Cycling UK Forum

Thanks for all the advice. I think the small rack attached to the canti fixing points is favourite. The Sardar has 1" Ahead forks so finding others would be difficult.

Over the last few months have been obtaining the parts, a set of BB Avid 7 road brakes & disks + a set disc wheels. I have now managed to unscrew the rear bosses, but am at loss as how to unscrew the front ones.

I am changing my Dawes Sardar from cantilever to disc brakes. The rear brake bosses have flats on them so I assume they can be unscrewed, but the front ones have no flats, does this mean they are part of the brake braze on's or is there some way of unscrewing them? I do not want to damage the bosses in case I decide to go back to cantilever brakes in the future.

I recently bought a nice 631 steel Sardar as I find we cycle a mix of roads and cycle ways where the use of wider tyres will be a real benefit. I have just bought a set of virtually unused XC717 wheels with Hope hubs off Ebay, these are a fraction of the weight of the originals (and allow the use of disk brakes). With these fitted and with lighter uprated cassette, chainset and bottom bracket fitted I feel I will have a go anywhere tourer no heavier than a steel audax bike but with the ability to handle freshly gravelled tracks (some parts of the St. Malo to Renne canal path where resurfaced last year and were very loose which no bike with audax width tyres could of handled) as well as tarmac. If you like the fit of the bike I would up rate what you have and lighten your load, we tour with just front size panniers on the back and over the years have invested in lighter weight tent, sleeping mats and sleeping bags to lose the weight.

Hi Dale, last year I met a young Scotsman when we took a ferry in Cambodia whilst on a charity bike ride there, he had travelled there overland, no bike, just a rucksack. He had worked for the minimum wage in an outdoor shop, saved hard, and with a degree in acting which could give him no chance of employment at the time set out to see the world. his blog is here http://hairywanderer.wordpress.com/ and makes some very interesting reading. Hope it inspires you. John

We use child size 3 legged stools from a pound shop, they keep you off the ground and are very light. I weigh 16 stone and they have not collapsed, bent or torn yet, though legs (which are quite thin) sink into the ground if wet, we are on the second year with them and find them very useful. Cost naturally £1 each. Originally spent over £50 on a pair of chair converters for thermarests, total waste of time IMO. Adult size 3 legged stools are too heavy, or at least the ones we tried.

You say you would pay slightly more for a decent tent, I'm advertising a Vaude Taurus II on the forum for £125+postage or collect. This tent is brand new and has never been used. The list price was £250 last year when I bought it last autumn.

The Terra Nova Laser space 2 is huge for around 3Kg. At 5' 2" my wife stands in it and at just over 6 foot it is easy for me to get dressed it, a problem with small tents. 2 bikes fit in the forch with front wheels removed. Sometimes bargains to be had on Ebay. The biggest advantage is putting up the fly in the rain, getting sheltered then hanging inner tent up. Hope this helps.

Apart from the possible pole issues, the UV problem I'm not worried about as we never get further than northern France, has anyone any experience of this model?

Has anyone experience with the Power Lizard SUL 2-3P, looks ideal for a couple, but can't find any reviews yet.

Bike Friday whilst on a tour around Brittany last year. Salsa Anything Cages hold sleeping mats. Non BF rear rack with stays shortened to get centre of gravity right down, used rear panniers this trip, but working on using front panniers on rear and cutting down on gear. Bought originally for it's folding abilities these have not been used yet, though this year we intend to cycle The Way of St. James so will be folded for train journey through France. Wife has Airnimal Explorer another very capable folder.

Thank you everyone for your comments, so we can forget that problem. I viewed some videos of the Dog Dazer on Youtube and it certainly looks effective and looks quite small. Looking again at the book I realise that I have exaggerated, the book 'A Cicerone Guide by John Higginson, The Way Of St. James, A cyclists Guide' actually says "We had been warned about wild, dangerous dogs along the whole length of the pilgrimage route, so took a Dog-Dazer - a small, battery powered device ..... used it several times and has not failed us yet".

We are planning to follow the Way of St. James using roads, but reading a book on the subject it warns of dangerous packs of wild dogs. Has anyone experience of packs of wild dogs? Whilst cycling last year in France (we have cycled many times in France and this was a one off) we were chased by half a dozen dogs on one occasion, this was a very minor incident, but un-nerved my wife who once had a bad experience with a dog, so do not want to expose her to a 'dangerous packs of wild dogs' type experience. She will shortly be reading this book so if it is rubbish would like something to show her before the trip is cancelled.

I am selling my wifes Dawes Discovery 601, She is 5ft 2in, not sure of frame size (am away until wed.) it has flat bars, and Deore/Xt groupset with Mavic 319 wheels. Has done less than 1000 mile even though a few years old. She now has an Airnimal Joey Explorer which she prefers. Looking for £250 collected (we are in Bucks). If interested please send a PM.

Terra Nova Laser Space 2, very big and very light. Would fit the 3 of you and your wife as a none camper will appreciate being able to stand up in it to get dressed etc.