Cycling UK Forum

According to the First Scotrail information at Queen St Station Glasgow, all of the Highland trains will be taking 4 bikes in future.

However the bus from Wick is still faster and cheaper and Robbie will take your bike for a couple of quid (his words). If there are more than 4 it could be cheaper still to get the minibus service from JOG. Get the phone number from the Hotel barman or in the gift shop/cafe.

Jevamatic wrote:Hello

I am planing a biketour from Frankfurt/Germany to Dublin. The route ist along the river rhine to Rotterdam then by ferry to harwich then with the bike through the country to holyhead. Did anyone have some bike-experience with this route? Or is their some discription in the internet. I hope my english is good enough.
Thank you for your help!

Is there a ferry from Rotterdam to Harwich?

Stena go from Hook of Holland but refused to take my booking with a bicycle.

I always use a standard 3" to 1 mile road atlas. Buy last years editon cheap, and rip out the pages you want.

I did part of your route last year on an E2W tour. http://www.bikepacker.co.uk/reports/e2w.htm
my log under the write up will give you an idea of my route. The only problem was getting out of Edinburgh and finding the best road to Alloa.

Once North of the Clyde/Forth line, the choice of roads is limited but all of them are good for cycling.

I have never found it a problem getting back as there are so many ways to do it.

If you are thinking of train from Inverness then there are trains from Wick and Thurso. Whenever I use the service I don't have a problem getting a bike on it. I have used the Bus service from Wick as it is much quicker and cheaper than the train. When I do this I get Robbie MacDonald (he does a run to Inverness most days in a small van) to take my bike and meet him near the Bus Station in Inverness. Robbies phone is 01955 602024 but don't bother to ring until you know your return day.

Another suggestion; don't get the train from Inverness, hire a car from Europcar in Inverness. They do great rates on one way hire.

It was on the old forum and has been removed. It stemmed from a criticism of the magazine and he reacted with a personal attack.

Also on the C+ forum he stated I would be afraid to meet with him to debate the magazine. I took him up on the challenge and he backed out.

BTY I liked your analogy of the letters page "And I do feel that the format of the Letters to the Editor page' in the mag gives disproportionate prominence to one person's views." Very well put.

I had two psychoanalysts look the page and give me an analysis of the editor. Hence IMO he has an ego problem.

If DJ has a thin skin then he should not attempt personal attacks on a member that contributes to his pay. Especially one who is well able to take care of himself.

Regarding a zero cost magazine ; 30 years ago when serving on the National Council of a Professional Institute, I remember a proposal was put to try to get their monthly magazine to nil cost. It was overwhelmingly rejected on the grounds that the cost should always be borne by the Institute to ensure that member’s information and articles had priority.

What a contrast to the CTC who seem to want to save money by producing a sub-standard magazine when prepared to lavishly spend in other areas.

thirdcrank.

Sorry for putting you on the spot. I asked you opinion because in the past you, like me, have been the subject of abuse and I just wanted your point of view.

thirdcrank.
As I was stating my opinion regarding a person that is in the pay of the members of the CTC. Do you think my posting was abusive to DJ?

Oh Boy, has this stirred up everyone.

Simon. You know I have a lot of time for you and respect your opinions. It's a pity I think you are wrong on this one.

Regarding DJ, I did not say anyone was about to sack him. I said he was demonstrating the traits of someone expecting to get the sack. I still think he is.

How is “Cycle” to be made nil-cost? By increasing the amount of advertising? Will is end up with all 90 pages of advertising and two pages of letters just so the editor can feed his ego on unwanted bold replies? Perhaps we should rename it: “Cycle AdMag”.

Having spoken to Council members I am well aware that many would find it impossible to admit they are wrong. So as they appointed DJ they are not likely to do anything other than give him support.

I still think the members deserve a better magazine than they are getting. The only way this will happen is to change the editor.

Simon, I am sure you did not expect me to agree with you, and I will not disappoint.

You did not answer my question: Re. can I inspect the contracts?

It sounds like you wish DJ to stay on until ‘Cycle’ has lost all credibility. Not much longer it is very close to that at the moment. I did offer to go on the editorial committee but that was quickly rejected. Wonder why?

Like you I do not read C+ but many of my friends do and they tell me it is a better magazine now than when DJ did the editing. Also the publishers tell me it now sells more.

I will not bother to blow holes in the so called survey that gave it the thumbs up to the magazine. Anyone who has done market research 101 will tell you why it got the result it did. I meet up with many members and a clear majority think it is a poor publication.

Regarding him being a wordsmith. This does not in anyway qualify him to be an editor. Numerous examples of this scenario are easily researched.

Also I would like other members to judge me on this matter, because in my opinion if someone takes a good wage from a club to do a job, and in the opinion of members does not come up to scratch, those member are entitled to criticise. I once had the audacity to criticise the magazine. DJ retorted with a personal attack and then attempted a show of bravado, which back-fired on him. You may want this type of person as an editor, I don’t.

Graham wrote:

bikepacker wrote:It is no worse that DJ's previous attack against me on this forum when no moderator came to my defence.

That was then. This is now.
Back then there was no moderation and no facilities to effectively administer the boards - the bad old days.
I have vague recollections of an unseemly and rather distressing row that did nobody any good. ( Maybe I missed something . . . did anything positive result ? )

Here is a diplomatic offering with the personal references "adjusted".

bikepacker wrote:In my opinion the magazine needs a complete refresh. Maybe new blood needs to brought in to effect this.

I think this would be over the top censorship and would like to await Simon's reply before changing anything.

Is it now the rule of this forum is to censor anything that is said about the great and the good of the CTC?

Graham.

First; what part?

Secondly; it is no worse that DJ's previous attack against me on this forum when no moderator came to my defence.

In my experience Dan Joyce is now demostrating the traits of someone who is either going out of business or waiting to be sacked from his job.

Perhaps it would be better for all if he just went now, he has obviously past his "sell by date" regarding the CTC.

Simon, would it be possible to look in detail at these advertising contracts that were supposidly dished out by the previous ad agency?

Apollo 13

Kelly's Heroes

Woody wrote:Was the 'Fell Club' originally the 'Backpackers Club'?

No. The Fell Club has been in existance far longer than the Backpackers.
The Fell Club members in the main are cycle campers who shun the use of cars to all meets. Backpacker members in the main drive in cars to their meets.