Cycling UK Forum

I have no experience of the route mentioned, although eg 6 is now at the top of my list of trips to tackle. My cycle tour pals though did Venice to Budapest without me as I was inconveniently having a baby. Anyway they had a great trip although rather hot. The cycled by the Lake Balaton.

You can download free open source maps. I did that to add to my garmin touring (had Europe only preloaded) when I went to the USA. Didn’t stop the garmin (different model to the one you are looking at) being hopeless but the maps were good.

I have not done it but read a good book by Jill Homer on doing it. Good luck.

He will only eat pizza whilst travelling so density of pizza places is helpful! (not kidding). In which case you will love the Loire! Honestly not kidding... I rode it last summer (in the 40°C heat) and pizza appeared to be the national food of France. One night I pitched up at a campsite outside a...

No idea about Loire. Looks flat from what I have seen. If your family don't like hills, I wouldn't do Roscoff to Morlaix as suggested above. It has hills. Also, my family didn't rate the off road stuff down to Carhaix much. You can't see much as the track us densely wooded and the surface gets very...

Thank you Rob. Nantes looks promising for a dead flat start and I can see a small town just east of the city with rail station and hotels that may be a prime starting point. Will test that idea with the troops and aim to reassure on lack of cycle paths.

Him indoors and I are planning on taking the teens on a couple of weeks cycle trip this summer. Teens have unexpectedly approved although may try to wiggle out of it later. Probably straight after GCSEs so late June and a bit of early July. Teen one is a fit but lazy 16 who likes creature comforts. ...

I can recommend Norway for combining train, bus, ferry, & bike touring. Most trains and buses take bikes (there is a fee on most routes) without reservation. Long distance (regional trains) can be booked in advance, but except for a few popular routes. they aren't generally required. Ferries ta...

Lots of the cheaper USA hotels /motels have laundry facilities. Same goes with camp grounds all over. Whilst I’m quite happy washing my own stuff overnight and air drying if the whole family is along I’ll do it every other day in a machine and often tumble dry (depending on time etc- the USA doesn’t...

Never contemplated Belarus although Poland has been on the future trip list for a while. Now I want to see the reserves, bison and vodka!

I have a hubba hubba NX. I’ll give it an “it’s ok”. I also have a Big Agnes copper spur bikepacking tent. I didn’t pay £400 though- closer to £300 from memory. Love it- similar design to the hubba hubba but just worked better for me with various niggles ironed out. Great pack size and shape for a pa...

I’m looking to start commuting by ebike 2-3 times a week (other days I work 30-100 miles from home so less practical). My likely commute route is linked below- it’s 13 miles each way which is the sort of distance I would have lapped up when younger and living in a flatter area but it’s now quite da...

Cycle to work is no longer limited to £1000, is your employer aware of this or have they chosen to keep the limit ( link )? I don't think an upgradeable kit would comply with the law. That may or may not bother you but in the, albeit relatively unlikely, event of there being an incident you risk th...

I’m looking to start commuting by ebike 2-3 times a week (other days I work 30-100 miles from home so less practical). My likely commute route is linked below- it’s 13 miles each way which is the sort of distance I would have lapped up when younger and living in a flatter area but it’s now quite dau...

Sounds like a good plan- I’m planning to do this section next year too. I was thinking of flying in to Nantes and out of Paris and train from Orleans to Paris. My experience is that if you stay at a hotel with plenty of parking or not town centre or camping they will often facilitate extra car parki...