Search found 414 matches

by vjosullivan
23 May 2019, 9:59am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: British Cycle Quest · Leader Board
Replies: 4
Views: 540

British Cycle Quest · Leader Board

https://www.cyclinguk.org/british-cycle-quest

After several years break, I've decided to resume the activity. There used to be a leader board on the site. Does anyone know if is still maintained or can still be found anywhere?

Thanks,
Vince.
by vjosullivan
10 May 2019, 3:43pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Abandoned holiday - RyanAir terms and conditions
Replies: 133
Views: 10924

Re: Abandoned holiday - RyanAir terms and conditions

Bonefishblues wrote:Of course the CTC bag is very much a container specifically designed for the protection of bikes - it's being sold by a cycling specialist which endorses this, too, and has the endorsement of a major cycling body as being fit for this purpose*.

Unfortunately, CyclingUK’s Definition of “protection” differs rather markedly from anything that would be recognised by the cargo industry... (”The bag protects the bike by letting baggage handlers see what they’re doing”). Nothing about damage to or by the bike while in transit.
by vjosullivan
8 May 2019, 6:18pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Abandoned holiday - RyanAir terms and conditions
Replies: 133
Views: 10924

Re: Abandoned holiday - RyanAir terms and conditions

LinusR wrote:I think the OP has been treated extremely unfairly. The bag in question is described by Wiggle as:

The Cycling UK (formerly known as the CTC) designed heavy-duty polythene bag ... protects the bike by letting baggage handlers see what it is.

I'm not a lawyer, but in my view the OP bought a protective bike bag.

I’m not a lawyer either but it sounds to me like what he bought was a transparent bag. That appears to be Cycling UK’s definition of protection. No mention of any protection from anything but baggage handlers.
by vjosullivan
20 Apr 2017, 8:17pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Way of the Roses
Replies: 13
Views: 1242

Re: Way of the Roses

I did it a few years ago with my daughter. An easy start is just there to fool you. The first real hill, about 10 or 15 miles in, got me worried but mostly it was fine. As mentioned above, there is one steep descent, on a main road, which requires caution and one very steep ascent, on a quiet and road, which requires determination. Not being particularly fit but refusing to walk, I eventually did it by cycling one telephone pole at a time and resting (collapsing) at each one. You can save a few miles by cutting off the loop into Ripon but don't just cycle past Brimham Rocks. Time it so you can have a snack break there and enjoy the unusual formations.

Going under the A1 marks the half-way point and once you're off the Pennines the rest is very flat. We were unfortunate on the flat part in having to spent the whole day battling into an easterly gale with little shelter from the wind. Knackering and boring in equal measure.
by vjosullivan
27 Jan 2016, 2:15pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: America: the bizarre
Replies: 93
Views: 6121

Re: America: the bizarre

While we're ignoring the OP and going with dodgy statistics; I just thought I'd throw this into the pot...

Homicides USA : UK
Absolute ratio: 18 : 1
Per head of population: 3.8 : 1
Per square mile: 1 : 2.1

Thereby proving that the US is actually a safer place to be than the UK.

V.
by vjosullivan
19 Dec 2015, 9:26pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Forth Road Bridge
Replies: 27
Views: 3240

Re: Forth Road Bridge

Ron wrote:
Mick F wrote:There aren't any bridges anywhere being built like it again anywhere.

Everything moves on, they don't shoe horses like they used to 50 years ago.

Didn't that used to be a film about dance marathons?
by vjosullivan
18 Dec 2015, 6:57pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Spring Tour - Ireland
Replies: 15
Views: 2468

Re: Spring Tour - Ireland

Not an awful lot to add to what Norman has said, except that your route doesn't appear to include anything interesting. Generally speaking, cities are not Ireland's best attractions. Unless you're planning on visiting something specific, I'd give them a miss. You're cycling to Cork and then turning north, skilfully missing all the best scenery it offers in the west. The rest of the route varies between 'quite nice' and 'plain dull' agricultural countryside.

Personally, if I was landing in Rosslare and heading to Cork (which I'm actually doing in two days time, albeit in a car loaded down with Christmas junk). I'd either take Norman's advice and take public transport (assuming that's even possible with a bike) to Cork or stick close to the coast on the multitude of small roads. From Cork city I'd continue west towards Kinsale and Skibereen and one or more of the peninsulas out that way (particularly Beara but I'm naturally biased towards that one), and come back via Gougane Barra and anything else the guide books throw at you. Even that might be too much in the time you have.

Five days isn't a lot of time to see a new country. Go for quality cycling rather than distance and, if you like it, come back again.
by vjosullivan
16 Dec 2015, 9:43pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Brittany Ferries security
Replies: 15
Views: 3393

Re: Brittany Ferries security

If in doubt, bring a stout stamped addressed envelope so that you can post it home if they won't let you take it.
by vjosullivan
21 Nov 2015, 7:58am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Riding with or without technology
Replies: 35
Views: 3039

Re: Riding with or without technology

GPS all the way. Except for multi-day journeys, I rarely follow a predetermined route but having a rolling 1:50,000 scale OS map on the handlebars all the time makes decisions at unmarked junctions (and the countryside is full of them) much, much easier; particularly if I've decided to turn for home/base in an unfamiliar area. Infinitely easier than having the same maps scrunched up in a pocket and having to get them out, turn them over, find the right location and then discover down the road that that wasn't the location because you took a wrong turning previously.

Plus it records routes, times, distances, speed, etc. Mine even says when sunset is. Trivial information but still useful in forward planning.
by vjosullivan
7 Nov 2015, 9:56am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring in Ireland
Replies: 109
Views: 9203

Re: Touring in Ireland

The Ring of Beara is undoubtably one of the nicest cycling routes you'll find anywhere. When it's not raining that is. Ireland is, unfortunately, at the plug-hole end of the Gulf Stream.

http://www.bearatourism.com/cycling.html

In addition, I'd definitely recommend crossing the Healy Pass between Adrigole and Lauragh or at least going from Adrigole to the top and back again.
by vjosullivan
7 Nov 2015, 9:45am
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: LeJoG over 3 years
Replies: 10
Views: 1910

Re: LeJoG over 3 years

wirral_cyclist wrote:Take as many days/weeks/years to ride as you like, only those who've ridden LE to JoG non stop can claim to have done LEJoG 'properly'.

They can certainly claim to have done it non-stop but there is no definition of "properly" to which they can lay claim.
by vjosullivan
15 Feb 2015, 9:14pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: How to convince others cycle touring is safe?
Replies: 32
Views: 4420

Re: How to convince others cycle touring is safe?

ndxcc wrote:Currently my main issue is trying to convince others (especially over protective parents - only child, but I am 30 years old!) that this tour is safe.

Is it safe? Compared to some things, not to others. Can I convince them? Unlikely, given that you're over thirty and still trying to.

Do research. Make plans. Set dates. Go for it. Other people's confidence in you is based in you're past successes not your future plans.
by vjosullivan
15 Feb 2015, 9:00pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Is there a Round Britain route info thread?
Replies: 19
Views: 4188

Re: Is there a Round Britain route info thread?

No 'official' route, very much an individual thing. Since it's not a race, no great training is needed 'merely' the ability to pedal a bike for about eight hours a day. Have fun. Enjoy.
by vjosullivan
16 Sep 2014, 8:43pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: How to train for long distance cycle touring
Replies: 14
Views: 3291

Re: How to train for long distance cycle touring

Pandaz wrote:...there's no substitute for miles!

Kilometers?