Search found 251 matches

by tim_f
13 Aug 2023, 11:28am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Mizen Head to Malin Head: getting to start (and from finish) by public transport
Replies: 7
Views: 760

Re: Mizen Head to Malin Head: getting to start (and from finish) by public transport

I did Mizen to Malin Head in July of this year . I followed this route - http://www.mizmal.com/wild-atlantic They do not publish the detailed route but Google searching found GPS tracks for each day on teh ride with GPS site. I made some very slight modifications to te route and adjusted the breaking down in to days,

I was camping with one night in ayouth hostel in Galkway, It took me 7 days to do the route.

I cycled to Holyhead from hoem in Kendal, caught the ferry to Dublin, the cycled to the start at Mizen. At the end I cycled to Larn via the Antrim coast, ferry dver to Cairnryan and then cycled back to Kendal.

Coming back from Malin head I took the ferry across the estruary to Northern Ireland that was sugested above.

The complete circulit took me 16 days. 2 days to Holyhead, 4 days to Mizen from Dublin, 6.5 days to Malin, 1.5 days to Larne, 2 days back to Kendal. 2222 km cycling.

It is an excellent trip from Malin to Mizen and route deivised by Wild Atlantic cycling holidays that I copied was excellen in chosing quiet roads and taking in the best scenary.
by tim_f
22 Feb 2023, 12:05pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: riding through Prague, north to south- how is it??
Replies: 11
Views: 669

Re: riding through Prague, north to south- how is it??

about 10 yesrs ago i rode through Prague North to South following the river. I recall that kept me away ftom the trafic.
by tim_f
3 Jan 2023, 12:36pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Berlin to Amsterdam, what route would you pick?
Replies: 18
Views: 1345

Re: Berlin to Amsterdam, what route would you pick?

How many km a day do you like to ride ?

I wiould start from Amsterdam and end in Berlin, as Berlin is an interestig place to hang out in at the end of the tour.

If you like cheap basic camping, then you would like Czech Republic and Poland.

Amsterdam, Luxenborg, Miunich, Prague, Dresden, Berlin then a loop up to Grman baltic coast then follow coast to Poland and then back through Poland to Berlin.

An alternative trip woudl be to head up to Denmark over to Sweden - for wild camping, and then back to Berlin via Copenhagnn to Berlin Cycle route, or ferry to Poland and back to Berlin,
by tim_f
17 Feb 2020, 8:23am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Charging devies on tour - Schmidt SON Delux Front Dynamo Hub
Replies: 20
Views: 2828

Re: Charging devies on tour - Schmidt SON Delux Front Dynamo Hub

Camping in France I have got by fine by just plugging in a mains charger to a USB battery pack in toilet block to a shaver socket.

Better to have a couple of medium sized ones rather than one big ones.

With USB C fast charging can get a lot of power in a short period.

Label the battery pack and charger with name and phone number.

Yes there is a a risk of theft, but they are cheap.... and easy to buy another one in a large french supermarket.

I think the deluxe SON Dynamo gives less current than the standard SON version at lower speeds. This is fine to power a USB headlight. But is not optimal for a touring cyclist wanting to power USB devices via a rectifier.

Depending on how long you cycle every day and your speed may not 'harvest' a lot of power, even with the standard SON dynamo.

If you have a modern fast charging phone, simplest way if so ask to plug it in when you stop in a cafe.
by tim_f
10 Jan 2020, 12:46pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Front Mudguard query
Replies: 21
Views: 1030

Re: Front Mudguard query

How about asking them to replace one of the racks with a simple planet x bike hook ?

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TOTERBSR/jobsworth-steel-wall-mounted-bike-hanger-(fixed-hook)

But there will be nothing to lock bike to, but this true also of the existing rack.
by tim_f
3 Jan 2020, 5:14pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: What's your opinion of the Sustran Route
Replies: 17
Views: 3337

Re: What's your opinion of the Sustran Route

On a tour in the UK I like to plan my own route combining bits of Sustrans routes with my own choice of roads.

Easy to do this on one of the open cycle map based online planners with shows the national cycle routes. Can also switch to satellite photo view to get an idea of the surface.

Often how viable a Sustrans route is will depend on the weather.

I did a trip around England and Wales this summer and some of the best bits were on canal tow paths and former railway lines.
Some good canal paths up from Runcorn to Preston and through to Lancaster. But some sections i rode on roads and some on the canal paths, variety add interest. Good to mix both during a day.

I was on 28 mm tyres with fenders/mudguards. Had to scrape out mud a couple of times of the mudguards. On a diverge you should be fine on any off road sustrans sections.

Sometimes whilst riding a route or looking at the map one thinks route looks longer than it needs to be, and then when one rides it and finds it goes that way to pass a place of historic interest.

ill be expensive even with an overseas data plan


You can pick up a UK Sim on a pay as you go basis very cheaply in the UK and get a lot of data for very little money. ASDA supermarket (owned buy Walmart) is one place to get one from. https://mobile.asda.com/

Having a data connection is so useful to check out weather, nearest supermarket, accommodation, cafe etc.

