Search found 14 matches

by Stumpy
8 Jun 2012, 10:00pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: CTC bike bag - anyone have one?
Replies: 7
Views: 3402

Re: CTC bike bag - anyone have one?

Many thanks for the responses folks. We will get creative and source ourselves a home-made CTC-style bag. Thanks for the useful tips too Beekeeper - I've only flown with a road bike in a dedicated bag in the past, and definitely want our shiny touring bikes to arrive in one piece
by Stumpy
8 Jun 2012, 12:59pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: CTC bike bag - anyone have one?
Replies: 7
Views: 3402

CTC bike bag - anyone have one?

We are flying off on our honeymoon cycling trip next Saturday, and were planning on packing our bikes up in the CTC bags for the flight. However, CTC apparently do not have any. Does any kind forum member have 2 (or even 1) that we could have or borrow in time. Alternatively, could you suggest or link to a good alternative we could use for this purpose? I haven't actually seen one of the bags, so I'm not 100% sure exactly what they look like. Many thanks.
by Stumpy
23 Feb 2012, 8:49pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: V-brake levers for small hands
Replies: 4
Views: 731

V-brake levers for small hands

I know this topic has come up several times before, but I'm still after some suggestions. I'm planning in the very near future to get a surly LHT built up. My plan was to fit V-brakes since I'm very keen on the increased braking power. I will also definitely be having drop handlebars. Can anyone suggest a quality set of V-brake drop levers for small hands? When I say small hands, I'm talking 16cm reach from the tip of my thumb to tip of my middle finger when out-stretched, so these are small for a woman's hands! I'm told there are virtually no options for v-brake compatible drop levers for small hands - is this correct? Are travel agents built into smaller cantilevers worth investigating? I don't know anything about these, I've just discovered they're an option. Any opinions? Or do you have any suggestions of different braking systems I should consider? I just want something more powerful than cantis, and wasn't keen moving to disc brakes for touring taking the increased fork rigidity into account.
Thanks in advance.
by Stumpy
11 Oct 2011, 6:16pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: pannier help
Replies: 33
Views: 4569

Re: pannier help

I have Altura Arrans 46 litres


Please don't buy these bags, as they don't secure firmly to the pannier rack. They're popular because they're cheap, but I had a terrible accident because of these bags and would encourage anyone not to use them now.
Ortlieb have a system that has a clip both over and under the bar, and so the pannier can't leave the rack of its own will. They're expensive, but you get what you pay for...
by Stumpy
27 Sep 2011, 5:22pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycle by train
Replies: 41
Views: 3214

Re: Cycle by train

Unfortunately they don't list the same journey as I've been looking at - I can set off on the same train as my planned one, but it'll require an extra change somewhere, it'll take an extra 31 minutes, and it'll cost me slightly over six times as much!


Oh, that's a shame, they've always worked out well for me. Best option would be to buy direct from the station then - what a pain for you! I haven't had a good experience with FGW call centre either unfortuntely
by Stumpy
27 Sep 2011, 4:59pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycle by train
Replies: 41
Views: 3214

Re: Cycle by train

I always use the east coast website to book tickets. You can book tickets for all providers via their website, usually for the same price, they don't charge an admin fee, and here's the good bit - you can book your bike on the train online - amazing! Its worked fine for me everytime
by Stumpy
27 Sep 2011, 11:08am
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: A trial run
Replies: 12
Views: 1901

Re: A trial run

We also did the Devon/Cornwall section twice (since I managed to crash out spectacularly and we had to divert via Derriford hospital the first time round!) The first time we went via the north coast route in Cornwall, across on the Padstow ferry and stayed overnight in Tintagel. It was a great adventure, really stunning scenery, and yes, lots of short sharp hills - I loved it. The real killer for me was the hill out of Tintagel on the second morning - I take a while to warm up. The second time round we were more pushed for time and decided not to retrace our steps, but follow the A39. It was a busy and boring slog, and I couldn't recommend it as an enjoyable road.

Having done this trip (my first bit of multi-day touring) I've decided that I definitely fall into the category of someone who loved the holiday and scenery aspect. I have wanted to 'do LEJOG' for years, because I love a good challenge, but realised that I love a good day's cycling far more than the bragging rights of doing it quicker than someone else. My next cycling tour will involve heading straight for the Highlands, rather than a day slogging through Runcorn, Widnes, St Helen's and Preston... Don't get me wrong, its a fantastic trip and the journey aspect and achievement is well worth it, but pick the route you want to do. Go via tourist attractions, friend's houses and quiet roads, you'll enjoy it so much more.

So please, take the scenic route, and when you do the real thing maybe you'd like to take a totally new scenic route, but I couldn't recommend the A38/A39
by Stumpy
26 Sep 2011, 1:58pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: ...who makes a good ladies bicycle for a small person?
Replies: 14
Views: 1723

Re: ...who makes a good ladies bicycle for a small person?

