Search found 45 matches

by bikerta
28 Aug 2019, 11:15pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Police Incident?
Replies: 8
Views: 1461

Re: Police Incident?

I had an incident on my JOGLE when heading towards Lochgilphead from Oban. A car had left the road and the police were waiting for the air ambulance, so had closed the road. Cars were sent back, but the diversion was huge. I was not allowed to pass until the driver had been recovered from his car and they could not say how long this would be. Luckily for me, a local dutch man offered to load my bike into the back of his pick up and took me via several off road forestry tracks to rejoin the road a couple of miles further along. He even offered to take me up the next large climb, but I thought that would be cheating slightly. It was one of those moments when you just had to go with your gut feeling, as I was a solo female and the area was very remote.
by bikerta
5 Jul 2019, 11:17pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Trangia bottle on underside of bike with bike buddy
Replies: 6
Views: 1462

Re: Trangia bottle on underside of bike with bike buddy

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/bottles-cag ... sign-kage/

I have this fitted on my Thorn Sherpa and it takes a 1ltr trangia fuel bottle underneath the two that hold my water bottles.
by bikerta
22 Apr 2019, 9:36pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: High Peak trail
Replies: 4
Views: 883

Re: High Peak trail

I was staying with my Aunt in Stoke-on-Trent last week and drove over to Parsley Hay on Thursday with my bike in the back. I had intended to do the High Peak trail along with parts of the Tissington Trail. I was very disappointed not to be able to complete the trail and as I did not know the area at all, I ended up just cycling down into Ashbourne and then all the way up the Tissington Trail. Hoping to return to the area at some point this year, but it looks like this will be a long job. Things didn't seem to go right at all on that day, there was a crash between Endon and Leek, so took ages to get through, then this crash and finally had a problem with my car on the way back to Endon. Better luck next time.
by bikerta
21 Apr 2019, 11:19pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Quiet site near Loch Ness
Replies: 27
Views: 1567

Re: Quiet site near Loch Ness

I stayed at both the Foyers C and C site and the one at Dingwall, when I completed my JOGLE 4 years ago. I was not a member of the C and C Club at the time and had no problem getting into either site at the backpackers rate which was around £8 to £10. The site at Foyers has brilliant facilities including a lovely indoor seating area, with a shop selling home made microwave meals which they will heat up for you in their microwave. Wardens at Dingwall were especially helpful and even made me a cup of coffee when I arrived. Offered me a sheltered site when the forecast was for very heavy rain and advised me to stay back from the roadway. I found out why the next morning when there was a huge puddle very close to where I would have been pitched. I have now joined the club, mainly to ensure I can stay in their smaller sites when needed, but again I have managed to stay in many of these without being a member.
by bikerta
4 Apr 2019, 9:39pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Lejog from Fort Augustus to JoG
Replies: 14
Views: 3534

Re: Lejog from Fort Augustus to JoG

That's the route I also took on my JOGLE. It's a steep climb going out of Fort Augustus, but lovely quiet road all the way to Inverness. Then it's very easy to follow route 1 all the way to John O'Groats. I also agree about the road along the Naver, stunning part of the country.
by bikerta
19 Feb 2019, 8:03pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: FInding a Surly LHT or Disc trucker to try out ( Plymouth area )
Replies: 22
Views: 5467

Re: New bike

You are not too far away from Bridgwater in Somerset, where you can visit SJS cycles to look at their Thorn tourers. I have the Sherpa and is an excellent bike if you want to stray away from the roads and onto gravel tracks etc. Also makes a good commuter. Their Club Tour is a lighter bike if you do not intend to carry huge loads. You can easily arrange a test ride on your chosen bike and not just a quick whizz around a car park. They issue you with a map and away you go.
by bikerta
5 Dec 2018, 9:33pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Schwalbe 26” tyre query
Replies: 21
Views: 1440

Re: Schwalbe 26” tyre query

I really like the schwalbe Dureme 2" on my Thorn Sherpa. Great for rolling on tarmac, but cope very well on tracks and gravel. Only thing not so good at is mud. I have not had any punctures on mine in 8,000 miles. They are still available at SJS cycles and I will replace them with the same tyres when the time comes.
by bikerta
9 Nov 2018, 11:12pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Route navigation
Replies: 28
Views: 2325

Re: Route navigation

For example she'd like to do the Lon Las Cymru route in Wales.


