Search found 32 matches

by Nigel Laverick
17 Mar 2019, 6:14pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Scotland by bike summer 2020 - travelmate wanted
Replies: 5
Views: 2452

Re: Scotland by bike summer 2020 - travelmate wanted

If you are camping in Scotland in the summer I am afraid you will be eaten alive by midges. Midges swarm in their thousands,bite and cause itchy spots.Nothing stops them. At that time of year I would use independent hostels but take a midge good for even the shortest stop. I usually go in April or September, even in September I've eaten lunch under a midge hood and Been unable to sit outside my tent in the evening. I would advise going in early April.
by Nigel Laverick
17 Mar 2019, 5:54pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Galicia and the Picos de Europa
Replies: 9
Views: 3614

Re: Galicia and the Picos de Europa

thanks for the advice. I'm just about sorted for the trip.My main issue has been the lack of suitable maps which combined with Portuguese signposting will make for some long days.
by Nigel Laverick
24 Feb 2019, 8:42pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Road riding in Czech
Replies: 7
Views: 2871

Re: Road riding in Czech

I did a tour in S. Poland and Slovakia about 10 years ago. The driving was awful. I met some French cyclists who had ridden in Africa , Asia ... they thought the Slovakian drivers were the worst they had ever encountered. If you like having your arms shaved by passing trucks ... Perhaps things have improved.
by Nigel Laverick
24 Feb 2019, 8:53am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Galicia and the Picos de Europa
Replies: 9
Views: 3614

Galicia and the Picos de Europa

Can anyone suggest a website listing hostels in Gallicia and the Picos ? I'd also like advice on how to find cheap but clean b and b's -( I had a bad experience with a $50 motel once) , I'm going in late March/April and some campsites are closed which will leave me with some monster days. Can anyone offer advice on riding the north coast heading east to Bilboa ? I will have ridden through Portugal and think I will probably need a rest /change from the mountains. Finally, I 've forgotten the Spanish and Portuguese for methylated spirits, does anyone know them ?
by Nigel Laverick
22 Nov 2015, 2:09pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: phones in USA.
Replies: 9
Views: 902

Re: phones in USA.

Thanks , I'll investigate these.
by Nigel Laverick
21 Nov 2015, 5:22pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: phones in USA.
Replies: 9
Views: 902

phones in USA.

This will sound a bit daft to some. I'm off to the USA to ride the Transam and need a cheap/bog standard phone which will allow me to send texts home and make calls in the USA. I don't want internet access etc. I am totally confused by technical details.
Does anyone know such a phone ? Would I be better waiting till I get there to buy one ? ( I 'll be passing through a few biggish towns on the way to the transam)
Thanks .
by Nigel Laverick
29 Mar 2015, 12:01pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: maps for the west of USA
Replies: 21
Views: 5703

Re: maps for the west of USA

Thanks for all the advice. I like the idea of cutting pages out of road atlases , I've done that for cycling in Europe. The problem with the ACA maps is as one person put it they give 'tunnel vision' but they do have a lot of useful advice on them.
Is there a cheap source in the UK for USA road atleses ? I buy my Europe road atlases from amazon and got some really good deals on out of date ones .

Ta NL
by Nigel Laverick
23 Mar 2015, 9:30pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: maps for the west of USA
Replies: 21
Views: 5703

maps for the west of USA

Can anyone suggest good maps for the west of America - Arizona , Utah , Idaho , Oregon and the Pacific coast. I've costed the American adventure cycling maps but these seem very expensive. Thanks
by Nigel Laverick
25 Feb 2015, 7:29pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: USA Tour
Replies: 13
Views: 2578

Re: USA Tour

Many thanks for all info
by Nigel Laverick
22 Feb 2015, 8:02pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: USA Tour
Replies: 13
Views: 2578

Re: USA Tour

Thanks , that's useful advice. I've pretty much decided to ride from San Francisco across to Yosemite , down through the Giant Sequoia park , across death valley , to the north rim of the Grand canyon , then head NE to Pueblo , cross the Plains to Washington via the Ozarks and Appls. I thought 3 months would do it , I did 4,500mls in Europe in 70 days so I think I'll be ok on time . Two questions :
What maps would you recommend ? When I'm in Europe I use l motoring atlases because they're cheap,
How much do American campsites generally charge for solo campers ? The only fees I've seen on web sites seem a bit steep - $20+ but I think this might be for cars.

Ta Nigel
by Nigel Laverick
14 Feb 2015, 5:12pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Flying back from a tour with a Trangia
Replies: 10
Views: 2414

Re: Flying back from a tour with a Trangia

I've never had a problem. Just empty and wash the meths bottle and empty the burner ( if you let it burn dry I think it might it will damage the burner ). The stove goes in hold luggage. NL
by Nigel Laverick
8 Feb 2015, 9:25pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: USA Tour
Replies: 13
Views: 2578

Re: USA Tour

Thanks for the comforting advice.
by Nigel Laverick
8 Feb 2015, 9:21pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Northern Germany and Denmark (Trier to Hirtshals)
Replies: 7
Views: 2104

Re: Northern Germany and Denmark (Trier to Hirtshals)

Beware of German cycle paths. I rode down the Mosel to Koblenz and then struck north to cross the Elbe west of Hamburg. I was on a good touring bike with new top spec wheel bearings on hand built wheels but the cycle paths bust my rear bearings. The paths have bumps every 2m or so where the tarmac rises over the underlying concrete joints, worse still are the dips which are impossible to see. I was driven mad by the constant bump , bump , bump ... it is impossible to keep a constant speed. In towns you are expected to ride on the cycle 'pavements' but there is always a big drop off where these meet a road . If you go on the road the motorists will carve you up at speed and blast their horns as they pass, it is now legal to ride on the roads but no one has told the motorists. The signposting on the cycle paths is crap, they signpost the next small village which will not be on your map and never signpost the next significant town it can be really hard to find your way on. I've toured in virtually every European and Scandanavian country and will not return to Germany.
Wild camping in Germany is ok but try to get out of sight. The Danes do not allow or like wild camping. Danish campsites cost about £10 a night and have fantastic facilities ,( campers kitchens , campers lounges , toilet blocks which wouldn't disgrace a 4 star hotel) and are well worth using. Danish cycle paths are great , watch out for the coastal route 1 , some of the paths are not surfaced. If you self cater Denmark is not expensive.
NL
by Nigel Laverick
3 Feb 2015, 7:40pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: USA Tour
Replies: 13
Views: 2578

Re: USA Tour

Thanks for advice, thank God we don't have big mammals in UK.
by Nigel Laverick
3 Feb 2015, 7:36pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring in Sweden
Replies: 30
Views: 9097

Re: Touring in Sweden

I was in Norway this June and met cyclists who had come through Sweden. They were not impressed with the scenery , they had been badly bitten by mossies and one couple were not impressed by the driving. I met one Dutch campervaner who had set off from N Cape through Sweden and found it so utterly dull that he had turned round and returned through Norway. NL