Cycling UK Forum

Does anyone know please where I can get a replacement Claude Butler Comfort Saddle. No response so far from Falcon Cycles.

Thanks

Brian

No I'm not defeated I shall learn from my mistakes and perhaps do an end to end one round the port next year. I think I was set up by beginners luck last year when almost everything went right. On the other hand I might have had higher expectations this year!

I hated the journey from and especially to St Malo (its a pretty stiff climb from the river!! ) I much prefer the |Caen ferry because at Ouistreham you can turn on to minor roads almost immediately and I'd done nearly five leisurely miles last year when a group of bikers, who I'd met on the ferry, on old British machines came past. Their map reading must have been pretty poor!

It was a bit windy this year which didn't help but it certainly wasn't as bad as the weather you experienced. I only got wet once whilst out riding which I thought was pretty good. Normandy last year was non stop sunshine of course!!

I kept mainly to the coast in Normandy last year and found the drivers very courteous, perhaps I was just lucky. I was therefore expecting Brittany to be the same but it was just like riding in Winchester, at least one heart stopping moment every ride and sometimes several depending on the volume of traffic.

As has been said I think the moral must be get deep into the country as soon as possible and take no notice of the route letters for example the D roads I used in Brittany were much like A roads in the UK whereas in Normandy they were by and large very quiet roads.

Must start planning for 2009!

Brian

I think the problem was it did not compare with last year's brilliant trip to Normandy. This is strange because having visited both before I preferred Brittany to Normandy so it just goes to show you get a different perspective from the saddle.

1. Make the journey to the start/back from the finish part of the holiday. Coming back to Leeds from Montpellier is quite a haul in a coach but armed with a paper back or two and awilliness to engage in conversation relieved the tedium.

I agree but just think 9ish hours is too long. I had plenty of reading and listening material but most other travellers seemed to be in groups.

2. All cycle journeys are more demanding than anticipated when compared with when they were completed by car. Even 'flat' bit reveal themselves to be inclines at the end of a long day

Absolutely right. As I say a lesson learned!

3. Is a good point for folk who like to have only a couple of bases during a touring holiday. Clearly they will have researched the area that they are about to visit if they want to be engaged with the local area.

Fell into the trap of not realising that I couldn't cycle to the places I wanted to see and get back to the campsite. Hence my lack of research.

4. It all depends upon where you go in Brittany. It is a very popular tourist area especially at the coast. Inland isn't too bad. I'm surprised that you felt stressed. Although I haven't cycled in Brittany I have been in the crowded areas of Provence and the Carmargue and always found the motorists to be very accommodating.

You are right I should have gone inland but the places I wanted to see were on the coast.

5. One might not have to pack lighter - just less bulky. Trial runs are always a good idea especially if they are close to home which facilitates bailing out/rescues if things go wrong.

I might try front panniers next year to get some of the lighter items forward. I must reduce the height of the rear load for easier cycling.

6. Let the train take the strain. I use the trains a lot in the UK to get to the start and back from the finish of tours and enjoy the experience. I'd rather use the three trains it takes to get to Holyhead than use a couple of days cycling to get to the start of Lon Las Cymru.

A bit tongue in cheek this one. Obviously I should use the train and my carbon footprint for the trip must have been very low. However if I had been picked up by my wife at the ferry terminal I would have been home in say 30 minutes whereas it took 3 hours by train!! And I had to carry the fully loaded bike down the stairs at Winchester station. When I asked a member of staff what disabled people do I was amazed to be told that they were taken from one side of the station to the other by Taxi!! When I did eventually get home I was too tired to feel virtuous.

7. I'd try to spend more time cycling on a regular basis then you'll find that twenty miles is simply not enough....

Agreed but terrain must play a part.

Touring is wonderful and it's great that you took such big steps for your first? tour. Each tour is a learning experience. Sometimes one needs to adjust the equipment to improve the enjoyment of the next tour. Sometimes one needs to alter one''s expectations. Certainly for me - the next time I tour Wales I will be less ambitious with my daily mileages because of the hills. It was worse than Devon and Cornwall - possibly Brittany too!

Almost certainly I should think.

how busy were the roads? I would have thought they'd be quiet. Am thinking of going there next August.

As mentioned above I did stay around the coast and found it very busy. This is in direct contrast to Normandy last year at about the same time of year when the roads were virtually traffic free and I was met with unfailing courtesy (well except for the occasional Brit cutting me fine). In Brittany the coastal roads, D roads in fact, were very nerve wracking. Perhaps, others have had a better experience.

