Search found 226 matches

by Chat Noir
6 Mar 2024, 8:37pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: George V & VI post boxes
Replies: 40
Views: 7952

Re: George V & VI post boxes

IMG20240306112642.jpg
Not sure which George but this made us smile (in Bude)
by Chat Noir
16 Oct 2023, 5:24pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Queen Victoria Postboxes
Replies: 132
Views: 24887

Re: Queen Victoria Postboxes

Here's one we came across last week while walking through Burrington, just west of Ludlow in lovely Herefordshire. Not sure this has been used in a while, in spite of the collection times notice!
Burrington VR Post Box.jpg

On foot because my partner severed her achilles back in July and only just out of the wonderful adjustable plastic boot the NHS provided. She's slowly getting back onto the bike, turbo at this stage, but we're crossing everything and hoping that if not completely back to normal, should still be able to properly cycle and walk in the coming months.

Talking of which, while on the same walk chatted with a local who told us about Shropshire butter buns. I'm a great one for the changing bakery delights as you go on long cycle rides through the countryside, such as end to ends (and I always by-passed Ludlow to the west on the A4110), but these were previously unknown to us. The bakery we stopped at only had 2 left and they were absolutely delicious.

Think we'll be returning to this area on the bikes as soon as we're able!
by Chat Noir
13 Oct 2023, 2:32pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Dawes Galaxy -v- Raleigh Randonneur
Replies: 106
Views: 56729

Re: Dawes Galaxy -v- Raleigh Randonneur

Interesting old thread.

To help clarify things, here is a page from the 1991 Reynolds catalogue, showing all 3 tube sets. The tubes in the 753 and 653 tube sets had identical gauges and shared the same seat and chain stays and steering column with 708 - silver solder was recommended for the chain stays. The difference was the heat treatment.

Reynolds described 653 like this in the same catalogue:

1987 Another first for Reynolds. The launch of 653. This tube set was the first available to builders with variable strength tubes. These strengths are specially designed for the professional racer and 653 is a new concept in obtaining strength and stiffness where it is needed most in the frame geometry.

For added interest, Reynolds published the following tube set weights (56 cm frame):

753 1650 gms
531 Pro 1700
531 Competition 1800
531 ST 1935

Don't have a catalogue with weight for 653 but assume identical to 753 - hope people able to see the detail in the attachment, not posted for a while, can't get this any bigger.
by Chat Noir
2 May 2023, 4:35pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Camping municiple in France
Replies: 27
Views: 3136

Re: Camping municiple in France

We're in France for a few weeks with our bikes and campervan at the moment, still in Brittany, en route to the Cevennes. Have paid either 14 or 15 euros per night for the two of us, using an ACSI card when possible, in what were old municipal campsites, albeit under new management arrangements. Facilities all of a good standard, lots of space, and now the weather is picking up. Last night in Chateaulin there were 3 cycle tourists camping, probably going along the Nantes - Brest canal. We use various apps to locate campsites, ACSI, Park 4 Night, cycle.travel, even google maps, all of which help locate and check out what is available.

We first went through Chateaulin in 1979 cycling from Roscoff to Santander, in the days when you didn't really need to plan too much because there would always be a Camping Municipal as you came to the end of the day, prices low, facilities basic - but didn't matter, and alcool a bruler readily available for the Trangia. Times, and expectations, have changed but still one of our favourite places to camp and cycle, and lots of good value places.

We stopped at Breton's site the other year (afraid before you took it over), lovely location on the canal, excellent cycling in all directions, at least one very good boulangerie from memory, and somewhere we'd happily go back to - just so many places to go to!
by Chat Noir
27 Feb 2023, 8:44pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Queen Victoria Postboxes
Replies: 132
Views: 24887

Re: Queen Victoria Postboxes

Interesting one today on backroad from Otley to Ilkley.
IMG20230227122356.jpg
Perhaps even more interesting, and certainly rarer:
Posties shelter.jpg
Now more used by elderly cyclists having a rest from suffering on the infernal hills of Yorkshire (to be fair, my brother in law was only pretending to be done in, honest)
Posties shelter 2.jpg
by Chat Noir
13 Feb 2023, 6:15pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Family cycling in Brittany
Replies: 36
Views: 1870

Re: Family cycling in Brittany

The Voies Vertes (Greenways) in Brittany give access to some lovely cycling, some on old railway lines or canal towpaths, great for cycling where you want easier terrain and safer passage for younger (or older) ones. The old railway lines offer more interest for me than the canal paths.

Some useful websites:

https://www.brittanytourism.com/matchin ... greenways/

https://www.francevelotourisme.com/cart ... e-bretagne

Good website for books:

https://www.reddogbooks.com/

One of my favourite starts is ferry to St Malo, cycling the very short distance round from the ferry port to get the small boat to cross to Dinard ( https://compagniecorsaire.com/en/destin ... lo-dinard/ ) , and then short ride uphill to get to the start of the old railway line that runs south to Dinan. Lovely café on the right as you come into Dinan, complete with children’s play area and you can carry on along the river / canal for miles. Cycle.travel our standard mapping tool and will show you all you need to know. I agree with comments about some of the hills, the wind and the rain ..

