Cycling UK Forum

mercalia wrote:Eurostar launches London-Amsterdam route
Does it mean anything for cyclists?

I saw this and tried to work out if their old policy on bikes had lightened ( especially as it was Amsterdam they were heading to).

Looks like you can pay a bit extra for big stuff and they put it in their equivalent of the guards van. Or stick in in a box or bag.

Has anyone experience of either method as I really do fancy cycling up to the islands.

I have ridden several rides over on the Isle of Wight.

The most recent with my daughter - http://www.bikeovernights.org/post/the- ... e-of-wight

I highly recommend the campsite at http://www.ninham-holidays.co.uk/

I have also done part of the clockwise http://www.cycleisland.co.uk/ route whch can be used to link into the red squirrel train ( http://redsquirreltrail.org.uk/ old railway track route)

HobbesOnTour wrote:

Hi Whizzzz,
I'm looking at the Elemnt for my touring needs. It's ,for me, huge advantage over Garmin, is the ability to create & load routes without a P.C.
I'm wondering if to create a route in RidewithGPS and load it to the unit you also need a subscription to RWGPS?

Also, any other feedback appreciated!

Frank

Sorry I missed the reply, but what Bez said I havent tried creating a route on my phone yet, but the rest of it is great, the navigation easy and possibly a bit beepy/noisy ( but configurable to turn the volume down I think ) on wiggly turny routes, but very impressed so far.

After reading similar tales, I went for the Wahoo Bolt. Its a black and white screen, but other than that it seems better than more expensive options.

Decent battery life, you can plot maps using ridewithGPS.com, it links to wifi so you can in theory get routes when you are out ( if you have made them ) via your phone etc.

Easy to use, the maps and LEDs show the way whilst beeping if you want near to junctions.

Pretty impressed with it, certainly have a look at the review videos and stuff.

The mountain top is 4,389m high. At the top I learnt a very useful life lesson. Dont creep up on a sleeping guard who is armed with a big gun. Okay, creeping isnt really the right term, pant maybe We all saw the funny side of it afterwards when I carefully broke out the biscuits and he worked out the satellite thingy he was guarding probably wasnt going to be taken over by 5 white people on bikes, but for a few seconds it was a little scary. The pass is probably 500 to 700 meters lower. The thin air was very odd on the way down, the lack of wind resistance from the drop from the summit down to the road was very noticeable and made judging speed over the track difficult. Ethiopia was a wonderful place to ride, very safe, lovely people and lots of pasta on offer from even the most basic of roadside cafes.

Mount Tullu Dimtu ( 4,389m ) in Ethiopia.

It was a long way up, but super fast on the descent. The mountain is one of the lumpy bits behind me .

Hi, we are just back from our first proper cycle camp trip. We, my 8 year old daughter and I rode across the Isle of Wight and stayed at the very lovely Ninham Farm campsite that I saw mentioned here. Many thanks to all who spoke about it, it was great and very cycle friendly.

A few photos are here - http://imgur.com/a/Xz1bW

We rode from Cowes south along the Red Squirrel trail which is mostly on an old railway line to near Sandown. About 20 miles each way. we stayed over at the campsite for two nights and made good use of the pool and facilities.

Where next ?

The most recent one I have ( Neoair I think ) doesn't have any foam in it at all so wont do anything unless air is pumped in. I did have a play at bodging something with my bike pump and a cork to help as I didnt like the idea of trying to blow it up myself or of the dampness inside it going moldy. They do sell a small battery pump, and the mat and the pump are still smaller / lighter etc than some of the mats I have, but keep the full length and depth.

My old mats I store unrolled and with the valve open, not sure if it helps with the foam or not, or if the foam will eventually disintegrate, but liek sleeping bags it seemed to make sense and my oldest Thermorest a 3/4 length one from the 90s is still going strong ( if not a little patched ), but is just a little too thin for my aging bones.

Geoff.D wrote:

whizzzz wrote:A few years back I rode around the Bale mountains in Ethiopia. It was a lovely place to ride - a few photos are here https://www.flickr.com/photos/treacleta ... 4058524733

Smashing, whizzz. Plenty of memories here for me. Thanks for posting.

Its a great place, lovely people and I felt safer there than I do in Basingstoke of an evening. Lovely riding with very little traffic.

serbring wrote:Hi all,

I'm fascinated about Africa and I'm considering to tour there for the next summer. Is there any route most of the bikers follow? Any safe country?

Thanks

A few years back I rode around the Bale mountains in Ethiopia. It was a lovely place to ride - a few photos are here https://www.flickr.com/photos/treacleta ... 4058524733

Thinking about my first tour, I thought about Holland ( I really fancy seeing the islands up on the coast ), but the slog to get to Harwich is putting me off a bit. I am closer to Pompy so France seems like an easier / cheaper option. I have seen route 4 going from St Malo to Cherbourg ( with some sight seeing towards La Mont St Michele and some WW2 diversions on the way up).

I was thinking 3 or 4 days with a tent.

Any thoughts ? Suggestions on route ( if not the mapped velo 4 ), campsites that I should try for, places to avoid etc ? Any blogs of people who have done it that might get me more excited ?

thanks

Isle of wight, some quite roads and some flat cycle tracks. Its fun and different. Get a train down to Southampton, then over on the ferry. Not cheap maybe ( the train bit anyway ), but very easy with lots of time to talk and see things. I have been over with my daughter ( 6 at the time ) and she loved it.

I know the bit of A303 from Stonehenge to Basingstoke. I dont think I would want to ride on it. Its dual from Stonehenge eastwards, motorway fast with lorries etc. I would hope there is a better route. Something joining up the smaller towns maybe ?

jgurney wrote:So do you think anyone who booked a flight from Aberdeen to London should be able to turn up at Edinburgh airport instead and be able to walk onto a flight to London with the same airline using the same ticket? That is also a shorter journey.

I dont think its really the same, as the train will be stopping at all the stops anyway and I guess and not making detours. I cant see why me getting on after the paid for stop or getting off a train early causes an issue to anyone other than the ticket machine on entry / exit.

Seems like an issue is the pricing policy, if they got that right / sensible, it wouldn't be an issue financially ( ie the further the travel the more you pay ), or put turnstiles in all at stations so the ticket has to match the station.

Is it down to just confusing the ticket inspector or just something they have to put in place to get around a loophole that was once used ?

If I was riding to a station and felt good, then I think I might ride onto the next station if time permitted and expect to use the same ticket. I dont think I would think about asking for a refund for the un-used section of my ticket, or for them to be upset by me doing it.

Funny old world...

softlips wrote:People like you are my inspiration.

Hear hear ! Yup I certainly wont laugh, good on you. Best of luck with it and if you find anything put a link to it here. I have seen guides on how you get to ride 100 miles in a session, regular rides with the occasional big one ramping up to the 100 mark, but I haven't seen any race orientated ones. I would guess there are commercial companies who can help, but I bet with some web digging there must be some overviews or experience you can use to help shape your own.

Nice one, enjoy the rides.