Search found 1140 matches

by gloomyandy
30 Jan 2024, 9:06pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Security on Ferries
Replies: 23
Views: 1444

Re: Security on Ferries

No experience of cross channel ferries, but I have travelled on a lot of Scottish ones (including overnight to Shetland). I've always left my bags on the bike and have never had any problems. I have a bar bag with valuables etc. and just tend to take that. On the Shetland ferry I took one pannier with sleeping stuff in it to bed down in one of the lounges for the night. Leaving the bags on the bike also protects the bike from other bikes being rested against yours (which on one trip to Coll that coincided with the Coll Half Marathon was a lot of bikes!). I've never had any problems.
by gloomyandy
30 Jan 2024, 8:57pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Camping Chairs - Helinox Chair One and lookalikes
Replies: 23
Views: 5517

Re: Camping Chairs - Helinox Chair One and lookalikes

I find the chair kit for my sleeping pad makes camping way more comfortable. I have a (now rather old) Exped mat and the kit works very well. I can even sit in it inside my Terra Nova Voyager tent (which makes hiding from the Scottish Midges a much more bearable experience!).
by gloomyandy
27 Jul 2023, 7:02pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Sites with kitchens
Replies: 8
Views: 3743

Re: Sites with kitchens

I've stayed on sites in the Western Isles and also Orkney that had very good kitchens and indoor areas. The one at Kirkwall (Orkney) was particularly good (and welcome as the days I stayed there were very wet). I've also noticed an increase in the number of picnic tables etc. that seem to be available. Things seem to be moving on (a little) from the days I spent climbing and camping in N. Wales when sites proudly advertised having Cold and Hot water....
by gloomyandy
27 Apr 2023, 9:14am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Spa Cycles Elan sizing — please help me choose!
Replies: 60
Views: 5651

Re: Spa Cycles Elan sizing — please help me choose!

Thanks for the comments on the front fork mounts. Sounds like I need to get in touch with Spa and explore if there are any other options (I seem to remember that at one time they offered a steel fork to allow for a pannier rack).
by gloomyandy
30 Mar 2023, 11:52am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Anyone done the Hebrides Way in April?
Replies: 23
Views: 1743

Re: Anyone done the Hebrides Way in April?

Something to keep an eye on is the current state of the ferries. Calmac have just cancelled a load of early April sailings into Lochboisdale and all passengers are being routed via Barra, they are putting extra sailings on the for the ferry over to Eriskay, but the extra traffic may mean that these crossing are pretty busy. I think some of the crossings will only run if there are bookings, so you may want to book that ferry in advance!

I've not ridden the route in April but have done it in very early May and also in November. Both were ok but the weather can change very quickly and if you have not been to that part of the world before the wind can be a bit of a surprise. On my last trip I was literally blown across the road and into a ditch when starting the climb over the hills north of Tarbert, up until that point the wind had not been particularly strong. The other thing is that some places may not be open at that time of year (especially cafes etc.) so worth checking if you are expecting to pick up food etc.

My last comment would be not to rush the route and in particular not to rush through the Uists and Berneray, some of the best places are off the "official" route. Same goes for Harris really.

Have fun! It has been a couple of years since I've been up there and that is too long, but Orkney and Shetland are tempting me this year!
by gloomyandy
6 Mar 2023, 11:09am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Who, What, Why: How dangerous are tick bites in the UK?
Replies: 126
Views: 8664

Re: Who, What, Why: How dangerous are tick bites in the UK?

Quick note for anyone planning a trip to the Outer Hebrides, the level of both ticks and Lymes Disease seems to be very high particularly on the Uist chain: https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/beacons/ ... escotland/

I've been up there a few times in recent times and the locals have pointed out the risks, with the cottages I stayed in having notes about them. There seems to be a lot of on going discussion about possible links to the rise in the deer population (and a perhaps a cull of some sort), with strong opinions on both sides.
by gloomyandy
2 Mar 2023, 8:09pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Yelverton - rides, cafes, recommendations
Replies: 6
Views: 398

Re: Yelverton - rides, cafes, recommendations

That's brilliant folks, thanks very much! I hadn't considered the ferry over to Cornwall, so will be taking a closer look at that. We have just arrived at our cottage (by car), I'd forgotten how narrow some of the lanes are in this part of the world!
by gloomyandy
1 Mar 2023, 2:11pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Spa Cycles Elan sizing — please help me choose!
Replies: 60
Views: 5651

Re: Spa Cycles Elan sizing — please help me choose!

Sorry for a bit of a hijack but...

I've been looking at the Elan for a few years now and toying with getting one at some point. This thread prompted me to have another look. I see that it now has the option of a carbon fork with "load carrying capability". This seems to be a set of mounts down the fork leg. Does anyone happen to know if it is possible to mount a front rack on this fork to carry a set of front panniers. I currently have a Tubus Duo Lowrider that I use to carry Ortlieb Sport Packers on my Croix de Fer and I'd like to be able to have a similar setup if possible.
by gloomyandy
1 Mar 2023, 12:43pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Yelverton - rides, cafes, recommendations
Replies: 6
Views: 398

Yelverton - rides, cafes, recommendations

Hi Folks,
we are off to Yelverton (South edge of Dartmoor) for a week and will have our bikes with us. Looking for any recommendations for day rides (up to about 40 miles, mainly on road, nothing too epic!), cafes and other places worth a visit. We have not really been to that part of the world before so pretty much anywhere will be new to us!

Hope you can help
Andy
by gloomyandy
5 Aug 2022, 11:27am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Stoves - fire safe?
Replies: 29
Views: 2188

Re: Stoves - fire safe?

Jdsk wrote: 5 Aug 2022, 10:54am
Aluminium foil is an excellent conductor of heat. I'd expect an insulator to work better.

Jonathan
The foil I use comes from the base of a take away type tray that was available from one of the few shops in Tarbert on the Isle of Harris which was where I was when I first hit the problem. That was about 8 years ago now and I've been using it ever since with no further damage to the protector or anything else I've used the stove on.

So it works for me, but perhaps some sort of silicone mat would be a better (though probably heavier) option.
by gloomyandy
5 Aug 2022, 11:08am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Should I really buy another Exped Synmat?
Replies: 41
Views: 4963

Re: Should I really buy another Exped Synmat?

I've had an Exped Synmat UL since 2012 and have been using it for several weeks a year since I got it, with no issues. So they can last! I do use it with the chair kit option, which provides an extra cover (so more protection), but does put extra strain on it (because you bend the mat to turn it into a chair). They are not cheap, but I find mine comfortable for both sleeping and sitting, I think on the whole I've had good value for money. Although there are a lot more options these days, I'd certainly consider getting another.
by gloomyandy
5 Aug 2022, 10:49am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Stoves - fire safe?
Replies: 29
Views: 2188

Re: Stoves - fire safe?

One thing to think about is what the stove is standing on especially if like mine the fuel source is separate from the burner. I managed to melt a patch of my tent footprint when cooking inside the porch (yes I do that as well!), on one trip. These days I carry a small sheet of thick aluminium foil to go under the burner. My stove is the original Primus ETA Packlite, which I like a lot, but when the (supplied) windshield is fitted the base can get pretty hot.
by gloomyandy
23 Jul 2022, 3:21pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Do you take a chair
Replies: 44
Views: 2241

Re: Do you take a chair

I have a chair kit for my Exped Synmat sleeping mat and I don't think I'd ever camp for more than a day or two without it. It provides a cover for the mat and the chair makes it possible to sit inside my Terra Nova tent in reasonable comfort, which I've found ideal on the (too many) times I've had bad weather and been forced to spend longer than I'd really have liked in the tent. Most of my tours have been to Scotland and the isles and so I've often had to dive into the tent to avoid rain or midges! For me a combination of the chair kit and a kindle has been ideal in those situations! The combined weight of the mat plus kit is around 850g (I tend to only take two of the supplied four struts with me). The cover also provides a little more protection for the mat which being the (now discontinued) UL model is a plus.
by gloomyandy
20 Jul 2022, 8:16pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Route to Cape Wrath from Durness ferry
Replies: 32
Views: 2321

Re: Route to Cape Wrath from Durness ferry

That does sound pretty good! I must try and get up there. Is the boatman happy to take a cyclist with panniers etc. over? I know that the service can be a bit hit and miss at times, but I guess that is mainly down to the weather.
by gloomyandy
20 Jul 2022, 11:54am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Route to Cape Wrath from Durness ferry
Replies: 32
Views: 2321

Re: Route to Cape Wrath from Durness ferry

How was the bothy? Anyone else staying there? I had a circular tour planned for 2020 starting from Ullapool and including a visit to the lighthouse, but we know how that year went! I may try again later this year or possibly next. One of the main reasons I want to head out there is to visit the bothy for a couple of days (I visited the lighthouse on the minibus a few years ago), it looks like a fantastic location.