Search found 921 matches

by Dean
13 Jul 2021, 5:16pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Daleview Caravan park, Middleton in Teesdale
Replies: 5
Views: 1014

Re: Daleview Caravan park, Middleton in Teesdale

I've stayed there but pre-pandemic. It was weird (especially the club) but ok. Didn't book, just rocked up.

Leekworth is a much nicer site, but busy. They do require booking, but if you give them a call and explain you're on a bike and have a tiny tent, they'll usually get you in.
by Dean
9 Dec 2020, 10:00pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Tubus Luna rack spares?
Replies: 13
Views: 854

Re: Tubus Luna rack spares?

Thanks everyone, some food for thought. I have been browsing the SJS site for spares, and spotted the adapter for four-point fittings.

I think the arms from my existing racks are a bit too small, and I need one with a diameter just over 8 mm. Or epoxy, as Brucey says.
by Dean
8 Dec 2020, 9:46pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Tubus Luna rack spares?
Replies: 13
Views: 854

Tubus Luna rack spares?

I've been given a Tubus rack and I'm pretty sure it's a Luna.

It's as the one here: http://www.petitebikefit.com/luna-racks-by-tubus

The thing is, I don't have the strut connecting it to the brake bridge.

I do have the wee grub screw, but I've tried the arms off my other racks (a Tubus Cargo and a Tortec Ultralite, this is a household of many racks), and they just don't hold firm.

Anyone know where I can get a spare, or can anyone suggest a bodge? It'll be fitted to a bike with mounts on the chainstays, and I noted that Tubus do an adapter for the Fly, but the Luna appears to have been discontinued.
by Dean
11 Aug 2019, 6:35pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Where is this?
Replies: 63
Views: 4554

Re: Where is this?

Looks quite Teesdale-ish to me.
by Dean
7 Aug 2019, 11:30pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: What is the Most Popular Touring Bike in the World?
Replies: 50
Views: 4291

Re: What is the Most Popular Touring Bike in the World?

Yeah, probably LHT. Or the disc version. If someone asked me for an off-the-shelf tourer, I reckon that's what I'd recommend.

But in the pernickety tone of all other replies, I feel I should say "whatever bike you already have when you wanna go touring".
by Dean
6 Aug 2019, 4:57pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Northallerton - A-roads or lanes?
Replies: 11
Views: 1136

Re: Northallerton - A-roads or lanes?

Foxton Lane is great fun, but save it for the rough stuff rides. There's a singletracky section in the middle, and it's a bit overgrown.

If you insist on the flatlands, then the classic route would be Maltby-Hilton-Rudby- Brompton into Northallerton. There's a rough section through Harlsey Grove which is OK with some big holes. Decent farm cafes at Roots and Langthornes.

The A168 is worth missing. The A167 isn't quite as bad, and better south of Northallerton, so I'd just plod down the 167 to Topcliffe, then Cundall, Helperby (decent cafe at the Deli), Tollerton (lovely cake at the village shop) and down to York along the river.
by Dean
2 May 2019, 11:50pm
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Lyon Outdoor
Replies: 3
Views: 3188

Re: Lyon Outdoor

I found them PDG as well. They replaced an Exped that was spitting feathers. They wouldn't post it to India for me, but sent it to a minion in the UK to post on to me (and I'd bought it second hand).
by Dean
13 Mar 2019, 11:36am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: braze on's ?
Replies: 6
Views: 2200

Re: braze on's ?

Kevin Winter in Ferryhill?

I'm struggling to think of anyone else nearby. Pop into NRG Cycles in Thornaby and they can mebbes point you at someone.
by Dean
21 Feb 2019, 2:59pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Inverness to Strathcarron
Replies: 10
Views: 2142

Re: Inverness to Strathcarron

SimonCelsa wrote:You could always take the scenic route:

Inverness - North Kessock - Redcastle - Muir of Ord - Marybank.....then take the single track road out to Strathconon & Scardroy Lodge (which is the end of the tarmac). When the tarmac runs out you're on a walking track over the hill to the A890 (follow the signpost 'Achnasheen via Inver'). Some of the track section I think was cycleable although I do recall some pushing. I did this as part of a loop out from Marybank one summers day. Hybrid bike with panniers & semi slick tyres (which would probably not be the best choice if it was wet). Fairly long day ride but plenty of good spots for camping.

