Cycling UK Forum

Was a pleasant journey. Very comfortable and relaxing. No cinemas, shows or other stuff though, being no frills version, only a small shop, a bar, a cafe (only open in morning to 10am) and restaurant that only opens at mealtimes. That is it. Lots of reading and watching dolphins on approach to Santander. Indeed getting on and off was simple, although had to walk whilst aboard.

Ship called Baie de Seine, not Pont. Long passage for a ferry, 08:45 to 13:15 (BST) next day. Information desk had board games and books available to borrow. Cabin pleasant, but no facilities such as kettle or tv/stereo, nor potions in bathroom.

Posting this from Portsmouth to Santander ferry.

Getting on was not an easy process, and certainly not cheap- £580 for 2 return with a bike each, and cabin as is required (rules) being a long crossing. No foot pax on this route, and a very basic service on board, being the 'no frills' service (but 'free' WiFi).

Looked online and could only get a Plymouth crossing, but as live near by, went to terminal and got on a Portsmouth service both ways. One way not listed online when I looked, and the other I was told on phone was full for bikes, but got on when went in in person.

With regards to 'full for bikes'; was told they have limited space for bikes (yet still room for cars, remember, no foot pax), as they put them in a 'shed' on board. Turns out we put them against a railing at side of open topped car deck ('Pont de Seine'). And as far as am aware, are the only bikes aboard not strapped atop a car (sailing, but can see bikes through window in locked access door). Lady on phone said full, bizarre. But then entire policy comes across as odd.

As for the Bilbao crossing... Would have chosen (like Bilbao a lot, disliked Santander on previous visits) if possible at time, but no luck. Will ride straight onwards...

Currently happy to use service when ignoring price paid: comfortable on board, BF staff friendly and helpful, is not a plane, beer cheaper than in local pubs, bikes visible. But now to test the food.

Thanks for the replies, 9494arnold.

I'll keep looking for a longer term solution, but for now, I got some needle files and with a bit of careful attention to the stud thread, and picking at the old nut thread, I managed to get the one nut on nice and securely. The other (drive side) is less vital as that wheel seems permanently seized on, so I'll probably fasten the (essentially decorative in this case) cap nut on there with some araldite or similar for the time being, seeing as that one is thoroughly stripped and very loose.

As for the On 3 Wheels suggestion, that'll be an interesting read! I have found myself fascinated by trikes at the mo, and tempted to get one for myself, albeit not a Picador! (The 2 I've been working on are work related).

All the best, Jem.

Thanks Brucey,

A colleague has a set of VC so I'll give those a go when I get a chance.

Spoke to Pashley a while back and they were pretty much useless- apparently they keep no records/information on models from not so far back; lady didn't even know how to explain where the model info came from, IIRC it was 'when they got smaller' or something along those lines. I suspect this was when they were bought out or whatever happened.

Scouring the internet hasn't helped either. A couple of threads out there with similar matters, but none that I have seen go anywhere or come up with any answers.

I like your suggestions, but it'll be a bit awkward to hold a screw against, being a 'stud' thread which is thinner than the bar of the axle, and quite short. Perhaps if I can find a bolt, but that could be a hunt too. Will get at sometime in the next few days, but tied up at mo.

Cheers again, Jem.

Over a month amd no replies...

Either nobody knows, nobody understands my wittering or my walking into the wilderness has put me out of earshot.

Still trying to solve this. Was suggested locally the thread could be BS Cycle, and as such nobody around here (S Hants now) seems to be able to help.

Anyone know of a 'proper' old style bike shop in the South who may have a clue? Or an engineering firm with cycle nous?

Hola folks,

I've been getting a pair'o Pashley Picadors (how I love a bit o'allit(eration)) sorted for use, and run into a stumble on the final furlong (is that a mixed metaphor, or simply confused/ing?). These are from maybe the 70s or 80s; cottered cranks (when bought; now SqT), round tubes with no strengthening flanges, 451 wheels. Unsure of actual vintage, and Pashley unable to help (and if you look at the website, you'll realise they're just a fashion brand now).

When stripping one, the rear axle cap nuts from both ends were playful- RHS stiff (as I remember), and LHS just dropped off. Having put them back together to finish off, the RHS doesn't want to go back on, and the LHS just spins freely. The LHS nut thread appears to be mostly stripped, beyond the axle thread's extent, and the RHS, I am unsure, maybe crossed, but I am wary to try to hard in fear of stripping.

Not bothered about using the cap nuts- 'normal' open nuts would be fine, but having tried a few sitting around, beginning to wonder if these are imperial or some odd old thread format- look finer than what I am used to seeing.

The threads on the axle look OK, though I could have a closer look tomorrow (not near me), but wonder if any of our more knowledgable friends could offer some enlightenment regarding the nuts...

All the best, Jem.

p.s. I hope the company has better build quality now, or owners of some fancy bikes (and Moultons!) have paid a heap of money for a heap of hmmm.

mjr wrote:We're never allowed to forget that there are crap cyclists, are we? Almost every media discussion about cycling contains a naughty-cyclist element.

