Search found 26 matches

by T other Dave
10 Jun 2012, 8:01pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Tarp Recommendations
Replies: 5
Views: 3743

Re: Tarp Recommendations

How about a 2 x 3 meter tarp from B & Q £5, bargain, has eyelets then get some guy ropes from outdoor shop £2 and if needed old tent pol. Cheap, easy and loads of uses.
by T other Dave
22 May 2012, 9:28pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Allez for touring?
Replies: 25
Views: 7985

Re: Allez for touring?

You'll be allreet on the Allez Martin 113 confirms that, I use a Trek Pilot thats great works well tyre wise I use 700x25 marathon plus @110psi. Tent wise I used a http://www.gelert.com/products/solo_tent for a 10 day French tour it cost £30 yep small but light, dry and cheap although just upped to a coleman Aviorx2. Do it and enjoy.
by T other Dave
12 May 2012, 6:16pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Ridiculous statements need debunking (Trans Pennine Trail))
Replies: 34
Views: 9058

Re: Ridiculous statements need debunking (Trans Pennine Trai

It sounds like fun already pre trip bickering, 1st rule, it'll be allright dont worry 8) . You should agree with your mates about post ride/exercise therapy, but print off all the sports science bumff about ice baths being the best recovery and make the take one every night, whilst you have a refreshing shower. Padded shorts are fantastic you dont need them but there great, Water, if some of us can ride across France and Spain in the summer with temps pushing 40 just using 2 water bottles then I'm pretty sure you'll manage the flat lands of Cheshire in the rain without a camelbak...
Enjoy the trip let every one else worry about stupid things, big smiles and crack on.
Dave.
by T other Dave
3 May 2012, 9:43pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Biarritz to Bilbao
Replies: 11
Views: 12858

Re: Biarritz to Bilbao

Did it last year, as said it's lumpy indeed but once youv'e gone that far your cycle fit. I didnt have a proper map as such so I made up bits as I went getting out of San Sebastian was fun :roll: That section I started from Lit-et-mixe through Biarittz and camped in Saint-jean-de-luz (mostly coast Bayonne is where the hills start). Bayonne into Biarritz at 5 pm-ish was crap. Then coast road to San Sebastian, becarefull not to end up on the Motorway ( easy done :oops: seen a sign for Donostia and took the turn :shock: ) Time in San would be good, very nice place if suns shining, coming out towards Bilbao is up. I used pasao del faro (toll at top) and just follow the coast, stayed at a nice little campsite Endai just before Lekitio. Stunning ride which was probably my favourite day between St Malo and Bilbao,the sun shone (sun cream a must) the veiws were awesome, the Atlantic crashing over the sea wall and spray to cool/refresh. I woke to find a drizzle day so rather than coast road I just wanted to get to Bilbao and to the port so Guernica it was (you have to go to Guernica anyway to get round the estury/river) and the bi-635? To be fair even in the rain it was a nice ride very lumpy again but very enjoyable, going into Bilbao though on a rainy day was not, was glad to finally find the port. In short Biarritz to Bilbao 2 days, yes its hilly. Plenty of water and snacks some bits seem remote on some sections and it's spain they have siesta and a hot day see's you low on water at 2pm.
Enjoy, Dave
by T other Dave
3 May 2012, 9:02pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: how did you get into touring?
Replies: 27
Views: 11120

Re: how did you get into touring?

A offspring of motorcycling, My first trip to Scotland on the m/c I thought it was awsesome but I ride like a t**t so don't see the countryside, so went back a year later and 4 days off work (not enough time to walk the west highland way) so mountain biked off road Glasgow to Ft Bill. A few years later after many Alps trips I was spending more on fuel than hotels and not really taking in the veiws and so on, so after a beer fueled conversation with mates I awoke with the idea I was going to cycle to Spain, they backed out when sober I booked the ferry.... And the rest they say !!!!
by T other Dave
22 Mar 2012, 7:08pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Travel Insurance
Replies: 12
Views: 6561

Re: Travel Insurance

Try some off the ski insurance companys or adventure sports. I used adrenalin travels ins, others like dog tag ins, Adrenalin covered me for white water kayaking upto gd5 and cycling/ mtb abroad.
Dave.
by T other Dave
22 Nov 2011, 9:12pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bordeaux to Barcelona
Replies: 14
Views: 7209

