Search found 84 matches

by Lilyf
21 Jan 2024, 7:18pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: The name of the warning gadget
Replies: 78
Views: 4362

Re: The name of the warning gadget

They can be purchased in-store from Decathlon.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/bike-safe ... mc=8176064
by Lilyf
16 Jun 2023, 6:26pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: How to protect skin while riding?
Replies: 78
Views: 3211

Re: How to protect skin while riding?

If you have short hair don’t forget to put suncream on your ears, particularly the tops of the ears, even when wearing a helmet.
When my hubby did a long ride several years ago this was one area he forgot to apply suncream to.
He now has permanent sun damage (fortunately only flaky skin) on the tops of his ears.
by Lilyf
29 Dec 2022, 1:39pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: My LEJOG for next summer
Replies: 29
Views: 6768

Re: My LEJOG for next summer

These are the steps alongside the railway line at Invershin (after approaching on a grassy, muddy for us when we did it, track).
There is also another flight of steps at the far end.
It was a case of unloading everything off the bikes to get them down the steps, reloading to push along the level platform, and then unloading again at the far end to get everything down the next flight.
It had rained when we did it, which made it even more dodgy, and pretty grim for anyone wearing cleated shoes.
The main road which we left and then rejoined wasn’t busy anyway!
In our opinion this stretch of cycle route 1 is a pointless and dangerous diversion.
028E973B-2F5D-4ADC-B8E8-90EC560C0100.jpeg
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by Lilyf
21 Nov 2022, 1:37pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: new / rare road signs
Replies: 26
Views: 2735

Re: new / rare road signs

Spotted on a heath in Norfolk.
Fortunately we only saw ‘wild ponies’.
3925BC26-93B2-4DD4-8B6A-DD1E0F749828.jpeg
by Lilyf
21 Jan 2022, 5:58pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Arnside Viaduct Cycling and Walking Trail - What do you think?
Replies: 23
Views: 4132

Arnside Viaduct Cycling and Walking Trail - What do you think?

Spotted on another site……..
There is a six month feasibility study into the viability of a walking and cycling route between Arnside and Grange-over-Sands - which would go across the Kent Estuary Viaduct.
For all those who would like to avoid having to ride or walk the ‘long way round’ then have a look at the attached link and find the section about ‘Arnside Viaduct Cycling and Walking Trail’
You will find a short survey, with the closing date of 4th Feb, where you can voice your opinions.
I, for one, would welcome the ‘shorter route’.
https://www.morecambebay.org.uk/what-we ... ou-in-2022
by Lilyf
8 Jan 2022, 12:09pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: JoGLE next summer
Replies: 29
Views: 2763

Re: JoGLE next summer

(Another vote for nickyboy's route (I'm local too). As you come to Fernilee on Long Hill, there's a right fork taking you down to a car park at the top of Fernilee Reservoir. There's a smooth, well-laid gravel track for about a mile along the side of the res (with slightly awkward gates at each end) and then a short steep pull up to the top of the dam. Across that, and then up the west side of Errwood Reservoir. It's a one-way tarmac road, good condition but pretty quiet and it climbs gradually, never too steep all the way up to Cat & Fiddle road. Straight across, another climb/descent, across the A53 then down the beautiful descent past Buxton Raceway. Lovely road, really quiet (unless there's an event on at the Raceway!). Then pick up the route again at Earl Sterndale.)

I copied and pasted the above paragraph.

