Search found 33 matches

by Igobybike
26 Feb 2019, 7:32am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bikes on cross channel ferries
Replies: 26
Views: 4476

Re: Bikes on cross channel ferries

ossie wrote:Its a free for all when you get on board. If its busy you might return to find 5 bikes stacked against yours or more. The Hook / Harwich route is a roadies weekend favourite with plenty of bling and worried owners looking concerned as they lash their bikes to old tourers and the rest .They are secured by a rope, if quiet you rope it yourself but on occasion I've returned to find bikes having slipped down at odd angles and pedals / spokes intertwined.

I'm struggling to think what protection you could use other than copper pipe insulation for the frame. I've never seen anyone do that mind.


Thanks for all the replies. Yes, copper pipe insulation was exactly the sort of thing I was thinking of. I can see myself being that worried roadie, and I would be traveling at the weekend! But I am planning for a bit more than a weekend away. :-)
by Igobybike
23 Feb 2019, 7:23am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bikes on cross channel ferries
Replies: 26
Views: 4476

Bikes on cross channel ferries

Are any precautions necessary for bike transport on the cross channel ferries, in terms of how they are secured on the vehicle decks? In other words, should I perhaps be thinking of bringing some lagging to protect the frame for example? Or anything else? It'll be a carbon frame. I'm particularly thinking of the Hook of Holland and Dover Calais routes. Thanks.
by Igobybike
19 Sep 2018, 9:32pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Caledonian Sleeper
Replies: 48
Views: 44825

Re: Caledonian Sleeper

PH wrote:Are the new carriages in service yet? If so are they on all routes?


Certainly haven't seen any new carriages yet. Came back on the sleeper from Inverness two weeks ago and they were the same old ones. As you say, no three-abreast seats, just a row of two-abreast on one side and a row of singles on the other side. When I've had to take the seated accommodation because the berths are all sold out/too expensive, I prefer the singles to risking having a stranger beside me trying to find his or her comfortable sleeping position. The seated accommodation has always been full whenever I've used it, the chances of getting a pair of seats to yourself slim. My advice: take a berth if you can. It'll be worth it.
by Igobybike
18 Sep 2018, 10:06pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Caledonian Sleeper
Replies: 48
Views: 44825

Re: Caledonian Sleeper

bikerwaser wrote:I was wondering if there is any floor space on the train somewhere where I can put down my Thermarest for the night


No. There's only one seated carriage, the berths and the restaurant car. The aisles are narrow and bodies lying in them unlikely to be appreciated. You have to sit in a recliner seat if you don't want to pay for a berth.
by Igobybike
12 Sep 2018, 7:30am
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Commemorative Map?
Replies: 11
Views: 5523

Re: Commemorative Map?

Just as a matter of interest, although it may interest you or not :-) I had a commemorative frame sticker made of my route.

IMG_20180816_194414.jpg
by Igobybike
8 Sep 2018, 1:22pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: What would you do differently?
Replies: 17
Views: 5567

Re: What would you do differently?

Well, having now completed my ride I can answer this question. Firstly, it was a great ride, well planned if I say it myself, and everything worked 'perfectly', but not so perfectly that I couldn't think of ways to improve it.

So things I'd do differently:
* I wouldn't use the same route. I'd still be happy using the Royston Woods route as a basis, but I'd keep to the roads as far as possible and, in England, only use cyclepaths and canal towpaths where there was no reasonably quiet, reasonably direct 'safe' road alternative. In Scotland I wouldn't use the route on the A9 beyond Tain, I'd try heading up via Lairg.
* I wouldn't take my Gopro and accessories. Never used it, added weight, and my phone was adequate for my video skills and inclinations.
* I would take some chain lube. My friend did so I was able to use his. It helped keep the drive train running sweetly applying it a couple of times during the trip, although I had cleaned and lubed before the start.
* I wouldn't take 3 spare tubes, just one. Ideally I'd fit some tubeless tyres. Neither of us had any punctures, despite some of the surfaces we rode on.
* I can't really think of anything else!

Other than that it went very well, the daily distances well suited to our abilities and style of trip (unsupported B&B). I still don't know what sort of cycle tourist I want to be, or even if I want to be one - I think my natural 'style' is more 'sportive' than 'touring' and I can't say I really enjoyed the extra weight and drag of panniers, but at the same time I did like doing something other than a circular route, using the bike to travel rather than exercise. I don't think I'll do LEJOG again, just because there's the rest of the world to explore, but I'm really, really happy to have done it.
by Igobybike
4 Sep 2018, 4:33pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Royston Woods - A Safer Way - Who has actually done it ?
Replies: 34
Views: 19270

Re: Royston Woods - A Safer Way - Who has actually done it ?

Well, the Scottish section was great, as far as Tain anyway. Mostly minor roads or well surfaced cycle track/shared use path alongside major roads that were reasonably direct. Good examples of what cycle provision should be like on the whole, IMO. After Tain up to Helmsdale on the A9 it didn't feel so safe at all. There isn't a lot of traffic but what there is wants to travel at dual carriageway speed on single carriageway road, often narrow.

After Tain I'd be inclined to try going via Lairg instead, if I were ever to do it again.
by Igobybike
3 Sep 2018, 5:45pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: My 16 Day LeJog May / June 2017
Replies: 30
Views: 9895

Re: My 16 Day LeJog May / June 2017

I have just cycled the A9 from Tain to Helmsdale. From Inverness as far as Tain there is a cycle friendly route to avoid it, but no further it seems. At first there is a 'shoulder' for cyclists to cycle on, but once over the Dornoch Firth bridge this soon disappears. Then you are on a fast, single-carriageway in each direction road, the carriageway sometimes being wide, sometimes narrow, sometimes open straight road with good sight lines for drivers, sometimes tightly curved and not. It is not 'busy' if you go by volume of traffic, but the traffic there is can be very fast, and some drivers, a minority but too many, think it's ok to pass within inches at speed.

