Cycling UK Forum

Have always been a fan of East Coast Trains website as it tells you if you can reserve a bike space.
As it has been swallowed up by Virgin I expect their website will disappear so does anyone know of an alternative website where you can check if bike spaces are available.
I tend to be quite free and easy when it comes to booking holidays and YHA and bike on train spaces often dictate my travel.

On the subject of bikes and trains I have noticed great efforts being made to facilitate biking to/from stations such as the excellent cycle hub at Sheffield station but I fear train companies will think they have done their bit when getting a bike onto a train is just as important but seems to get harder. Oh for the days of guards vans.

Would say in both cases the people were over reacting.
A rear light on the pavement can't be any brighter than on the road and if the motorist can't discern which you are on then they need to be more observant.
As for flashing lights causing epilepsy I have no special knowledge but surely someone would have sued a manufacturer for causing fits by now if it was the case.

I would say don't worry about it

What are your recommendations for a new compact digital camera for cycle touring.
The hardest criteria to satisfy for me are lightness (especially including charger) and battery life.
So to meet the above I would want a USB cable only charger (will carry a USB plug anyway) and OPTICAL viewfinder (LCD display is biggest consumer of power).
Am using a canon powershot A560 at the moment as all my electronics run off AA batteries but these don't last too long in a camera and the camera is a beast.

Ta

My friend having saved up & paid £2000 for his dream bike made in God's own county went out for his first proper ride and ended up having his front mech mashed up in his front cogs- Ouch.
He is a chartered engineer, qualified cytech and lifelong cyclist so knows his stuff and is obviously dismayed at splashing out on a dream British hand built bike only for it to fail so miserably so quickly. Having contacted Ellis Briggs and being told bluntly they had done nothing wrong, but fetch it in and we will have a look at it anyway he is obviously quite peeved.
He asked me to copy in his e-mail he has sent to all he knows on his opinion of Briggs but it is a bit too strong to include here.
Has anyone else had problems with Ellis Briggs after sales service?
The front mech in question had plastic shims to clamp to the seat tube which I am surprised at on a 2k custom built bike. He also had problems with his requests for a square taper bottom bracket, seat type & gear ratios.
I know these few remaining British bike builders are rightly cherished but can anyone comment on how Ellis Briggs operates? - are we paying over the odds just for a union jack badge?
Ta

Riding Le Tour stage 2 York-Sheffield next weekend and wondered if anyone has already done it and could give advice on the route road conditions.
It is more important that we enjoy the ride rather than sticking religiously to the official route so trying to avoid really busy roads. Looks like a lot of A-roads which may or may not be too pleasant to ride. We are doing the stage over a weekend and staying YHA Mankinholes half way so can afford a few detours.
Any advice much appreciated especially on busy roads to avoid.

Riding Le Tour stage 2 York-Sheffield next weekend and wondered if anyone has already done it and could give advice on the route road conditions.
It is more important that we enjoy the ride rather than sticking religiously to the official route so trying to avoid really busy roads. Looks like a lot of A-roads which may or may not be too pleasant to ride. We are doing the stage over a weekend and staying YHA Mankinholes half way so can afford a few detours.
Any advice much appreciated.

Just had a go at using a bottle of Ecogrease I bought ages ago and found it way too runny to allow me to get the bearings to stay in my hubs while I loaded them and the axle in. ANyone else had problems with this stuff? Bottle was old but unopened- wonder if it has started biodegrading already?
Also, have been using the Green Oil lube for a while and find it really gunky (highly viscous for the technically minded) which is ok on the chain, but have also been using it on cables, derailleurs etc and reckon it is causing them to stick. Does anyone know if it is only suitable for chains? AM awaiting feedback from Green Oil people on Ecogrease issue.

MarkW wrote:you then have to give a thought to the chappie who rode the 100 cols route in Crocs. There's awesome!

Was a great article, but can't quite understand the logic. To me going as light as you can is all about efficient use of (leg) energy, whereas cycling in Crocs doesn't seem efficient.

MarkW wrote:Stiff soled shoes I would argue are not so good for walking (unless crampons are required in which case they are pretty essential).

I thought that stiff soled shoes were better for hiking because they allowed you to step on sharp surfaces without pain and to protect uneven surfaces from damaging ankles, but would be happy to be reeducated. I believe some runners now favour minimal soles to the big cusioning previously preferred (called barefoot running-strange people those runners), so maybe this has filtered through to walking?

I have always favoured the 'mid' type of shoe for touring, ie higher ankle version of stiff soled approach or walking shoe. This gives a little extra protection to ankle bones when walking and stops water pouring into shoe when wearing waterproof trousers or fording streams but doesn't affect pedalling. Luckily I have never ridden with cleats so I don't know what I am missing but I remember conquering Rysy (Poland's highest mountain) when cleated shoe travelling buddy had to retreat.

