Search found 1575 matches

by vernon
14 Jun 2015, 5:32pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Loire a Velo: biking bigger cities?
Replies: 8
Views: 757

Re: Loire a Velo: biking bigger cities?

dianatashjian51 wrote:Hello! I'm a fairly new cyclist and still not very comfortable biking with lots of motor traffic. We'll be biking on and near the Loire a Velo and would like to spend time in the bigger cities (Angers, Saumur, Tours, Amboise, Blois, etc.) but was wondering if there's an alternative to biking when we get near the big cities. Does it make sense to hop on a bus near the outskirts and ride into the city that way? With our bikes? Do we leave our bikes on the outskirts, go visit the city, and then come back for our bikes? Or am I being too nervous? Any ideas or suggestions would be very welcome. Thanks!


You have absolutely nothing to worry about. All of the cities are easy cycling and like someone else said, they are mostly the size of large towns. The Loire a Velo is a very nice route and you'll enjoy your city cycling experiences. Most of the cities have very local campsites. The French motorists are very accommodating and there's no need to be anxious.
by vernon
21 Aug 2014, 11:21pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: My first tour (I didn't make it)
Replies: 93
Views: 11845

Re: My first tour (I didn't make it)

theDaveB wrote:To answer some questions (can't remember who posted what) -

Am not against panniers but against all that weight on my back wheel as well as me being 17 stone. I thought a trailer would be less strain on the bike. Kept reading about people with broken spokes and replacing back wheels on tour.


I'm six stones heavier than you and have never used a trailer. Yes, the trailer reduces the weight on the rear wheel but it does increase the weight that you have to get up hills. There's no shame in getting off and pushing. One thing to bear in mind is that you ought to up your calorie intake if cycling in hilly territory - you need extra energy to move your bike, trailer and payload uphill. A calorie deficiency is a killer which turns roads into sticky 'treacle'. I tour with panniers, sometimes two of them, sometimes four.

I have had one or two spokes break in the past twelve years but nothing catastrophic. The spokes that failed were on the cheaper bikes. Yoiu can safely ignore the advice to use use 40 spoke rear wheels they simply aren't necessary. A thirty six spoke wheel is perfectly acceptable.

As for locking your bike and trailer - a thickish cable lock will immobilise your bike - the trailer is a complication making parking your bike problematic at some supermarkets.

I keep all of my valuables: phone, wallet, camera, passport, and documentation in a bar bag and take it into shops and supermarkets with me once I've locked my bike. The theft of laden touring bikes is a rarity and you can relax about the risks of theft.
by vernon
20 May 2014, 8:19pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycling in Vienna
Replies: 14
Views: 7097

Re: Cycling in Vienna

I didn't find any. The locals were very helpful in directing me but were rather anxious about the busy roads that I'd have to use. Their definition of busy is a tad optimistic.

Try using Google maps. I would have done but my battery was flat in my phone and my riding partner was unwilling to use 3G services on his because it was a 'school phone' and it would 'cpomplicate things' if he used it.
by vernon
14 May 2014, 11:35pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: New tent offer
Replies: 29
Views: 3295

Re: New tent offer

Be aware that the tent is single skin and will suffer from condensation on the inner surface of the flysheet. It'll be fine for the odd night away but isn't something that I'd use for more than a couple of nights away.
by vernon
14 Apr 2014, 9:01pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Sunday couriers? or other transport options
Replies: 3
Views: 11392

Re: Sunday couriers? or other transport options

A tip or two if considering rail travel to Wick - check that there's bike space on the train from Inverness to Wick this is usually the stumbling point for any planned train journey to Wick or Thurso.. Split the booking of the journey at Inverness. A Wick single from Leeds is £179 whereas a Leeds to Inverness ticket is £39 and an Inverness to Wick single is £12. Quite a saving.
by vernon
7 Apr 2014, 12:44am
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Any comments on my Route - 1st timer LEJOG - 81 years old
Replies: 10
Views: 12320

Re: Any comments on my Route - 1st timer LEJOG - 81 years ol

Skipper9999 wrote:I am hoping that by finishing at JOG around the 22nd that the midge season might not be in full swing?? Although I have heard on the news that it is likely to be a bumper year for the pests of Scotland?


You should be finishing just as the midges are starting to emerge. I'm in Dumfriesshire around that date give or take a week every year for a festival and the midge population is usually low. There was one insane year where there appeared to be random plumjes of smoke which turned out to be clouds of midges. Avon Skin So Soft kept them at bay and my unprotected nether regions under my kilt remained free from attack from the Caledonian Luftwaffe.
by vernon
5 Apr 2014, 9:30pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Any comments on my Route - 1st timer LEJOG - 81 years old
Replies: 10
Views: 12320

Re: Any comments on my Route - 1st timer LEJOG - 81 years ol

Skipper9999 wrote:I thought I might of had more response about the routes between Dingwall and JOG and how this section of A9 was compared to Altnaharra


You are probably getting few responses because few people have ridden both routes and are able to compare them.

