Cycling UK Forum

Sweep: I think I discussed this a bit when you asked in my recent post about Sputniks.

Transport is still not brilliant in the countryside and nowadays the kids ride 50 cc scooters and motorcycles, often very dangerously. The sound of the Mobylette used to be one of the sounds of France. Heard far more often than the accordion. I was in France a few months ago add have been trying to...

Look carefully at the colours, they are a lot duller than at first sight. I went for the red, thinking it would be pillar box, but it looks a bit washed out on the bike.

The green is definitely a few shades down on British Racing.

Given that getting the visas is the toughest part of this ride, you are asking a lot. You don't say where you have looked, so we could be repeating what you have already looked at, nonetheless: The Lonely Planet thorn tree forums for each country are usually good places for up to date info on visas;...

I just marvel at how many rims, tyres, bikes, etc some people have and how you seem to regularly swap them about. Admittedly in hthe last couple of years I have added an almost identical Surly to what was my one and only bike and now have a new Brompton as well. Nonetheless, the rims on my touring S...

To me that looks like a very modern Solex. I used to have one when I was 15 and working the summer in France, 50 or so years ago. The legal age there for a moped was 14, compared to our 16. Mine had a much heavier frame, more in the style of an old Raleigh or Flying Pidgeon roadster, but chunkier. I...

There are plenty of people who are not ultra lightweight or even lightweight who only use rear panniers. I don't know why you are even considering (or worrying about) a front rack. This all seems a bit confused to me. I seem to remember that a front rack and 2 panniers adds up to something like 1.5 ...

Glad you enjoyed it, nice photos as well. Re bikes on trains in Vn: it's no problem, but you book your bike in separately and it goes on a goods train. If you do it a day in advance then it's there when you arrive. Re bikes on planes: The poly bag is not something they are used to in Asia. Some airp...

I wonder if sidewalls are getting stiffer/tougher since they became ebike compatible. I use so few tyres, I can't make detailed comparisons. I used to use the previous 2 versions of the Marathon Originals. Liked them both, the later version was a bit better. When greenguard replaced them (how many o...

Can't help on lightweight tourers, but maybe you should define your proposed load. You say you can get it all on the Cannondale for less than the 15kg Dawes. Adding a few bits on the Cannondale to carry it plus guards, etc, I reckon you are talking 5kgs of gear. Is that about right? I partly ask as ...

He could try contacting CyclingUK head office. They often have articles in their magazine about people cycling with disabilities. There is usually a charity or other organisation involved.

Have you thought about getting one of those tools that helps with tyre fitting. I use a VAR and it works fine, but don't know if it would cope with M+.

Having it in my saddlebag eases my fear of a puncture.

They gave those little CTC stickers away, I think I got mine at a TdF event in Kent. I had one on my last touring bike for many years. Probably still got one somewhere. I think they were reflective (as in reflecting light, not as in thoughtful). I thought then that they should push them more so as t...

A few years ago Gardener's Question Time did a special on plants to protect properties from thieves, etc. You should be able to get info by searching their BBC Radio 4 website. I remember that pyracantha was mentioned. I have one (not for protection), it is evergreen, lots of red berries for show an...

There were plenty in the bundle, 10 or so. Can't remember where I bought them. Probably before pound shops, but that's the sort of place to look. In the kids toys, maybe.