Search found 27 matches

by el flaco
29 Mar 2020, 6:51pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: 1945 Footage of District Nurse
Replies: 28
Views: 2192

Re: 1945 Footage of District Nurse

The problem for district nurses has always been transport. The invention of the bicycle solved this problem to a certain extent. A special district nurse leather bag was designed especially to fit on a rear rack as seen on this video and the "Call the Midwife" series.

Interesting that you are all looking at the bike and not the rider!
by el flaco
18 Jan 2020, 11:05am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: La Vélodyssée as a single female
Replies: 20
Views: 2126

Re: La Vélodyssée as a single female

You'll be fine on your own. Most French people now speak English.

Lots of people do the route, you'll soon meet up with others.

Well worth getting the guide book even though it is in French.

If you are new to France every town has a tourist office where they can fix you up with

accommodation. Don't book in advance. I've done the route over three years, don't

rush it.
by el flaco
18 Jan 2020, 9:49am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Poland/Belarus border posts open to cyclists ?
Replies: 10
Views: 1491

Re: Poland/Belarus border posts open to cyclists ?

Cycling in Belarus is wonderful, there is no traffic the roads are good and the drivers give you room when passing. However it is best to keep to the main roads (suicidal in other countries) the country roads are not sealed and with the sandy ground very hard to cycle on.
Unfortunately the villages are bypassed by the main roads. You will soon get bored by the endless forests and wheat fields. The country is flat with undulations, the wind can be trying at times.
I strongly recommend crossing at the forest, I was unable to do so but was there on the Belarus side.
Near the border you will come across large signs in English stating “Border Control Area”, don’t worry you are allowed to be there but there are increased police checks on cars.
I found the people friendly but they wouldn’t help with lifts, accommodation etc in the villages. Apparently they are very suspicious of foreigners.
The trains are bike friendly and dirt cheap as is the whole country.
I would cross into Lithuania at the border close to the soviet statue park/museum.
How I wish that I could join you. Please let us know how you get on with your Belarus visa.
by el flaco
29 Dec 2019, 4:57pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Poland/Belarus border posts open to cyclists ?
Replies: 10
Views: 1491

Re: Poland/Belarus border posts open to cyclists ?

There is a border only for pedestrians and cyclists in the forest that straddles the two countries.

Look up the Belarus visa website. FCO says it is for tour groups only. I am working on getting a tourist card that is the problem.

The visa free crossing is only for western Belarus. Russia will not accept anybody from the Belarus border.

You might like to reconsider Belarus and go to Russia via Lithuania.

Or you could get a visa at huge cost and inconvenience.
by el flaco
6 Mar 2019, 3:16pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Collecting Bikes from Eurostar
Replies: 9
Views: 1851

Re: Collecting Bikes from Eurostar

My first time at Paris Nord collecting my bike that was on the same train was problematic. I couldn't pick my bike up on the platform as I had done in Brussels. I couldn't find the collection point.
What you do is go to the entrance to your platform and turn right. Keep going to the exit. When still inside the station turn right and walk through a narrow covered passageway, then into the open air - keep going it's quite a walk. The office is on your left, but not obvious. Go in hand over your bit of paper and receive your bicycle. No French required and all jolly pleasant people just like in the London depot.
There's no problem cycling in Paris either on the road or on the plentiful cyclepaths courtesy of the wide boulevards. The cycle paths aren't that obvious.
by el flaco
29 May 2017, 10:03am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Horlicks bottle any good?
Replies: 5
Views: 3571

Horlicks bottle any good?

Horlicks the bedtime drink (no I don't drink it) comes in a screw top plastic jar. The jar is super lightweight, watertight and fits in a standard bottle cage. The top is 2.5 inches wide and it is 7 inches tall.

It really is a fantastic bit of kit that looks good with the label removed and it's free! However I don't know what to use it for other than as a pee bottle.
by el flaco
31 Aug 2016, 7:59pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: London quiet route Waterloo to Greenwich
Replies: 3
Views: 604

Re: London quiet route Waterloo to Greenwich

I only heard about the route through your posting, thanks. I cycled it this August Bank holiday. Very quiet, though some cyclists about. It is a well signed heavily engineered cycle route, must have cost a packet.
by el flaco
3 Jul 2016, 5:31pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: London quiet route Waterloo to Greenwich
Replies: 3
Views: 604

Re: London quiet route Waterloo to Greenwich

Looks fun, thanks.

The area is full of interest, parallel to Willow Walk is Mandela Way (great name) where the T34 tank is dumped as a protest to the local authorities. Londoners eh!
by el flaco
8 Feb 2016, 10:45am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Heathrow airport by bike
Replies: 4
Views: 1598

Re: Heathrow airport by bike

Great reply thanks. I hadn't realised it was temporary.
by el flaco
7 Feb 2016, 3:36pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Heathrow airport by bike
Replies: 4
Views: 1598

Re: Heathrow airport by bike

Not really, that's what I read.

I'm used to cycling to terminal three. Now I have to find an infrequent bus to take me a few hundred yards. Why? And where is the bus?
by el flaco
7 Feb 2016, 10:17am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Heathrow airport by bike
Replies: 4
Views: 1598

Heathrow airport by bike

Looking at the Heathrow airport website, it now states (no date given) that you now can't cycle through the main tunnel to terminal 3. I was under the impression that this was always forbidden but that you should use the parallel service tunnels where cyclists have right of way over other traffic, which is what i have done in the past.

They mention a free bus service.

So what's that all about?
by el flaco
6 Jul 2015, 3:34pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Front panniers debate and wizz air
Replies: 11
Views: 1853

Re: Front panniers debate and wizz air

I use a dry bag on top of my rear panniers. It folds up to nothing and weighs nothing. I carry my rain jacket in it plus food when bought.
by el flaco
4 Jul 2015, 5:38pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Caen to Nice
Replies: 1
Views: 672

Re: Caen to Nice

Buy the "France en Velo" book (it's in English!) as reviewed in CTC magazine. It goes from St Malo to Nice starting from where you get off the ferry. The ferry is overnight so you set off at 8AM.
by el flaco
23 Jun 2015, 5:10pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Breathable ladies cycle jacket
Replies: 9
Views: 786

Re: Breathable cycle jacket

I had a dressmaker make me a yellow ventile jacket. Made to measure with no pockets. Full length zip, no lining. Best thing I've ever done re bikes.
by el flaco
25 Mar 2015, 2:48pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Youth hostelling in late 40s early 50s
Replies: 27
Views: 3041

Re: Youth hostelling in late 40s early 50s

In the late fifties there was a "shop" on site with basic stuff like tinned spaghetti, bread, eggs. You didn't have to carry food. Also you could buy a packed lunch for the next day.

Happy days, lots of hostels so I doubt that anyone cycle camped. YHA was known as "Young Husbands Available".