We have THE answer!

It's definitive. And here is the proof. I hope you enjoy this, we certainly enjoyed making it!



We would also like to thank the organisers of the Southern XC Racers series, in particular the commentator for constant words of encouragement. Also everyone who attended the event and donated money helping to raise a total of £64.40 for our charities.

How many guys does it take to make a flat-pack picnic bench?

Apologies to those who were expecting a witty answer but sadly empirical evidence points to a rather bland solution of five. It may however amuse you to know that it also took said five adults four hours.


If you're wondering what this has to do with driving a tuk-tuk across India it doesn't other than to highlight our mechanical ineptitude.

When the dust finally settled, after having tried every possible combination of crosspiece-A, support-B, nut-C and bolt-D, we had worked up a mighty appetite and so with the last rays of the Sun we did what any self respecting group of English gentlemen would - we put on our shorts and had a barbecue.

It was possibly not the best preparation the night before my first bike race however I've heard plenty of athletes banging on about the benefits of carbo-loading so I'm sure there must be someone out there who can come up with some scientific evidence to support protein-loading. On the plus side I drank alot so I must have been well hydrated the following morning despite the headache suggesting otherwise.

As I write this Tom is putting the finishing touches to a video of the bike race. From what I've been told it's not to be missed so if you've never seen two grown men careering through the woods while dressed as a chicken and an egg check back soon!

- Mark

Let the humiliation begin

So the egg has been polished, and the chicken preened. Everything is in place to solve the world's oldest dilemma. What other incentive could there be to come and watch us make fools of ourselves?
Ok so this photo may help? Intrigued then read this.

Strewth it's going to be a long way

So having seen the evidence is anyone else tempted by 4500km in one of these beasts?

View a selection of photos from the test drive by clicking here or follow the link in the sidebar ->

Things we learnt from the test drive:

1. We can drive around a flat, grassy field in a tuk-tuk - just traffic, potholes & evading pedestrians to master then!

2. Never, under any circumstances, does the driver get to eat curry for lunch.

3. Tuk-tuk manufacturers don't apparently see then need for a fuel guage in their machines.

4. They existence of suspension also seems to have evaded them.

5. Exiting from a moving tuk-tuk requires grace and agility, which fortunately I have in spades...

It’s 2000 and what now?

If you are one of those people who finds it hard to remember what day of the week it is then count your lucky stars you don't live in Nepal where you might find yourself in the wrong century!

Yesterday was New Year's Day 2065 under the 'official' Bikram Sambat calendar. However Nepal will also be celebrating New Year's Day 1128 on the 28th October (Nepal Sambat calendar) and has already welcomed in 2135 on the 8th February (Lhosar/Tibetan calendar).

All of this means that it is simultaneously the 12th, 21st and 22nd century in Nepal!

In other news we were down in Southampton this weekend test driving tuk-tuks (photos to follow soon). 4500km seems a lot further today than it did last week.

Happy New Year.

- Mark & Tom

Streetshirts

It's shaping up to be a busy week here at Raiders HQ but the most exciting news so far has to be the announcement of our first sponsor.

If you've poked around our blog you can't help but have noticed the cool team t-shirts we've had made up. So I'm really pleased to reveal that the guys (& gals) at Streetshirts who are responsible for turning my hamfisted sketches into works of art have agreed to come on board.

Lets be honest it'd be great publicity for them if we end up needing to be rescued from some catastrophe 999 style while wearing their t-shirts. I can almost hear Michael Burke's voiceover now...

Streetshirts have just set up a brand new version of their custom t-shirt designer tool on their website giving you access to hundreds of designs and styles with complete freedom to easily create a t-shirt your way. If even this sounds like too much work then they also have a great selection of their own designs to choose from.

Click here and get your creative juices flowing.

- Mark

Rickshaw Run games

Just a quick note to point out, if you've not already found them, that we've added some Rickshaw Run inspired games to our sidebar.

Try your hand at driving the infamous tuk-tuk round the streets of Bombay by clicking on the links below.

- Mark