Search found 434 matches

by MarkF
19 Jan 2020, 6:16pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Telling time on a watch with hands.
Replies: 101
Views: 3977

Re: Telling time on a watch with hands.

I like watches, why should I have just 1? I have 4 bikes......at one time I had over a 100 watches but am now down to 10, 9 automatic & 1 quartz that I use at work. I do have another Casio radio controlled one that I use as an alarm clock and to set the others by. I would never go out out in a crappy pair of shoes or a Primark item of clothing so why would I wear a crappy watch? I notice crappy shoes and watches and it's not something that you can't deal with easily, for sub £100.
by MarkF
25 Oct 2019, 10:57pm
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: Helmets in Spain
Replies: 56
Views: 9374

Re: Helmets in Spain

I have criss crossed Spain for 10 years, the last time in September this year, BCN to Elche, I've never worn a helmet and have never had anybody ask my why I wasn't wearing one. This is despite many times asking the police for directions in/nearing towns.

IMO you'd (as a foreigner) have to be really unlucky and meet a really bad tempered, pernickety cop to have a problem.
by MarkF
26 Jan 2019, 6:22pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Leeds & Liverpool Canal on a Trike
Replies: 17
Views: 2669

Re: Leeds & Liverpool Canal on a Trike

skelo wrote:Thanks All, much as I feared. So it's probably back to Plan 'A' and the Way of the Roses from York and drop off south somewhere near Settle towards Chorley (not a choice destination - there is a reason!)


You could ride the canal from Leeds to the Lodge Hill Bridge 194, a mile or two before Silsden. From there take 4/5 steps down into a farm yard from where another bike path takes you down to Silsden or straight to the Aire Valley dual carriage way, cross that up onto the old quiet trunk road and you'll soon be doing the cllimb up to Colne.
by MarkF
25 Jan 2019, 5:21pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Leeds & Liverpool Canal on a Trike
Replies: 17
Views: 2669

Re: Leeds & Liverpool Canal on a Trike

I live by the canal near Saltaire and cycle on it weekly, have done it end to end twice (many years ago) and rode (Hybrid with 32mm's) Leeds to Chorley last June. I would not want to do it on a trike.

Leeds to Silsden is fine and would be a really nice ride but from then on, unless it's dry, it can be a struggle to Skipton. It's enough picking a "line" on a normal bike to make it nigh on impossible to enjoy the ride and surroundings. Of course so many bikes have grooved a depressed line into the surface and you can't follow that...............Still, you'd have enjoyed a good surface, Leeds, Saltaire and Skipton till then. Things pick up again near Colne with a surfaced towpath, for a while, the Lancs side being neglected and nowhere near as well surfaced (or used) as the Yorks side. A fair few miles before Chorley are far worse than anything Leeds-Skipton and again, you have to pick a line, even in the dry, for a l.o.n.g time.
by MarkF
6 Oct 2018, 7:39pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Could you tour europe in the winter and not regret it?
Replies: 25
Views: 2294

Re: Could you tour europe in the winter and not regret it?

Go for it.

I was in Alicante yesterday and it was 27c, and I went (deliberately) in their historically worst week earlier this year, the last week in January. It was wonderful coming from the UK. Shorts for cycling, maybe a fleece at night, when the clouds parted I needed suncream!
by MarkF
31 Mar 2018, 4:28pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Catalonia: Democracy (European style)
Replies: 223
Views: 12764

Re: Catalonia: Democracy (European style)

pwa wrote:
MarkF wrote:The % of Catalans voting for independence has not changed (much) for a long time, even after all the pro-indie shenanigans and buying of votes. But now, there are real social divisions and bitterness, the Spanish state is not responsible for that.


So why don't they just organise a proper referendum, like we did with Scotland. Like we did with Wales in the 1970s? What are they scared of? It seems to me that we in the UK have more respect for our regions / countries than Spain has. Maybe that makes us weak, but I think not. I think there is strength in being willing to let go.


Well.....Spain is not the UK.....

I have spent a lot of time in Badalona since the late 80's, not much has change since that time and astonishingly, not much has changed to today in the % wanting independence. IF there was an overwhelming desire for independence (from Catalans, not via bought votes & promises) then I'd have sympathy, but there is not, so I don't.
by MarkF
27 Mar 2018, 10:17pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Catalonia: Democracy (European style)
Replies: 223
Views: 12764

Re: Catalonia: Democracy (European style)

The % of Catalans voting for independence has not changed (much) for a long time, even after all the pro-indie shenanigans and buying of votes. But now, there are real social divisions and bitterness, the Spanish state is not responsible for that.
by MarkF
16 Mar 2018, 10:40pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Cead mile failte - we love Ireland!
Replies: 54
Views: 6137

Re: Cead mile failte - we love Ireland!

NUKe wrote:An Irish friend once said to me why do want to move to the only country where it rains 366 days a year.


