Search found 51 matches

by Cachao
17 Jun 2013, 9:09pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycles and Planes
Replies: 22
Views: 2139

Re: Cycles and Planes

Any opinions on sending the bikes on their own? £63 per bike (two) from Alta (northern Norway) to London with us on the planes seems like a lot of money.
by Cachao
29 May 2013, 1:17am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: A Cycle Through France
Replies: 19
Views: 2660

Re: A Cycle Through France

The Canal du Midi may not be a bad option. We did a section between Toulouse and Montpellier. The quality varies massively according to department and the view can become monotonous. Local French roads on the whole, though, are excellent cycling.
by Cachao
29 May 2013, 1:12am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Scandinavia
Replies: 5
Views: 1075

Re: Scandinavia

iviehoff wrote: The Vikings did there conquering because of a land shortage, remember. But there are plenty of organised campsites.

Sound advice. Camping does seem fine on the whole, though.

As for transport, we generally go at a fair pace, so I reckon it would be better to cycle back (at least as far as civilisation) rather than haul our bikes down from the end of the earth. A round trip to Copenhagen seems expensive at the moment, at least £300 with EasyJet. Any ideas?

Thanks
by Cachao
20 May 2013, 10:56pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Scandinavia
Replies: 5
Views: 1075

Scandinavia

Hello,

A few of you may remember my friend Tokopah and me asking about touring in Peru. Unfortunately this has been pushed back by safety concerns. In its place, Scandinavia, end-to-end.

We will be reading through these threads:
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=20575&p=167421
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=72192&p=628265
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=72452&p=628889
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=71404&p=619152
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=54821&p=457467
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=23854&p=192247


Our questions so far:
1. Transport: We live in Bristol and Hampshire and aim to start in Copenhagen. What's the best way to get there? We're currently looking at the ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg, then the train to Copenhagen, or EasyJet from Bristol direct to Copenhagen.
2. Route: The fundamental idea is to start in Copenhagen, go down to Malmo and up to Hammerfest. Maybe even back down to Helsinki? We aim to leave around 9 July and aim to get back around 13 August. Any ideas?
3. Wild camping: Apparently it's allowed in Sweden and Norway

Any other thoughts?

Thanks
by Cachao
20 May 2013, 10:30pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Newbie long tour kit / equipment questions
Replies: 40
Views: 3405

Re: Newbie long tour kit / equipment questions

Hi,

My friend and I were in your position a few years ago and got to where we are today in large part thanks to the wisdom of the CTC forum. So my first advice is to go back through the posts on my profile and find 'Cut that kit!' among other topics where you'll find some great advice, especially if you want to travel light.

Some specific thoughts:
1. Number your lists on these sorts of things - it makes it easier for other posters to refer to what you're on about.
2. 100 miles a day is a lot; budget for 70 on your first proper tour and surprise yourself pleasantly
3. Michelin maps, 1:200 000 scale or below
4. Schwalbe Marathon 700c x 28 tyres on dedicated touring (that means heavy ones with drop bars) are what we use

Good luck
by Cachao
7 Feb 2013, 2:20pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring Peru
Replies: 17
Views: 2469

Re: Touring Peru

Excellent, thanks. I'm going to start combing through the blogs this weekend.
by Cachao
30 Jan 2013, 8:17pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring Peru
Replies: 17
Views: 2469

Re: Touring Peru

Hi, I'm CrazyFerret's friend. Thanks for the advice so far, this is a whole new level for us so we're glad of any information available.

1. Safety:
We have already read (and re-read) the FCO and OSAC reports on Peru. But they aren't necessarily comprehensive, so we would appreciate whatever you can tell us.

2. Route:
The point about gaining altitude too fast certainly seems important. We'll post an initial route soon and do some reading on it Vaguely, the current idea is to bear east out of Lima then head towards Huascaran etc. To avoid the moe dangerous towns and more heavily-populated areas I expect we will be tending towards the east of the Cordillera Blanca.

3. Food and water:
We will be carrying at least one Platypus, so our combined maximum capacity will be at least 4L. Chlorine dioxide followed by a coffee filter is the current frontrunner for water purification. We will certainly have to investigate how we are going to get food.

I shall have a look at crazyguyonabike's Peru entry now.

