Search found 54 matches

by Malpas
15 Feb 2013, 12:34pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Where are all the events?
Replies: 12
Views: 121633

Re: Where are all the events?

That's great thanks a lot.
by Malpas
14 Feb 2013, 6:30pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Where are all the events?
Replies: 12
Views: 121633

Re: Where are all the events?

Agreed it must be stuck on someones "too difficult" pile at CTC HQ.
All this is a real shame given that the CTC Touring Competition for 2013 is due to start in 14 days. Without a list of events that qualify it looks like it's going to disappear by default.
by Malpas
12 Feb 2013, 1:34pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Where are all the events?
Replies: 12
Views: 121633

Re: Where are all the events?

Si.
Yes that that is the list I've looked at, at least a mtb ride has been added in the last couple of days.
I would like to ride road events, this time last year there were quite a few in "Cycle" now there are none, are they not happening?
by Malpas
11 Feb 2013, 6:48pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Where are all the events?
Replies: 12
Views: 121633

Where are all the events?

I do understand that there is to be no list of rides anymore in "Cycle" and the web site is the best place for such a list.
So I go to the web page and find that there are no events i.e. actual rides for me to join in with until 7th April and really not that many thereafter, Surely this is n't true.
Is there some explanation?
by Malpas
3 Nov 2012, 8:30am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tyres yet again.
Replies: 18
Views: 2217

Re: Tyres yet again.

For tarmac smooth is what you want,more rubber on the road, I doubt you go fast enough to aquaplane which is why car tyres have tread. Snow, off road and very messy minor roads(I do mean very) would be a different story.
You could go wider then 32 on your rims,subject to brake and mudguard clearance.
I suspect your bike builders thought long and hard before they put those Conti's on. Try them out.
by Malpas
29 Oct 2012, 3:24pm
Forum: Cycling UK Member Groups and Affiliates
Topic: What's happening to DA's?
Replies: 11
Views: 119655

What's happening to DA's?

Given that the term DA is disallowed by the CTC what's happened/happening to them? Are they just disbanding as they would seem to serve no purpose with the new CTC organization or are some reinventing themselves with a new title and changed/refocused functions?
I ask as the CTC CEO is strangely attending our "DA " (sorry, that's what it calls itself) agm. So some wider information/insights from others would be handy.
I guess he might tell us to go home ,we're wasting our time,whilst that might be fun and educational for some if not most of the "membership", I suspect he wont.
by Malpas
15 Oct 2012, 7:09pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Grid Iron 100 Sunday 14th October
Replies: 9
Views: 3076

Re: Grid Iron 100 Sunday 14th October

There certainly were a few irate drivers out there.The cars get forever wider but the lanes don't.
I suspect some locals are getting pretty anti cycling. There was a sportive on similar lanes the week before.
Wessex may need to think about limiting the numbers I would have thought 750 would be quite enough given the car parking and the size of the halls at the controls.That would n't get over the driver problems though.
Interestingly the locals seemed quite happy with the traffic going to and from the near by car boot sale (which I found very annoying) and slowed down ok ,without getting over stressed, for the numerous donkeys.
by Malpas
5 Oct 2012, 9:31am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Powder Coating
Replies: 8
Views: 4468

It was Armourtex that I was considering.I'm going to go for it.Looks like they know what they are about and have good reviews.
I will leave spare bolts on all the threads I want protecting.
by Malpas
4 Oct 2012, 7:47am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Powder Coating
Replies: 8
Views: 4468

Powder Coating

I have a Bob Jackson audax frame that needs a respray,early rusting round the top tube cable guides.
There is a company in London that does powder coating and they have good reviews and seem remarkably reasonable,for a single colour.Half the price of sending it back to Jacksons
Are there any downsides to powder coating?
I guess my worry is that I might lose functionality of the mudguard and rack eyes that I need to retain as from the photo's the coating looks a tad thicker and probably harder then paint.
Of course I accept that I will not get Jackson transfers.
by Malpas
9 Jul 2012, 6:06pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Himalaya Bike Advice
Replies: 6
Views: 3141

Re: Himalaya Bike Advice

I've ridden in the Himalayas with the CTC.
Your Dawes should be ok providing you don't overload it.
I can't see that front suspension would give you anything.Believe me you have to take it real steady on the descents as most of the hairpins are washed out and down to or infilled with rock.
Uphill is n't a problem there's plenty of time to pick a "good" line.
If you go on the 26' route I used Continental Contacts 1.75's the ones that are more or less smooth on the top but have grip on the top of the sidewalls for the bits of sand gravel or mud and they were fine and quite quick on good tarmac and smoothed out the bumps for the most part on the rougher stuff.
Most people on the tour were on 700'c with 28's can't remember any punctures but a van carried our luggage that would be a big difference.
by Malpas
19 Jun 2012, 5:34pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycling Clubs in Acton/Chiswick/Ealing/West London
Replies: 2
Views: 3067

Re: Cycling Clubs in Acton/Chiswick/Ealing/West London

Willesden CC no question.
Quite a big club ,some racers, into Audax in a big way.Closed road club TT's.
Visit their website.
London Dynamo have lots of members in that area, good if you are or want to be an out and out racer.
by Malpas
5 Jun 2012, 5:23pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Manxman to cycle the world!
Replies: 16
Views: 7484

Re: Manxman to cycle the world!

39.7 kph moving speed excluding plane transfers.Over 200 miles a day, 92 days, unsupported.
Amazing!
by Malpas
18 May 2012, 12:22pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Andermatt to Koblenz using Rhine cycleway
Replies: 10
Views: 6701

Re: Andermatt to Koblenz using Rhine cycleway

I've done much of this route (Koln to Basle) on 28 gatorskins.That said be prepared for many K of unsurfaced and or crushed loose stone paths.
I had one bag on my back when I did it (credit card touring) I did n't puncture, if you plan to load the bike with a lot of kit you might have problems.
It's a great ride, well worth the effort.
by Malpas
11 May 2012, 8:15am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Calais/Gravelines?
Replies: 4
Views: 2602

Re: Calais/Gravelines?

It's so easy just take the D119, nice quiet road will take you all the way to Gravelines.Will be just fine for novices.It starts about 400 m from the gates of the port,don't follow the cars.
Go to www.viamichelin.co.uk for all the maps you'll need.
From Gravelines there's some great lanes to get you to Flanders, follow the canal out of town.
by Malpas
16 Apr 2012, 3:56pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: CYCLING OUT OF IJMUIDEN HOLLAND
Replies: 13
Views: 7008

Re: CYCLING OUT OF IJMUIDEN HOLLAND

The ferry is fine as others have said it's on the north sea route.It's quite a big thing it takes cars, it's a serious piece of water and a long way to a bridge.
You can also ride the sluices, though it's a surprisingly long way, a few kilometers and you might get held up if a barge or two is going through.
I've done both a number of times ,you'll have no problem.
Ferry is best, you can have a coffee and a cake at the cafe while you wait.