Check out the map below if it works. You cannot route further than scardroy lodge on cycle.travel but if you zoom in at the termination of the ride you should see a track 'appear' that heads a bit North of West.

https://cycle.travel/map/journey/89381


Ah, good to know that's ridable - I was looking at that when I was up in the area last year.

The OP could also look at Coulin Pass over to Torridon - not at all rough apart from a few yards near the top, and great views down either side.
by Dean
30 Aug 2018, 5:34pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Industrial heritage sites that you find interesting!
Replies: 61
Views: 3004

Re: Industrial heritage sites that you find interesting!

Tees Cottage Pumping Station, Darlington. It has a steam-powered pump, a gas-powered pump and a leccy one.

The steam engine is fabulous - all polished brass and intricate pipework and serene shifting of beams and wheels. The gas engine is a massive percussive racket.
by Dean
30 Aug 2018, 4:12pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: C2C Whitehaven to Whitby (kind of)
Replies: 5
Views: 908

Re: C2C Whitehaven to Whitby (kind of)

Loads of options!

Across the Moors, I'd be tempted to use the old Rosedale railway, which is all permissive bridleways. Something like this: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28477708

There's not much on the route in the way of facilities, so you'd have to call into the Lion on Blakey Ridge (there's an ooutside tap, or go in and have a parmo). At the top of Rosedale Chimney, you could nip down into the village to one of the cafes/pubs/shops, then go along the valley to Cropton, but the permissive bridleway down towards Cropton is pretty good riding, if a tad rougher than the old railway.

The pub in Cropton has its own brewery and does food too.

There's a really rough bit down to the railway at Levisham, but once you're on the forest drive it's all good going, then there's a gorgeous bit of track alongside Hole of Horcum to the top of Saltergate. There's usually an ice cream van at the layby.

Then pick your own route through Dalby to Scab.
by Dean
16 Mar 2018, 9:31pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Audax DIY 1000k, 13000m climb: preparation?
Replies: 18
Views: 2496

Re: Audax DIY 1000k, 13000m climb: preparation?

..And on the note of climbing, when you do pick your route, don't edit out all of the main roads - they're in they're for a reason, which is they give you fast miles. It can be very time-dependent, but on days 2 and 3 of the event, the evening rides were fairly quick main road bashes (A7/A6 and A170/A684 respectively). You really need that opportunity to get the miles under your wheels. The start of day 2 took in every major pass between every river going east from the Pennines to the North Sea, all the way from Wensleydale to the North Tyne, and you can't do that all day. Big main roads in the evening, early morning and night can be fabulous. If the route was 1000 km of gnarly lanes, hardly anyone would finish.

On sleeping - I'm surprised you'd choose to bivvy. Obviously you know what you're doing, but with the additional weight, the faff of finding a decent spot, and the comparatively poor sleep, you'd probably be better off booking hotels, especially with three of you to spread the cost. It depends on where you plan to sleep, but there are fairly cycle-friendly hotels around the A1 corridor, at Catterick and Scotch Corner etc.

Or you could pitch tents at a central location and leave them there - I pitched my tent at the Askrigg campsite (bloody good job, as the official hall was stuffed to the gills) and had three good nights' sleep. Plus you can leave snacks, spare clothes etc in the tent.
by Dean
15 Mar 2018, 10:19pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Audax DIY 1000k, 13000m climb: preparation?
Replies: 18
Views: 2496

Re: Audax DIY 1000k, 13000m climb: preparation?

I didn't read any sarkiness in your post, TC. Possibly a little dry wit, but not aimed at the OP. Mind you, deadpan humour is everyday communication around here.
by Dean
15 Mar 2018, 8:37pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Audax DIY 1000k, 13000m climb: preparation?
Replies: 18
Views: 2496

Re: Audax DIY 1000k, 13000m climb: preparation?

