Search found 5757 matches

by RickH
29 Mar 2024, 12:35am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycling using trains (in UK and EU)
Replies: 590
Views: 61869

Re: Cycling using trains (in UK and EU)

Well that was a new (positive) one for me.

Yesterday, I was on the return trip from Chester, heading for Wigan (& then cycle home from there). I tried to get a bike reservation for the 1627 Avanti from Warrington Bank Quay to Wigan before I left Chester, but there were none available so I could only get one for the 1714. It isn't uncommon for that to happen and there is usually space anyway on the earlier one .

Today was different. There were 2 other people with bikes waiting to get on at Warrington for the 1627 but platform staff said they would get me on if there was a spare space as I was only travelling 1 stop (they are usually good like that, at least at Wigan & Warrington). It turned out that there were already 2 bikes aboard.

The saving grace was that the driver (who is usually at the same end of the train as the bikes when it is heading north, unless the train is the "wrong way round", AKA "reverse formation") said she was happy for me to stand with my bike in the compartment for the 10 minutes journey between Warrington & Wigan. I was very grateful.
by RickH
29 Mar 2024, 12:17am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Non-standard Bikes on Trains
Replies: 33
Views: 1455

Re: Non-standard Bikes on Trains

My "trick" for lifting a bike onto a hook is to tip it onto its back wheel, hold the handlebars with both hands and use one thigh against back of the saddle to raise the bike up while using your hands to steer the front wheel onto the hook. Most of the lifting is then done with leg muscles.

Also, if you are bothered about scratching the front wheel on the hook take a piece of old cloth* with you & wrap that round the hook before putting your bike on it. (*such as a 3rd life J cloth that has already been retired from kitchen duties & reaching the end of its life for bike cleaning :D)
by RickH
15 Mar 2024, 10:51pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Why not have dual front discs?
Replies: 21
Views: 1398

Re: Why not have dual front discs?

You can always got the other way & do away with the 2nd fork leg instead! :lol:
Image
(Lefty Oliver Gravel fork)

As done by Cannondale :evil:
by RickH
14 Mar 2024, 10:47pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: BEVs
Replies: 2135
Views: 109891

Re: BEVs

Nearholmer wrote: 14 Mar 2024, 8:35pm
That's about battery energy storage capacity. The question was about "increasing amounts of energy will be required to travel a given distance", a completely different property.
Precisely. With hints that it is a “runaway” phenomenon.
Nearly all of those very old EVs will be 1st Generation Nissan Leafs (Leaves?) with their complete lack of battery thermal management. I was listening to The Fully Charged Podcast of 1st March with Matt Clevely, who's garage is probably one of the leading EV repairers.he was explaining about the damage the early Leaf cells could do on rapid charging due to cell heat expansion damaging cells & even the battery casing.
by RickH
5 Mar 2024, 4:25pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Terra Nova Quasar 2 Person Tent offer
Replies: 2
Views: 239

Terra Nova Quasar 2 Person Tent offer

It may be a bit heavy for a cycling tent for 2 but I had an email with an offer from Joe Brown/ The Climbers Shop on the aforementioned tent at £495 (rrp £900). That seems like a reasonable deal for a bombproof tent so I thought I would post here.

https://www.climbers-shop.com//camping/ ... __11113203

Note that it says "These tents were purchased from Terra Nova in October 2023 and are 2022 vintage so have the standard nylon ripstop inner rather than the PFC free nylon as used in 2023 models."

A very quick search shows a couple of other online stores with a similar deal, so you may want to check for the same caveat. Most seemed to be charging substantially more.
by RickH
12 Feb 2024, 1:40pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Pictures of OS Bench Marks
Replies: 23
Views: 3144

Re: Pictures of OS Bench Marks

Reviving a rather old topic...

