Cycling UK Forum

I don't see why the change to charitable status meant an inevitable and execrable rebrand. You couldn't imagine the RAC or AA ditching its heritage and brand awareness in favour of something instantly forgettable and cringe inducing.

As it stands it competes with British Cycling and risks losing its credibility built on decades of campaigning and activity.

As someone who isn't a regular on the forum I was surprised to see CTC replaced by CUK. Surprised and massively dismayed. Why would you ditch a strong brand with a slightly random, forgettable and not quite complete sentence? The pitch of the new website seems to be aimed at a metropolitan and new-to-cycling audience not the existing membership - it looks and feels very similar to something you'd expect a local authority to do. Is this the intended strategy?

Who advised the board - some minor league marketing company?

I can't imaging the league of American bicyclists making the same mistake so why has the CTC taken this regrettable decision?

I agree with the recommendation re 'Travel with Rosinante' which I dip back into now and again. I also like 'Breaking loose' by Dave Cook about his trip to Australia - an unconventional chap who unfortunately died following a traffic accident in Turkey.

I recall coming across an extract from a book written by a woman in the early 1900s about a lone cycle tour in the North of England/Scotland, called something like: "diary of a golf widow"...but never been able to track it down. Anybody have a clue?

It's unclear what size the OP is looking for but as a smaller rider this has been a headache every time I come to add to the stable. The other option not mentioned yet is Surly - their LHT may be overkill but fits the seat tube requirement. I also know folk using the crosscheck for light to medium touring who really like it. Plus some bargains out there on the framesets. http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/category/337/Frames

If it's light touring why not the audax?

Alternatively, planet x are good:

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FRP ... e_and_fork

Mercian will probably be more expensive than spa ti.

I think Port Carlisle is on the route and there's a couple of sites around there:

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/townl ... ty=Cumbria

and another is DWP - so with HMRC that's around 160,000 civil servants denied access. Laughingly the DWP cited "tax concerns" as its reason. Given it's the government's own scheme a case of left hand, right hand?