MarkW wrote: I think the need for a very stiff sole is over-egged

Wouldn't any kind of sole that wasn't stiff absorb some of downwards force on pedal and reduce efficiency?

Have used the Shakespeare Traveller Fly as my main rod for one fishing season and found it very useable, though my 3 piece Hardy rod is certainly better, but carrying a rod doesn't fit with my travel light ethos unless fishing spots were really unmissable.

RonK - if you're not off until October you have a whole season to practise your trout fishing. Had a look at the penrod videos but it's hard to tell what is like when watching sales videos. The 'Extreme' version comes with three reels, one of which is for fly fishing, but I would seriously doubt the rod action is up to it. The spinning reel however is probably quite effective with some lure or spoons, etc. On UK trout waters spinning is generally not allowed- presumably because it's too effective, so if it is allowed in NZ I guess this might be a good way to catch.
Would be intrigued to hear how the penrod is in use- even if you just put some weight on the end of a line and cast it in your back garden.
Personally, think am going to stick with a handline, though not having been to NZ I wonder if this is unrealistic as I am envisaging quiet rivers in unspoilt country miles from anyone. ALso, the NZ fishing reg's state ' No licence holder shall fish for sports fish except by using a rod and running line and authorised lure'. Full reg's available at: http://fishing.fishandgame.org.nz/sites/default/files/South%20Island%20Fishing%20Regulations%202011-12.pdf
Am guessing NZ immigration/MAF are strict on bringing in fishing gear to prevent contamination. Going to Iceland all fishing gear had to be treated at a vets to disinfect and remove disease and be imported with a certificate.
Would be great to hear how penrod is in use and if that $60 will be repaid in fish caught and put in the pan.

misterrea wrote:try ebay for the instant fisherman rod 11''- 50'' £29.99 looks good for hill bag and bike i was thinking of mountain lakes
for me

Have seen lots of travel rods on the web but this one is new to me. The reviews on amazon sound terrible though, and the cheesy advert put me right off. 'Strong enough to catch a shark' it says!
I do like to tour light and simple as possible, so reckon I could just take a lure/ line or float/ bait and wrap it round a stick/ bottle and go huckleberry finn style.

I have been using Boreal Boots similar to the Merrell Moabs: http://www.backpacker.com/boreal_tempest_mid_lady/gear/details/boots/1091.
These have been used for everything from hiking West Highland Way and Laugavegurinn as well as two week bike tours and general mountain biking, although one Icelandic lady said I should get some proper boots. These are discontinued now, though am looking to replace them soon and the Boreal Flyers Mid look to be a similar replacement.
These type of boots are obviously not as protective as full on hiking boots and if hiking I always carry dry spare socks in case of leakage. The only area I think my Boreals could be improve on is if the tongue was stiched in all the way to the top of the boot for better waterproofing. As it is the tongue is only stitched in slightly higher than on the shoe version they derived from. Does the Merrell tongue go all the way up?
As the waterproof liner was getting too leaky I used my proper lightweight Boreal hiking boots with aggressive soles to do week long off road Scottish coast to coast. My knee completely packed in at the end, luckily only 10 miles from Fort William. I have a theory that this was due to the pedals settling into the spaces between the ridges on the soles of the boot and setting the knee in a slightly funnny pedalling position. This had never been a problem with the flatter soles of my old boots (or it looks like on the Merrells). This is only a theory, and it might have been just been the Cairngorm hills that knackered the knees, but I reckon flat pedals would also have helped.
For hiking safey the important feature is rigidity of the soles (a feature also needed on the bike) so that the boot doesn't give way and turn an ankle. High soles supporting the ankle is something of a myth i reckon.

Anyone ever taken fishing kit with them on tour and can recommend some suitable lightweight kit?
Am planning New Zealand trip and don't want to pass all those lovely fishing spots without having a dip. Remember having to pass up some crystal clear lakes/ rivers in Iceland and don't want to repeat. Due to gear spending most of its time on the bike, it would have to be very lightweight.
The Japanese Tenkara type gear looks a possible goer.
Was thinking more of spinning or fly gear, but would welcome any advice.

Ta
Dan

Off to NZ in a couple of weeks and wanting to lightweight camp tour, but does anyone know if my Terra Nova Laserlite tent will be up to the job? It has been great for low level camping on the continent, but was definitely borderline in iceland, especially Landmannalaugar where it experienced its first strong winds, and ground was like concrete so not so good for carbon fibre pegs. Have heard the NZ climate described as 'maritime' which sounds windy to me. Would really like to go light then can dump bike and camp some multi day walk routes without aggravating knees. My other tent is TNF Westwind which am sure is well up to job but heavyish, or would maybe consider a new tent if sub £100. Anyone got experience of NZ or Laserlite or sub £100 tents and can shed any light?