A post on Twitter today made me aware of an interactive map showing the location of OS Benchmarks. The OS have a freely downloadable database which I presume this makes use of.

https://interactivemaps.uk/os-benchmark-archive
by RickH
7 Feb 2024, 10:16am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycle Travel Question
Replies: 1604
Views: 211096

Re: Cycle Travel Question

Richard Fairhurst wrote: 6 Feb 2024, 8:49am Double-tap instead of long press should do it (and feels slightly snappier!).
Thanks. That works. It used to just zoom in the map. But I rarely use that method if zooming maps, unless pinching doesn't work or causes problems.
by RickH
6 Feb 2024, 12:11am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cycle Travel Question
Replies: 1604
Views: 211096

Re: Cycle Travel Question

I've found a slight problem with route creation using the web version on a smartphone (Android). Unless I'm missing something, It is no longer possible to extend the route once you have 2 points by doing a long press as that now brings up the new "Add a marker". The only way I've found is to tap just before the end to open the dialog with "Add a via point" & then drag the end towards where you want to go which is more convoluted.

The mobile page doesn't appear to have the "Add at..." option, that the desktop version has in the left panel, where you can specify a named place to add to the route which could be a, partial, alternative. Adding "Extend route to here instead" as an option would be better.

It might be useful to be able to add a marker at an already created via point, either as well as or instead of it.
by RickH
20 Jan 2024, 5:37pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: How's your weather?
Replies: 1941
Views: 94190

Re: How's your weather?

I went for a final play in the snow on my bike yesterday before the main thaw started today. I rode to the top of Rivington Pike for the first time in ages (&, possibly, the first time in snow).

The ride with some photos is on Strava here - https://strava.app.link/mXN7koQewGb

No sign of more wintery weather in the forecast into the start of February so I'll take the studded tyres off the wheels they're on for now.
by RickH
16 Jan 2024, 6:08pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Access around Thirlmere reservoir
Replies: 53
Views: 10859

Re: Access around Thirlmere reservoir

United Utilities seem to be confident that they can make the face of Rough Crag safe allowing the road closure to be reversed - https://www.unitedutilities.com/my-loca ... ough-crag/

I don't know if it is openly viewable, but there is a Facebook group called Keep Thirlmere Open & their latest update also mention there is now a separate footpath open round the crag - https://m.facebook.com/groups/617475240 ... 879789599/
by RickH
15 Dec 2023, 12:39am
Forum: Cycling UK Member Groups and Affiliates
Topic: How close do you ride to each other
Replies: 24
Views: 9465

Re: How close do you ride to each other

Of course we usually put an extra bit of chaos into the mix when out with Chester CTC as we're almost always riding a tandem (my friend in Chester can no longer ride solo due to deteriorating vision so I mostly pilot for her on the tandem, but I do occasionally ride out with them solo).
by RickH
21 Nov 2023, 1:29am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Gore-Tex: is it really this bad?
Replies: 112
Views: 11059

Re: Gore-Tex: is it really this bad?

pjclinch wrote: 20 Nov 2023, 6:50pmthe most effective vents are hampered by the best way of letting warm, moist air out are also the best way of letting rain in...
I have a Madison branded jacket that has what seem to me to be the ideal venting for cycling*, There are small underam & rear yoke vents to let air out (& help prevent "ballooning" of the jackets). Plus there are vent zips on the underside of the lower arms - so they are always facing down & allow a controlled amount of air to flow up the sleeves (I find I tend to get sweaty arms if I don't have ventilation or have the same amount of insulation as on my core during activitiy. You can spot me in a group of cyclists - I'll be the one in short sleeves & 3/4s or long bottoms when everyone else is in long sleeves & shorts!)