If you want a book I recommend "The End to End Cycle Route: Land's End to John o' Groats"

Paperback
Publisher: Cicerone Press; 2nd Revised edition edition (2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1852848588
ISBN-13: 978-1852848583

On my End to End few years back I followed the route up to Scotland where I went via Aviemore rather then Fort William.
by tim_f
27 Sep 2019, 12:51pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Panniers for Topeak Super Tourist DX
Replies: 7
Views: 986

Re: Panniers for Topeak Super Tourist DX

Another option might be to upgrade your old panniers with track and hook with spare parts from ortlieb - would work if your old panniers have a stiff back.

https://www.ortlieb.com/us/products/accessories/spare-parts?cat=170
by tim_f
26 Sep 2019, 8:23pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Panniers for Topeak Super Tourist DX rack?
Replies: 4
Views: 521

Re: Panniers for Topeak Super Tourist DX rack?

Ortlieb spare parts are readily available. If your paniers have a stiff backing plate you might be able to fit a Ortlieb lower hook mounting track and hook.
by tim_f
1 Sep 2019, 8:21pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: absolute black chainrings
Replies: 8
Views: 691

Re: absolute black chainrings

using a cassette larger than 32t may not work well (apparently - the rear mechs compatible with the shifters would struggle)


what shifters are you using ? - as shimanio have been introducing new rear mechs with a greater capacity and maximum cog size. For example 11 spped 105 can not use a mech that supports a 11-34 cassette.
by tim_f
1 Sep 2019, 8:42am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Sora 3500 Shifters with Alivio M4000 RD ?
Replies: 2
Views: 379

Re: Sora 3500 Shifters with Alivio M4000 RD ?

yes it would - cable pull of the rear shifter has not changed. That mech works well with a 36 largest cog. assuming you have a 50,39, 30 chainset it has the capacity for a 12-36.

I have this mech and shifter combination on one of my bikes.

Tim.
by tim_f
30 Aug 2019, 4:00pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Finding a Headset to suit my new frame . . . .
Replies: 3
Views: 495

Re: Finding a Headset to suit my new frame . . . .

see this documents -

http://www.canecreek.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/canecreek-shis-poster.pdf

which might lead you identify it as a IS41 / ?? IS47 / ?? headset (need the steerer and fork crown diameter in place of ?? and the ream depth to determine if IS , EC or ZS type ) which you can then google and find a headset

note the crane creek chart does not include 41.8 in any of the rows

for example you might need IS41/28.6 IS47/33 which would lead you to

https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/cube-headset-fsa-orbit-i-t-1-1-8-1-1-4-619498 not saying this is the correct one for you.
by tim_f
23 Aug 2019, 8:06am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bike carrier ( on our car ) on Normandie Express
Replies: 5
Views: 780

Re: Bike carrier ( on our car ) on Normandie Express

Probably have a no trailer rule because there is only a loading door at one end and card have to do a tight turn inside the boat on loading or unloading depending on which side one parks.
by tim_f
5 Aug 2019, 3:53pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Torque Wrench Set Recommendations
Replies: 23
Views: 3048

Re: Torque Wrench Set Recommendations

by Brucey » 4 Aug 2019, 10:01am

the topeak combo (as suggested by mjr) is just £10.49 at CRC presently.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/top ... prod137802

this makes it a 'no brainer' for the OP's intended use IMHO

cheers


I have one of these and recommend it. Simple to use, useful range cheap and I assume does not go out of calibration. Just needs careful storage.

Tim
by tim_f
2 Aug 2019, 11:46am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Audax Bike (Spa?) with Tourer Gearing & Double vs. Triple
Replies: 91
Views: 7512

Re: Audax Bike (Spa?) with Tourer Gearing & Double vs. Triple

My Spa audax has

Spa 46-34-24 triple chain set

11- 34 9 speed cassette

Sora triple front mech

Alivo 9 speed mountain bike shadow rear mech.

bar end shifters

I like the spread of gears it gives low enough to get up steep hills with a touring load but high enough to go fast on the flat and when unloaded.

I think the read mech would work fine with a 12-36 9 speed cassette

I suspect that a 46-34-24 chainset works better with current shimanio road triple front mechs designed for 11 tooth difference than a 46-26-24 but I expect Brucey can provide advise on what works best together.

As well as gears need to think about match between brake levers and brakes - again best to get Brucey's advise on what works together well.
by tim_f
24 Jul 2019, 10:32pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: 11speed Rear Derailleur
Replies: 16
Views: 2902

Re: 11speed Rear Derailleur

David9694 wrote:
Is it simple to change from 8 to 11 speed cassette?.


if you have a 'road' 11s hub the freehub body is slightly wider than the one that is used for 8/9/10s (and shimano MTB 11s) cassettes.


But the Shimanio 11 - 34 11 speed cassette fits the narrower 8/9/10 road and 11 mountain hubs - it comes with a spacer to fit on 11 speed road.

SHIM CASS HG700 11SPD 1134-SVR

You can get a 11 speed mech R7000 that is designed to work with it.