I use and suggest others to use cycle.travel. An account is free (you can donate and I do because it's just great)
It even suggests more friendly cycle paths etc.
I plot one route per day. I download each onto my Garmin 520.
On the cycle.travel map, supermarkets and and cafes are indicated.
I then use an Excel - one column for the kms, one for the town I'm passing through.
xx kms Town A
xx kms Town B
etc
I colour an Excel square in grey if there are food options in the town.
I print out the daily Excel strips, cutting them, roughly 5cm x 10cm and attach them onto the stem.
I reset my cycling computer each day. Then can just ride along ........ in front of me...... there's a map, how far I have travelled and knowing that in x kms there's a town and whether or not there are facilities there.
This has always worked well for me. Not too much upfront work but for me, soooooo much time is lost and it's a faff, opening the phone to look at Google maps.
Search found 281 matches
- 10 Sep 2023, 4:34pm
- Forum: Touring & Expedition
- Topic: First solo trip Calais to Nice - Any Tips?
- Replies: 62
- Views: 8597
- 6 Jul 2023, 8:04pm
- Forum: Touring & Expedition
- Topic: Wind direction for Paris to Amsterdam through Belgium
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3984
Re: Wind direction for Paris to Amsterdam through Belgium
BXL to Paris -
https://cycle.travel/map/journey/294069
BXL to Amsterdam -
https://cycle.travel/map/journey/291185
https://cycle.travel/map/journey/294069
BXL to Amsterdam -
https://cycle.travel/map/journey/291185
- 17 Jun 2023, 8:38pm
- Forum: Touring & Expedition
- Topic: Bromptons on Avenue Verte Western route
- Replies: 3
- Views: 532
Re: Bromptons on Avenue Verte Western route
Hello MaccPaddler
I've just completed AV. The official site states that the road surfaces are generally good, with little rough spots..... uumm.
In my recent experince the last 20% in the UK were far from what any normal person would call roads. Grass fields would be more accurate. On the French side, the first 75% was very good, with paths though villages, ex-rail tracks very well tarmaced over (as RAVeL is in Belgium). But surprisingly, 75-90% in, so about 30K in total, was gravel track. Loose but tight packed gravel. If it had rained, I would have been very unhappy. Instead, it was dry and therefore dusty.
With Marathon tryes, all doable on a Brommie.
I've just completed AV. The official site states that the road surfaces are generally good, with little rough spots..... uumm.
In my recent experince the last 20% in the UK were far from what any normal person would call roads. Grass fields would be more accurate. On the French side, the first 75% was very good, with paths though villages, ex-rail tracks very well tarmaced over (as RAVeL is in Belgium). But surprisingly, 75-90% in, so about 30K in total, was gravel track. Loose but tight packed gravel. If it had rained, I would have been very unhappy. Instead, it was dry and therefore dusty.
With Marathon tryes, all doable on a Brommie.
- 5 Apr 2023, 5:36pm
- Forum: Touring & Expedition
- Topic: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1643
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
As promised - an update on bike friendly hostel in Paris - I've booked Enjoy Hostel. Very near the end of the AV official route.Dursleycyclist wrote: ↑6 Jan 2023, 5:52pmchocjohn9 wrote: ↑6 Jan 2023, 4:47pm I plan on cycling AV end of May. I will update this thread with my hotel discoveries.
I went to London over Xmas and wondered into the Eurodispatch office. They told me that their services will resume mid-Jan, with boxes and small freight, bikes to follow "soon" afterwards.
I have waited and waited to do this. DFDS have been excellent with re-re-re-re-booking my crossing. Eurostar less good. I lost my ticket in the end. I'm determined now and will cycle the train sections if necessary instead. (I live near Brussels, so I could do local train to Ostend, cycle to Calais then train Dover to London) On the way back, SNCF do not accept bikes. It's 320k home....
Be really helpful to have your updates - I have most of the route and accommodation sorted (except Paris - next task!) - and waiting for Eurostar update on bikes - hopefully that news will be out later this month! That would make getting back so much easier!
Next door there's a supermarket and a restaurant
I will further update after I have stayed there.
- 22 Feb 2023, 9:28am
- Forum: Touring & Expedition
- Topic: Brussels?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 583
Re: Brussels?
Hello.
From Brussels airport to ?
I can advise you, living here.... France, yes, but anywhere as an intermediate stop? Stay in Brussels for example?
From Brussels airport to ?
I can advise you, living here.... France, yes, but anywhere as an intermediate stop? Stay in Brussels for example?
- 18 Jan 2023, 8:18pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Geometry understanding. The basics.
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1361
Geometry understanding. The basics.
I'd like to get to grips with a little bit of geometry.
(1) If I compare the Yukon to the Surly, I see
the same reach
basically the same head & seat angle
the same seat tube
....but there is a 23mm difference between top tubes. What? How can this be?