Enjoy the ride.
by Chat Noir
19 Jan 2023, 7:08pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Glen Affric YH
Replies: 3
Views: 528

Re: Glen Affric YH

Walked the Affric Kintail Way the other year with one of my sons, starting at Drumnadrochit. First day we stopped at Cannick, nothing awkward on the way and camping and pub in the village. Met couple on a tandem the next day coming back from further up the valley. Don't know how far they'd been but their grins said they had lots of fun. Delightful walking and easy cycling on good tracks: fatter tyres would help but not convinced you'd need more than a tourer although I'd check your puncture repair kit well stocked. Checking the OS map, track looks good to a mile or so short of the YHA and then I think it was rough path which might require some pushing or even carrying in places. Lovely YHA (we got there on the last night of the season so very lucky) and location. You say you'd then come out again, wise. Carrying on would see some bike carrying down steep paths by waterfalls before giving way to easy tracks again.

Have fun
by Chat Noir
21 Sep 2021, 3:03pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Leeds to Liverpool canal
Replies: 31
Views: 3011

Re: Leeds to Liverpool canal

Interesting thread for me. Cycled from Liverpool to just west of Leeds back in 1983, wild camping where we were when we reached the end of the day. Probably took 4 days and 3 nights to get that far, but can’t really remember. Think those were the days when you needed a permit to cycle along the canal. My favourite camping spot was on a wide bend, beyond Canal Row, just along from Red Rock, and just before you get to Arley Bridge (next to Wigan Golf Club). I was born in one of the houses next to the bridge. I have vague memories of the canal drying up in a hot summer but more likely the water had simply been drained out. Here is a photo from 1959 with me on the canal bank and my brothers in the canal.
IMG_0012 (2).jpg
by Chat Noir
6 Jul 2021, 9:18pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Wetherby/york
Replies: 10
Views: 598

Re: Wetherby/york

One of my usual rides out from York is to go to Wetherby from where I’m spoiled for choice. Quite like taking the old A1 up to Boroughbridge, quiet, lot of false flats and then excellent range of stops in the town or just sitting by the old water fountain in the square. Lots of good and quiet lanes south of the town to get you back to York or in between to Wetherby. I often continue on to Easingwold, another very pleasant old town with plenty of good places to stop and then up into the Howardian Hills via Crayke. This little-known line of east – west hills offer some of the most enjoyable cycling I know anywhere, plenty of 16% hills if you go along the ridges. You can turn south for York at many points, like the spokes of a wheel, or double back just dropping down to the next ridge to the south for variety. Anything with ‘bank’ in the name will be steep, usually short, but all memorable.

Crossing the rivers needs to be thought about because not many bridges. Cattal, just east and north of Wetherby, the site of an old Roman river crossing over the Nidd on Rudgate, is useful. If following this road north when it joins the B6265 be a little aware, lot of very fast drivers on this road. The wooden bridge at Aldwark over the Ure very useful, old toll but no charge for cyclists.

Going west from Wetherby loads of good riding available on quiet roads. Work your way over to Blubberhouses via the reservoirs, plenty of good hills, then cross the A59 and follow up to Greenhow from where you can follow west to Grassington and access to some classic big hills or just drop down into Pately Bridge and work out which of all the steep routes out of it to take – but there are excellent cafes there. Going north to Masham takes you to some really good cafes as well as over some long and draggy hills before turning back south, maybe through Ripon or via Fountains Abbey, down to Ripley where you can pick up excellent cycle route into Knaresborough coming in by the river Nidd at the bottom, past loads of excellent cafes (sorry, this appears to be a theme) and then meander back to Wetherby on more quiet roads.

You don’t say exactly where you’re based but masses of quiet roads, friendly cyclists (most people do acknowledge each other round here), the only problem being too many cafes.
by Chat Noir
3 Mar 2021, 1:50pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: End to End book, out Thurs 1 April
Replies: 44
Views: 6556

Re: End to End book, out Thurs 1 April

'Ah.. so you’ve not done it then :wink:
So near and yet so far :D
'

Ha, ha!
No, I haven’t done this exact route, bit too much main-roadey for me, especially following the A38 from Bristol, where my favourite is to cross the Severn and up the Wye Valley. My shortest LE-JOG is 899 miles which I could probably reduce by some miles without following Michael Broadwith’s route but we all have our own favourite bits. My JOG-LE mileage is 923 miles, but that was via York and have only done this once as part of a double.
One year we used a number of ferries, the King Harry, the one from Fowey, the Mersey (we really enjoyed that one) and the Nigg, another unexpected delight. Part of what makes this such a special journey is that there are as many variations as you want and all equally enjoyable, whether you go fast or slow, long or short.
by Chat Noir
2 Mar 2021, 8:58pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: End to End book, out Thurs 1 April
Replies: 44
Views: 6556

Re: End to End book, out Thurs 1 April

Shortest route I've come across is 838.8, published by the Road Records Association (but it does go through Wigan and the Standish crossroads :) ), starting from the Land's End Hotel and finishing at a drain grating by the left edge of the mini roundabout before the JO'G Hotel.
by Chat Noir
28 Jan 2021, 12:17pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Which rust inhibitors are people using?
Replies: 56
Views: 3747

Re: Which rust inhibitors are people using?

