Search found 215 matches

by Galloper
13 Jul 2023, 6:55pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Fat tyre eBikes - practical?
Replies: 2
Views: 3188

Re: Fat tyre eBikes - practical?

I've been using a Cube fat bike for several years now. It has 4" tyres and, with a suspension fork and seat post, gives a very comfortable ride. It is, however, definitely on the MTB side of the street. I wouldn't recommend it for normal use, for fire roads and forest tracks, it's excellent.

That said, there are a number of more road oriented bikes with wide tyres, I have seen an MTB style frame but equipped with MTB size tyres with a road pattern, mud guards and lights and that would, I suspect, be a very practical bike for touring and everyday use.
by Galloper
24 Mar 2023, 7:00pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Dream basecamp (towns) rec's for a road cyclist visiting the UK, whats yours?
Replies: 14
Views: 891

Re: Dream basecamp (towns) rec's for a road cyclist visiting the UK, whats yours?

First a comment on the Lake District, Ambleside is lovely but gets very crowded in the holiday seasons. It will still be busy at other times but not quite so crowded.

Towns. Number 1, Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales, great scenery and great cycling.

Number 2, Rhyader in central Wales, highly recommended.

Number 3, Newton Stewart in South West Scotland. A largely unkown gem, well worth exploring.

Number 4, Alston in the North Pennines. More wonderful scenery and challenging riding.

Number 5, Helmsley at the Southern edge of the North York Moors.

All these towns will make great basecamps but it's the areas that they are located in that are the main attraction so anywhere in the general area will be enjoyable.
by Galloper
24 Feb 2023, 6:44pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Camping municiple in France
Replies: 27
Views: 3137

Re: Camping municiple in France

Not a route list but this website gives an easy way to identify sites.

http://www.camping-municipal.org/
by Galloper
23 Dec 2022, 6:57pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Generic bags to fit Brompton bikes?
Replies: 16
Views: 2024

Re: Generic bags to fit Brompton bikes?

Have a look at Carradice website, they have a number of excellent options at a wide variety of prices. I use a Barley saddlebag on my Brompton and it doesn't obtrude on the fold. I also have a Carradura saddlebag which I use on another bike and that holds everything I need on a day out.

If you have a rear rack then you have a wide range of options from a simple drybag to any number of rear rack bags but you'll have to remove then to fold the bike.
by Galloper
4 Aug 2021, 6:54pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: cycle touring books
Replies: 57
Views: 2725

Re: cycle touring books

Any books by Josie Dew or Anne Mustoe. Edward Enfield's books for a very laid back approach.
by Galloper
23 Apr 2021, 6:46pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Google Fit?
Replies: 10
Views: 707

Re: Google Fit?

I have it on my phone but found it a bit hit and miss. If I put it in a rear pocket on my cycling top, it records the ride, In a breast pocket, it doesn't. ???
by Galloper
17 Mar 2021, 7:09pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: 29er MTB tyres for off road touring
Replies: 8
Views: 915

Re: 29er MTB tyres for off road touring

WTB Nano 2.1 would be my recommendation, came as standard on my Surly Ogre and have impressed from the start. Reasonably light and with a centre strip to aid fast rolling on road and hard surfaces. Not a tyre for muddy or really soft conditions but an excellent off road tourer. I've just bought a replacement for the rear which is showing it's age and noticed a blurb on the packaging which states it is the most popular tyre for those brave souls riding the Great Divide Race!
by Galloper
19 Nov 2020, 6:52pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Bosch computers
Replies: 4
Views: 604

Re: Bosch computers

The Bosch Nyon is interchangeable with the Intuvia, just slide one off and replace it with the other. That said, although I use a Nyon regularly, I don't find the satnav function particularly good. You would probably be better off spending a similar amount on a Garmin or similar.
by Galloper
11 Nov 2020, 7:25pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Hot food on rides...
Replies: 97
Views: 6301

Re: Hot food on rides...

Came across an interesting solution a few months ago when I shared a socially distanced bench with some walkers. A flask full of hot water, poured into a pot noodle. Seemed to do the job and the guy clearly enjoyed it. Not my cup of tea but, functional.
by Galloper
8 Oct 2020, 7:20pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Clatteringshaws to Glen Trool
Replies: 7
Views: 780

Re: Clatteringshaws to Glen Trool

It's a couple of years since I've ridden it so memory is a bit hazy as to the steepness of the climbs. The first few miles from Clatteringshaws are a single track tarmac road. It then becomes fire road until you have reached Lough Trool. The surface is rough and stony in places with a few fairly long but not overly steep climbs. The last section of track, from Lough Trool up to where it becomes a tarmac road once more, is fairly steep but quite short.

It's a very enjoyable and scenic route but I would suggest, given the nature of the fire road section, more suitable for mtbs. A sturdy hybrid or tourer would cope, with care. It is, indeed, NCN 7. An OS map would be my recommendation.
by Galloper
23 Aug 2020, 6:53pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Brooks Saddles (Sprung) to stop Wibble Wobble
Replies: 14
Views: 585

Re: Brooks Saddles (Sprung) to stop Wibble Wobble

A suspension seat post offers as much, or more, comfort than a sprung saddle. They cost from around £35 up to well over a hundred. I have one of the £35 models and it works very well. Some of them can be adjusted to suit your own weight. If you already have a saddle with bag loops, then a suspension seatpost is well worth a try. They come in different widths so check before you buy.
by Galloper
9 Aug 2020, 6:48pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Tyres
Replies: 12
Views: 983

Re: Tyres

Decathlon have several 26x2.00 types in knobbly tyres. They also have sub 2.00 in a more road oriented format.
by Galloper
28 Jul 2020, 7:03pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: ROAD Cycling routes around Northumberland
Replies: 3
Views: 313

Re: ROAD Cycling routes around Northumberland

Best place to start is with a copy of the regional Sustrans maps, numbers 33, 34 and 40. These show all the local and national cycle routes. They will also show whether they are on or off road. You can order them from Sustrans, your local bookstore or Amazon. The following web page will help:

https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/cycling
by Galloper
21 May 2020, 7:10pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: New bike choice - Surly disk trucker ? - 26 inch wheels - frame size ?
Replies: 20
Views: 1215

Re: New bike choice - Surly disk trucker ? - 26 inch wheels - frame size ?

I have a LHT, 26" and love it. I have toured with panniers front and rear and the bike is perfectly stable and easy to ride, even on poor surfaces. I did switch out the drop bars for butterfly bars as they offer, imho, better control on rough surfaces. The other change I've made is to fit a suspension seatpost which improves comfort greatly. It's an excellent all purpose bike so whether you use it for commuting or touring, it will do very well.

I agree with all the comments of the Surly Troll. I don't have one but have it's big brother, a Surly Ogre. 29" wheels and undoubtedly a good intro to the larger wheel size but both it and the Troll are more rough stuff oriented so great on trails and rough surfaces but probably a bit overkill for commuting. Any of these bikes will give you great pleasure and I wish you joy, whichever one you go for.
by Galloper
20 May 2020, 6:59pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Healthy food/snacks suggestions
Replies: 68
Views: 4241

Re: Healthy food/snacks suggestions

I like Jordan's Frusli bars. They're fairly moist, which I find helps and seem to do the job energy wise. A simple way to decide is to have a look at the energy information given on the box, I look for the "traffic light" symbols as a quick check. Other than that, bananas or for a real energy boost, if not particularly healthy, Soreen Malt Loaf. Yum!