Cycling UK Forum

I don't know about Virgin express services but the journey I mentioned previously included one leg each way with Virgin on the West Coast main line (but the train was a cross country one rather than a Pendelino - that leg was Wigan to Wolverhampton) & I had no problems booking the bike via East Coast.

Rick.

Sorry, yes I was forgetting the original bit about that (apologies to Russcoles).

If it was me, I would see how it looks without modification first - it would be far simpler to just modify the front stay fitting but may it depends on whether you (the OP) are happy with the appearance and what is going to be carried - panniers might be a bit low.

Rick.

Mr Blister wrote:They look interesting but sadly having seen people get caught out by customs duty and Vat added on to purchases from outside of the EU I am very wary of purchasing from the US. I think I will just have to wait for Santa and maybe the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny! They do still visit right?

If by "they" you mean the Versa shifters - SJS do them here.

Brucey wrote:modding a 26/27" sized rack is possible but you need to take about 3" off the legs (obviously).

Why? I'm using a standard size rack on my Circe without any reduction in height - If anything I'm thinking of finding a way to RAISE it as the rack top is a couple of inches lower than it would be normally (because of the lower axle height). With the child seat fitted there is, therefore, a tendency for contact between the child in the seat's feet and the stoker's heels. Raising the rack would stop that.

Rick.

What I have done on the back of my Circe tandem (also 20" wheels & similar rear frame geometry) is:-

• mount the mudguards on P-clips on the seat stays (although the mudguards I have only have a single stay - it might be more complicated, but not necessarily impossible with a double stay)
• Fix the rack to the eyelets on the frame (I only have 1 pair). I had to modify my Blackburn rack (supplied with a Co-Pilot child seat) slightly to prevent it fouling the disk brake but, since then, they have brought out a disk compatible one which would probably work without modifying (Topeak do a disk compatible version of their racks too, don't know about others).
• At the front of the rack I got a pair of extension stays from SJS to extend the rack stays to the rack eyelets on the seatstays. In your case, from the exploded diagram, you may be able to extend them onto the seat tube mounts. Other alternatives can be used if you need to - P-clips on the seat stay or I'm sure I've seen a seat tube rack bracket somewhere.

Rick.

I've not tried it but a 55cm diameter disc would have to be mounted well back on a rack, assuming a normal touring rack, to avoid catching your heel as you pedal and it will probably stick beyond the back of the rear wheel. You could find it makes the bike difficult to handle in crosswinds and I think you might even struggle to attach it securely enough.

Rick.

Is this the biggest?

I can't remember exactly what it says about bikes as you book on East Coast but on the email confirmation for a booking I made last autumn it says "seats reserved: Coach: D Seats: 14 , and space for 1 bicycle" for each leg of the journey (there were 2 legs each way none of them actually on East Coast trains).

However, I don't think I would have made the final confirmation to book the journeys if it hadn't confirmed the bike booking on the site.

Rick

I bought a Circe Helios tandem nearly 18 months ago and have been pleased with the versatility of it. The rear seat is a double telescope and goes really low (rear seat tube is only approx 27cm). I've used it with a slightly smaller than average 7 year old (saddle wasn't at its lowest but I do fit crank shorteners). I'm expecting my (almost) 4 year old grandson to make the migration from child seat to stoker this year (so his little sister can go in the child seat). Without the shorteners the rear saddle goes high enough for an adult. I'm using an Old Man Mountain front rack on it for extra load carrying.

Rick.

A quick Google for "Ibiza road bike hire" gives Ibiza MTB as the first link. Clicking through the options on the bike hire page gives a range of bikes including one with a rack & gears that may suit you (9.50 Euros per day for a week).

The Google link gives other options. No recommendations - I have no personal knowledge.

Rick.

Cycling Cat wrote:Blimey!
Thanks - Hopefully if I purchase the panniers from a LBS they will help me out with that as well.

Actually not difficult to work out. Measure the front to back thickness of the fork about a couple of inches below the wheel rim & measure the side-to-side thickness at the same point. Adding the 2 measurements together and divide by 2 will give you the effective round diameter which will then tell you which clamp you need - they usually give a range of diameters for each size. On an older bike like that the forks are probably not that far off round anyway.

Rick.

What sort of brakes does your bike have? If they are cantilevers (I don't know what an 80s Galaxy has) then the rack comes with brackets that fit to the brake bosses. If not you'll have to measure the forks and work out what the equivalent "round" size is.

I've been pleased with my Ortlieb Roller Plus panniers (2 rear, 2 front - although the fronts get used more often as small rears) the QL2 mounts are easy to change to fit different racks in seconds (I currently have 4 different racks all a bit different) - but can't compare them with others as I don't have any others.

Rick.

Not necessarily. I don't know their specific policy but most places don't actually take the payment (only authorise its being taken) until goods are being dispatched.

Rick.

I don't know if this is of any interest - it appears to strap onto the seatstays. I know nothing about it apart from coming across it while looking at racks the other day.

Rick.

I'll second bikehike.co.uk / Garmin GPS combo - particularly the side by side Google & OS maps in bikehike

Rick