Cycling UK Forum

Hi, I have only 2 concerns at the moment which others as well as me might have. 1] What are the odds of meeting an agressive grizzly bear en route and 2] are hurricanes aka twisters a problem. (my friends keep pulling my leg about them). Thanks. I will pm you if other things come to mind. Cheers. Bob. J.

yes, done the Camino from Sardinia last year and think it's the one I enjoyed the most..also got a certificate and met lot's of nice people (most speak English) along the way.

Hi, I might be wrong, but it seems to me that your main concern is your house and I don't blame you. Get it to work for you whilst you are away, help you pay for your trip. As for the cycling, well, the world is a big place. When I retired I went to South America for 3 months, it's a gr8 place, and cheap then I went on lot's of shorter trips up to 6weeks at a time around Europe, Morocco and in Britain etc. Cheap airlines, the internet make this easy. Next May I'm off on the Transam across the U>S>A> for which I am allocating 3 months. If like me you're not a whizz on bike maintenance make sure you're on a reliable bike, particularly the wheels the rest you can make up , put up with and enjoy as you go along. Good luck. Bob. J.

5 Bikes stolen from my garage Wed.26th.Sept. Surly Long Haul Trucker, blue, 26" wheels. Green Dawes Hybrid, Red Viscount, Dahon Folder, Black, White Raleigh Road Bike. Not hopeful. Devastated. Bob. J.

Hi, Yes, Malin Head in the north to Mizen Head in the south is the one. Ctc have a detailed sheet. Last year I got the ferry from Holyhead to Dun Laorighe,(nr Dublin) cycled south to Mizen Head up to Malin Head then thought I might as well carry on back to Holyhead,via Belfast etc. full circumnavigation stuff. Took me 3 weeks using Youth Hostels/B & B. camping... brilliant.. go for it. Bob. J.

Hi, Becoming quite interested in tagging along on your USA coast to coast next year. A friend of mine has done one of the "versions" (just how many versions/ routes are there I ask) and he told me to go for it cos' it's brill. I'm a very active retiree having toured Malta, Italy, through Europe this year, round Ireland, Turkey , Sardinia to Santander last year etc.(I could go on) so I am quite able to keep up with your itinerary, just started doing short triathlons this year as well. This could be my ultimate challenge. Like to think I'm an outgoing easy to get on with type of guy. Perhaps you can message me with your email and we can discuss things further. cheers. Bob.J. Bradford.

hI, i cycled the via de la plata north from Seville to Leon (after cycling from Marrakesh),I went east to Burgos then over the Picos Mountains to Santander where I caught the ferry to Portsmouth. I cycled a couple of the "camino " walkers tracks but thought I might as well keep to the well maintained road which follows the route all the way and was quite traffic free, especially on Sunday. Most traffic goes via the motorway. It is a fairly straight S to N route, keep the sun on your right in the morning and on your left in the afternoon. There is also plenty of cheap accommodation in albergues and hostels along the way. You will love it, I did. safe journey. Bob. J.

thanks tony, I will check them out,the self extracting crank bolt sounds like a good idea. Do you use them yourself and are they easy to fit. Bob. J.

sounds like a reasonable request from fellow cycling enthusiasts...I would help if I lived in the area you require though my garage is already full of bikes but could squeeze another 2 in. My area is relatively safe and the garage would be locked but I wouldn't want to be responsible if I was unlucky enough to be burgled. Have you tried Warmshowers .org. or the Ctc put u up scheme. Best of luck. Bob. J.

Bike boxes at airports...anybody know if there is a list of the airports who sell these. I hope to fly back from Venice later this year via Ryanair. Thanks. Bob. J.

bikes4two wrote:

ruffstuffbob wrote:
A fellow cyclist whom I talked to to-day advised me to use a small piece of wood with a groove sawed into the middle then wedged in the teeth of the bottom part of the chainwheel and maybe secured with a strap, sounds like a good idea, I'll give it a try next time. Bob.J.