Pick a route and stick with it - it's your ride after all, not anyone else's. You won't be disappointed with the result whatever the chosen route is.
by vernon
5 Apr 2014, 9:28pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: How many times has anyone done the E2E. No fibbing.
Replies: 67
Views: 51545

Re: How many times has anyone done the E2E. No fibbing.

I've done a LEJOG and a JOGLE. The ends are less than impressive, JOG being totally underwhelming but the bits in between are great. I have no inclination to do another E2E in the immediate future.

My longer rides are now done in mainland Europe and this summer's ride is the final 1000 miles or so of Eurovelo Six from Budapest to Constanta
by vernon
7 Dec 2013, 3:13pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Leeds/Liverpool Canal.
Replies: 5
Views: 19669

Re: Leeds/Liverpool Canal.

I found a continuous succession of barriers at Wigan to be tiresome and I suspect that you might find the towoath a tad muddy if the weather's damp.
by vernon
1 Oct 2013, 9:19am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: DIY-an alternative to Carradice
Replies: 2
Views: 2914

Re: DIY-an alternative to Carradice

I looks nice but it's a more expensive alternative to Carradice bags.
by vernon
28 Sep 2013, 12:02am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Multiple chain rotation.
Replies: 30
Views: 6285

Re: Multiple chain rotation.

I don't have any problems with chain and sprocket wear since I bought a belt drive bike.

I don't even have to bother to lube the belt.

2,500 miles since purchase and I've still no need to adjust the tension in the belt by moving the rear wheel rearwards.
by vernon
27 Sep 2013, 12:06pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Shimano Shifters, Campagnolo chain set - will the combo work
Replies: 2
Views: 1384

Shimano Shifters, Campagnolo chain set - will the combo work

My pal has a bike equipped with a Sora 8 speed group set. The chain set needs to be replaced due to the pedal threads being stripped.

I have a spare Campagnolo triple chain set. Will it work with the Sora triple shifter?
by vernon
20 Aug 2013, 1:03am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Don't change at Manningtree for Harwich!
Replies: 40
Views: 8902

Re: Don't change at Manningtree for Harwich!

I used Manningtree to change trains with a Dutch Flyer ticket. I had a reserved place on the Liverpool Street to Manningtree train and was aware of the five minute change over time between trains. On arrival at Manningtree I looked for the correct platoform for the Harwich train. Its driver and guard were standing outside the train on a platform across the tracks. They shouted over and asked me where I was going and when I told them Harwich they directed me to the stairs and told me that they's wait until I got onto the train. They seemed pretty relaxed about a punctual departure.

It was a pleasant surprise as I'd factored in the probability of me missing the connection and having to wait for the next train. I needn't have worried.
by vernon
15 Aug 2013, 10:05pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Mechanical Breakdowns on Tour - Some or None?
Replies: 32
Views: 5280

Re: Mechanical Breakdowns on Tour - Some or None?

My tool kit is limited to a pump, spoke key, multi-tool, puncture outfit and tyre levers.

Failures that I've had that could not be dealt with by an extensive tool kit include:

Fractured rear drop out on a Dawes Galaxy - brazed together by Bill Nickson in Heywood which allowed me to complete my LEJOG

Fractured rear drop out on a different Dawes Galaxy - abandoned in a park in Orleans with the brand new seat from a Decathlon hybrid bike replacing my Brooks B17

Failed Mavic rear wheel rim, it cracked around the spoke holes - replacement wheel bought in Dumfries while doing my LEJOG

Another failed Mavic rear wheel rim on my Woodrup Chimera - replaced under warrantee by Woodrup Cycles

Yet another failed Mavic rear wheel rim rim - bought a replacement rear wheel in Macon while doing a Channel to Med ride.
by vernon
14 Aug 2013, 9:15am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring drinks
Replies: 38
Views: 10025

Re: Touring drinks

matt2matt2002 wrote:Any thoughts on home made "energy" drinks for a long tour?
Sugar and salt combination perhaps?
I will,be out on the road more than hostels and hotels.
Going through Turkey, East. Hot weather. Long days.

Any thoughts in staying healthy drink wise?
Thanks folks


Good luck!

I'm just back from the Czech Republic and Germany and was hit with a mini heat wave with temperatures just reaching 40 degrees. The hottest day saw me get through twelve litres of fluids - 75% of them being water. Salt intake was achieved through food and energy derived from meals and sweet snacks. I urinated 5% of my fluid intake which probably meant that I was dehydrated.