Cycling UK Forum

I'd have no problem with saving "for example, a tin of tomatoes, a tin of beans, onion+peppers will make enough chilli for two " till the next day. I wouldn't use a glass jar as heavy and fragile. Something like Tupperware or even reused plastic takeaway container.

I'd bury a bit in my pannier to avoid direct sun on the tops.

I do think many people are far too risk adverse nowadays. I spend months each year in more basic countries in the tropics and there are plenty of things I see and do that would horrify the average Brit.

My aim for 2025 is to see 2026.

Otherwise pretty much same as usual while I still can.

No idea about Hainan Airlines.

I flew into Bangkok then budget AirAsia to Hainan. They don't fly now but probably other airlines do.

When I went I needed a China visa as was heading inland. Plus returning via Lao to Thailand for flight home.

Lots of options for return, you need to decide how you want to do it.

As said, train, car and cycle all options.

The easiest and possibly cheapest is to fly. Maybe easyJet to Gatwick then train to ferry port/car.

Leaving a car in a carpark for 6 weeks could be expensive. Plus a lot of modern cars could have flat battery by then (alarm and electronics).

Probably too late now, but I'd rather ride the other way. Get the difficult transport out of the way with no time pressure.

Aiming for a particular ferry at the end of a long ride is a bit of a risk.

I think the wind is more favourable heading north certainly in the latter part of the ride.

I presume you've ruled out carrying your own stuff with you in panniers.

Some days you may be able to use public transport there and back, probably in the morning before you ride. A bit of a faff. Otherwise I see little option to taxis.

Have you tried asking any of the hotels.

I flew into Hainan Island at the start of one of my trips. Then spent a few weeks cycling there before heading off to the mainland.

I thought it was a good 'China lite' place for anyone who wanted a taster of cycling in China. No need for visa if only staying on the island.

I like Dunkirk, bike x 2 and car once.

However it's a bit of a Ryanair Dunkirk as it's nearly 20 Kms from the town in a fairly remote old industrial port area.

I know it's not one of these 2, but Portsmouth Brittany Ferries is the only one I know with metal detectors for your luggage. Beware confiscation of your knives, etc. Also the Company have rules of hi Viz, helmets and lights - but not enforced in my experience.

If you liked Thailand then Malaysia, Lao, Cambodia and Vietnam are all good for touring. Not as developed as Thailand but plenty of food stops and cheap accommodation.

Also Thailand is a big country, about the size of France so well worth multiple tours.

Sri Lanka is an easy place to tour.

You look like you are carrying a lot of gear for cycling in Thailand. You should easily be able to get it down to just 2 lightly loaded panniers, or less.

I use what would be called trekking sandals, but they are cheapo Thai ones, so less chunky and lighter. They are very comfortable for all day walking. Thick soles, but the straps lie flat when packed so not too bulky.

For me the bottom line is something I can walk comfortably in. I spend a lot of time off bike on my long tours. Also as it's normally the tropics, sandals are the best for me.

I have a pair of croc-alikes (Aldi) which I use in my campervan, but I couldn't walk more than a short distance in them. They are too loose and flop around my feet. Please don't suggest socks.

I think I will forgo my summer Euro tour in hope of decent weather in the UK, deferring it to late Autumn instead of my first winter trip to Asia.

Santiago to Porto will complete my Channel to Gibraltar and much as I hate this sort of thing, I feel a need to join up the two ends. Probably about 3 weeks for 250 Kms so plenty of time to explore Northern Portugal before ending in Lisbon.

If I really get the urge for a bit la belle France in the summer and having seen a few posts about the Newhaven ferry, I might also take that for a few days touring in the Dieppe region.

Carradice Super Cs have a single compartment; a very large rear pocket; and you can lift the lid and store stuff under it without opening the drawstring lid of the main compartment. Near but not exact.

Trouble is that they are expensive.

https://carradice.co.uk/products/super- ... niers-pair

2024.

Been there, done that. Looking forward now into 2025.

I recently got a new phone and thought I'd do the same with my old one. Android 10, but works well. Haven't got round to getting a handlebar mount yet.

In the meantime, I use my new phone in a cloth neck pouch. When I want navigation, usually only in town or if lots of fiddly junctions, I set the phone on navigate and use the audio on max volume. I can usually hear it clearly although sometimes miss some of it in traffic, but I hear enough to know that I need to do something. Not perfect, but good enough most of the time.

Interesting stats on 'all things' bike theft here.

https://thebestbikelock.com/bike-theft-statistics-uk/