Cycling UK Forum

A couple of years ago we cycled St.Malo to Bordeaux, then the Garrone - Canal de Midi then on to Narbonne. This is all flat and a lot of car free miles.

I liked the kitchen chalet, and the socialising marquee to eat in when it was raining as it was when we stayed earlier this year. The one area I did not like was the showers which were well below par, hopefully these are now sorted. Otherwise yes it is how all cycle camping sites should be, good job.

We'll put, I have a Thermorest self inflating mat filled with foam and a Thermorest Neoair air filled mat. The foam filled one often gives me a bad back after sleeping on it, the air filled one always gives me a good night sleep. For my wife it is the other way round. So basically whatever you find best is the one you should use.

The Terra Nova Laser Large 3 was discontinued some time ago, but it was the ideal cycle touring tent. It is similar to the recently introduced TN Starlite 3, though a bit lighter (with seams sealed and seam covers removed). One photo shows it near a Hillyberg Akto, this being a popular cycle touring tent, for around the same weight I know which one I would prefer. I do not see the reason for carrying a camping mat which weighs more than my tent + 2 sleeping mats.

I'm 6'1" and not exactly petite! A Neoair is fine for me, a cold sleeper, using a custom made quilt inside a Terra Nova Laser large 3 tent, this tent sleeps 2, has a vestibule big enough for 2 to sit in with gear and weighs 2kg with the mods I have done to it. So a light weight mat with lightweight tent and a lightweight 500gm quilt, is all a balanced system. I would certainly not sleep on a matt weighing several kilos and then sleep under a tent shaped tarp to save weight.

I would say around 8 Neoair mats would fit into that space. I would use a smaller tent which would be warmer and definitely a a 2 skin tent. Why carry a car camping monster and then use a cold tent? Personally I find the Neoair more comfortable than a foam mat.

At the moment PHD Designs have quilts in their winter sale. The single quilt is about £90 off. Still not cheap but 425 grams sounds good.

Similar problem, have a down quilt, but don't see why a cheap duvet would not do the job, but you will need a decent insulating mat as there will be no bag under you. I use a Thermorest Neoair, which is quite expensive, a cheap mat won't work with a quilt so look for a mat with an R value of 3 plus. Cheers John

Huttopia, Versailles was OK when we stayed there, but that was about it, pitches not very level, but we did have a bench. I think the list is not cycle touring specific, as I could think of much better for cycle touring.

That must be it, we are car camping in the area, but seen it advertised on tourist boards in the town we are staying in. I have taken details as by using some of it it looks like the best way of crossing from France to Spain missing out the dangerous coast road where we were overtaken by a van on a blind bend!

Steven is now 1000 miles into his round the world trip, see link above to see his progress on Facebook. For a none cycle tourer to take this on his progress is inspiring.

Thanks for all the helpful replies.

We set off 8th July for a fortnight riding around Brittany on Voies Vertes and Brest Nantes Canal. I had intended to take my full on Tourer, a disk braked Dawes Sardar with 26" x 47 tyres on Mavic 717 Disk rimmed wheels. I have just noticed one of my rims has a tiny crack running around about 1/3rd of the rim. With the chances of getting the rim changed in time being very slim would my lighter weight bike, a road bike with 700 x 28 tyres be suitable for the above or would I need to stick to the roads?

I have fitted a set of flared 46cm Salsa Cowchipper bars, these allow enough room to fit quite a large front bag. So I would look into fitting some of these.

Have you had a look at park on my drive? We use them instead of public car parking when having to leave the car for a few nights upwards.