Amen to that. My parents are Irish, all my holidays as a young kid were spent there, my memories are (like of Scotland) rain, wet, grey & pebble dashed bungalows, nothing but depressing memories, I don't go back. My late father used to bang on about Ireland, nothing there wasn't 100x better than the same thing in England, I think he went back once in his last 30+ years.................
by MarkF
30 Oct 2017, 10:41pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bike friendly Accommodation in Malaga
Replies: 5
Views: 1306

Re: Bike friendly Accommodation in Malaga

I may be too late................but I use the Hotel Don Curro, it's next to the cathedral, bikes are kept in a secure street level store room and the staff are super helpful.
by MarkF
30 Sep 2017, 10:31am
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: electric bike kits
Replies: 40
Views: 6782

Re: electric bike kits

I had an electric bike, for my extremely hilly commute, it was ok.... in that it meant that I could arrive at work not a smelly, sweaty mess. I didn't enjoy riding it though, a much faster than legal one I might have done...........

But as a (still) healthy man, it really didn't make sense for me, so I bought a Suzuki Van Van, I get 120mpg, tax & insurance is less than £100. It's a viable second vehicle and to top it all, it's cheaper to run than the electric bike due to it's rock solid residual value. Some of the kit prices make the Van Van look incredibly cheap.

I will buy an electric bike again but I think it'll be a few years of tech change yet.
by MarkF
21 Sep 2017, 10:37pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bilbao to Gibraltar
Replies: 9
Views: 1377

Re: Bilbao to Gibraltar

OP, I am the MarkF on CGOAB, anything you want to ask, just PM me. :wink:

I was 50 when I did that ride and did zero training prior, I didn't find it unduly difficult. The only reason I did not ride the last leg (Seville to Malaga) was because the temp was past 40c! I am actually doing that missing bit this October 14/15th!

Places I am really glad I saw.

Toro -
Uruena -
Salamanca.
Monfrague National Park.
Trujillo.
Merida.
by MarkF
25 Jun 2017, 10:02pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Buying a bike in San seb?
Replies: 7
Views: 922

Re: Buying a bike in San seb?

I have also flown in with Easyjet twice from Manchester, but I cycle into Bilbao from the airport with no problems. As soon as yous start removing your bike from the box and assembling it, an airport employee appears to take away your packaging debris, nice.

If I was in your shoes with a lack of bike knowledge that might lead to an expensive mis-purchase, I'd just buy a trekking bike from Bilbao Decathlon and ride it back, deduct the flying out costs (& hassle) and the bike may not cost you much more than £100.

If I am going out to Spain for a week or less, I just get a rental hybrid/trekker rather than fly out my own bike. They are always Decathlon's most basic models, heavy but robust, I'd happily ride one back to the UK.
by MarkF
14 Nov 2016, 3:58pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: I want one of these! Ubco 2x2
Replies: 13
Views: 3309

Re: I want one of these! Ubco 2x2

mercalia wrote: nice bike. what is it? ah Van Van is its name thought a dupe typo. 125cc then as the 200cc only just introduced to the UK this year? But most of those vintage vespa by now have worn out engines. what is yours? 125cc 200 cc 250?

My insurance for my 900cc is less than £100 in London so no big deal. road tax about £85/pa


I bought the Van Van because the Vespa is too valuable to leave outside work, I had an electric bike last year (just to see.........) but they just don't
make sense for me. Too slow, too expensive and with horrific residuals, I could run the Van Van for peanuts for 3 years and lose maybe £200/300.

Vespa's don't really suffer from "worn out" engines, they only have 3 moving parts in the top end, mine is a GL and runs perfectly.........on the original 1962 engine
by MarkF
13 Nov 2016, 6:41pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: I want one of these! Ubco 2x2
Replies: 13
Views: 3309

Re: I want one of these! Ubco 2x2

Don't understand it, it makes no sense to me?

For £4k I could buy a vintage Vespa, range 130m+, 100+mpg, zero road tax and insurance sub £100, it would only go up in value too. But I already have one, so have bought a Suzuki Van Van for my winter commute, £15 road tax, 100+mpg and insurance sub £100.

£1200 for 2010 bike with 4000 miles.

Image
by MarkF
29 Sep 2016, 8:23pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire
Replies: 16
Views: 1557

Re: Bicycle touring shops Yorkshire

thirdcrank wrote:Others have mentioned most of the decent bike shops around here. I don't think Eliis Briggs in Shipley has been mentioned. One of the legendary lightweight shops. Again, I've not been recently but I see they are advertising their own touring bike available to the customer's spec.

http://www.ellisbriggscycles.co.uk/besp ... r-tourist/

NB Ellis Briggs has always closed all day Wednesday and I see they now seem to be closed on Sundays as well.


FYI Ellis Briggs (as it was) is no more, it has moved from it's very large premises to a small shop about 1/4 mile away on Commercial St, Shipley. It appears to me to be run by 2 ex-EB employees and seems to be majoring on repairs now.