In short, it's been the worst road for cycling so far. I've been on more cycle-friendly dual carriageway than this -IMO. If I ever do it another time I'll avoid it.
by Igobybike
31 Aug 2018, 8:42pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Royston Woods - A Safer Way - Who has actually done it ?
Replies: 34
Views: 19270

Re: Royston Woods - A Safer Way - Who has actually done it ?

Paulatic wrote:Nice blog, just read yesterday’s and It’s a questionable route if it can make Penrith to Gretna hilly. Even sticking exactly to route7 isn’t hilly. I’m also following a group following Royston. They are nearly there now but was interesting reading on some of the canal days. On two occasions they’d had enough and bailed out onto a main road to achieve getting somewhere.


Haha, well you have to go over Shap from Kendal where we started from. Of course some people might say Shap is no big deal,and it isn't really that much of a deal, but with panniers and 8 days of cycling in your legs it can feel like something. I wouldn't say Penrith to Gretna is 'hilly', what I actually said was between Penrith and Carlisle there was a lot of up and down but the downs that preceded the ups gave enough momentum to get up the other side without too much effort, the run from there to Gretna Green was easy and then it 'seemed' like another slog to Lockerbie, seeming being the operative word - legs were tired and it certainly wasn't a flat day overall.
by Igobybike
31 Aug 2018, 6:58pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Royston Woods - A Safer Way - Who has actually done it ?
Replies: 34
Views: 19270

Re: Royston Woods - A Safer Way - Who has actually done it ?

Tizme wrote:I am planning on going both ways using Royston Woods route for a good part of it, but trying not to cover the same roads up and back where possible.

mkbutters, have you written a blog at all? I'd be very interested in hearing how you got on.


I'm in the process of doing it, and writing a blog as I go along. Like mkbutters, I've deviated from the route where accommodation is off route, but have mostly tried to find suitable places on route. I have on a couple of occasions so far abandoned the route and taken to roads when I got fed up with towpaths or poorly surfaced tracks. IMO large parts of it through England are best suited to a hybrid type bike with fat tyres and someone who likes slow going. It's not a route for 10 days or less but ok or good for a two week trip, and where you expect all your riding to be in daylight hours. A lot of it is really nice, scenic, safe, slow riding if you like that. I don't say much about the route/surface in my blog though.
by Igobybike
21 Aug 2018, 6:26pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: JogLe - oldest man to do LeJog is back doing it the other wa
Replies: 41
Views: 31065

Re: JogLe - oldest man to do LeJog is back doing it the other wa

Paulatic wrote:And........Yet another is having a go at it too, meet Lawrence https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-45227627


Oh no, I was hoping that I one day might reach an age where I could be the oldest and still fit enough to do it, but the goal posts keep moving :D

Respect and kudos to all of them!
by Igobybike
21 Aug 2018, 8:13am
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Advice needed - Where to start?
Replies: 14
Views: 2700

Re: Advice needed - Where to start?

You've got loads of time to train, supported or unsupported it will be doable, just don't expect to turn up and do it with only your commuting miles in your legs. I'd say join a cycling club and get out with them on longer rides at the weekends, it'll help motivate you to get out. Sign up for a few sportives. And definitely get some padded cycling shorts. Don't shy away from the Lycra :D
by Igobybike
18 Aug 2018, 10:02pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: What would you do differently?
Replies: 17
Views: 5567

Re: What would you do differently?

Cyril Haearn wrote:By notebook I mean a thing made of paper where one may inscribe words :wink:


Lol, and I if I tell the truth I didn't even think of that for a second - I just thought sub-laptop-sized computer :) I have to admit pen and paper would be handier for writing en-route.

Thanks for suggestions so far, keep them coming!
by Igobybike
18 Aug 2018, 8:54am
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: What would you do differently?
Replies: 17
Views: 5567

What would you do differently?

Soon about to leave for my own first, and maybe only ever LEJOG. Things are pretty much fixed - unsupported, with a friend, route, accommodation, number of days and style - ie b&b's, eating out lower weight higher cost stylee rather than the opposite. Still, for what it's worth, if you were doing it again what would you do differently. Maybe what one thing would you change, or take that you didn't, or leave behind?

Any hints, tips or suggestions that I should consider even at this stage? Thank you!
by Igobybike
16 Aug 2018, 7:26am
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: Royston Woods - A Safer Way - Who has actually done it ?
Replies: 34
Views: 19270

Re: Royston Woods - A Safer Way - Who has actually done it ?

mkbutters wrote:Update ------ LEJOG completed in 13 days using the Roystons route the majority of the way. 986 miles and 40699 feet

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27674531

I changed some of it to suite our overnight stops. Have to say it is a fantastic route and very safe. One major change was not using the A9 when north of Inverness as that is DEFINITELY a sure way to die! I went North at Alness to Lairg/ Crask Inn and the Bettyhill on final day. I drove back down the A9 on the return journey and was so glad I did not cycle it! The canal paths in general are all pretty good. There are 10-20 or so miles which are not so good but in the scheme of things are better that than busy roads.

Would definitely do the route again with some minor adjustments but other than that go for it.


Great! Thanks for that, was wondering how you got on. That's good to know and very timely as my friend and l are leaving in less than a week!