Search found 283 matches

by lisap
21 Jul 2023, 3:16pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Panniers on Ferries?
Replies: 27
Views: 1682

Re: Panniers on Ferries?

I have always taken one pannier with items needed in the cabin and left the rest on the bike, however, on my first trip to Bilbao I didn’t realise it was restaurant or coffee bar food only and very expensive. On subsequent trips I’ve always packed enough snack food to keep me going although the selection of food on the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry which is a much shorter crossing was always very good.
by lisap
15 Jun 2023, 10:21pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Dutch coast
Replies: 12
Views: 964

Re: Dutch coast

What did you want to know then?
by lisap
2 Jun 2023, 4:26pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Dutch coast
Replies: 12
Views: 964

Re: Dutch coast

I cycled and camped in Holland on my way down to Germany in 2016 and found bicycle campsites using a Natuurkampeerterreien card which came with a booklet of all the available sites. I can’t find the booklet and it would be out of date now but they are online which might help you decide whether to camp or B&B. All the sites I stayed at were safe and clean with varying degrees of facilities but even the most basic places had flush toilets as opposed to the long drops found in US state parks. There are also bike lodgings which are identified by a blue sign with a white bike and the words Fietsers Welkom. Again have a look online to see if there is more info available.
by lisap
28 May 2023, 10:10am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Checking gear
Replies: 7
Views: 3691

Re: Checking gear

After a long hiatus from both the forum, cycle touring and camping I loaded everything up and camped with my two horses in their paddock last night. I also took everything out and checked it all worked and nothing was missing before I left. It’s only 5 miles from home but I had a great night listening to the owls and waking to the sound of my horses the other side of the electric fence. Cycled home this morning and left the tent in situ so I can sleep out again tonight. It’s made me ridiculously cheerful this morning and having had itchy feet for a while now I’ve got the touring bug back so plan is to put the horses into livery for two months next year and cycle the Pacific Coast again.
by lisap
16 Jan 2020, 7:43pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Great Divide
Replies: 3
Views: 567

Re: Great Divide

I did the whole route in 2003 so not recently but the views in places like Wyoming were so far reaching you couldn’t see anything other than desert. In places like Colorado in Aspen Avenue you couldn’t see anything but trees. It is by far the best off road route in the US and you will see bears, coyotes and Elk in abundance and skunk so be prepared for the smell which is disgusting. Whether there are better US routes depends on you adventurous gene. I have ridden the Pacific coast three times and love it and the southern tier once which I found less enjoyable.
by lisap
14 Mar 2016, 1:52pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Hook of Holland to Amsterdam with 9yr old twins
Replies: 27
Views: 4133

Re: Hook of Holland to Amsterdam with 9yr old twins

My maps have arrived from Holland and I can start planning. Next thing is to book the ferry :D very excited at going on a trip after two years off.
by lisap
13 Mar 2016, 8:43am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Hook of Holland to Amsterdam with 9yr old twins
Replies: 27
Views: 4133

Re: Hook of Holland to Amsterdam with 9yr old twins

Thanks I will keep a look out for mine then, hopefully they will arrive this week. I don't need them until the end of April but I want to start planning distances and accommodation rather than winging it each day.

Hope you have a good trip.
by lisap
12 Mar 2016, 9:04pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Hook of Holland to Amsterdam with 9yr old twins
Replies: 27
Views: 4133

Re: Hook of Holland to Amsterdam with 9yr old twins

MrsHJ have your LF maps arrived? I ordered mine in the 4th and they still haven't arrived.
by lisap
24 Feb 2016, 7:48am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycling out of Hook of Holland ferry terminal
Replies: 7
Views: 1323

Re: Cycling out of Hook of Holland ferry terminal

Thank you all so much for the help, pointers and advice. The trip is now definitely on and I will be spending the whole summer in Germany with friends and using their place as a base. I'm going for so long I'm shipping my horse over as well and will have until the Autumn before I need to come home. A summer of cycling and riding, I can't wait :D
by lisap
22 Feb 2016, 11:27am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycling out of Hook of Holland ferry terminal
Replies: 7
Views: 1323

Re: Cycling out of Hook of Holland ferry terminal

Thanks Foxyrider, exactly the kind of advice I was looking for. Your suggestion of going across on the Maasluis would mean I could probably take the LF12 eastwards instead. I don't have any time constraints so am quite happy to meander, explore and generally enjoy being back on the bike. Waiting for my maps to arrive from Stamfords and itching to get planning with hopefully a tour in May and June.
by lisap
22 Feb 2016, 10:25am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycling out of Hook of Holland ferry terminal
Replies: 7
Views: 1323

Cycling out of Hook of Holland ferry terminal

Can anyone tell me how easy or difficult it is to get away from the port and on to the LF1?

I am thinking of cycling across to Nijmegen and then over the border to friends in Heinsberg in Germany. From the maps it looks easier to go North on the LF1 and then pick up the LF4 and go eastwards but stand corrected if there is an easier or more direct route.
by lisap
24 Nov 2015, 8:21am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring luxuries
Replies: 68
Views: 8618

Re: Touring luxuries

I try to travel light on tour and consider everything I take to be essential from my tent to my bed to my cooker. My only luxury is the journey to my destination and home at the end of the trip. If it's long haul I fly business class and stay in a hotel to get over jet lag. My days of hosteling are well and truly over.

Extravagant? Maybe but I convince myself that as I am spending 8 weeks + sleeping in a tent on the floor I need a bit of comfort. On the plus side there's never a problem getting the bike on the plane as it goes as part of my luggage allowance.
by lisap
24 May 2015, 8:31am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Trailers and steep hills - how safe are descents?
Replies: 16
Views: 1705

Re: Trailers and steep hills - how safe are descents?

I've ridden down mountains off road with my BOB trailer fully loaded and it's never been a problem. It has never tried to overtake me but then I have never gone more than 30mph and it is a single wheeled so just stays behind. Don't go faster than you feel comfortable and stay in control.

MickF is the Carry Freedom expert and also a wealth of knowledge, he should be along shortly :D
by lisap
4 May 2015, 7:01pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Front rack for suspension forks
Replies: 6
Views: 1561

Re: Front rack for suspension forks

I use the Axiom on extended tours and they have never failed me yet. I didn't know they had a weight limit :oops:
by lisap
25 Apr 2015, 2:46pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Back on the bike pre tour
Replies: 1
Views: 1759

Back on the bike pre tour

It has been a very long time since I cycled, October 2012 was the last time my white legs were on view to the world, except for nipping to the post box that is, but that doesn't really count. I had swapped leg power for horse power, the equine variety and had been very content breaking my youngster in and hacking him about the countryside but these past few months I've suffered from itchy feet.

Not only did I have itchy feet but I also had the desire to sit on my bicycle so I hatched a plan to put an end to the nonsense and go on tour. I have spent the past few weeks with maps spread out on the floor working out my daily mileage so as to be able to calculate flight dates, re ordered my replacement RoadID tags as I have moved since the last ones were made, put together my kit list and made sure everything is serviceable and today I got on my bike.

I rode to the yard, not far about 9 miles in total and was amazed at how fit I was. My legs managed all the hills albeit slower than I used to do them and my lungs managed to keep up. I have told myself if I keep it up for a month and train properly I can book the flights at the end of May.

The plan is to fly to San Diego on September 10th and ride the Southern Tier to St Augustine, turn right at the Atlantic and end up in Miami flying back on December 1st. I am very excited (for excited read unbearable and hyper) and can't wait to go because as much as I love my horse there's nothing like being on tour.