Cycling UK Forum

simonhill wrote: ↑10 Apr 2024, 8:03pm They used to do a good breakfast in the Station Buffet at Manningtree station.

Opens at 05.00, about 18 Kms from Harwich ferry if heading that way.

They also sell good beer.

The bacon/egg bap is still good but the free filter coffee you get alongside isn't so tasty.

I'd be happy to pop in for a pre-ferry pint but sadly it's always closed by the time I pass through

One thing I love about cycling in Europe, that you can't easily replicate elsewhere, is finding yourself near the border of another country and popping over just to see what things are like. I find it amazing that despite open borders you still notice the transition from one country into the other.

Although I don't read Crazyguy journals all that often any more, discovering the site was one of the things that got me hooked on cycle touring. I particularly remember reading a journal from an American couple who rode home to the US from Japan. Their journey was tough and for some stretches it didn't seem like they enjoyed themselves much, but their trip inspired me to take a slightly less punishing 4-month tour of my own.

That journal is now over 10 years old and things have moved on a lot since then. If anything things have become more fragmented: there's a lot more cycle touring content on Youtube, some of it excellently put together; people share snippets of their trips on Instagram/Facebook; others talk about their travels on one of several different cycle touring podcasts; some even self-publish books of their trips on Amazon. I think the vast majority go on trips and only share their experiences with their friends and family.

This issue has been known for a while (Brexit related?) but the level of awareness for this issue has always been low, and you could tell it was going to take a few ruined holidays making the headlines before people started to pay attention.

My burgundy passport expires in Sept but the 10-year threshold was hit in February. The turnaround time for a new passport in Jan was very fast: I sent my old passport on the Monday and the new one arrived Thursday of the same week.

I've used 32c Marathon Greenguards for a while now. They're basically bombproof - I can only think of one puncture ever. Unladen they're good on most unmade surfaces; with heavy panniers I find they tend to slide around a bit if the surface is too soft.

The big downside is the tyres have a very high rolling resistance. I go a good 1.5mph faster on my Continental GP 4 Seasons. I've seen some evidence to suggest that 32c tyres are even worse than the other sides, so when my tyres are due for replacement I'll probably opt for a 35c or 37c instead.

JohnR wrote: ↑23 Mar 2024, 12:26pm I'm happy with one of these https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m13b0s159p3 ... -Tool-Tray.

I have this too and am also very happy with it. More expensive than Lidl/Aldi but feels more solid

My Tern HSD has two 37 litre panniers which are more than enough to swallow a big shop, and I attach bulkier stuff to the rack with a couple of ROK straps.

For really large loads I have a Burley Flatbed trailer, and it's great. I've used it to carry all manner of stuff, such as this coffee table:



The wheels are easily removed for storage so it doesn't take up much space in the shed

CliveyT wrote: ↑15 Mar 2024, 10:19am but seeing you're staying in Gouda you'll probably have had enough of cheese by then

I'm not sure I've ever had enough of cheese

CliveyT wrote: ↑14 Mar 2024, 9:13pm Would be going right past de Molen brewery so I would have the problem of getting 'delayed' in Bodegraven

I’m going to Gouda in May (with my Brompton), this is now on my list of places to visit!

This is a fun agenda. Definitely take time to explore Delft and the boat suggestion is a good one too. Gouda is a pretty town that's worth adding to the list.

Within the towns you can leave your bike securely in guarded cycle parks ('Fietsenstalling' in Dutch). These are generally free for daytime parking. Recent experience in Delft/Utrecht is the guard will put a barcode sticker on your bike and give you a small keyfob which proves ownership. They'll scan both barcodes on the way in and the way out.
The guards don't always speak English but if you act confused a local will probably help out.

Secondly, take a look at https://www.groenehart.nl/the-green-heart-of-holland for some route inspiration

mattheus wrote: ↑7 Mar 2024, 1:25pm How do advance TGV tickets work in terms of cancellation/amendments?

Generally TGV INOUI tickets are refundable/exchangeable free of charge up to 7 days prior to departure else a 19eur charge applies: https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/help/conditions.

Travelling with a bicycle brings extra difficulty as close to departure you're unlikely to find a train with bike spaces available. Your only option might be to refund and go the slow route by TER.

In 2022 I travelled from London to Bordeaux via Dover, Calais and Paris. Whilst most trains were flexible, the Paris-Bordeaux TGV required a bike reservation and I'd have been stuffed had I missed that train. In the end I booked two tickets (+ bike spaces) for different Paris-Bordeaux departures (one 6h after the other) and cancelled Plan B when I got to Montparnasse station on time. I had to pay the fee for cancelling but as an insurance policy it was well worth it.

Jdsk wrote: ↑5 Mar 2024, 5:28pm The timetable for next year is:
Rotterdam Centraal 21:22
Den Haag HS 21:42

And the ferry from Harwich arrives at Hook of Holland at 0800 (or 1715).

The sleeper can be boarded at Rotterdam or Den Haag as above.

So what's the smart way to do this? Overnight crossing, cycle to Den Haag, visit some galleries, read a book until the evening?

Day sailing (with a half-price cabin), get to HvH at 1715. Drop into to the Albert Heijn supermarket (2 mins from the port) for provisions. Ride 10kms, have a picnic dinner in the dunes then ride the final 10kms to Den Haag before catching the 2142.

IME they won't transport the bags, only the bike, so you'll have to carry your panniers yourself.

The official luggage policy is 2 pieces of luggage plus one hand luggage, so two panniers and a bar bag would be fine

Checking my notes we also took the Cicerone guidebook recommended detour to Bruch. Although not a particularly interesting place, we did enjoy the most amazing menu du jour at the Café de la Paix. For 14eur we had a tureen of soup with melon and ham, a huge portion of moules frites and a frozen tiramisu for dessert. It was one of those places that was empty at 11:58 but full of local workers by 12:15. If you're nearby at lunchtime (and its open) then pop in!

The Cicerone guidebook is very comprehensive and will tell you pretty much all you need to know. As far as detours go, Auvillar is particularly nice and worth the short hop from the canal. There's a great view over the Garonne from just behind the mairie.

Agen, Moissac and Montauban would be good options for taking a break from cycling and doing some exploring.

In 2022 I rode between Bordeaux and Moissac, and a few years before that I rode the entire length. I recall the entry to Toulouse being a little dull so you could catch a train from Montauban (or another intermediate station) to Toulouse Matabiau.