(2) Then if I compare the Surly with the Kona, I see
the same top tube
more relaxed head tube angle on the Kona
....but the reach is the same?
Please enlighten me!
Thanks in advance.
(1) If I compare the Yukon to the Surly, I see
the same reach
basically the same head & seat angle
the same seat tube
....but there is a 23mm difference between top tubes. What? How can this be?
(2) Then if I compare the Surly with the Kona, I see
the same top tube
more relaxed head tube angle on the Kona
....but the reach is the same?
Please enlighten me!
Thanks in advance.
- 6 Jan 2023, 4:47pm
- Forum: Touring & Expedition
- Topic: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1643
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
I plan on cycling AV end of May. I will update this thread with my hotel discoveries.
I went to London over Xmas and wondered into the Eurodispatch office. They told me that their services will resume mid-Jan, with boxes and small freight, bikes to follow "soon" afterwards.
I have waited and waited to do this. DFDS have been excellent with re-re-re-re-booking my crossing. Eurostar less good. I lost my ticket in the end. I'm determined now and will cycle the train sections if necessary instead. (I live near Brussels, so I could do local train to Ostend, cycle to Calais then train Dover to London) On the way back, SNCF do not accept bikes. It's 320k home....
I went to London over Xmas and wondered into the Eurodispatch office. They told me that their services will resume mid-Jan, with boxes and small freight, bikes to follow "soon" afterwards.
I have waited and waited to do this. DFDS have been excellent with re-re-re-re-booking my crossing. Eurostar less good. I lost my ticket in the end. I'm determined now and will cycle the train sections if necessary instead. (I live near Brussels, so I could do local train to Ostend, cycle to Calais then train Dover to London) On the way back, SNCF do not accept bikes. It's 320k home....
- 25 Nov 2021, 7:43pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Gilles Berthoud Rohloff Shifter - drops
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1862
Re: Gilles Berthoud Rohloff Shifter - drops
Thank you Slowster. Great image. Not much of a difference, but clearly it makes all the difference.
@Lighttourer - would you mind explaining where you put all the paste? I'm in the dark. Completely. On the bolt that holds the two parts together? Between the stem and bar? Thank you.
@Lighttourer - would you mind explaining where you put all the paste? I'm in the dark. Completely. On the bolt that holds the two parts together? Between the stem and bar? Thank you.
- 24 Nov 2021, 9:42am
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Gilles Berthoud Rohloff Shifter - drops
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1862
Re: Gilles Berthoud Rohloff Shifter - drops
Thanks everyone for your inputs so far.
2 updates from me:
Response from Van Nicholas : With the handlebars we supply an adhesive sandpaper which is meant to be applied under the shifters. The handlebars are 22.8mm thick instead of the standard 23.8mm handlebars and this sandpaper is meant to fill that space. If you have applied mounting paste to the handlebar, tightened it to 10nm and mounted the shifters correctly and the noise remains, I recommend you to take your bike to a VanNicholas dealer or another bike specialist.
I will put the Van Nicholas bar bar on and try with the mounting paste. This see as the easiest, best and cheapest option - after all I have all the bits (although I need to work out what mounting paste is - anyone?)
From Gilles - 128mm of drop sounds like it should fit… but despite the more important drop, I know it can be difficult to fit the shifter on some bars. I know Nitto randonneur, Rene Herse Maes work. Ritchey bars with "classic bend" seem to work too. I’ve also tried a Deda Speciale we have here and I managed to slide the shifter up to the to section.
Nitto and Rene will be my "plan B"
I bought Ritchey Comp Curve Road 31.8 Handlebar - 2020 - BB Black. This looks like it has a "classic bend"..... The shifter does not fit around the bend I did follow the instructions on the Gilles website and did split the shifter in two.... so i do not think it's me
2 updates from me:
Response from Van Nicholas : With the handlebars we supply an adhesive sandpaper which is meant to be applied under the shifters. The handlebars are 22.8mm thick instead of the standard 23.8mm handlebars and this sandpaper is meant to fill that space. If you have applied mounting paste to the handlebar, tightened it to 10nm and mounted the shifters correctly and the noise remains, I recommend you to take your bike to a VanNicholas dealer or another bike specialist.
I will put the Van Nicholas bar bar on and try with the mounting paste. This see as the easiest, best and cheapest option - after all I have all the bits (although I need to work out what mounting paste is - anyone?)
From Gilles - 128mm of drop sounds like it should fit… but despite the more important drop, I know it can be difficult to fit the shifter on some bars. I know Nitto randonneur, Rene Herse Maes work. Ritchey bars with "classic bend" seem to work too. I’ve also tried a Deda Speciale we have here and I managed to slide the shifter up to the to section.