I’m also local.
The gate at the lower end of Fernilee Reservoir is a swinging one. It hasn’t been fitted very well so swings open further than you would expect!
The swing gate at the upper end of Fernilee is much tighter, but the large gate can be opened easily once you know how! I’ve attached photos so that you can see how the catch works. You just slide the small block of metal up and then slide the bolt across.
Rareposter, I hope you don’t mind but I’ve added a little more detail to the section after the top of the Goyt Valley - as follows:
Once you have crossed the cattle grid at the top of the beautiful Goyt Valley follow the road to the right. You then take the first left (a steep little corner) and go up to the A537 (‘Cat’ road). Go straight across and then after a few yards go left and right to cross the A54. This next road has cattle grids at each end. When you have dropped down the other side then cross the A53 and continue past the raceway.
by Lilyf
30 Jul 2021, 11:30am
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Record attempt scheduled
Replies: 1195
Views: 110142

Re: Record attempt scheduled

3D177DF6-BBF3-463C-A15D-4CEEC32A178B.jpeg
Amazing achievement.
Well done Christina.
by Lilyf
25 Jun 2021, 11:17pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: 2021 LEJOG
Replies: 156
Views: 16865

Re: 2021 LEJOG

Ah, the stress of trains!
When we did our LEJOG in 2016 we had everything booked (except our last leg as we couldn’t book our bikes onto that train).
We were booked from Stockport to Penzance with a change at Newton Abbot.
First panic.
On arriving at Stockport we were informed by a member of staff that there had been a ‘bridge strike’ just north of Bristol and no trains were using that line. The member of staff was very helpful and managed to get us tickets to Reading Station, where we would change for Penzance, and said our bikes would be fine. The train was packed and ours were the first bikes on so we were ok but others joined the train further down the line and had to stand by the bike spaces with their bikes. We did feel guilty but it wasn’t our fault. The train we transferred to at Reading was actually the one we would have caught at Newton Abbot and there was plenty of space for our bikes in a separate carriage.
Our LEJOG was relatively incident free although a taxi driver hit hubby, in a close pass, as we cycled from Penzance to our accommodation near LE. It had turned the driver’s mirror in. A short while later the same driver passed us on his return journey and his mirror was back in the correct position. At this stage we got his registration number. He knew he had hit hubby and had obviously had to stop further up the road to put his mirror back. The incident was reported to the local police and taxi licensing authority. Hubby had no response from the police but the licensing authority said they would have him in and he would get a warning and the incident would go on his record.
The only other incident was when we had to push our bikes up a steep cobbled path from a canal to a road. It was so steep that my bike started sliding backwards with the weight of my luggage and I ended up in a heap with my bike.
Back to the trains…..
Second panic.
Before heading home we stayed in Thurso and had booked onto the first train to Inverness.
The train was a few minutes late leaving the station and we had a couple of unplanned stops on the journey. We should have had plenty of time to change trains at Inverness (to Edinburgh) but as it was we had to leap off the train and charge across a couple of platforms to catch our next train. We made it with seconds to spare.
The train from Inverness should have been several carriages long but for some reason it only had two. We were crammed onto the train and couldn’t access our reserved seats. We were on silly little seats outside a toilet. This was the only working toilet on the train and it was soon out of action!
A few minutes into our journey there was an announcement that due to staff shortages the train would be stopping at Perth and would NOT continue to Edinburgh but they would provide a coach transfer.
Third panic.
Would we be able to get our bikes onto a coach?
Fortunately, this was allowed and our bikes went, along with our panniers, into the luggage compartment. We knew that we should have a couple of hours to change trains in Edinburgh but by the time we had called at every station between Perth and Edinburgh we didn’t have too long to hang around.
Our train from Edinburgh to Manchester was bliss. It was smooth, with plenty of space for the bikes and we got our reserved seats.
Fourth panic.
Our final leg to home. As hubby has a free train pass (a perk for pensioners who live in Greater Manchester and can only be used in GM) I went to buy my own ticket. All good. We got onto the train and waited for it to leave. After a short while a member of staff got onto the train and said that there was a signalling problem on our line and that we would have to change trains to get home via a different route. Again, this alternative train was packed but we did make it back to our home station and pedalled the final mile home.
Since then, when we have gone on a tour we have cycled from home back to home.
I can’t be doing with the stress of bikes on trains!!!!
by Lilyf
4 Jun 2021, 5:24pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Comments on our May 2020 LEJOG route
Replies: 51
Views: 10198