Yes many lessons learned but I have not been put off. I will just prepare better next year.

Brian

I am just getting over my weekend in Brittany over the August Bank Holiday and am taking stock of the lessons learned.


1 Portsmouth to St Malo is too long a ferry route in my opinion. If I go next year its back to Portsmouth to Ouistreham.

2 Do more research of the intended area. Do not rely on previous car visits. Brittany is far hillier than it appeared when driving. So you need to be fitter than I was.

3 If staying put in one camp site make sure there are enough sites of interest to give interest to your stay.

4 Choose a quieter area than Brittany for stress free riding.

5 PACK LIGHTER or take a trailer. When loaded it was not possible to swing your leg over the saddle giving rise to ungainly getting on and off and giving rise to one or two cleat related incidents. In addition have a trial run to sort out this problem before departing.

6 Seriously consider whether using the train to get to and from the ferry terminal is a good idea. Certainly greener but more tiring.

7 Consider whether at 59 I should be less ambitious, although whether you can get less ambitious than 20 miles a day is debatable.

Whinge over and I'm sure you regular tourers have been there done that as they say but certainly food for thought for next year.

PS The Claude Butler Regent performed brilliantly. Can thoroughly recommend it.

Brian

Sorry for the late response but my internet went down yesterday afternoon.

Fortunately for me the lift was still working so I'm not exactly sure but I think it was two short flights enough to get up about twenty feet. Not easy I suspect if fully loaded.

In fact when I arrived at my home station of Winchester I found that there is no lift at all so I had to wheel down one flight again of about 29 feet. Not easy when fully (over!!) loaded. I asked a member of staff what disabled people do and would you believe they send them by TAXI from one side of the station to the other. Unbelieveable!

Anyway as I said I would consider Portsmouth Harbour station if time permits.

Best of luck. I'm still recovering, it must be old age catching up with me.

Brian

Can anyone help please.

As a result of a cleat related incident at the ferry port in St Malo whilst overloaded I have managed to remove the top of the saddle from my Claud Butler Regent.

If I get the two prongs in at the back I cannot quite get the tongue in at the front. If I get the tongue in there is no way the prongs at the back will go in.

I have loosened everything and bent and twisted various parts without success. Does anyone know the trick or should I just get a Brooks and be done with it.

The saddle was pretty comfortable until the accident.

Many thanks,

Brian

Had exactly that experience yesterday. You are at the back of the ship but if you stand at the very back you can see which lines are moving first and, as we all did, walk in the queue until you reach the front.

We found most delay at passport control!

The cycle lanes are not very well signposted from the ferry terminal if you don't know where you are going and I found myself at the side of a road going in the wrong direction. Perhaps it was just me.

Anyway I reached Portsmouth & Southsea station about 19.20 but not much before and you will finds the lift are out of order for 3 weeks in September so you may have to carry your bike up the stairs. Might be worth trying Portsmouth Harbour as its an easy push on. I don't know what others think given its farther to cycle.

I have to say I have come back from a long weekend in which I did not all that many miles absolutely exhausted as that part of Brittany is very hilly. I hope your fitter than me!

Brian

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7571882.stm

Brian

Check out this previous thread http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=14609&start=0

Brian

Added the cleats over the weekend. Quite easy and they seem to fit the pedals without any problems.

Will report problems encountered if any on my next trip.

Brian

Added the cleats over the weekend. Quite easy really.

Don't know how to define deep. Certainly the Shimano cleat is just below the level of the sole so does not chink or rock when walking on a hard surface.

Brian

Thanks for the tips.

Brian

Thanks for this as well Paul.

Looks like a busy weekend for me before my short trip.

Brian

Many thanks for your response and reassurance Paul.

I now understand what the note means.

I'll fit some cleats and see how they go.

Brian

I am really confused and wonder if anyone out there can help please.

I have recently purchased from Wiggle shimano sandals SH-SD65.

I have looked at the instructions and the cleat fiitings look exactly the same as the ones I fitted to my existing Pearl Izumi shoes.

However I was disconcerted by one of the notes which reads "These SPD sandals cannot be used with SPD/SPD-R/SPD-SL pedals for road use"

The pedals I have are Shimano PD A520 Touring Pedals

Do I have a problem?

All thoughts much appreciated.

Brian