True, but this is a cycling forum, and to bitch about motorists all the time is fine, but there's an element of hypocrisy if we don't keep our own house in order. This isn't POBs on BSOs (oh, how dare he use those mean TLAs? The shame, diddums) I'm on about, but well kitted commuting types for one example. And there've been plenty on here in the past going on about their super dooper mega cree blasters.

Yeah yeah there are naughty motoids, but there are those amongst us who should realise they're not all holier than thou.

mjr wrote:

mrjemm wrote:So, as cyclists, we should all stop whinging about car users unless we accept that there are those amongst us just as bad, after all, most of us also drive, so if you're happy to dazzle on a bike, are you any better in a car?

No, we shouldn't stop pushing for motorists to stop being anti-social/illegal just because some cyclists do. Two wrongs don't make a right! There are more motorists than cyclists and the damage they do is far greater.

I can't answer the second bit because I'm not happy to dazzle on a bike.

OK, I agree that 2 wrongs don't make a right, and we should indeed keep moaning about cars, but we must not forget there are those amongst us who are also selfish, inconsiderate twonks. It's a human thing to be crap, not a motorist or otherwise.

Oooh, dazzly headlights are a horrible thing.

Last night I drove to Blackpool and back in the dark and occasionally heavy rain, and I was getting maddened by all the poorly aligned (squinting) headlights, headlights being left on full beam, HID (?) beams that are generally too bright, even dipped, and the same that are simply not capable of compensating for vehicle motion/road topography. We were in a teeny Panda, but they're quite upright, and I get the same in my Berlingo, in that some bigger cars, notably 4x4/SUV style vehicles, are that much higher, and so their headlights are higher, which of course means they are more prone to dazzling also, even when dipped, but the drivers of this style of car are often of the type that don't care about other road users (obviously) and simply don't bother dipping.

But...

As a pedallist, I am also sick of the inconsiderate amongst us. Yes, the self-centered, selfish, smug, truly inconsiderate pedalling persons who have ridiculously bright lights. The Lancaster Canal is particlarly full of the gits at commuting home time, with their intensely powerful lights dazzling ahead of them, and so often, as I pedal in to meet Mme, I get my retinae burned out by these twonks who refuse to adjust the angle their light-sabres are pointing, or use a lower setting, and subsequently find myself risking a chilly dunk in the murky muck of the canal through temporary blindness, my blind rage being entirely separate to this.

So, really, this whole subject is down to lack of consideration, and the usual "I'm alright Jack" nature of folk, be they drivers or cyclists. As a driver and a cyclist and a pedestrian, I feel guilt for being yet another human, and in no capacity can I feel to be part of a group that is any better than the other in this regard. So, as cyclists, we should all stop whinging about car users unless we accept that there are those amongst us just as bad, after all, most of us also drive, so if you're happy to dazzle on a bike, are you any better in a car?

beardy wrote:Those who are on the legal pharmaceutical drugs could be just as dangerous and possibly more numerous than those on the illegal drugs.

Just as tired drivers are possibly a greater threat than drunk drivers.

The figures say more about detection than danger.

...

Kill someone with a handgun (illegal) or a hand-drill (legal) and they're both just as dead. If something detects the illegal one, great. If someone gets arrested for carrying said illegal one, great.

If someone stops a drunk-driver before he kills somebody, great, even if there are many more being killed in other ways, it makes it no less a good thing.

Same argument as if someone has a more fuel efficient car/if a country uses cleaner energy/if a govt is not committing genocide in the Middle East, great, however badly another is behaving. Be nice to stop the other ones too of course, but... Some fuel/one/many has/ve been saved, which is better than none.

Psamathe wrote:But as others have said, phones can get broken.
...

I doubt it. There was a ride recently on which someone died. The person who found him tried to find some medical and/or next of kin details on his phone, but couldn't, and neither coud the ambulance crew.
...

It is not obligatory that you enter such details and make them available without unlock codes. Just something you can do it you so chose.

Ian

Sorry if I messed up the quotes, ran out of embedded quotes...

I am sure if the police contacted the network/service provider, and gave them the no on the Simcard, they'd be able to get the name and address that way. I'd hope so anyway. Even if a phone got smashed, I bet the writing on the side of the Sim would still be visible

OK, so I am amazed folk don't carry bank cards.

So... What about bike registration (as in for theft protection purposes, using frame number, not as in visible identification for grumpy gits to use to vent ire)? Don't folk register their valued machines? Though I must confess I haven't updated our's since moving house, but the new folk in our old house know where we live.

jonroberts24 wrote:Does anyone know The speed limit for bikes on a cycle path?
Thanks

Are you interested, or was this provocative rhetoric? Last visited the site 3 minutes after joining... And disappeared immediately after posting this.

Perhaps some background to the question so we can be more focused?

Do folk really ride without a debit or visa or credit card?

Name printed on front. Bank would surely put emergency services in touch.

honesty wrote:Alternator dropouts I'm not sure are a good idea.

People are learning. Good good.

p.s. Alternators are poo.