Cycling UK Forum

my "main" bike is a tourer that Rourke's built for me about 5 years ago - drops, disc brakes, not hydraulic. I enjoy leisurely day rides and multi day tours. These are some very useful suggestions - I think I will go back to Rourkes with them and get some advice there. The Cambridge contact is also very useful to know - I live a long way from Cambridge but have family there and visit regularly so that is also a possibility

Heads up - I ride but if anything goes wrong other than a puncture I go straight to a bike repair shop. My problem is brakes - I have been struggling for a few years with braking - I thought I was getting a bit arthiritic in my old age. However it transpires that I actually have Parkinsons disease and that is the reason the grip on my left hand is not very good. In fact pretty awful and I am getting a bit scared of long steep descents. Is there anything that I can do to help?

Thank you - very helpful

Can anyone help - are the off road sections between Ashford and Chatham manangeable on a road bike?

I am 5'1" with relatively long legs and a short reach. I also have a small grip and a bit of arthritis in my hands.Having cycled on an ancient hybrid for years I treated myself to a carbon fibre frame road bike which I was unable to get on with (it was supposed to be the right frame size) and put it in part exchange for a Dawes Galaxy which was a serious mistake as the reach and grip was totally wrong. Saw a lady much the same size as me riding as a tourer a Boardman CX which she had adapted. I asked her for a go, liked it and got the same. Its OK and I have done a lot on it but as my retirement present to myself I had a frame and bike built for me at Brian Rourkes in Stoke. Its a tourer which is what I most like doing. £2,800 complete. It is fabulous and for the first time ever I have a bike that feels absolutely right. So my message is - try a few bikes - not as expensively as I have done. Get a feel for what you want for what you like to do - and when you have settled its almost as cheap to get one built as to buy an off the peg frame.

Of course if you want a fantastic route with a few mountain climbs you should try the Lon Llas Cymru from Chepstow to Hollyhead. Not only does it include the Gospel pass and the mountain Road to Machynlleth (By the way there is an excellent B and B at Forge as you sweep down from the top and they run you in to Mach for a meal) but you also have a real gem after Corris. I thought I knew Wales pretty well but from Corris you go up a side valley to a place called Aberllefenni and keep going up and up and up and then emerge onto a track - technically off road but its fine - and go over the shoulder of the Waun Oer Ridge and down to near the Cross Foxes. Superb. Never been there before.

Horseshoe pass near Llangollen is a local favourite. Or go to Welshpool and try climbing the Long Mountain from Leighton. Or from Forden. Or from almost anywhere. Or head to Meifod and potter from Newbridge to Cyfronydd.

What is the off road section through the Kershope forest like - is it OK on a touring bike?

Avoid alcohol for at least 2 months before the trip - especially beer

I stayed on a croft near Benbecula airport and then crossed to North Uist on Sunday - and let me tell you if you don't know already NOTHING happens on North Uist on a Sunday except the church car parks were full. I followed the A 865 round the west of the Island. I originally thought of cutting across on the unclassified road under Maireabhal but as I had masses of time to get to the ferry I carried on round the coast and the bit round Scolpaig is particularly attractive. I did a detour into the nature reserve but failed to climb the hill for possible views of St Kilda. Somewhere on the North Coast is possibly the most remote Co op in existence (shut of course). There are some interesting archaelogical sites before you cross to Berneray. Now if you think North Uist is quiet on a Sunday let me tell you that compared to Berneray, North Uist is a throbbing cosmopolitan centre. I sat on the shore watching the seals in the settlemant on Berneray at Sunday lunch time and a door slammed. No other sign of life (human that is) until I went round to the hostel for a cup of tea and just to see where it was. Greeted(?) by an ancient couple of cyclists. When I ventured to say what wonderful weather it was and how fantastic the scenery they moaned about the head wind. Doesn't take much intelligence to realise that its not a good idea to cycle South west when the prevailing wind is whipping off the ocean. Crossing the Sound of Harris is an amazing route avoiding rocks. shallows and minor islands accompanied by seals and marine birds. Thought I might have to pedal hard to Tarbert to get some food that night but ended up in the most expensive hotel of the trip at Roghadal which was worth the money - let me tell you about the church at Roghadal and the old crossing point to Skye and the fantastic ride to Stornoway . No - I will be here all night.

Really appreciate the advice.
Swimming - well yes I decided to swim as I couldn't do anything else and not having swum for 20 odd years found I was with the old ladies who swim without getting their perms wet and they were going far faster than me - so I am now having swimming lessons. Different muscles - makes your shoulders ache. So yes - I think a break for a few weeks is called for - and the next tour is on the planning stage for September. Dover- Cape Wrath. The other diagonal - again very leisurely and a lot of interesting detours. Good idea about gritting. What are spiked tyres? Sort of crampons on wheels?

September 2015 - fantastic - a leisurely and very circuitous Lejog and I feel really fit.
October - back to work and within 3 days I feel rotten - variously diagnosed a bladder infection, virus, pneumonia and in the end - whooping cough. 2 months of feeling really low. Try to cycle to the station and back and call for a lift.
Beginning of December - start to feel human again and break my ankle.
Now - have done a bit but feel unhappy about risking it on ice and potentially rebreaking ankle - but also lacking confidence and stamina -any advice for getting back in shape?

And if you wait till you are 60 and get a Senior railcard the train is even cheaper!

Last year met this pair at Wilderhope YHA - LEJOGing with guitars slung over their backs
http://www.teamtroubadour.com/

I am not the greatest of cyclists. I really dislike heavy traffic, nervous about roundabouts and right hand turns, useless at speed - but OK on stamina and hills. I have just done LEJOG - admittedly in the dryest September on record and had the most fantastic time.
A lot of the routes I read about went through Runcorn. Well with all respect to Runcorn - nothing against the place - but I didn't want to go there. So my route avoided Runcorn.In Cornwall Devon and Somerset I used sustrans routes and then cycled through Wales on the Lon Las Cymru from Chepstow to Hollyhead. Ferry to Dublin - cycled to Newry and then did a bit of a diversion over the mountains of Mourne and the Strangford Loch to Belfast and then to Larne. Ferry to Troon - cycle to Ardrossan - ferry to Brodick and cycle round to Lochranza. Ferry to Claonaig and cycle to Oban (only wet day). Awful crossing to Barra - as I threw up local children were eating fish and chips and swilling coca cola. South first to Vatersay - (bit of island bagging as well) before heading North exploring the Outer Hebrides to Stornoway and ferry to Ullapool. Fantastic day up to Durness, then along to Thurso and a last few hours to Dunnett Head and John O'Groats. 23 days cycling. 3 rest / ferry days. Longest day 74 miles - shortest about 30. On my own to Chepstow - a friend cycled in Wales with me and met non cycling husband in Dublin. Not sure you could call him a support team but he had great fun doing his family history and visiting historic sites.
Now planning the next one.
Message to all ladies of a certain age who might be a bit nervous of LEJOG - just take your time - you can do it - its great.