Search found 249 matches

by Dudley Manlove
23 Jan 2017, 3:51pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring High Tech or Low Tech
Replies: 11
Views: 2811

Re: Touring High Tech or Low Tech

I'm not being funny here, but...how about using a map, scribbing your route, with whatever notes are relavent and your current position on it. Then take photos of the map as you travel to post on social media or whatever?

If it seems contrary, I work in a lab and planning experiments/work/etc, it's often easier and quicker to sketch diagrams and plans on sheet of paper, than either scan it or take a photo - as opposed to messing about using power point or whatever to do a proper drawing.
by Dudley Manlove
13 Jan 2016, 12:57pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Lincolnshire Wolds
Replies: 16
Views: 3151

Re: Lincolnshire Wolds

As someone who was localish (and took it for granted) and only cycled thru a couple of times since, I'm not gonna be massive help, but random thoughts:

- there's plenty of climbs but they're often quite short and sharp.
- the tearoom crowds that busies parts of the Dales etc, are completely absent. I don't recall seeing tourists of any stripe much there.
- the B1225 from Horncastle to Caistor takes a fairly flat route over the tops, if you want a change from sharp climbs. It's not that busy, but will depend on the time.
- the Viking Way walking route crosses the Wolds if you fancy a change from the bike.
- as said above, Louth has plenty of independent shops and is good for provisions.
- the area roughtly between the Wolds in the East and the A15 in the West, Brigg in the North and Lincoln in the South, is much flatter if you fancy a change. Plenty of nice little villages and pubs down there too.

I think you'll get what you want out of the place!
by Dudley Manlove
1 Dec 2015, 12:12pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: advice wanted re:Danube - Passau to Vienna/wild camping
Replies: 9
Views: 2162

Re: advice wanted re:Danube - Passau to Vienna/wild camping

I don't know much about this section of the Danube, but as a general point cycling down rivers...fisherman often put up tents while they're out fishing at night, if they can get away with it I don't see why we can't with a bit of common sense. For all intents to anyone casting a casual glance you're probably there fishing too.
by Dudley Manlove
19 Nov 2015, 10:05am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring luxuries
Replies: 68
Views: 8601

Re: Touring luxuries

In my first tours my kit included stuff like: pair of doc martens for the evening, medium sized ghettoblaster, folding chair. I've taken a weber BBQ on a 4 day tour before but can't really say that's part of my regular kit. Nowadays, I'd say civvie clothes for the evening (at least a regular shirt, maybe a pair of jeans), a small portable DAB radio, and ofc drinkies for the evening picked up as and when.
by Dudley Manlove
23 Sep 2015, 12:47pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Weight when touring - how much is too much?
Replies: 66
Views: 6421

Re: Weight when touring - how much is too much?

I don't think I'd worry too much about weight on that route. It'll be flat and you'll probably have the wind behind you. I'm guessing it gets lumpy if you're following it up to Norway, but you'll have the legs for it by then.

After an op that limits how much I can strain I'm a little more mindful of weight than I used to be, but personally would still probably take ~20kg for that trip (4panniers, front 2 half full and a barbag).
by Dudley Manlove
3 Aug 2015, 2:39pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Land's End to Stonehenge
Replies: 6
Views: 3489

Re: Land's End to Stonehenge

phil parker wrote:
khain wrote:The road in to Stonehenge is a busy dual carriageway. Not a great end to a cycle trip.


That's the A303 - there's no need to go anywhere near that on a bike!

...and with the recent alterations you can no longer access Stonehenge from the A 303.


Tho it has been closed to traffic you can still cycle the old road up from the A303 to Stonehenge. It's grassed over and a bit lumpy, but it's doable.

I agree 100% about riding the A303 tho. I've only ridden it for a few hundred yards to connect up another route, but it's the single worst road I've cycled on in the UK.
by Dudley Manlove
9 Jul 2015, 3:40pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring on a Roadrat
Replies: 7
Views: 2601

Re: Touring on a Roadrat

Kieran2663 wrote:Did a 6 month tour of India & Laos on a Cotic Road Rat a number of years ago, although not a great touring bike, it certainly did the job with a few modifications.

Just make sure you take a spare rear gear hanger, mine was broken in Laos and it essential ended our tour, this is the one down side to a versatile bike with multi set up options, sometimes you need specialist replacements that are impossible to find on the road. I would say this is the true Achilles heal of the bike, I went through 3 gear hangers in less than 2 years.


To be fair the newer frames include a fixed gear hanger rather than the replacable one. Suppose how much any of this is a big deal depends how much the OP is touring on it and where he/she is going.
by Dudley Manlove
7 Jul 2015, 4:18pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring on a Roadrat
Replies: 7
Views: 2601

Re: Touring on a Roadrat

I've got a Roadrat, but use it as a commuter rather than a tourer. It's the old frame, so may not be entirely relavant...however -

There is a little flex if you load it up with like 20kg, but it's nothing that would put me off touring on it. You can also stick Surly forks on it (either Disc Trucker or Straggler would work) to give front mounting options if you want to spread the load.

The newer frames have lower BB, longer headtube, and disc mounts on the chainstay (so as not to foul the rack mounts). All of which I think make them better as a touring machine.

