Search found 8064 matches

by Sweep
18 Mar 2024, 10:49pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Old tourists
Replies: 16
Views: 1252

Re: Old tourists

Inspiring thread.
Thanks to OP and all who have posted.
by Sweep
18 Mar 2024, 9:37pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Openfietsmap - map data updates
Replies: 46
Views: 5840

Re: Openfietsmap - map data updates

gom wrote: 18 Mar 2024, 5:08pm 2024 updates have appeared!
:D
thanks for the good news.
spring is here. :)
by Sweep
17 Mar 2024, 8:04pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tourer for gentle off-roading?
Replies: 136
Views: 5548

Re: Tourer for gentle off-roading?

Since we've veered into the wonders of 26 inch wheel bikes (not quite yet dead I think) can I put in a word for the Ridgeback Expedition?

As in here:

https://tomsbiketrip.com/ridgeback-expedition-review/

Am not even sure if it's still made.

Mine is a 2016 flat bar version (see bottom of that piece) I picked up for about £700/750 as end of line from a wonderful bike shop in Cambridge.

I think it's great.

Note - the spec was ever evolving I think - even pre-launch for any given year - not criticising Tom, but my 2016 flat bar actually has V brakes, not cantis, and the BB is Octalink not (unfortunately) square taper, though I can live with Octalink for now.

Brilliant bike I think.

After 2016 it went to discs I think and a far less fetching (IMHO) colourscheme.

I have the idea that it wasn't a big seller but they still turn up now and again second hand.

If the frame ever fails I'll look for a mid/late 90s steel Ridgeback MTB - I rather stupidly passed on once going for £30. Should have bought to stash away.
by Sweep
17 Mar 2024, 7:53pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Why are bike tyres so expensive?
Replies: 56
Views: 2753

Re: Why are bike tyres so expensive?

I'm just mourning the passing of the old PlanetX - not the new one - used to be very easy to get good tyres for under a tenner - Brucey I believe got some far cheaper - though had to settle for brown.
We will not see their like again I fear.
by Sweep
16 Mar 2024, 1:01pm
Forum: Offered for Free
Topic: 700c Touring Tyres
Replies: 1
Views: 107

Re: 700c Touring Tyres

Interested.
Have PMed.
but where are you?
by Sweep
8 Mar 2024, 8:58am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tourer for gentle off-roading?
Replies: 136
Views: 5548

Re: Tourer for gentle off-roading?

Cowsham wrote: 8 Mar 2024, 8:27am I'd bet you could buy a really nice second hand bike with very high end caliper brakes -- something I'm increasingly getting more interested in ( my bikes are all hydraulic disc ) cos I've never actually had really nice caliper brakes and don't know what to look for.
why not V brakes? I have fitted them to several second hand bikes for general and touring use.

I agree with your inclination to go (quality) second hand and then fiddle/adapt.
by Sweep
28 Feb 2024, 4:50pm
Forum: For Sale - Complete bikes ONLY - state FRAME SIZE in title
Topic: Surly Troll size small sold
Replies: 2
Views: 514

Re: Surly Troll size small

am not in the market for, but in interests of a sale, Price?
by Sweep
26 Feb 2024, 3:35pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Anyone been camping yet?
Replies: 18
Views: 948

Re: Anyone been camping yet?

mine looks kinda similar to this, same company, though is red and cost me about £6.
I find it more comfortable than bigger pillows I have used. Doddle to inflate, weighs next to nothing. Tiny when deflated.

https://www.mountain-equipment.co.uk/pr ... tat-pillow
by Sweep
26 Feb 2024, 1:10pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Anyone been camping yet?
Replies: 18
Views: 948

Re: Anyone been camping yet?