Here is our kit list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc ... Et6VkZZUEE

Thanks again
by Cachao
21 Jun 2012, 11:08am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cheap touring bike
Replies: 20
Views: 6022

Re: Cheap touring bike

I'd look at good 80s steel tourers. I've got an old Claud and it's fantastic (set me back £220 admittedly, but still good value)
by Cachao
21 Jun 2012, 10:47am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Spain, France, Switzerland and Germany
Replies: 11
Views: 6097

Re: Spain, France, Switzerland and Germany

Hello again,

We are back route planning now, and have included your suggestions so far.
The route is here and open to editing by anyone: http://goo.gl/maps/9QHR

A few key points. We will be leaving some time around 18th August and for around three weeks. We will be unsupported and camping. I'm not sure whether this is the correct place for the kit list, but here it is https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc ... G1mRkFOcGc The route runs eastward, starting in Santander and ending in Nancy. We generally ride about 80-100 miles a day but this time we will take some time to enjoy the culture etc.

So, what we would like from you is your knowledge of the regions; any scenic routes, convenient routes, interesting areas, places and things worth visiting, and generally anything of note. We've already got a few things on there (although I can't see the area iviehoff says the Spanish rock-cut churches are in) and hope you can add more.

Thanks,

Cachao and crazyferret
by Cachao
4 Mar 2012, 12:03am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring saddle
Replies: 26
Views: 5807

Re: Touring saddle

Brooks B17.

It's not cheap but this is not the place to save money.
by Cachao
1 Mar 2012, 10:15pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Starting to tour
Replies: 32
Views: 2779

Re: Starting to tour

As a new tourer who jumped in at the deep end I can see where you're coming from. Two points:

1. Start immediately. This weekend cycle 50 miles to a B&B, stay the night, then return. Doesn't matter if you take your own stuff or how you do it. The key is to get cycling properly. And this leads on to the second point.

2. Experience is king. If possible, cycle with someone who is experienced, it makes all the difference. If that proves impossible then these forums and resources already mentioned should do well but never come close to being a substitute for miles on the road.

Good luck
by Cachao
1 Mar 2012, 10:08pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Spain, France, Switzerland and Germany
Replies: 11
Views: 6097

Re: Spain, France, Switzerland and Germany

iviehoff wrote:
Cachao wrote:2. How do we cross the Pyrenees?

In approaching Santander, see if you can find time to route yourself through the village of Orbaneja del Castillo (Google Maps knows it), which is more or less due south of Santander. It is located on a section of the Ebro river which runs in a wonderful gorge. Then from the western end of the gorge head by minor roads northwards to the coast, through less well-known parts of Cantabrian mountains. Or, if you are interested, the region just to the west includes a lot of ancient rock-cut churches, which are an ancient monument of a variety little known in Britain.


Is this the route you're talking about? (The map is open to be edited by anyone, so if it isn't, go ahead and draw what you were thinking):
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=2 ... 9,1.352692

Thanks for the help - we'll try to do our bit on here too!
by Cachao
27 Feb 2012, 12:52am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Ortlieb Roller Panniers - Classic or Plus?
Replies: 15
Views: 147389

Re: Ortlieb Roller Panniers - Classic or Plus?

I've only had about 2,000 miles touring with them, but in short, the classics are excellent.
by Cachao
27 Feb 2012, 12:36am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Spain, France, Switzerland and Germany
Replies: 11
Views: 6097

Re: Spain, France, Switzerland and Germany

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=2 ... ,21.643066

Here's the map again, I've opened it up to editing so feel free to make your suggestions along this vague route.

It's late now, so I'll look over the previous posts tomorrow. Thanks for the detailed help so far :)

And about the maps, I can speak rudimentary French and am planning to pick up some Spanish and German, so the maps don't need to be in English. (If anything it's more fun in a foreign tongue.)
by Cachao
19 Feb 2012, 11:25am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Spain, France, Switzerland and Germany
Replies: 11
Views: 6097

Spain, France, Switzerland and Germany

[Note that this has been pasted in from the post further down]
Hello again,

We are back route planning now, and have included your suggestions so far.
The route is here and open to editing by anyone: http://goo.gl/maps/9QHR

A few key points. We will be leaving some time around 18th August and for around three weeks. We will be unsupported and camping. I'm not sure whether this is the correct place for the kit list, but here it is https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc ... G1mRkFOcGc The route runs eastward, starting in Santander and ending in Nancy. We generally ride about 80-100 miles a day but this time we will take some time to enjoy the culture etc.

So, what we would like from you is your knowledge of the regions; any scenic routes, convenient routes, interesting areas, places and things worth visiting, and generally anything of note. We've already got a few things on there (although I can't see the area iviehoff says the Spanish rock-cut churches are in) and hope you can add more.

Thanks,

Cachao and crazyferret