Search found 69 matches

by sbesley
4 Aug 2020, 11:45pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Best Garmin type computer for bicycle tourist?
Replies: 40
Views: 3548

Re: Best Garmin type computer for bicycle tourist?

A vote for the Garmin Etrex 20. Pretty much bullet-proof in my experience.

Should be able to get good one second-hand one on ebay for around £100

or buy Etrex 22 new for £180

Pros. Powered by 2 AA batteries, which give approximately 24 hours use. So great for a multi-day tour.

You can load it with free street level mapping.

Easy to upload pre-planned routes.

The newer Garmins seem very expensive with little useful extra function and a much worse battery life.

Cons: Navigation possible but not great. Dependant upon the mapping. Screen quite small.
by sbesley
13 Oct 2016, 12:58am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: eurovelo Portugal
Replies: 4
Views: 1083

Re: eurovelo Portugal

I cycled a section of this from Lisbon to Vila Nova de Milfontes last year. My original plan had been to ride from Lisbon to Faro, but a series of gales and very wet days led to me cutting short my ride.

I was unaware that is was a Eurovelo route though. Certainly not waymarked as such on the section I rode.

I got the idea from this book:

Cycling The Algarve: Volume 2 (Pedal Portugal Tours & Day Rides) Paperback
by Huw Thomas (Author)

For mapping I downloaded free maps from Openstreetmap, uploaded them onto my Garmin Etrex 20.

The maps in Huw Thomas's book are pretty basic. Generally the roads were OK, but in places with infrequent but fast moving traffic. Very few sections of dedicated cycle route. I think the Sagres to Faro section is better in that respect though.

Stephen.
by sbesley
7 Apr 2016, 12:26am
Forum: The Cycling UK brand refresh
Topic: The Rebrand is Essential to our Future
Replies: 142
Views: 75800

Re: The Rebrand is Essential to our Future

Mick F said it perfectly....

...
I didn't want to convert to a charity and I don't want a name change.
I voted NO to convert and I haven't been given the chance to vote NO to a name change.

As I said, I'm out.
I won't be renewing my membership. ...
+1


The corporate speak, the 'charity' professionalism, the political re-brand deceptions, I hate it all. Sorry but I can't help it.

So I will be looking to join a real cycle touring club :)
by sbesley
2 Sep 2015, 1:39am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: What do you do when the going gets tough?
Replies: 52
Views: 5288

Re: What do you do when the going gets tough?

Have a boiled sweet!

Set myself a micro-goal. Might be another 500ft of a climb or another 5 miles on the flat.

then treat myself to another boiled sweet etc.

(repeat as necessary...)

A long ride ahead can seem daunting. I like to divide it into fractions and then constantly adjust the fractions of the ride I have completed as the day progresses.

If I want a longer term motivator, I look forward to the pint at the end of the day!
by sbesley
8 Jun 2015, 7:24pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Security - 2 questions
Replies: 22
Views: 2478

Re: Security - 2 questions

I am just about to upgrade my lock after an incident yesterday!

Stopped at a nice pub for a pint and on leaving as I was unlocking the bike, the key broke off in the lock.

After some faffing around it became clear I needed some help.

I called a local mate, who arrived with a small hacksaw. It took him (aged 74!) around 30 seconds to cut through what I imagined was a reasonable cable-lock.

I was shocked! The lock was really just a token gesture.

The problem of course is the trade-off between weight and security. I want a decent lock, don't mind paying handsomely for it, just don't want to lug 2 kilos of steel around everywhere I go.
by sbesley
13 Apr 2015, 12:38am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Off touring tomorrow! (well later today)
Replies: 10
Views: 3232

Re: Off touring tomorrow! (well later today)

Good luck and enjoy!

Impressed that you've managed to keep your luggage 9kgs!

Hope you have some lovely weather and nice tailwinds...
by sbesley
29 Nov 2014, 1:39am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycle to Work - one-man company
Replies: 32
Views: 4863

Re: Cycle to Work - one-man company

I am a partner in a small business. As an owner I am ineligible for the Cycle to Work scheme. We have signed up to it so one of my 2 employees can benefit though and now she has got a nice bike through the scheme. However our accountant had advised that we may also in addition have a company 'pool bike'. This is available for all staff and partners to book on a rota system. So far I am the only user :D VAT reclaimed, purchase price and all expenses put through the business. I use it for commuting. As with all these things, everything is rosy until the IR investigate, but it seems OK as far as I can see...
by sbesley
12 Aug 2014, 12:05am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: A good courier
Replies: 17
Views: 1566

Re: A good courier

Have a look at:

http://www.interparcel.com/

they act as an agent for various courier companies.

As yours will be a large parcel choice is limited, but avoid Citylink.