Thanks for the responses.

Seems no one product stands out, we have our own preferences, as likely as not the tin of whatever we have on the shelf. Mine is Dinitrol ML. Found the thread testing inhibitors interesting and a little surprised by some of the results - tempting to look at some other products.

The UC poses a fair question of whether this actually does any good, particularly if you look after a bike. The paradox is, if you’re someone who looks after a bike by regular cleaning, greasing and lubing then you might as well look after the inside when you get another frame, whether new or old – after all, it is only a 5 minute one-off job and inhibitors aren't expensive. Whatever you do, neglected frames will give way at some point and frames that are looked after will last a long time. For me, this means using a rust inhibitor.

So, I'll stick with the Dinitrol ML because it's sitting on the shelf, if I can get the tin to work, but won't try and reactivate if it's dead!

Thanks.
by Chat Noir
21 Jan 2021, 10:30am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Which rust inhibitors are people using?
Replies: 56
Views: 3747

Which rust inhibitors are people using?

Now my Bob Jackson frame has been repaired and before I rebuild it thought I’d check what rust inhibitors other people are using. The last thread I found on here had a spread of preferences
( viewtopic.php?f=1&t=110666&hilit=rust+inhibitors&start=30#p1110357 ) including Dinitrol, Waxoyl, Weigle, engine oil, Dynax S50, AFC 50 and linseed oil.

I have a tin of Dinitrol which is at least 10 years old and has done loads of frames (and what BJ always used), all seems fine with this product although best not to apply in decent clothes or inside the house if you’re someone who might think it would be a good idea to turn the frame upside down to check how you’ve done.

The main tubes that I can see are all clean, there is a little grot at the far end inside the wheel stays but nothing too bad, certainly not for a steel bike from the early 90s. I use an endoscope to check inside the frame where I can (at £20 an excellent tool to have, bought to prevent accidents when wiring a VW campervan).

So, am expecting to use the Dinitrol if the tin will still work but open to suggestions.

Thanks
by Chat Noir
20 Jan 2021, 5:31pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: shimano rapidfires = JIS screws?
Replies: 46
Views: 2584

Re: shimano rapidfires = JIS screws?

Wanted to replace toeclips on some 6207 pedals from 1984 and found impossible to shift with conventional screwdrivers, but not before I’d rounded the heads of two screws. Googled and learned about JIS screw heads. Particularly interesting to read reviews of JIS screwdrivers from people who’d worked on Japanese motorbikes for years, rounded many screw heads but didn’t know about JIS. They then reported astonishment at how they worked better. So, ordered my set of 4 screwdrivers and had a go at removing the screws. On the good pedal with good heads no problem. On the pedal with the damaged screw heads – no problem, was able to get a good enough purchase and remove them – I was suitably impressed. Fascinated to learn about the little dimple on the screw head within the + and as someone with fair amount of Shimano components these screwdrivers may get rather more use than my Philips.

I always use grease on threads.

Good luck with the JIS screwdrivers.
by Chat Noir
18 Jan 2021, 8:00pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Bob Jackson's is shutting up - IT IS NOW (sob) !!
Replies: 168
Views: 15739

Re: Bob Jackson's is shutting up - IT IS NOW (sob) !!

So, my Bob Jackson frame has been finished and returned. Donald told me this was the final frame refurbished by them.

Don’t think we’ll see much in the way of replacements for companies like BJ: there are fewer traditional bike shops and frame builders anyway although I think there will always be some firms and individuals who continue to cater for those of us who like old and new steel bikes - they’ll be around for a long time yet. Nothing quite matches the pleasure of hurtling down things like Terrington Bank on a steel bike!

Were BJ any good? Their reputation is their legacy: skilled workmanship producing high quality bikes with excellent paint jobs. They repaired and refurbished other marques as well and for many they were simply the 'go-to' place. Judge for yourselves the quality of this workmanship.

BJ 1.jpg

BJ 2.jpg

BJ at Carlton Towers.jpg

The final picture leaning against a fence was near the end of a 2 day London-York ride the other year. This bike has done sterling service for me and I may have a go at a quickish end to end on it this summer, covid and fitness permitting: long days in the saddle on this bike don’t feel long, just the sheer pleasure of being out there on a bike - which is what cycling and cycle touring is all about really.