to sea level – approach shoes like the Vortex GTX, Enigma GTX and Scarpa Crux.

Climbing - Pulling the Lip

Glossary of Terms

Alpenstock – Forerunner of the ice axe

Arête – Narrow, almost knife-life ridge

Arm Lock – Hold in a wide crack formed by the arm bent at the elbow and locked in place by outward pressure

Attack Point – Easily located feature used as a point from which to navigate

Camalot – Similar to a Friend, with flexible wire frames and double axle

Chickenheads – Rounded, protruding lumps found on igneous rocks used for holds

Cow’s Tail – Short sling used during resting

Flake – Thin slab of rock which is detached or partially detached from the main face

Friend – Trade name for original spring-loaded camming device

Rock-over – A very high step onto a foothold

Slug – Device with spring which holds nut in place until loaded

Sprag – Hold in a crack where the thumb pushes one way while the fingers pull in the opposite direction on an edge

Zdarsky Sack – Bivouac bag

Z-Pulley – 3-in-1 hoist

Neil Park is buyer and blogger for Gear-zone. He has over 20 experience climbing and in the outdoor industry.

Citations: Image by mariachily