Cycling UK Forum

Thanks for responses and advice so far guys !

No, it's not a regular route for me but just an adjustment to a ride from Hants to Co Durham that I did about 3 years ago (and plan to repeat) where I an revisiting the planning of the 'middle bit'. By way of blunt explanation I am NOT transiting Leicester again !

Anyone familiar with the B6047 from Market Harborough to Melton Mowbray care to comment on its suitability for an OAP (ie slow) but vigilant solo cyclist ? Probable transit would be a Saturday mid-day sort of time. Lethal rat-run or, as Streetview suggests, nigh care-free open road ? (Yes, I have done a Search).

I believe the A508 from M Keynes via Northampton to Market Harborough is not highly recommended though. I am wary of ‘green’ roads on OS maps anyway !

Do correct me if you disagree. I will hold you harmless whatever happens !

Bought a cheapo, basic wireless unit a while back. Did not fit it for months. When I did get round to this task (by then out of warranty) and took it for a test ride, it went mental after about 20 miles and insisted I was doing 70+ mph .. even when stationary ! Both self and wife have been with wired units ever since: no trouble whatsoever. Never had problems with water ingress either. Batteries last ages.

I have twice sold the registration marks of family cars to dealers in these things. Easy money ! Nothing special about either of the plates (that I could see) but somebody must have wanted them.

I have always thought that what I don’t need is a distinctive, memorable plate on a vehicle driven by me lest some easily provoked, fulminating, self-righteous soul - you know the kind - decides that I have offended him in some obscure way. Anonymity can be a blessing.

+1 for the 5:2 diet. All Hail Michael Moseley ! It works, it really does.

But as to the OP and his doubts about L2B, you’ve got until next year, sir ! Loadsatime. So you can have a good snigger at myself who has until .. umm, this coming Saturday to ‘train’ for L2B. Saturday ? Well, that is because I am entered for the L2B Night Ride. Similar route and effort but without the suntan. Full moon though . And the longest ride I have done this year, what with one thing and another, is a mere 31 miles; last night (in the dark) in fact. I admit I have left it a bit late. Oh yes. So I am probably not the best advisor for training; I fully recognise that.

As to congestion, check out some of the YouTube videos on L2B. A revelation. At least the Night Ride is limited to 5,000 participants. The daytime one is 30,000 IIRC .

Having discovered a Google Streetview image of a cyclist apparently taking a leak at the side of the road (no, it was not me !) I contacted Google and suggested they might like to edit it out. To my slight surprise, this was refused. And, no, I will not say where it is to be found !

Ok. Dingwall northwards then. I have only cycled the A9/99 once, on LEJOG in 2010. Driven it a few times. Many LEJOGers will say avoid. My wife and I (both on our 60s) did not have much of a problem with the A9 traffic. It can be fast, tends to come in batches, typically following an HGV but, provided you make yourself conspicuous, I doubt it is much more hazardous than many of more southern roads. We found the A99 after Latheron with its many bends and poor sight lines more of a hazard from a speeding motorist point of view but you just have to be vigilant .. and I recommend a rear view mirror generally anyway. We would use the A9/99 again, no problem, and the bit through the Highlands on the cycle route was a joy. Never used the road via Altnaharra so cannot comment/compare.

And there is nothing like laying in a hot bath after a long day's riding

Amen to that !

One of life's great luxuries indeed.

Only done LEJOG just the once so far, in 2010.

Rode it with my wife on hybrid singles; combined age of 125. Her idea (to hear is to obey). Hope to repeat before I become an ancestor.

Labrador ? In winter ? Now that could be a bit nippy, sir !

Nevertheless, enjoy !

I maybe get provoked, without pre-meditation, into shouting at other road users once a year. And it surprises me when I do. I try to remember that I/WE are the vulnerable ones on bikes and I am mightily concerned to avoid the very easily provoked disproportionate response. There are some very angry people out there on the roads, just looking for an excuse to let fly, and it is getting worse.

thirdcrank wrote

Is the 0.5 a unicycle, a part share in a bike or something else?

Sorry; nothing as exotic as a unicycle ! Just a bike with bits missing (my elderly Denton in t' loft).

Walked since I was 1.
Ridden a bike since I was 7, including tandems and my little sister's trike.
Driven a car since I was 17 (Jeez ! That's 50+ years driving !)
Got motorcycle licence at 20.
Got HGV licence at 58.
Probably never ride a motorcycle again.
Have to keep driving cars or cycling as no public transport nearby.

Household (of 3) has 3 cars and 5.5 bikes. Cars don't get used much really. One is definitely superfluous, but I like it.

CC (aged 68)

Ah, true, Ayesha. Hopefully to reduce the likelihood of that I always have a rear view mirror on my bike.

+2 for carry on the bike .

My first lengthy tour (4 weeks) way back in 1971 was with a medium size backpack (could not afford anything else) but I still strapped it onto my pannier rack.