Search found 33 matches

by JBB
23 Oct 2020, 3:04pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Recommended a 2 man tent for touring
Replies: 39
Views: 5373

Re: Recommended a 2 man tent for touring

The interesting thing I found with my Big Agnes tent was that if I used the footprint I could pitch it outer first as the poles clip into the footprint to create the structure, it's just then a question of clipping the inner into place. Alternatively I suppose it could be left attached at the corners so an all in one pitch is possible if you've planned ahead.
Personally as I have the footprint I use the outer first method when it's raining - which I pretty much discovered by trial and error!
by JBB
2 Sep 2019, 10:17pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Titanium Touring Frame - CdF or ???
Replies: 17
Views: 1962

Re: Titanium Touring Frame - CdF or ???

I'd consider the Sonder Camino as well, Kinesis do some decent titanium frames as well. Reilly cycleworks worth a look too, lovely bikes but pricy!
by JBB
23 Nov 2018, 11:27pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Planning our first small Tour ( novice cyclists )
Replies: 114
Views: 12808

Re: Planning our first small Tour ( novice cyclists )

With your budget and requirements I'd be trying to get a VSF, see our contributor bretonbikes for the review here http://www.bretonbikes.com/homepage/cyc ... e-vsf-t50s

Also well worth reading his other articles.
by JBB
1 Mar 2017, 10:45pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: St Jean-Pied-de-Port to Pamplona
Replies: 5
Views: 714

Re: St Jean-Pied-de-Port to Pamplona

I cycled up the Ibaneta last May on a weekday. The first 10k there was a bit of traffic but once over the border and past the cheap Spanish petrol station is was very quiet, a few cars and a couple of lorries. i didn't find traffic a problem at all. Once over though we headed south east towards Lumbier.

HTH
Julia
by JBB
13 Feb 2017, 11:35pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Best days for StMalo–Nice tour?
Replies: 7
Views: 672

Re: Best days for StMalo–Nice tour?

I think the important thing - especially with the distances you are contemplating is that if you start in May very few campsites will be open. We cycled fro Brittany to the Pyrenees last year, leaving on May 5th . Less than a quarter of the sites on our route were open.
by JBB
23 Dec 2016, 12:03pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: The Ridgeway (Western Section)
Replies: 17
Views: 3693

Re: The Ridgeway (Western Section)

simonhill wrote:The Barge Inn has changed a lot over the last couple of years. It was always very busy and noisy on Friday and Saturday, I know, I was a regular for many years. A mix of locals partying and the crop circle crowd. Mid week it was usually very quiet.

When I went earlier this year at the end of July, the campsite was reserved by Reading University for a whole month. Also prices had gone up and I suspected the owner was trying to make it a bit more upmarket. It is up for sale now so who knows what will happen next year. They do have a website with contact details.

If you want somewhere quieter then I can recommend the Golden Swan (west of Pewsey), freehouse, no food; or the Bruce Arms (east of Pewsey), Wadworths, great food.


Agree about the Bruce Arms, very good last time I stayed there.
by JBB
22 Dec 2016, 11:43pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: The Ridgeway (Western Section)
Replies: 17
Views: 3693

Re: The Ridgeway (Western Section)

Bigdummysteve wrote:I rode a section of it on the dummy fully loaded last year, some of the ruts were deeper than bb height. A good tip is to carry on to the Barge inn at honeystreet after avebury, good camp site and cracking pub. I'm planning to ride it end to end in the spring on the ecr, give me a shout if you want ( I don't go fast though)

If your looking for some winter trips I recently rode some great trails and camped up on dunkery beacon ( near porlock) the trail conditions were still good at the end of October


Our little group stopped there on a Friday night - never again. Music and loud conversation all night; well it stopped about 3 am. I gather this is normal for a weekend.
by JBB
29 Oct 2016, 12:00pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Budget bike for touring?
Replies: 31
Views: 5401

Re: Budget bike for touring?

Metal8 wrote:


I've got the Marin Four Corners and for the price it is a) exceptional value for money b) a real workhorse, steel framed, disc brakes, loads of mounting braze-ons, 40mm Schwalbe tyres, comfortable flared handlebars and angled stem for more upright cycling.

