Search found 362 matches

by Helen
26 Jun 2016, 6:53pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: CTC Bike Bag on Ryanair
Replies: 37
Views: 17241

Re: CTC Bike Bag on Ryanair

I've been taking my bike on planes since budget airlines started about 20 years ago, using big plastic bags. Last couple of years getting more and more hassle at check in. Such a bad experience returning from Charleroi last year, I haven't dared book a trip this year.

Airlines often don't specify EXACTLY what they mean by "bike box or bag". (At Charleroi I was shown photos of different airlines' specs, and Ryanair at Charleroi apparently decided it had to be a ZIPPED bag. Nowhere on any website does it say that. They tried to make me buy a canvas bag at customer services for 90 euros. I said I had no money, my tools had been checked in, and my bike had been accepted like that on the outward journey to Eindhoven airport. My passport was taken and enquiries made to see if this was true. Then they rang the baggage handlers who of course said No Problem.
I had threatened to leave my bike on the floor and walk out!

Does Cycling Uk not have legal advice for us? We are being held to ransom.
by Helen
10 Mar 2016, 11:45pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Insurance for a 4 day trip around Mallorca
Replies: 10
Views: 1174

Re: Insurance for a 4 day trip around Mallorca

Don't forget, the EHIC is FREE!
http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/about-the-ehic.aspx
I had to use mine last time, when I stupidly fell off an e-bike(!) and bashed my face.
Make sure you waft the card about and ask is the treatment free, or you might find yourself in a private clinic...
by Helen
10 Mar 2016, 11:33pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Palermo
Replies: 14
Views: 1282

Re: Palermo

If I was arriving quite late, I would doss overnight at the airport and whizz off at the crack of dawn. I always check the SleepingInAirports website:
http://www.sleepinginairports.net/europe/palermo.htm

Join WarmShowers and see if some local cyclists can help you?
I just checked and saw several listed in Palermo.
https://www.warmshowers.org/

This is a nice HI hostel by the sea with chalets and security gate about 20km from the airport in Baio del Corallo
http://www.ostellopalermo.it/
Hmm, €18 for a bed seems a bit dear! I paid €12-€13,50 at Easter in 2010.
by Helen
19 Apr 2014, 10:13am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bikes free on Italian trains Easter Monday
Replies: 1
Views: 1179

Bikes free on Italian trains Easter Monday

http://fiab-onlus.it/bici/attivita/treno-bici/item/879-giornata-bicintreno-2014.html

In Italy you can take your bike free on trains all Easter Monday.
I'm signed up for the FIAB (Italian CTC) newsletter (in Italian only, sorry).

Note: I've only skimmed the article, so don't blame me if I've got it wrong!
by Helen
14 Apr 2014, 4:20pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Radio 4 Extra "Tour de France" surreal comedy
Replies: 0
Views: 3284

Radio 4 Extra "Tour de France" surreal comedy

This might be a laugh:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fkp61

Tour de France
Episode 1 of 6
Duration: 30 minutes
First broadcast: Friday 21 November 2008
Surreal comedy in which a trio of 'posties' get embroiled in escapades. Written by and starring Ben Miller, with John Thomson and Felicity Montagu. From November 1992.
by Helen
3 Apr 2013, 2:15pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Need a route from Tirana (Albania), Montenegro to Belgrade
Replies: 2
Views: 812

Re: Need a route from Tirana (Albania), Montenegro to Belgra

April 2012 I flew to Corfu, got ferry to Sarande, stuck to most westerly road (apart from nipping to Berat) to Shkoder lake then into Montenegro - Bay of Kotor (did a circuit) - Danilograd. Had a great free night's camping doss up at Ostrog monastery. Heck of a climb but pilgrims can borrow mattresses outside the shrine. I kipped on car park below. Had it to myself. Picnic tables and toilet block!

Another night in Montenegro I asked a family could I doss by a church next to their farm. Lucky I speak Russian, but Italian was also v handy in Albania and Montenegro.
In Bosnia, Medugorije shrine was horribly busy. Mostar and the bridge were fabulous. Plenty of hostels, but with the bikes, consider staying just outside the old town to avoid steep cobbled steps.

I visited the tunnel museum near Sarajevo then stayed in a town centre hostel. CCTV looked after my bike locked in the lobby. Sarajevo is lovely. DO NOT MISS Zlatna Ribica - a small, madly-decorated bar. Enjoy the crazy toilet experience!!!

From there I headed for Hungary and Lake Balaton. Hungary is great for cycling.

From Budapest I followed the Danube to Vienna and beyond. The cycle path was a bit of a drag before I crossed into Slovakia and Austria. Some roads were "banned" for cyclists but when there was no traffic about, I used them to avoid getting lost.

Mostly I camped wild with Goretex bivvy bag, but rarely paid more than 10 Euros for a single ensuite hotel room in Albania, and less than that in the hostels.

I'd previously visited Dubrovnik, so missed it out this time. Belgrade features in future plans when I shall take a more easterly route.