Re: Comments on our May 2020 LEJOG route

Hi Nickyboy,
Re my post on page 1 regarding Sandy Lane in Congleton. Day 5 mile 11.
According to a cycling friend Sandy Lane, Congleton has very recently reopened as a bike only road.
However, he says to watch out for the kerbs at the lower end!
Enjoy your LEJOG.
by Lilyf
12 May 2021, 8:51am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Goyt Valley temporary road closure
Replies: 1
Views: 830

Goyt Valley temporary road closure

Hi All,

The wonderful route through the Goyt Valley (near Whaley Bridge/Buxton/Cat and Fiddle) will be closed from 24th May until the end of October. We often use this road and just wish they’d timed the closure for the winter months. Click on the picture to get a better image.
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by Lilyf
13 Nov 2020, 10:23pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: UK places with well known foreign place names
Replies: 120
Views: 5328

Re: UK places with well known foreign place names

There’s Nova Scotia near Northwich
by Lilyf
29 Jul 2020, 7:05pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: All of a sudden I'm doing a LEJOG
Replies: 60
Views: 4238

Re: All of a sudden I'm doing a LEJOG

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These are the steps that Ron has mentioned (a few posts earlier). They are dreadful. They involve taking all your luggage off your bike and carrying it and your bike down this set of steps. You then reload your bike to push along the walkway before having to repeat the process at the other end - as there is another set of steps. As mentioned it would be easier to stay on the A836 from Bonar Bridge.
by Lilyf
29 Jun 2020, 10:24am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Antisocial cyclists
Replies: 309
Views: 11512

Re: Antisocial cyclists

I experience antisocial cyclists a lot (and almost started the same topic the other day after being ignored more than ever!).
Some come up behind me and fly past, not a word, some come in the opposite direction and look through me without a word.
Is it because I am a woman, tootling along at my own speed or is it because I have my little carradice saddlebag on the back?
Does it make them think that ‘she’s not a real cyclist’ - when, in fact, I’ve been cycling longer than a lot of them have been alive (old enough to be their parent and in some cases their grandparent).
However, it won’t stop me saying hello or giving a friendly wave or smile, or pass the time of day with everyone I meet on my travels. That could be a 3yr old with stabilisers, a person out training, a club group, or the person (that can include me) who is pushing their bike up that nasty little hill.
We’re all on our bikes for the same reason. We love life and we want to stay as fit and healthy as possible.
Thank you, though, to all those who do acknowledge that I am there and even those who make me jump out of my skin as they greet me as they fly past from behind.
So, in my case, to all those out in the Cheshire Lanes and the hills of Derbyshire/Staffordshire - if you don’t do already then say hello to your fellow cyclists.
by Lilyf
31 May 2020, 9:39am
Forum: Family Cycling
Topic: Lyme park
Replies: 3
Views: 1790

Re: Lyme park

No, there isn’t a family cycling loop in Lyme Park (although I have heard that they have been making a mountain biking track). There is only one driveway up to the property and car parks, which is a long uphill, and therefore two way traffic.
You can actually get in/out of Lyme Park, by bike, at West Park Gate (if it is currently open???) but that’s a bumpy track.
From West Park Gate you can eventually get to both the Macclesfield Canal or the Middlewood Way (you’d need a map).
Access, in this area, to the canal is quite difficult with narrow stiles/gateways/steps.
The canal towpath is too narrow to pass others safely to give the required 2m space and the Canals & River Trust have been trying to discourage people from using it - particularly where boats are moored.
The Middlewood Way can be accessed at Higher Poynton (it runs from Marple to Macclesfield). However, the MW is very popular and has been exceedingly busy during lockdown and I suspect it will continue to be so. During the last week we have been doing a short stretch of approx 1 mile (at the Marple end) and most people, including us, try to stick to the 2m rule but there are a number of people who think that it is ok to hog the whole path.