Re: Bordeaux to Barcelona

Hey, First thing is to buy a decent scale road map open it out on't floor and kinda pick the straighest line, then you can work out if theres owt you fancy along the way that you wanna see of ride over (classic tour mountain stages?). The other way google maps and route finder using non highways that will give you a idea of miles you'll need to cover a day to keep you on track. Bike? Well what ever your comfy on, Chain ring if your good with it dont worry, tyres? I use Schwable marathon plus more rolling resistance but good puncture protection (700/25). Tent is my pref choice and is cheapest although if you reshearch your route use google to find cheap hotels (1* chain ie premiere classe) in France are decent enough for overnight with mates also pensions/hostels are relatively cheap in Spain and damn good value, also b&b rooms in peeps houses can be cheap n good food. I know people who have turned up at big eurostyle campsites late on and got a luxery caravan for the night for 20 euros. As for getting lost if your bothered get a satnav thing, I just use paper maps works for me, my advice eat well, dont overplan and be flexible most of all enjoy.
Dave
by T other Dave
7 Nov 2011, 7:04pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring Inspiration Required
Replies: 16
Views: 2152

Re: Touring Inspiration Required

I fancy Rome to home, nice routes and has a nice ring to it.
Romania or Slovenia/Croatia are other places I'd like to mooch around on my push bike.
by T other Dave
1 Nov 2011, 7:59pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: St Nazaire/Nantes area, easy dayrides?
Replies: 6
Views: 594

Re: St Nazaire/Nantes area, easy dayrides?

The other side of the bridge has cycle paths/routes along the coast linking the towns from Mindin heading South.
by T other Dave
27 Oct 2011, 7:43pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycle tour in France wi' children
Replies: 24
Views: 2621

Re: Cycle tour in France wi' children

Is the plan to cycle onto the ferry in England and cycle off in France or to drive to a destination park up and then cycle tour? Brittany is the obvious choice for cycle on/off but for drive to and start off then Alsace is a lovely area with lots to do, but then if the kids like beach then gotta be the coast between Sulac-sur mer and Hendaye.
Dave
by T other Dave
27 Oct 2011, 7:30pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Roscoff to Biarritz
Replies: 9
Views: 2136

Re: Roscoff to Biarritz

Ohhh the St Nazaire bridge, I went for it, got there about 5.30 pm so waited about an hour for the traffic to ease then headed over so glad I did rather than go around but that was my choice. Had dinner in Redon nice place but has 2 sides to it, nice n naff I had dinner in the naff quarter, I just kept heading south till I reached the Loire then followed it to St Nazaire, that bit seemed nice and flat compared to North of Redon which is lots of up and down. Get a good scale map and just spend some time linking up the places you fancy or a route. You do have plenty of time to meander along canals I did it in 10 days so it pretty much was straightish as possible but 2 months you got plenty of time.
by T other Dave
25 Oct 2011, 7:35pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Roscoff to Biarritz
Replies: 9
Views: 2136

Re: Roscoff to Biarritz

Done St Malo - Bilbao this year, Are you camping, b & b or hotels? Its a loverly ride and 25 mile a day is very easy it will leave you lots of time to sample the great food along the way, whilst you have time on your side you may wish to do a basic list of things you'd like to see along the way? I like just stopping in cafes for coffee and crossaint and watch the French life go by. The only thing I'd say is that on some of the paths and canal paths you miss out on some nice towns, miles n miles of paths in the Gironde that tend to skirt around towns or just cut through pine forests (nice) but miss out coffee n crossaint stops :D
Hope you get good weather.
by T other Dave
14 Oct 2011, 9:45pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: car parking at portsmouth
Replies: 12
Views: 4296

Re: car parking at portsmouth

I used parkatmyhouse it was 2 mins from the port on cycle and £4 a day
http://www.parkatmyhouse.com/uk/drivewa ... erry-port/ just checked now £5 day massive saving over the port and I'd arranged that if I missed my return ferry it was ok till I got back, he said no problems.
Dave
by T other Dave
11 Oct 2011, 9:10pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Round World Cycle
Replies: 22
Views: 2010

Re: Round World Cycle

Dude well done, it's your money and you have obviously worked for it and saved hard. It's not what I would choose but thats why were all differant. Hope you have a absolutly fantastic time, enjoy.
by T other Dave
3 Oct 2011, 8:45pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: bivvi bags, how do they stack up against tents
Replies: 14
Views: 2500

Re: bivvi bags, how do they stack up against tents

Hi I bought a Gelert solo @ £35 I class it as cheap small lightweight disposable tent, just gives a bit more than a bivi bag as in a little more space to get changed if raining, a bit more civilised on campsites and put up and nip off to pub/food shop and it keeps insects and big foreign ants out. It paid for itself after 2 nights on a recent multi day trip (as opose to hotel) so if I never use it again its no big deal (although I will probably use it till it dies or leaks).
Bivvis are great just depends on where you are and what your doing as to what works best for you.
Dave