*not currently being worn as the main zip has broken - it jammed while I was wearing it & I couldn't get out of the jacket without breaking teeth on the zip. I'm considering getting a new zip put in (probably by Alpkit) as the rest of the jacket is in good condition.
by RickH
16 Nov 2023, 1:15am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Closure of ticket offices
Replies: 342
Views: 39044

Re: Closure of ticket offices

wjhall wrote: 15 Nov 2023, 10:08am
TrevA wrote: 14 Nov 2023, 4:39pm My local station has neither a ticket office or a ticket machine. It’s basically just 2 platforms. I either have to buy a ticket on the train or buy one in advance of travelling. The nearest ticket office is 10 miles in either direction.
For disabled people buying from staff on the train is presumably the best option, although they may need advance contact to arrange assistance.
With increasing numbers of stations having barriers that don't let you onto the platform without a ticket it could prove problematic to even get on the train.

Many (most?) ticket machines are inaccessible to at least a proportion of disabled people - too high to operate from a wheelchair, touch screens & no audible cues for those with sight impairment, etc.

Even with tickets bought online, if you need a physical ticket you are a bit stuffed if the ticket machine doesn't work & there is no ticket office. Last week I needed to collect physical tickets as I was catching an Avanti train up to Glasgow & back with my bike (a good value trip, advance tickets for less than £25 return - booked less than a week before travel & door to door with my bike). You need a bike reservation ticket to attach to your bike so there isn't an e-ticket option. When I went to collect them the machine (& there appears to only be 1 machine at Wigan North Western) had a notice on saying "out of order, please use another machine". Fortunately the ticket office was open & I could get the tickets over the counter (plus I had gone to get them the day before travel just in case there were problems).

One useful thing I did clarify was that you can collect tickets from any station not just your departure one. I thought that might be the case but it was simpler in this instance to just ride the slightly longer trip to Wigan rather than the slightly shorter distance to my nearest station.
by RickH
15 Nov 2023, 9:37pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Gore-Tex: is it really this bad?
Replies: 112
Views: 11059

Re: Gore-Tex: is it really this bad?

I've not found waterproof boots to suffer from leakage problem. I've a pair of Brasher Superlights that I bought in 2013. They've done a fair few miles, including the Wainwright Coast to Coast, & never got wet inside, except for the very few occasions when I've accidentally stepped in something too deep & filled them from the top.

For waterproof socks Cotswold Outdoors have a 3 for 2 offer on Bridgedale waterproof socks til November 28th

https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/c/campa ... offer.html

I got some of the merino lined ones (2 pairs short, I pair long) earlier in the year when they did they same offer & they are very good. They are effective at keeping the cold out & I'm wearing the short ones a lot at this time of year. The long ones are good for walking but are also good (combined with 3/4 bibs) when heading out on a day with a cold, possibly wet, start that is forecast to warm up & dry out - just carry spare sock & change them as & when.

My light waterproof cycling jacket was giving up a while back - stitching going & developing zip trouble - so I picked up a very light goretex one in one of Rapha's sales (the Brevet one at £145 instead of the then list price of £265, now they're £300). I've been impressed with it, despite no venting options apart from partly undoing the 2-way zip from the bottom. I've cycled in it for several hours of continuous rain & been no more than slightly clammy. I would have been similarly clammy with no rain & no jacket so I think that count as a win. It also folds down small enough to easily fit in a jersey pocket if I want to travel light.
by RickH
15 Nov 2023, 4:24pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.
Replies: 195
Views: 24399

Re: Cycle Retail In Meltdown.

AndyK wrote: 15 Nov 2023, 12:38pm ProBikeShop has fallen. https://www.globalcyclingnetwork.com/ge ... nistration
Like Wiggle/CRC, that's a name that makes me think "I used to order stuff from them quite often but I haven't done for at least a couple of years now." I can't help feeling that's significant. I mean, I don't think it's all my fault (I hope not anyway), but maybe it's a sign that they lost their customer focus somewhere along the way as they were bought up by bigger and bigger multinational conglomerates who didn't understand the business they were buying into.
Slightly ironic that you used a GCN link when I got this email about GCN+ this afternoon!
GCN+ closing.jpg