I keep promising to write it up for HQ. Good luck and enjoy!
by Helen
6 Feb 2013, 10:41am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Ikea bag - suitable for putting panniers in as check-in bagg
Replies: 10
Views: 4443

Re: Ikea bag - suitable for putting panniers in as check-in

This is what I use, since my beloved Royal Mail bag wore out. Make sure all your loose bits are in something like a large polythene bag first, fastened at the end with a plastic zip tie or brown tape. I zip tie the Ikea bag handles together too, along with a luggage label.
Make note of maximum weight of one item of checked baggage.

(Once, we collected our panniers and all the zips had mysteriously come undone, and stuff strewn about. Nothing worth stealing, evidently!)

I always carry one pannier on board in a tough plastic bag, so I can shove my jacket, water bottle and other in-flight goodies (ie loads of food) round the sides. If overhead lockers are full, it squishes nicely under the seat in front as per regulations.
by Helen
15 Oct 2012, 4:36pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Packing tent poles
Replies: 25
Views: 12666

Re: Packing tent poles

I agree with last 2 posts. Poles ALWAYS go in their own bag before going near anything else. My tents and bivvy bag are small enough to fit into Carradice rack bag.

With a friend and using campsites, however, I would carry 2-man inner and pegs in this top bag, and he would wrap long poles in cheapo camping mat in bin bag on pannier rack. Flysheet stuffed in his pannier.

WARNING! This Carradice bag was raided in July outside a library in Switzerland, and my Terra Nova bivvy bag was stolen. I didn't notice at first, as the thieves had emptied my shopping bag of food (which was bungeed on top of Carradice bag) and replaced it.

How did I cope? I crossed the border to France, bought a €30 cheapo 2-man in a ski shop and lugged it all over the Alps.
by Helen
15 Oct 2012, 4:23pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: British Cycle Quest
Replies: 16
Views: 6165

Re: British Cycle Quest

It took me 20 years! I'm now over halfway through the French quest...
Keep going!
by Helen
20 Apr 2012, 10:25am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Campsites and Wild camping in Spain
Replies: 24
Views: 7226

Re: Campsites and Wild camping in Spain

Heading up the Spanish coast, it was getting dark when a luxury campsite wanted €20 for a few hours of grass space. No, gracias! I followed a track, only to find Plan B campsite closed. My Michelin map showed a track round the "cliffs" to the next resort, so I trudged up there with my headtorch. Up on top, I'd just got my tent bag off when the Guardia Civil rolled up in their jeep, shining lights in my face. "Are you going to camp here?" "No," I replied, (in Spanish of course), toeing my tent behind a rock, "I'm heading down there" (towards bright lights and hotels).

After showing them my passport and telling them 10 times that I ALWAYS rode alone, they left me alone. I did get down to the town, but dossed on a bench on the outskirts. All very satisfactory, apart from the couple of snoggers who rode up on their moped and... well never mind about that!
by Helen
20 Apr 2012, 10:17am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Aldi zip-off technical trousers £9.99 Thursday 19 April 2012
Replies: 11
Views: 6411

Re: Aldi zip-off technical trousers £9.99 Thursday 19 April

I was scratching at the door, but still only found one pair of small. Yes, a good fit BUT not the material I prefer, and I thought the zips were too fiddly and rather shoddy. I got the overtrousers, but again, a slight design fault: the slit pocket is facing the wrong way, so rain would merrily roll inside while in the saddle. It should have fastened towards the back instead.

Glad you liked your keks anyway - good to see they were proper waist-high trousers, rather than uncomfortable hipsters!
by Helen
17 Apr 2012, 8:31pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Aldi zip-off technical trousers £9.99 Thursday 19 April 2012
Replies: 11
Views: 6411

Re: Aldi zip-off technical trousers £9.99 Thursday 19 April

Yeah - stitch unpickers rule! Many's the side leg zip I've had to mess about with, due to titchy legs.
by Helen
17 Apr 2012, 12:12pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Aldi zip-off technical trousers £9.99 Thursday 19 April 2012
Replies: 11
Views: 6411

Re: Aldi zip-off technical trousers £9.99 Thursday 19 April

I need that belt loop to keep my keks up, as I fully expect to lose a stone on my travels (and I'm a podgy 8st 3lbs at the moment!)
Yes, I'll be polishing my old leather Girl Guide belt from when I was 11 ha ha.

I always snip off any leg ties or sleeve ties on shirts. Much easier to just roll them up and have nowt flapping about...
by Helen
16 Apr 2012, 1:11pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Aldi zip-off technical trousers £9.99 Thursday 19 April 2012
Replies: 11
Views: 6411

Aldi zip-off technical trousers £9.99 Thursday 19 April 2012

My favourite touring keks will be on sale in Aldi on Thursday. I'll be scratching at the door to bag the small size (usually only 2 pairs!)
Tech fabric, quick-drying, zip-off, UV SPF30. For only £9.99!
Yippee!

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_24201.htm?WT.mc_id=2012-04-16-12-15
by Helen
15 Apr 2012, 5:32pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Wild camping in Corfu?
Replies: 2
Views: 3732

Wild camping in Corfu?

Yes, I know it's supposedly illegal to camp wild in Greece, but has anyone dossed in Corfu? I have a Goretex bivvy bag, and wonder if I'll be able to use my old trick of bedding down on beach-bar decking, or even under the awning of a restaurant that's closed for the night (or not yet open for the season?)

I just fancy spending a couple of days there - is much going on for St George's Day? - before ferrying over to Albania etc.