Bmblbzzz wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 12:59pm For a pillow, I use a cotton pillowcase from home. Actually, it's a pillowcase cut in half and sewn up again. Into this I stuff my fluffy jacket. This is, for me, far comfier than any inflatable, and avoids extra weight and volume.
well yep but I stress that I don't carry the air for inflating with me.
by Sweep
26 Feb 2024, 10:02am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Anyone been camping yet?
Replies: 18
Views: 948

Re: Anyone been camping yet?

in4time wrote: 26 Feb 2024, 3:49am Did my first shake-down ride last weekend. Reproofed the tent in situ. My ME Dragonfly XT is quite old now but it’s been such a good touring tent and the extension is much appreciated.
Forgot I’d left the lighters in Portugal but the fire stick always works.
Don’t over inflate the Thermarest, to avoid the ironing board experience.
Ground was fair to soggy
Although the dark still arrives early I quite enjoyed the longer sleep, peppered with podcasts.
The sleeping bag was a bit minty but thankfully warm.
Must buy a pillow this year.
yep I quite enjoy the long darkness - not necessarily a problem. If wild camping long long evenings can be a bit of a problem in summer I think - you might be tired, fancy kipping down but have to hang around waiting for the comforting cover of darkness.
By now, late Feb, amount of darkness is just fine I think - 12 hours or so not much more of real dark.
Decathlon do a nice pillow - I have one but for winter camping prefer a small Mountain Equipment one I picked up cheap as it fits neatly INSIDE the hood of my winter sleeping bag for a snug cocoon effect - no leaking of cold air into the bag.
by Sweep
20 Feb 2024, 8:58pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: End of train franchises
Replies: 55
Views: 3189

Re: End of train franchises

Jdsk wrote: 20 Feb 2024, 6:21pm "Rail Reform Bill (Draft)":
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... m-bill.pdf
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mini ... eform-bill

The background, and why it probably won't be enacted:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... abour-says

Wolmar:
"Clear message to Labour...put this in the bin!"
https://twitter.com/christianwolmar/sta ... 6401348667

Jonathan
the sad truth is that Blair's labour could have put the entire rail privatisation "experiment" in the bin if they had chosen to.

They chose not to.
by Sweep
20 Feb 2024, 8:56pm
Forum: People, Events & Rides
Topic: Moulton talk - London
Replies: 0
Views: 475

Moulton talk - London

may be of interest.

open to Joe/Joanne public
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-revo ... 8456896147
by Sweep
12 Feb 2024, 1:35pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycling using trains (in UK and EU)
Replies: 587
Views: 61414

Re: Cycling using trains (in UK and EU)

Good experience with Avanti West Coast Preston to London the other day.
Only two stops before London - I usually try to get that - I was loaded and the only bike the entire trip.
The Avanti bloke on the platform to load me was very helpful. They always are.
We agreed that the new bike stowage system made no sense and had been introduced without any consultation/thought by management off on one.
Got on the train to find that it had the old system so I needn't have bothered taking the bags off.
Train was late - no great inconvenience to me and I generally do single non connecting trips for this and following reason -
got a ticket refund - was expecting half back but for reasons best known to themselves they seem to have counted the train as an hour late so I got the lot back, unless I have misunderstood something.
The Avanti delay repay system is very easy to use and seems very efficient.
by Sweep
12 Feb 2024, 1:27pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cheap oil.
Replies: 82
Views: 4662

Re: Cheap oil.

rareposter wrote: 12 Feb 2024, 12:02pm Recent video from GCN Tech interviewing Zero Friction Cycling

https://youtu.be/pu2cdw76eUE?si=4TvG-IjH00f2Ykqx

Interesting point about value for money and how a more expensive product on the shop floor can actually be far better value for money because it's better / lasts longer etc than a nominally cheaper product that doesn't work as well or which you need to use far more of or use more often.
you are nanette newman and I claim my squeezy bottle.
by Sweep
7 Feb 2024, 2:55pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Nutrition - what do you do?
Replies: 22
Views: 2081

Re: Nutrition - what do you do?

Jon in Sweden wrote: 7 Feb 2024, 8:49am On a ride of 2hrs of less I don't bother with anything other than water.

Beyond that, I've been taking water bottles with a mixture of dextrose, maltodextrin, a pinch of salt and then mixed with 30% fruit juice, 70% water. About 230g of carbs per litre.

That takes me quite a long way and will do me for a 4hr ride, if I eat a big bowl of cornflakes (or similar) before setting off.

Beyond 4hrs, I'll take food or stop off for food on the way around. I burn 1000-1100kcal an hour typically, so fuelling is important.
isn't 1000 kcal an hour very high?
I thought cycling was more efficient than that.
Tho of course I don't know what type of cycling you do.
Where do you get the dextrose from/in what form?