Tout Terrain Silkroad

I read an article about african touring bikes in an old MBUK article- back in the mid 1990's.

During the set-up process for the bikes they'd banned any large components being made from aluminum on the basis that steel can be welded cheaply and easily with a MIG- usually to be found in any car garage, whilst alloy needs a TIG- almost never found outside of a serious fabrication plant.

So, a steel rim brakes- if it's steel they can re-weld, grind down the weld and carry on.

Also, they went with friction shifting for the sake of mechanical simplicity.

Go round the bike and imagine what you'd do if each component were to break, if in a third world country 470 miles from the nearest large urban area sort of thing.