Search found 114 matches

by Invicta Tourist
29 Jan 2024, 4:14pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Security on Ferries
Replies: 23
Views: 1444

Re: Security on Ferries

On an overnight crossing between Portsmouth and St. Malo last year, I left my bike + camping equipment, panniers etc in the bike room provided on board the ferry.

I took valuables plus an overnight bag with me. There were several flights of steps to the passenger decks and I didn't fancy bringing (lugging) all the kit along with me. I'm pretty sure I didn't lock the bike. Everything was fine when I retrieved the bike the next morning.
by Invicta Tourist
6 Jul 2023, 6:38pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Brittany Ferries Now Require Helmet, High Vis and Lights
Replies: 78
Views: 6903

Re: Brittany Ferries Now Require Helmet, High Vis and Lights

I used Brittany Ferries twice during the last two weeks, once travelling from Portsmouth to St.Malo, and once returning home. Passengers were asked to walk their bikes on to the ferry, but I heard no mention of needing hi-viz, or a h#lmet.
by Invicta Tourist
31 May 2023, 4:50pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Brompton identification
Replies: 7
Views: 789

Re: Brompton identification

"Looks like a late 90’s five speed, with a Sturmey Archer hub. Can’t remember the model name as they have changed frequently over the years." Thanks fivebikes. I think you may be thinking of the Sturmey Archer Sprinter.

The earlier five speed gears on Bromptons was the Sturmey Archer Five Star, but this used two separate levers on the handlebars. I believe the year of manufacture for your bike might be somewhere around 1993 to 1998.
by Invicta Tourist
31 Dec 2022, 3:00pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Queen Victoria Postboxes
Replies: 132
Views: 24887

Re: Queen Victoria Postboxes

I had meant to include this photo earlier, as it's one I took in November. I was cycling up Ulcombe Hill, in Kent and noticed a post box built into the wall. Looking closer, I realised it was a Victorian post box- another photo for the forum.
by Invicta Tourist
31 Dec 2022, 2:35pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: George V & VI post boxes
Replies: 40
Views: 7952

Re: George V & VI post boxes

Here's another green post box, but a private one this time, built into the wall of a house near Lenham, in Kent.
by Invicta Tourist
22 Nov 2022, 5:04pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: new / rare road signs
Replies: 26
Views: 2734

Re: new / rare road signs

I saw this unusual roadsign near Goudhurst, in Kent, a few years ago. It's a sign for a local house just off the road. I was interested and looked up the meaning of the words on the sign- it's Manx Gaelic for 'country seat'. Mystery solved!
by Invicta Tourist
15 Oct 2022, 2:23pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Queen Victoria Postboxes
Replies: 132
Views: 24887

Re: Queen Victoria Postboxes

I cycled over to Cranbrook in Kent recently and visited the interesting museum there. In one of the rooms, I saw an old Victorian post box which was originally sited at nearby Sissinghurst. The Post Office sign was on the ceiling of one of the rooms.

The VR script at the top of the post box is different from some of the others. A different manufacturer?
by Invicta Tourist
10 Oct 2022, 3:30pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Queen Victoria Postboxes
Replies: 132
Views: 24887

Re: Queen Victoria Postboxes

Bmblbzzz wrote: 10 Oct 2022, 9:43am Its condition certainly seems to have improved between 1974 and 2000.

:)
by Invicta Tourist
9 Oct 2022, 8:01pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Queen Victoria Postboxes
Replies: 132
Views: 24887

Re: Queen Victoria Postboxes

A few days ago, I bought a second-hand book titled "Odd and Unusual England", by John Bland. On looking through it, I noticed that one of the photos in the book is of a Victorian post box, the oldest in England, from around 1854. It's located at Barnes Cross, in Dorset.

I remembered that I went on a cycling holiday nearby in 2000, and the photo from the book triggered a memory of that post box.

Here's a copy of the photo I took at that time, together with the black and white one from the book.
by Invicta Tourist
11 Sep 2022, 7:08pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Queen Victoria Postboxes
Replies: 132
Views: 24887

Re: Queen Victoria Postboxes

eileithyia wrote: 11 Sep 2022, 4:52pm Found a Victorian one today outside King's College Cambridge.
This one?
by Invicta Tourist
11 Sep 2022, 4:24pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Queen Victoria Postboxes
Replies: 132
Views: 24887

Re: Queen Victoria Postboxes

I came across this post box yesterday, in Broadstairs.

Interestingly, at the end of the road (Chandos Square), there's a blue plaque attached to the wall of the house where Oliver Postgate lived. He's the man who created The Clangers, together with Peter Firmin. The house is just out of sight in the photo.
by Invicta Tourist
11 Sep 2022, 4:00pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Queen Victoria Postboxes
Replies: 132
Views: 24887

Re: Queen Victoria Postboxes

Ah, you're right, this one appears to be a Victorian post box, but is isn't!
Pebble wrote: 10 Sep 2022, 9:39am This appears to be a Victoria Post Box (outside Durham Cathedrial) it is a more elaborate design than the standard VR - anyone know the reason ?
Image

Invicta Tourist wrote: 21 Jul 2021, 5:34pm I found another post box a few days ago, at Palace Green, Durham. It is near the cathedral. Although this one's a replica of a Victorian post box, it may be of interest on this thread? https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wm4 ... nty_Durham
by Invicta Tourist
14 May 2022, 4:49pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Worst piece of kit you ever bought
Replies: 79
Views: 5298

Re: Worst piece of kit you ever bought

The Pneu Force bicycle pump back in the 1990's. It sounded a good idea- clip the bottom of the pump to the left chain stay, add the flexible connector, attach other end of the connector to the valve, then pump up the tyre.

The problem was that even when exerting a fair amount of pressure to the handle, no air made it's way from pump to inner tube. It's as if the connector was blocked.
by Invicta Tourist
4 May 2022, 3:02pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Holding shoe laces
Replies: 26
Views: 2461

Re: Holding shoe laces

gregoryoftours wrote: 2 May 2022, 7:35pm Yep I just push them down inside my shoe on the side away from the bike
I do the same. The laces I use are not bulky and I don't find that they rub on my foot when they're tucked into the shoe. I use clips and straps with quill pedals.
by Invicta Tourist
12 Mar 2022, 5:21pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: The Charm of Old Road Signs
Replies: 27
Views: 1247

Re: The Charm of Old Road Signs

Here's a CTC sign at the top of a hill a few miles from Lenham in South East England. Unfortunately it was in poor condition. Blink and the sign would have been easy to miss. I saw it because I'd been chatting to a clubmate about the old CTC signs a few years ago and it had been mentioned that this one was still visible by the roadside.