Cycling UK Forum

Paulatic wrote: ↑28 Jul 2023, 8:42pm My solution which had to get me back to Glasgow but could be applied to Oban.
After getting to the Butt of Lewis I cycled via Stornoway back to Tarbet. Ferry to Uig and cycled through Skye to Armadale. Ferry to Mallaig and train back. You’d have to change at Crianlarich for Oban.
Superb trip the ferries and the train journey are equally as good as the cycling.

I've also used the train from Mallaig but via the Stornoway to Ullapool ferry, I then cycled to Garve and took train to Kyle of Lochalsh and cycled to the Armadale ferry. I've also used the train from Garve to Inverness. When I used the Tarbet Uig ferry a few years back I found the volume and speed of of traffic on Skye a bit of a shock after two weeks spent on the islands.

It's a common problem with cheap electronics, I'd expect better from Lezyne. And it's a bit disingenuous of them to blame the problem on the Cateye computer. If they invested more resources into the design of their their product it would include adequate electromagnetic interference shielding.

I'm another that favours fork crown mounting if there's enough room beneath the bar bag (which is not always the case if you ride small frames with short head tubes). With most of my drop bar bikes space is at a premium on the handlebars.

I'm sure I read somewhere that B&M and Edlux reflectors were optimised with fork crown mounting height in mind.

Have you considered going across country to Harlow and then NCR1 through the Lee valley. There are two or three campsites in the Lee Valley Country Park that offer a variety of camping options, including tent hire and camping pods. There's also a youth hostel at Cheshunt.

https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/lee-v ... nd-caravan

https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-london-lee-valley

I'd suggest that as a next step you email pictures to a couple of frame builders to see if they're willing to take it on, and if so a rough idea of costs. If the price proves prohibitive, removing the paint and carefully grinding back the existing welds will give you a better idea of the damage. A local welder may then be a more economical way forward.

Could you post a photo of the cracked area?

I assumed from your OP that you were looking for a welded repair, which is one of the reasons that I suggested Rourke's. Rourke and Longstaff are one and the same nowadays and under the ownership of Jason Rourke. They build both conventional lugged and fillet brazed steel frames but Jason Rourke is an acknowledged expert in tig welding. I've no personal experience of his welding skills, although I do have a couple of Longstaff frames that predate his involvement in the company.

Longstaff (Rourke) Cycles in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.

https://longstaffcycles.com/

https://rourke.biz/

This is another of those perennial discussions.

I'm one of those who sees no reason why the rules of the road shouldn't equally apply to cycle paths. Most of the cyclists I meet seem to agree and ride on the left. A small number seem to have given the matter no prior thought, and a perverse minority aggressively assert their right to enforce the opposite. I met one of the latter last year on NCN2, alongside the Royal Military Canal on Romney Marsh. He appeared ahead riding towards me and as he approached I moved to the left. He was still some distance off but quite deliberately moved to his right and it was obvious he was on a mission. I slowed to a halt on the left and at the last minute he swerved round me, uttering a stream of invective as he did so. I did wonder if it was some local convention to welcome continental visitors from the nearby channel ports.

Regarding your onward journey from Dublin. Irish Rail's conditions for travelling with a bicycle can be found here. Cork Kent station is on the north bank of the river Lee, in the city centre. Your first problem will be navigating across the city from the station. If you're heading west via Kinsale or on the N71 a better option is to book a through ticket to Cobh to access the Passage West ferry. This involves a local commuter train from Cork Kent. Cobh has a rich maritime history and is well worth a visit in its own right, otherwise exit the train at Carrigaloe Stn which is the nearest to the Passage West ferry.

Nobody so far has mentioned Memory-Map. Their new app, Memory-Map for All, operates across multiple platforms. I've no personal experience of the app but I'm a long term user of their digital raster mapping using Memory-Map Navigator software for Windows. Memory-Map Navigator is an excellent navigational software package which I use for planning and route creation in conjunction with various dedicated GPS devices. I've also used their original android app on my old tablet but mostly as a means of accessing my library of maps when on tour.

Their are various versions of the OS 1:25K and 1:50K maps, which can be purchased either with an annual subscription or with a perpetual licence. The licence is valid for up to 5 devices. The Memory-Map for All and Memory-Map Navigator software are free to download, as is the OS1:250K base map. The licence also allows for unlimited printed copies to be made for personal use, given the current price of OS paper maps the digital maps are remarkably good value.

Re. perfumed talc and latex rubber:

Perfumed talcum powders most certainly do contain oils that will degrade latex rubber. If you can't source French chalk the next best option would be baby powder, as it's less likely to contain additives that might damage either your baby or your latex tubes. If you're feeling brave you might ask your local pharmacist for KY Jelly. It's water based and was a popular alternative amongst some of my diving buddies.

Another vote here for the B9176, Struie road.

It's probably unrelated to the puckering, but others have recommended using talc or baby powder with latex tubes. It should be noted that perfumed talcum powders or baby powders contain essential oils which can degrade latex rubber. Back in the day when I was using talc on the latex wrist and neck seals of my diving suit I ordered 2Kg of French Chalk from my local chemist, enough to last a life time.

For information about the cycle tracks around Aberfoyle speak to the guy at Aberfoyle Bike Hire. He was one of the people I spoke with today and he was very helpful.

The latest news on the cycle path east from Lochearnhead is somewhat conflicting but is broadly in line with Daviemore's experience. It's fully open between Comrie and St Fillans but extends for less than a kilometre beyond St Fillans in the direction of Lochearnhead. That said, I was informed by one source that although the St Fillans to Lochearnhead section is not officially open it's apparently doable with difficulty on a bike and passable on foot, although very overgrown in parts. I did cycle the road on the south shore of Loch Earn between the A84 and St Fillans and I'd say it would be a suitable alternative for your group, single track with passing places and very little traffic. I also discovered that it's possible to cycle direct from Comrie to Callander, part on minor roads and part traffic free on unsurfaced tracks.

Briefly, from Comrie take the minor road out along Glen Artney to Glen Artney church. About 2Km beyond the church, at Auchinner, the tarmac gives way to a track which continues over Monadh Odhar to the bothy at Arivurichardich. Turn left here and head downhill to cross the river at a bridge. Continue heading south with the river on your left past Braeleny Farm and shortly you will pass through a gate and rejoin a tarmac road which you can follow all the way back to Callander. In all it's about 15 miles. For the more experienced and fitter members of your group this could form part of a challenging circular route from Lochearnhead using the south shore of Loch Earn to St Fillan, the railway path to Comrie, the above route via Glenn Artney to Callander and returning to Lochearnhead on route 7. In all that's about 45 miles, sadly the bothy at Arivurichardich is privately owned so that's not an option. If you have the use of two vehicles you could split the group into two and the Comrie to Callander section could be tackled from opposite ends. There are car parks at Glen Artney church and another for the Bracklinn Falls in Callander.