It depends entirely on the type of bike that you are after, but Trek do a good range of small women's bike in a variety of sizes. I'm 155 cm and ride a Scott mountain bike, size Small (they also make XS) and a 46cm road bike with 650c wheels built, coincidentally, by a Danish company called Spectra. I'm extremely comfortable on both and they could accommodate someone slightly smaller. I'm now after a touring bike and will be going down the route of buying a 46cm frame equiping it with 26" wheels and suitable components of my own choice.
by Stumpy
26 Sep 2011, 11:46am
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Unfinished Business
Replies: 30
Views: 10896

Re: Unfinished Business

Controversially, I think I found the A38 the least pleasant road of our entire trip. I was expecting it to be quite quiet due to the fact that it follows the M5 very closely, but actually it was very fast, narrow and busy. If I did it again I would certainly investigate other options to avoid this road. I'm really not someone who worries about road traffic - I commuted through London for 10 years of my life and am a roadie at heart. Our route wasn't designed to avoid the A roads particularly, but the sections where we chose a more 'alternative' route were the bits I enjoyed the most.

Anyway, good luck with finishing your journey Tom, whichever route you decide on! and wishing you a speedy recovery
by Stumpy
19 Sep 2011, 10:07pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: surly/hewitt/other? - your experiences
Replies: 20
Views: 3661

Re: surly/hewitt/other? - your experiences

Thanks for the responses so far. I should have said that I'm definitely looking at 26" wheels, anything with 700c wheels is totally wrong in terms of geometry. I have 650c wheels on my road bike, the traumas of being a midget... I'll have a look at the toe overlap issue hufty - was this an issue of 700c wheels on a small frame? I'll take a look at Bob Jacksons and Woodrups too. The Mercians are waaay too expensive - I was hoping to get something for the £1500 mark, but we'll see...
by Stumpy
19 Sep 2011, 8:22pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: surly/hewitt/other? - your experiences
Replies: 20
Views: 3661

surly/hewitt/other? - your experiences

Sorry, its another 'which bike' thread and I know this has been discussed many times before, but any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

I'm looking at getting my first touring bike. I rode lejog on my road bike, and have caught the bug, so need to invest before the next, more exotic tour. I'm 5'1" which rules out anything off the peg, and I'm fussy enough to know that I want a really good fit. I've narrowed my investigations down to a Surly lht which Spa cycles in Harrogate can build up for me, or looking at a Hewitt Cheviot which also get rave reviews. Does anyone have any opinion on choosing between these two? Given that I can pick the components for both, the difference is the quality of the frame and service and the price. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience of these?

I realise that there are other well-renowned companies that will build me an equally good machine (Roberts, Thorn...) but due to my location in Leeds and the higher prices I've discounted these. Are there any other options out there that I've missed and would perhaps be better?

Thanks for you help, Sophie
by Stumpy
5 May 2011, 12:42pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Land's End to Tintagel via Padstow Ferry?
Replies: 17
Views: 1790

Re: Land's End to Tintagel via Padstow Ferry?

Just to say that this was a really enjoyable route. The scenery was fantastic, and to be honest, the hills weren't nearly as bad as I had been dreading. I really imagined Cornwall and Devon to be constant steep hills, particularly along the coast, but was pleasantly surprised.

Additionally I've realised just how much to trust your own instincts. I ride a road bike with a lowest gearing of 39-27. I love this bike and I'm really comfortable on it, but the number of times I've read people suggesting that you need mega-low touring gears for this type of terrain got me a bit worried. Admittedly I wasn't carrying a lot of luggage, but I made it up every hill fine and dandy - even the other side of MickF's 30% towards Tintagel!

So, get out there and pick whichever route you fancy folks. Isn't that the whole point of an E2E, to see the country?
by Stumpy
8 Apr 2011, 12:44pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Land's End to Tintagel via Padstow Ferry?
Replies: 17
Views: 1790

Re: Land's End to Tintagel via Padstow Ferry?



Thanks for that Brother Nathaneil - I didn't have the patience to try to work that out!

Sounds like the route is a tad hilly (30% MickF!!) and it seems like the worst of it between Rock and Tintagel. Do you think not taking the short cut through Trebarwith, and sticking to the B-roads would help? Thanks for your help folks
by Stumpy
7 Apr 2011, 2:25pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Land's End to Tintagel via Padstow Ferry?
Replies: 17
Views: 1790

Land's End to Tintagel via Padstow Ferry?

We were planning on taking the coastal road from Newquay to Padstow and then Rock to Tintagel as the first day of our ride. Is this a road to avoid in bad weather, or when you're feeling tired, or is the scenery worthwhile whatever? The route we're planning is here (Ignore the crazy loop round the estuary, we're taking the ferry, but I wasn't sure how to map that properly!) Any comments? Should we stick to the A39 through Wadebridge instead? Thanks