Tried the Revolution ones but they felt dead to me and very bumpy. Don't know if its that I'm so used to steel frames with skinny tubes and the Aluminium frames were the problem or just they weren't as good.

Only stock is in Leeds shop but they are available in places throughout the country and the 2017 model is out now but at RRP price so £700+

Great bike, love it.


I've got one of the EBC Revolution tourers and unloaded find it uninspiring. However loaded up it is much better. It tracks well and the ride is somehow much more responsive - feels like a different bike.
by JBB
17 Oct 2016, 2:59pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Budget bike for touring?
Replies: 31
Views: 5401

Re: Budget bike for touring?

Second hand is good if you know what you are looking at or have a knowledgeable friend. If you want new I'd go for one of the Edinburgh bike coop own brand and spend some money on a set of 36 spoke handmade wheels from Spa cycles.
Then allow some budget for a front rack and some pannier bags.

I cycled from Brittany to Murcia this year on previous version of the Revolution Country Tourer modified like this. We did smooth and rubbish tarmac, canal towpaths and cobbles and had no problems at all.
by JBB
23 Aug 2016, 2:23pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: What do you look for in a campsite
Replies: 108
Views: 9311

Re: What do you look for in a campsite

Well we used he place in May and it was adequate, quiet and clean with loads of space although the ablutions still had the workmen in so we were sharing the disabled facilities.

Went back in late June and what a transformation - all the ablutions renovated, redecorated and clean. Clothes washing facilities, the campers kitchen in place. Posters about where to go and what to do and STILL loads of room.

Just lovely!

Julia
by JBB
15 Jul 2016, 12:51pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Sub 1kilo 3 Season Sleeping Bag Recommendations.
Replies: 21
Views: 2532

Re: Sub 1kilo 3 Season Sleeping Bag Recommendations.

hufty wrote:Cumulus.pl make the bags sold by criterion-sleepingbags.co.uk. As you'll see from the latter's website, marketing isn't really their strong point. Criterion used to be called Cumulus hence there was an agreement that the Poles wouldn't ship to the UK. That's changed as of this year.

Anyway I got a Panyam 450 with hydrophobic down direct from Poland just before the pound dropped. It's a lovely bag, well made, roomy, lofts like anything, you can feel the build up of body heat, recommended. The only thing, as with any bag from any manufacturer, is making sense of the temperature ratings. At the moment I'm thinking I should have gone warmer but that's no reflection on the quality of the product.

[edit: the bags are full zip by the way]


I got one of these as well to replace a very old green dragon. very comfortable - note it comes in different sizes. I wanted a short one and bought from here. http://www.cyclo-randonnee.fr/sac-de-co ... -1530.html. Very helpfull as although the website says they don't deliver to the UK they added it as a temporary option after an exchange of emails.
by JBB
4 Apr 2016, 10:22pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Holiday in France St malo La Rochelle
Replies: 5
Views: 953

Re: Holiday in France St malo La Rochelle

If you want a good competitively priced meal at the end of your trip we enjoyed Les 4 Sergents. Sensible prices as a step back from the front and excellent seafood.
by JBB
25 Mar 2016, 11:15pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: What do you look for in a campsite
Replies: 108
Views: 9311

Re: What do you look for in a campsite

When can I give the place a try Geoff, currently expecting to be cycling Belle-Isle-en-Terre to Spain at the beginning of May.

The only thing I think I can add is that any rules about quiet are actually enforced. I've had camping ruined by this.
by JBB
23 Feb 2016, 8:35pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Maps for Spain
Replies: 8
Views: 3092

Re: Maps for Spain

At the moment the best option is to take the relevant pages out of the Michelin road Atlas; that's the plan for France anyway!
by JBB
22 Feb 2016, 11:17pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Maps for Spain
Replies: 8
Views: 3092

Re: Maps for Spain

rualexander wrote:Sounds like you won't be going through Catalunya but that is one part of Spain that has good topographical mapping available at a useful 1:100,000 scale for cycling http://www.stanfords.co.uk/Spain-100K-C ... SI00000639 also available in an atlas of the whole region http://ebotiga.icgc.cat/Atles-topografi ... 1100000/en

Further west - Aragon. It's the usual problem, big enough to show the smaller roads and not too big to carry!