I can't quite picture that arrangement in my mind's eye - do you have any pics? My immediate thought is that the wood attached to the chainwheel presents an even bigger 'strike area' thus making damage more likely?

Yes , you do have a point, no pics cos I haven't tried it but maybe a good idea might be to put some foam or bubble wrap round the wood. The other option which I thought of was to take the chainwheel completely off, wrap it in some clothing and put it in the pannier bag. To do this however would require taking the appropriate tools. Bob.J.

I usually fly back from a diff. Airport so I have to take the bike bag from home. It's not light I suppose but I use it for extra warmth when camping. The protective insulating tubing and bubble wrap I take with me, they are bulky but light. I use these for both flights. The large pieces of cardboard are obtained from shops, skips etc.just before flying [ both journeys] and dumped immediately after the flights. I fold it as neccessary and secure it with bungy cords. Makes for a wide load so I have to be careful when riding the bike. It has worked for me on two tours now except for this last one when I incurred the damage to my chainwheel. On this subject may I add a little more advice. I was in arrivals for around an hour putting my bike back together after the flight back and the place was empty when I managed to get someone to let me out and it wasn't until I was down the road when I changed gear that I noticed the damage to the chainwheel. I continued the 5 miles back home. On claiming for the damage [I also took out Ryanairs Insurance] I was told that I needed a Property Irregularity Report from a member of staff at the airport BEFORE LEAVING so that I could make a claim [with 7 days]. Next time I will have to check the bike over as soon as I can and of course, before leaving the airport. I will also make sure I plaster the bag with lots of FRAGILE, TAKE CARE signs next time. I agree, sounds like a lot polava [is that how you spell it] but flying gets you to great cycling areas quickly, worth the effort. Bob .J.

Bike bags on aircraft are an "old chestnut for me" but last Tues I flew back from Pisa to Lds/Bfd. on Ryanair and am now in the midst of sorting out a claim for a bent large Chainweel
They don't make it easy to do this however even though I took out their insurance. I now put mine in a standard canvas type bike bag with cardboard, bubble wrap and insulation piping for protection and has worked for me 3 times running but not this time. A fellow cyclist whom I talked to to-day advised me to use a small piece of wood with a groove sawed into the middle then wedged in the teeth of the bottom part of the chainwheel and maybe secured with a strap, sounds like a good idea, I'll give it a try next time. Bob.J.

Not being tremendously savy with computers....how does one set up a "blog"? I just send bulletins to my friends on facebook when on one of my tours. Bob.J.

Hi, Thank you. I take it you want the route round Ireland. Right, Day 1. Holyhead /Dun Laoghaire,[ferry] Wicklow.[Y>H.] 40km. [sign posts in km, occasionally in miles so be careful]. Wexford. Y.H. 21E. 90km. Youghal [pronounced Yowl] Y.H. 18E. 140km. Kinsale. Y.H. 15E. 80km. Skibbereen Y.H. 15E. 71km. Bantry Y.H. 13E. 100km. Killarney Y.H. 13E. 102km. Athea . camped in village square, local butcher , where I bought some provisions said it would be ok, he also threw in a couple of free sausages. 84km. Ennis Y.H. 16E. 104km. Galway. Y.H. 26E. 75km. Westport. Y.H. 20E. 120km. Coolaney B&B. 40E. 113km. Donegal. Y.H. 17E. 100km. Buncrana Y.H. 15E. 90km. Coleraine. Y.H. £15. 110km. Ballycastle. Y.H. £15. 54km. Belfast Y.H. £14. 110km. Newcastle Y.H. £14. 90km. Dublin Y.H. 15E. 60km. Total about 1800 km. Hope you followed all that, I kept close to the coast and followed quiet roads as much as possible. I went in August and most of the hostels were not particularly full so don't think you will need to book ahead. Go to the tourist information for brochures etc. Hope that helps..enjoy the trip. Bob. J.