I did this route 2 years ago and used paper maps all the way. To be honest, this route is very well marked with only a couple of places where I was unsure. I also have a Garmin E trex 20, which I tend to use only if I cannot tell which way to go and it gets me out of trouble. Would definitely recommend doing Lon Las Cymru though, some challenging hills but stunning scenery.
by bikerta
2 Sep 2018, 8:56pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: UPDATE - went!!! Budget touring : seeking advice on equipment
Replies: 168
Views: 8965

Re: Budget touring : seeking advice on equipment

I was on my JOGLE during Hurricane Bertha. 10 hours of cycling/walking in the heavy rain through Gretna and on to Lake District. Spent ages trying to get into a B & B in Lake District with no luck. Ended up at intended campsite to find they had camping pods. Unfortunately, the last one had been booked just 2 hours before. If I hadn't wasted time trying to get into a B & B I would have got the last pod.

Tent was still soaked from the morning pack up and with it being inner first,it got even wetter and then just let the rain in. Was sat in t shirt and shorts in puddles in the tent. Very low part of the journey. Ended up abandoning tent and sleeping in an ancient arm chair in the campers barn. Surprised to see the tent was still there the next morning. The very worst 24 hours of the trip, but also the part you remember the most. Tent soon dried in the strong winds the next morning along with my soggy waterproofs and good to go again. Mind you the climb up Kirkstone Pass and down the other side was very interesting in 70mph gusts. Spent the next night in a hostel!
by bikerta
2 Sep 2018, 12:17am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Britain's best tours
Replies: 35
Views: 2220

Re: Britain's best tours

And another one for Lon Las Cymru. One of the hardest tours with many big climbs but also the most rewarding. Very easy to follow and good campsites along the way.
by bikerta
12 Aug 2018, 6:51pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Advice required on choice of 2/3 person lightweight tent
Replies: 112
Views: 8043

Re: Advice required on choice of 2/3 person lightweight tent

I have been using the Vango Spirit 200+ which is the older version of the Xenon and I have also been very pleased with the performance. It is about 9 years old now and I have just returned from a week in the Yorkshire Dales with no problems. Porch is huge. It does tend to sag a little when it gets damp, but easy enough to tighten it up a bit as long as you remember to loosen it off again when it dries. I like the Xenon having a door on either side. I needed that option in the Dales, as I had pitched the tent to make the most of the views, but when the wind and showers picked up, I could not keep the door open. I would have been able to if I had the option of opening a door on the opposite side of the tent.

I would dearly love the Hilleberg version and I am sure once you have one it will last for years and years, but I just cannot stretch to that sort of money.
by bikerta
17 Jun 2018, 8:10pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Record attempt scheduled
Replies: 1195
Views: 110168

Re: Record attempt scheduled

Brilliant achievement. It took me 3 weeks when I did JOGLE. I watched his progress from about 100 miles out and found I was totally addicted to watching the new dots appear and the target getting ever closer. In the end I just had to stay up and see it through to the finish. Unbelievable that anyone can sit on a bike for that amount of time and to keep up the speed required throughout despite dreadful weather conditions. He certainly has my respect.
by bikerta
8 Apr 2018, 9:10pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Your thoughts about the Camping & Caravaning Club
Replies: 37
Views: 3344

Re: Your thoughts about the Camping & Caravaning Club

I really like a lot of the camping and caravanning club sites and have had good experiences with all that I have stayed on. If you arrive by bicycle, they will always find you a spot and they charge you the backpackers rate. This is usually around £8 to £11 a night. For that you get good facilities. Even if you are not a member the rate is not much more as you save very little on the backpackers rate. I joined last year for the first time to ensure I could get into some of the smaller sites, but to be honest most of them would let you in if you turned up on a bicycle.
by bikerta
24 Oct 2017, 6:04pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Lighting a Trangia
Replies: 77
Views: 9368

Re: Lighting a Trangia

To be fair, I have had my problems lighting my trangia, especially if I have only put enough meths in for a quick brew.

Matches work the best, but I have been caught out where the box has got damp and the matches no longer strike. In this instance I use a small paper taper (usually a bit of the crossword puzzle that I have finished) which can be lit using any lighter. I like the idea of dipping in the toilet paper though, but I do try to make sure all my kit has more than one use, hmmm what should I use it for first I wonder. :lol:
by bikerta
23 Oct 2017, 10:25pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Lighting a Trangia
Replies: 77
Views: 9368

Re: Lighting a Trangia

A match :lol: