Search found 5 matches

by Loopy
31 Aug 2018, 4:16pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Front rack for a Surly Disc Trucker?
Replies: 2
Views: 366

Re: Front rack for a Surly Disc Trucker?

Hiya

I've got the Disc Trucker - and likewise love it for touring, commuting round rutted country lanes and general riding. I've got the Tubus front low -ride on it - sorry, can't remember from the mists of time exactly what model it was, but looks like the Tubus Tara, and it fits with no bodges required. I tend to put it on for touring, then take it off for regular riding etc. and no problems fitting or removing.

Hope that helps
by Loopy
29 Sep 2016, 1:47pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: UK to Sahara and back?
Replies: 14
Views: 1147

Re: UK to Sahara and back?

Ha - yes, of course you'll be heading north in the way home, so no problem following the Via de la Plata. It is extremely well waymarked once you pick up the yellow arrows from Seville. From Gibraltar we just followed minor roads to get to Seville, then picked up the river to get into the centre of Seville (great bike routes into the city). Near the Cathedral you pick up the 'credenciale' or Pilgrim Passport from a nearby hotel (sorry can't remember the name but the Cathedral will point you in the right direction) and that gets you access to numerous cheap Albergues, or hostels along the way. The route is mostly off road on farm tracks, or on minor lanes, and marked constantly by yellow arrows. We did it on a range of bikes - Trek hybrid, Dawes Karakum, Edinburgh Bikes Cyclocross and my Disk Trucker. They were fine on most sections you'd want to ride (some sections were more like dry river beds and you'd be pushing whatever you were riding!). Any rough sections are generally few and far between. We left the Via e La Plata at Buenavente and headed through Leon over the Picos to Santander - great riding and a bit cooler than further south in August! Only thing we did wrong, was I had low riders on the front of my disc trucker - they were a bit problematic on some of the rougher or narrower off road sections. Would have been nice if they were slightly higher off the ground - but nothing serious. It's a great route and you would certainly have fun riding it north, and taking a different route south over to the east of Spain.

Morrocco, we went in a figure of 8 - sorry haven't got my diary to hand, but headed SE from Agadir, to Igherm, down to Tata, back a different rout to Igherm, back to Taroudant, then back to Agadir. All great fun on reasonable quiet roads.
by Loopy
29 Sep 2016, 1:22pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: UK to Sahara and back?
Replies: 14
Views: 1147

Re: UK to Sahara and back?

Hiya - coincidentally, we've done both Spain and Morocco as family cycling trips, although not linked as you are suggesting. Last summer we flew into Gibraltar and cycled back to Santander using the Via de la Plata - great route, although you might find following the waymarks a bit more challenging heading south. A few years ago (2013) we flew into Agadir in Morocco and did a two week loop round the Anti Atlas Mountains down to the Sahara at Tata and then back to Agadir for the flight home. We had absolutely no problems - stayed in cheap hotels, some campsites, some wild camping (difficult to get off the beaten track out of sight of goatherds!) and one memorable night when we were invited to stay with a local family. We found the locals to be generally charming, no hassle and deeply upset that their country is being seen as hazardous by travellers.

I would say go. Lots of useful information on routes over on 'crazy guy on a bike'. You won't regret it.

Loopy
by Loopy
14 May 2015, 9:57am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Brompton build
Replies: 12
Views: 1097

Re: Brompton build

Agree with the S type - I bought S type with 6 speed and rack + mudguards a couple of years ago for similar reasons - regular public transport and working around London and other offices. Great fun to ride instead of tubes/taxis or busses. Only points I would stress - S type bars limit the front luggage choices, so you can't fit the larger bags - worth considering if this is likely to be a problem. Secondly, I'm in Cornwall - similarly hily to Dartmouth - and in spite of being a regular cyclist and reasonably strong I wish I'd gone for the reduced gearing. I don't often spin out at the top end, but I'm often grinding up Cornish hills with gritted teeth!
by Loopy
30 Nov 2013, 10:17pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Advice needed on tourer purchase!
Replies: 23
Views: 2502

Re: Advice needed on tourer purchase!

CyclingTerrier wrote:Cheers guys, looking to possibly get the revolution cross. Thing is im 5'5, will 52cm frame be small enough?

Hi, my son bought one of these to use as a tourer. He's a relatively small 15 year old, and fits the 52cm frame fine. Great bike to use as a fast tourer - only a matter of time until he burns me off, but I'm still keeping ahead of him for now!