Search found 996 matches

by phil parker
20 Jan 2024, 3:14pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring GPS Sat Nav
Replies: 34
Views: 1353

Re: Touring GPS Sat Nav

I've used various Garmin devices over the past 20 years from the Garmin Edge 205 to the 800 series. I have done a lot of touring, and on my longest days (10 hours+), the Garmin has run out of power, even if I have re-charged during lunch/coffee stops.

However, my most recent purchase, early 2023, of the Garmin Explore 2, is exactly what I have missed all these years, with a battery life easily exceeding 15 hours. I've not tried it to its maximum, as I always recharge at the end of the day, even if it's just off a remote battery pack. It will easily manage two full days without a recharge.

I'm not that interested in stats, other than the overall mileage, but I can input all my routes (planned on OS Maps), and once I got used to a few of the glitches, navigation has been excellent.
by phil parker
7 Jan 2024, 6:25pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Tour Plans for 2024
Replies: 79
Views: 9692

Re: Tour Plans for 2024

Thanks, that was a bit of a typo on my behalf (Kirkpatrick instead of Portpatrick) - I've already copied the route on to OS maps and will work out the daily legs as I finalise the campsites.

My cycling to/from the start/finish, will probably depend on whether or not somebody joins me and how much time they have for the trip (I'm not specifically time-limited) and the logistics.

The information re the Dumfries-Stranraer bus is most useful, however, so thank you for that.
by phil parker
6 Jan 2024, 9:24pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Tour Plans for 2024
Replies: 79
Views: 9692

Re: Tour Plans for 2024

I'm looking at the Kirkpatrick C2C, depending upon logistics, which will probably entail cycling for a couple of days to Kirkpatrick and a couple of days from Eyemouth to train stations. Cycle-camping.

A variation on St David's to Lowestoft, as above with a couple more days each end for travel logistics. Cycle-camping.

Hopefully some nice sunny days around Brittany.
by phil parker
26 Feb 2020, 6:32pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Sunday strict observance on Outer Hebrides northern isles
Replies: 72
Views: 4411

Re: Sunday strict observance on Outer Hebrides northern isles

Cyril Haearn wrote:Rambling +1
Very interesting


Plus 2 - an enjoyable ramble!
by phil parker
26 Feb 2020, 10:49am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Sunday strict observance on Outer Hebrides northern isles
Replies: 72
Views: 4411

Re: Sunday strict observance on Outer Hebrides northern isles

Stay at home, self-flagellate and repent your sins... :shock:

..or buy your shopping on Saturday and spend Sunday cycling :lol:
by phil parker
24 Feb 2020, 10:10am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Sunday strict observance on Outer Hebrides northern isles
Replies: 72
Views: 4411

Re: Sunday strict observance on Outer Hebrides northern isles

I found a small Chinese takeaway open, not too far from the ‘closed’ Tesco in Stornaway on Sunday evening, which was handy, otherwise it would have been the dregs of my rations at the end of a trip.
by phil parker
18 Feb 2020, 2:09pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Advice on Jack Taylor Bikes Please
Replies: 27
Views: 1929

Re: Advice on Jack Taylor Bikes Please

Brucey wrote:In the last few months I have seen two Jack Taylor tandems -good, usable machines, not projects- for sale around the £500 mark and neither sold quickly. The vintage bike market is indeed a strange beast; any 'valuation' might be no better than guesswork vs the price it would fetch on the open market.
cheers


Wow - that's a good price - perhaps disregard my valuation in light of this! Although, if I was in the market for a Jack Taylor, I would consider myself very lucky to get a good example for a 3-figure sum, especially a tandem!

I think you have plenty of options now for valuation estimates, I might even watch the example on eBay that Pedalsheep suggested, just out of curiosity!
by phil parker
18 Feb 2020, 12:32pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Advice on Jack Taylor Bikes Please
Replies: 27
Views: 1929

Re: Advice on Jack Taylor Bikes Please

Padbury wrote:Hi,
My Grandad was Bill Padbury of W H Padbury Ltd of Prestwich if anybody has heard of him.
He was the local Raleigh Dealer & cycling enthusiast.
Helen


That is a lovely bike and I love those hand-hammered mudguards!

I can’t remember the bike shop, or at least the name, I do recall one bike shop in Prestwich as I went to School in Heaton Park in the 70’s and my good school friend and cycling buddy of the time, his dad worked in a bike shop in Prestwich; surname of O’Connor?

Value-wise, in good condition are normally offered for £1500-£2000, but like anything else, it is what somebody is prepared to pay for it. There is a rising interest in ‘classics’ cycling events. If you don’t need the money, I would keep hold of it if you can?
by phil parker
5 Feb 2020, 4:03pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Outer Hebrides
Replies: 26
Views: 1863

Re: Outer Hebrides

If you’ve got time...

I cycled from Glasgow train Station to Ardrossan, ferry to Brodick (Arran), cycled to Lochranza, ferry to Claonaig, cycled to Oban, Ferry to Castlebay. On the way back: ferry from Stornaway to Ullapool, Cycled to Fort William, via Inverness (Beauly) and train from Fort William.
by phil parker
4 Feb 2020, 8:02pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Mont St Michel ?
Replies: 28
Views: 1858

Re: Mont St Michel ?

I'm pretty sure I just locked up my bike next to the wall on the causeway, but not too close to the entrance?

JOGLE 070.jpg
by phil parker
29 Jan 2020, 6:34pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring on Skye
Replies: 40
Views: 2539

Re: Touring on Skye

“Skye is very much the missing link in Scotland’s air network. Let’s put Skye on the map for air services, benefiting locals, businesses and tourists.”


With all that has been discussed here - maybe a bridge too far?
by phil parker
29 Jan 2020, 12:31pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring on Skye
Replies: 40
Views: 2539

Re: Touring on Skye

I noticed a couple of home-made protest signs, either just before or after Broadford, that declared "We need schools - not Airports". This had me wondering if planning application had been applied for. Although with an adequate air strip at Plockton, I wonder why?
by phil parker
28 Jan 2020, 6:18pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring on Skye
Replies: 40
Views: 2539

Re: Touring on Skye

andrew_s wrote:
philsknees wrote:...avoiding the busy climb over the Moll peninsula at the cost of a few easy extra miles. I understand that this loop was closed due to a landslip in August 2018 and may still be(?) A collapsed culvert and full-width landslip is mentioned but I'd be surprised if it would prevent a bike being wrangled through...

Going by the photo here, it looks like it could well still be closed, and that a bike would be difficult (depending what's behind the vegetation on the uphill side.


The road is barricaded at both ends With ‘road closed signs’ and the missing bit of road has tiger tape and cones around it. Although I managed to cycle round and carry my bike around the ‘obstacle’ and continue to the end, I wouldn’t do it again because the road surface and potholes have deteriorated considerably. I was tempted by a jogger (a local) who said it was passable, but the road surface was too poor for a road bike.
by phil parker
28 Jan 2020, 5:40pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring on Skye
Replies: 40
Views: 2539

Re: Touring on Skye

There is still a ‘magic’ about the Island that draws me there and i was fortunate in Apr 19 to get good enough weather to ride everyday, which I wouldn’t swap for the world!

058B22BB-911F-4E1C-8747-45E96FBD915A.jpeg
by phil parker
28 Jan 2020, 5:37pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring on Skye
Replies: 40
Views: 2539

Re: Touring on Skye

The road from Broadford to Elgol was comparatively quiet with views worth the effort on arrival!

68AA32B5-8FB5-4848-B730-D77F7EFB82EB.jpeg