I rode the event a couple of years ago. It's tough, but doable.

First, I'd take a good look at the route - if you're DIY-ing, you can just make up your own. Not a criticism of Andy Corless, but routes on audax events are limited by logistics such as where you can get a hall to start and finish, places where riders can get proof of passage, and routes suitable for a group of nutters who'll be riding in a window of up to 24 hours. I didn't like the start/finish, as it was bloody busy (but flat!), and there were a couple of bits of main road I'd edit out if I was DIY-ing, such as the A171 Moors Road over to Whitby on a sunny Sunday afternoon. That was a bit [inappropriate word removed], but not as [inappropriate word removed] as hacking along the A69 dual carriageway on Saturday afternoon had been (top tip for this bit - my tame Geordie pointed me at a bridge over the carriageway which the locals use, and which you can see here.

Anyway, the route changed last year, and it looks like it's going to change again this year. It's not set in stone,

Training - do hills. Lots of hills. Lots of steep hills. I was riding a lot when I rode (I rode the 1000 at the start of the month, a hilly 200 a week later, a 600 the week after that, then a week off, and a 200/400 at the end of the month, and on the week off I went up to Rosedale to support a mate who was Everesting Chimney Bank, and ended up riding the damn thing half a dozen times with him), and you do need to get used to riding when you're fatigued. FTR, I was riding hilly 200s in February and March, 300s and 400s by March, but I really was riding a lot that year. And it was a much milder winter than we've had - one 200 so far this year! I sometimes chucked in a midweek loop up a local hill, too.

Speed-wise, my moving average was 21.5 kph, but this isn't hugely relevant, cos I spent 26 hours off the bike (about 11-12 of them sleeping, the rest was eating, talking [inappropriate word removed], fettling other people's bikes, taking photos etc). Getting faster does mean you can finish more comfortably, and also means you'll have more time for sleep, but any time off the bike is going to be far more significant than thrashing yourself to maintain a given average. Get faster by all means, but more importantly, get used to not stopping. Eat on the go wherever possible, and when you do stop, make sure you do everything you need to do - order your food then go to the loo and top your bottles up, for example. Slower people than me got round, though generally with less sleep.

You don't say whether you've ridden or are planning to ride any audaxes, but this would be the best way to train yourself. A 600 is generally two days separated by a sleep stop, to get yourself used to riding fatigued. Andy Corless himself puts on a few hilly events (I'm organising a fairly hilly 300 from Newby Wiske at the end of April, check the AUK calendar for details), and there'll be something local to you, assuming you're in the UK.

Where are you planning to stop? I know AC planned to use Hawes hostel as the ride hub, but youth hostels are tricky, cos you'll likely only want to stop for 4-hours a night if you're going well, and they usually shut their doors at 10-11 o'clock. Good sleep in a proper bed is way better than a catnap in a bus shelter, though some people do get by on that. And hotel/hostel admin can suck your time away.

I wrote some stuff about food on the 2017 route on yacf, and you can also read the epic thread about the two versions of the ride AC's organised. Hope you find it useful.

I'd echo TC's comments about picking your ride companions carefully - I rode a Belgian 1000 with three mates a couple of years ago, and three of us rode together, but the fourth rode at her own pace, and we all rode together when circumstances allowed (basically, when it was flat enough that she wouldn't be killing herself to keep our pace). It was fine, cos we hadn't expected to ride together. With all those hills, unless you're really well-matched... well, it could get messy. Do try to communicate, and try not to get grumpy. It's not worth losing friends over a bike ride.

To summarise: ride lots of hills. Do some audaxes, up to 600 - I don't think you'll need to bother with an 800 unless you really fancy the route and just want to do it anyway. Take lots of photos. Have fun, or at least an approximation thereof.
by Dean
9 Mar 2018, 11:16pm
Forum: National Standard Cycle Training
Topic: Jackie Chan
Replies: 17
Views: 74489

Re: Jackie Chan

The video was posted four years ago.