Nitto and Rene will be my "plan B"
I bought Ritchey Comp Curve Road 31.8 Handlebar - 2020 - BB Black. This looks like it has a "classic bend"..... The shifter does not fit around the bend I did follow the instructions on the Gilles website and did split the shifter in two.... so i do not think it's me
- 14 Nov 2021, 10:45am
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Gilles Berthoud Rohloff Shifter - drops
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1862
Re: Gilles Berthoud Rohloff Shifter - drops
Update - I have asked Gilles if they have a list of handlebars that their shifter fits, or at least the specification of what would work.
I have also e-mailed Van Nicholas about the the cracking noise to see if there is a remedy here too. After all, I have this part already
Anyone else out there who has this bar and has experienced the same thing? Thorn often use it in their builds (and this is for a Mercury, BTW)
Thank you Sid - I will look at the specs.
Bob - I looked up the instructions and took it apart as far as I could. It splits in two and only just does not make it around the bend.
Thanks to everyone else for their suggestions. If my "easier" options fail, I might need to look more broadly.
I will revert back soon.
I have also e-mailed Van Nicholas about the the cracking noise to see if there is a remedy here too. After all, I have this part already
Anyone else out there who has this bar and has experienced the same thing? Thorn often use it in their builds (and this is for a Mercury, BTW)
Thank you Sid - I will look at the specs.
Bob - I looked up the instructions and took it apart as far as I could. It splits in two and only just does not make it around the bend.
Thanks to everyone else for their suggestions. If my "easier" options fail, I might need to look more broadly.
I will revert back soon.
- 10 Nov 2021, 8:39pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Gilles Berthoud Rohloff Shifter - drops
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1862
Re: Gilles Berthoud Rohloff Shifter - drops
Thanks Colin
I did check this article out and whilst the shifter is mentioned, the appropriate handlebar is not. That said, there is an image of one on a Ritchey bar (?) and all Ritchey bars appear to be 128mm, including mine, but it will not go round the bend - believe you me, I have tried!
I did check this article out and whilst the shifter is mentioned, the appropriate handlebar is not. That said, there is an image of one on a Ritchey bar (?) and all Ritchey bars appear to be 128mm, including mine, but it will not go round the bend - believe you me, I have tried!
- 10 Nov 2021, 8:09pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Gilles Berthoud Rohloff Shifter - drops
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1862
Gilles Berthoud Rohloff Shifter - drops
I appear to be picky with my choice of handlebars... I am running a Rohloff on my touring bike and have a Gilles Berthoud shifter. I would like this to sit near the stem, on the handlebar.
I have tried but do not like the Thorn 25.4mm bar (odd shape) or the Van Nicholas split (it creeks.....).
What other choices do I have?
I have lying around a Ritchey Comp with a 128mm drop and the shifter will not go around the bend. gggrrrhhh.
Any suggestions would be most helpful. What are you running? I would really like to have a list of other options.
Thanks
I have tried but do not like the Thorn 25.4mm bar (odd shape) or the Van Nicholas split (it creeks.....).
What other choices do I have?
I have lying around a Ritchey Comp with a 128mm drop and the shifter will not go around the bend. gggrrrhhh.
Any suggestions would be most helpful. What are you running? I would really like to have a list of other options.
Thanks
- 10 Apr 2021, 10:05am
- Forum: Touring & Expedition
- Topic: Advice on buying Trek 520
- Replies: 5
- Views: 745
Re: Advice on buying Trek 520
Consider the Kona Sutra which has slightly wider tyre clearances, better spec and is a little cheaper (new)
- 10 Apr 2021, 10:03am
- Forum: Touring & Expedition
- Topic: Touring in Turkey
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1053
Re: Touring in Turkey
It seems like cycling in Turkey is THE place to cycle -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu_abG1PxQI
Whilst I have not cycled in the country, it was one of my favourite back packing trips - lovely and warm people, a lot of very interesting stuff to see, wonderful landscape and great value. I visited Istanbul, Cannakkale, Ismir, Pamukkale, Konya, Cappadocia and Ankara. Highly recommended. This took me two weeks.
One note to caution - I read recently that Turkish Airlines say they will take your bike.... but then decline at the airport. Certainly worth checking this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu_abG1PxQI
Whilst I have not cycled in the country, it was one of my favourite back packing trips - lovely and warm people, a lot of very interesting stuff to see, wonderful landscape and great value. I visited Istanbul, Cannakkale, Ismir, Pamukkale, Konya, Cappadocia and Ankara. Highly recommended. This took me two weeks.
One note to caution - I read recently that Turkish Airlines say they will take your bike.... but then decline at the airport. Certainly worth checking this.
- 3 May 2020, 8:58pm
- Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
- Topic: Chain Choice for Rohloff & other questions
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2209
Re: Chain Choice for Rohloff & other questions
For my Rohloff, I do use my not so local bike shop, because they are specialists. About half the bikes they sell are Rohloff equiped. They recommend 8 speed KMC chains because they run a lot quieter. Im not sure if this is true because the bike has only ever had this