Cycling UK Forum

I've been loving the Sealskinz lobster gloves (info) this winter, they have gold standard PrimaLoft insulation which still insulates when wet, and now I ride around London in winter in a T-shirt and these King Kong monster gloves, feeling like I'm dipping my hands into a bubble of heat, it's lovely.

I've been asked to recommend some lobster gloves - but (cue suspense) a new contender is on the scene!

Pearl Izumi Pro Lobster gloves are getting in on the act (info)? They seem to be modelled on the Sealskinz as they share the PrimaLoft insulation, but the Pearl version has a Pittards leather palm too.

Has anyone tried the Pearl Izumi Pro Lobster gloves? Does the Pittards palm make them better?

Looking forward to hearing what you think.

Thanks for that link. Al, have you any had any trouble with the X2's colour for wild camping?

Thanks, Sam.

OK, so I'm tempted to go for the X2 instead, for the porch and headroom (I reckon I'd be fine with the 2-person one as I'm only 5'6). It seems like the banshee 200 is too small, so I'll rule that out, but there's the Banshee 300 or the Spectre 200 that Malaconotus recommended, which both have the advantage of being a much better colour for wild camping, which I'm planning to do.

So it's Avior X2 (porch), Banshee 300 (colour) or Spectre 200 (colour). I wonder how important the colour really is though.

Sorry to bring up tents again... I've been reading through the forum postings and have decided on either a Coleman Avior or Vango Banshee.

I'll be travelling on my own mainly, and doing tours from a day long to a couple of weeks long, wild camping around the UK and Spain. I'd be tempted to go for the 2-person versions, although most of the recommendations here are for the 3-person versions, especially as the Banshee 2-person lacks the vital extra door. As it is, I'm probably leaning towards the Banshee 300 as that seems to have the most enthusiastic support here and is the right colour for wild camping, although it lacks the porch and I reckon might be bigger than I'd need.

Your advice would be brilliant: Avior X2 or X3 or Banshee 200 or 300?

Thanks a lot,
Sam

EDIT: I called up SJS Cycles and they said that my front mech is in fact compatible. However, I've had yet another go at fitting it (although I haven't tried rerouting the cable yet, as I don't fancy a harsh shift) and it's repeatedly sluggish changing from middle to inner. I reckon SJS Cycles must just be wrong. Any thoughts?

I guess I'll get a MTB front mech (as my SIS shifters are MTB, according to this online seller.) I suppose I need to either find one that will cope with an 8 tooth difference (does anyone know of one?), or buy new 48/36/26 chainrings.

Thanks for your help,
Sam

Ah, OK. My shifters are Shimano SL-MC40 flat bar/MTB.

So I either need to replace the shifters or the cage, right?

Thanks a lot.

Hi all,

Can I get some of your wisdom about why I'm having problems indexing my front mech? I think it's because there's only an 8, rather than 10, tooth difference between the outer and middle chainring, but I thought I'd check with you.

I'm running a Suntour X-1 front derailleur - according to SJS cycles, outer max is 52 and min is 46, range is 24
Bottom bracket unknown (sorry, I can look if needed)
Outer chainring: Sugino SP3 46 teeth
Middle: No name 38 teeth
Inner: Shimano SG F-28 teeth
Spider is Shimano Deore LX

Basically, when I set up the cage so that it's roughly central on the middle chainring, it can smoothly go up and back from the outer chainring, but it is very reluctant to move down to or back from the inner chainring.

Advice would be brilliant.

Thanks,
Sam

PS Tbh 46/38/28 isn't ideal - I'd prefer 48/36/26, but the chainset came with a second-hand bike. I might change it.

Sorry horizon - I should have made that clear: it's the CTC general factsheet about France.

I guess I'll do some more research on temperatures and do some UK cycle touring in December. If I get comfortable with the cold, I'll do some research on the routes over the Pyrenees to see if I can go the whole hog and cycle London to Andalucia.

Thanks again for all the advice.

vernon wrote:You might be disappointed with Montpelier too...

I guess I'll need to travel by train or coach to Barcelona, rather than cycling.

vernon wrote:what's wrong with late spring/summer touring?

You're right - that would be easier, but the trip is as much for fun as it is a means to an end: I'm planning to spend 5 months in Andalucia working on an organic farm, starting in February. Of course, coming back in late May is going to be easy as pie if I've survived on the way down.

Hmm, that's really useful, horizon; I'm glad I asked about this here.
Would I be right in thinking that the neither the east coast of Spain or south coast of France would be too cold? If that's the case, I guess I could get the train/coach from London to Nime/Marseilles/Montpelier before hopping on the bike.

Thanks Andrew - you're completely right: I should be talking about the 27!
That's all really useful - I'll edit the post to move the answered questions down.

I didn't realise that pedalsheep; a little googling has brought up the portsmouth/plymouth to santander option, instead...

All the best,
drum

Hi all,

I'll be setting off from London to Andalucia, Southern Spain in early January 2011, on my first long cycle tour, and I have quite a few questions:

1) CROSSING THE CHANNEL: Should I get the Chunnel or Portsmouth-[edited]Santander Ferry? I'd like to cover as much ground on the bike as I can, but FR1 says that "the period between November & February inclusive is too cold for comfortable cycling", averaging about 10°C.

2) MAPS AND ROUTES: Should I just get a standard 1:200,000 road map and follow major roads?

3) THE BIKE:

I am happy to get second hand or previous models, but I would like a bike soon for training.

(a) Is the CTC forum the best place to find suitable bikes (53cm I think as I'm 5'5 and 81cm inside leg)? Or should I just get a new one now?

(b) Butterfly or drop handlebars?


Many thanks for all your help on this - I can't wait for the moment when it all falls into place and I'll be enjoying travelling half way through a new country!


Answered questions:

Bike storage: Bike can be left outside, tied to a tree.
Trangia: a 27 series, probably without kettle, plus 1L meths bottle.
Groundsheet: Get a groundsheet or polyethylene film if getting the Terra Nova Laser Comp.