I recommend Interparcel Standard which is actually UPS. We use them a few times a week for our business.
by sbesley
4 Jun 2014, 1:57am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Dover to London for family
Replies: 18
Views: 4946

Re: Dover to London for family

TT,

Off topic - but save your money and avoid Madame Tassaude's. It is basically a horrible tourist trap. The kids and I failed to recognize most of the 'celebrities'. Whether this was due to our avoidance of trash TV and the tabloid press or the poor quality of the wax works I don't know :wink:
by sbesley
4 Jun 2014, 1:37am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycling blog help?
Replies: 17
Views: 1885

Re: Cycling blog help?

+1 for Crazyguyonabike

if you want to share your story with fellow cyclists that's the place to post.

Individual 'blogs' elsewhere tend to get lost in vastness of the internet.

Stephen.
by sbesley
3 Apr 2014, 1:33am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Family member/friend is a terrible driver?
Replies: 17
Views: 1421

Re: Family member/friend is a terrible driver?

Ldriver,

A crass posting.

... as I hope you are aware.

You'll have to be a lot more canny to sucker anyone here.
by sbesley
1 Apr 2014, 1:11am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Starting a bike tour business, feasible or not?
Replies: 16
Views: 3919

Re: Starting a bike tour business, feasible or not?

I have pondered the same thing, living in a nice part of East Anglia.

Seems like for day rides, the money will be in the bike hire, rather than the guided tour. Certainly not in the packed lunches unless they involve much more than a few sandwiches and a drink.

Perhaps the strategy could be as a 'high-end' experience. Obviously for most of us cycling is more or less free! The well-heeled are less inclined to see it that way.

Building a relationship with local upmarket hotels may be the key.

You can market varied day touring around the hotel as a base. You deliver paying pre-booked guests to the hotel and take a commission, they allow you to operate your bike hire / touring business using their hotel as a base. That way you get spur of the moment bike hires from their guests and protentially build a new customer list. A day taster session, may lead to a week's booking next year. The hotel gets to add guided bike rides and bike hire to their list of activities for guests.

Difficult to know what you can charge, £30 to £50 per head per day perhaps + bike hire. Can that be a viable business? I don't know!

Smaller numbers paying higher prices is logistically easier.

Another approach is the multi-day moving on type of tour. Here you build the same relationship with hotels, but add value with a luggage transfer service between overnight stops. On a multi-day tour I would certainly pay to have my luggage waiting for me at the end of the day, rather than have it weighing me down all day.

Just a few thoughts...

Good luck!

Stephen
by sbesley
6 Nov 2013, 12:58am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Etrex 30 Mount
Replies: 14
Views: 2890

Re: Etrex 30 Mount

I made the mistake of buying the cheaper one.

Just one week into ownership of my new Etrex 20, I hit a bump, it flew off and hit the road smashing the screen!

Garmin replaced the Etrex at a cost of £70 and I always use an extra lanyard for safety now.

I suspect the problem is with the design of the mount, as it is nowhere near as secure a design as the mount on my previous Etrex Vista model.

Don't know how much better the 'real' Garmin mount is, but I still wouldn't trust it...
by sbesley
26 Oct 2013, 2:04am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Triple v Compact
Replies: 49
Views: 4984

Re: Triple v Compact

When I had built my frame up I specified a triple. A decision I haven't regretted.

Even though I hardly ever use it!

The lowest set of ratios, accounts for less 0.5% of my miles, but I wouldn't be without them. It is nice to have a bailout gear :)

and.. yes it is all in your head.

The rest of the world thinks we are either nuts or 'terribly brave' for cycling at all, don't worry about a few gears, just ride and have fun!
by sbesley
29 Sep 2013, 2:07am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: My Mercian nightmare continues
Replies: 121
Views: 11630

Re: My Mercian nightmare continues

Late here, but I have quite a lot of sympathy (and I am very satisfied Mercian owner) with the OP.

With Mercian you are buying a premium product and paying handsomely for it.

I don't think whether you would notice the 5mm difference on the road or not is the real issue. It is the poor customer service.

In life mistakes happen, running a business myself, I know this only too well! What happens once an error like this is reported and accepted is most important.
They got a job wrong and had to do a rework, fair enough. But why put the job to the back of the queue? 6 months, it should have been a couple of weeks. Much better to get it all sorted out asap, while the details of the problem are fresh in everyone's memory!

And when doing a rework, check and recheck, make absolutely sure it is right. Common-sense really.
Give up the idea of making any money on the deal, you won't, but concentrate on ending up with a happy customer.

Failure to do this, risks ending up with a thread like this, which might cost much more than a few days labour from the frame-builder and paint-shop.

Might still be time for them to get it right though.... just need to look at the big picture.