I probably would buy a dedicated tourer, if that's all I planned doing on it, but I wouldn't hesitate to use one for touring if it's a multipurpose bike. Also you probably have come across this guys blog if you've been goggling about - he's been all over on one:

https://everydaystories.wordpress.com/2 ... -obituary/
by Dudley Manlove
6 May 2015, 6:48pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Solo Etiquette
Replies: 47
Views: 4495

Re: Solo Etiquette

Sweep wrote:Spoons food can be a bit outofabox but the steaks are decent (especially if you pay extra for the aberdeen angus) and the beer is great, varied and cheap. No great etiquette at any time - select a table, note the number, order food at bar, relax.


Agree - as long as you stick to steaks, burgers, etc., you can't go far wrong. For the price tbh, you can't go far wrong with otherstuff, but the steaks do have the potential to be nice 'price disregarded' and not just good value.

Point about rural wales tho - often there's no pub and the hotel is the local watering/feeding hole? It's the impression I've got particularly up in the north and west anyhow.
by Dudley Manlove
6 May 2015, 6:39pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Solo Etiquette
Replies: 47
Views: 4495

Re: Solo Etiquette

It's been a while since been over to Ireland, but it suprises me they'd eat so late.

Overhere pubs typically serve food till about 9-10-ish. It is probably normal to eat and hour or two before. It's a little confusing, as imo, at resturants, people will eat later and they might be open till 11 or 12. At least in cities or towns.

But it's quite informal, people eat at all hours and there's no big deal eating alone, late, or whatever. As long as they're still serving food, you're sorted. I agree with posts about staying in hostels if you want to socialise. In B&Bs people tend to keep to themselves, maybe the exception being breakfast.
by Dudley Manlove
31 Mar 2015, 4:48pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Has technology changed touring?
Replies: 45
Views: 9321

Re: Has technology changed touring?

My first tour was only about 7 years ago, but in that time I've got my first smart phone, joined facebook, etc. The smart phone made on the hoof research realatively easy. It's still slow as browsing goes, so I only tend to use it when I have to. Facebook and social media - well that has a corrupting influence on all walks of life. It is very easy to make choices that are blogworthy or for some facebook attention rather than what you might do otherwise without an audience. My last long tour I wasn't on there, but I bet if I was I'd have spent rather more time staging photos than just getting on with it.
by Dudley Manlove
12 Mar 2015, 8:58pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bike lubing/cleaning on tour
Replies: 10
Views: 1902

Re: Bike lubing/cleaning on tour

I take a small bottle of oil and a rag stuffed under the saddle. I'll clean the chain when it gets noisey. It might be a once every few days, or a couple of times aday. Riding thru sand, wet mud, clay, etc will soon strip oil and/or trash the drivetrain.

I don't really bother cleaning otherwise. The exception would be keeping brake calipers clear and any other moving parts. The less I look like robbing the better imo !
by Dudley Manlove
18 Feb 2015, 3:18pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Getting Fit with your Full Load
Replies: 28
Views: 2624

Re: Getting Fit with your Full Load

On the run up, just do some overnighters or weekend trips with your full load. Enjoy the training! Even mid-week trips are doable. I used to cycle the 30miles over to Ivenhoe Beacon from my house, camp up for the night, cycle back next morning, go swimming (for the shower), then go to work. There's usually plenty of local place to explore. Much rather do something like that than lugging bricks around for the sake of it.
by Dudley Manlove
8 Jan 2015, 2:16pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Belgium fixed base recommendations please
Replies: 8
Views: 1257

Re: Belgium fixed base recommendations please

I went over there with the OH this year - 4 days near La Roche-en-Ardenne at a great little campsite next to the river that lets you light campfires (http://www.campingmaka.be/), another 4 days at the campsite in Brugge. Both were good but I think there's much more to get your teeth into in the Ardennes - hills and climbs and whatnot- as opposed to pancake flat Brugge and the surroundings. Still, we really enjoyed the contrast and the OH is not a big cyclist so it was good to engineer in some nice flat easy riding in the north, including a circular ride to the coast + picnic and sunbathing and a trip over into Holland. I wouldn't rule out spending some time in each part of the country, especially if you're coming over on the ferry from the north anyhow - but I would definately spend more time in the south.

/edit - doh, I meant last year.
by Dudley Manlove
6 Jan 2015, 4:44pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Handlebar bag views and costs
Replies: 51
Views: 12455

Re: Handlebar bag views and costs

foxyrider wrote:They are now on Ultimate 6 and I'm not sure I approve of the 'improvements'! bit of cord to hold the map case on - recipe for disaster, fixed inner organiser, why? and what's with the locking feature - the thing goes everywhere I do!


Gah, fixed inner organiser?! On the earlier versions, first thing I did was pull the removal one, and fill the whole chamber with maps and guidebooks.

The locking feature I find quite useful tho - at cafes and such sometimes I lock the bike up with the barbag, grab what I need and leave it there. I'm talking about scenarios where it stays in line-of-sight. I'd rather that, than have it kicking about around my feet or on a chair where it can go walkies. Also, I do seem to remember reading a horror story of the rider being distracted while fixing a puncture and the barbag going walkies via 'a good samaritains' slight of hand. I could live without the lock feature admittedly, but it's there and it gets used.

The Ortlieb barbags are a bit steep, but a nice piece of kit and once you've got one last forever.