Cycling UK Forum

My big worry, as I write off my own plans, is how well the Bikebus can withstand this. It's still much my favourite route to the sun.

mjr wrote:

Ridgie wrote:The whole train thing looked a bit to risky for me. Good luck with whatever you decide.

How is the train any riskier than trusting your bike to anonymous airport baggage handlers? It can be hard sometimes to find the info, but it's not risky once you do.

I see what you mean.
The risk with the trains were the risks you take of bookings going wrong or trains without bike spaces etc which are quite acute if you're of a neurotic bent as I am. Flying is, of course, a horrible risk to the bike but if you are heading homeward, and not outward, it's one I would be prepared to take, in my case with a titanium bike. I wouldn't take such a risk with a carbon bike without a good quality bike box. Trains are a much better way to travel if you feel in charge of the administration..... better fun too!

Hi
I got an Edge Tourer about 9 months ago and am surprised at some of your problems.
When I go off route, (the route is a deep purple line) my Garmin offers me a pink line to follow which will return me to my route by the most efficient way. I find this very useful and use it all the time. It has a habit, if your route is circular, of finding the 'wrong' route and trying to send you back from whence you came, so you have to try and be aware it might do that, but in the main, I have found I'm kept on track pretty well.
Colours can be changed in the setings. I did this, but didn't find that they were any clearer and yes, it would be great if the icon which represents you, the cyclist, were not a tiny black arrow that tends to get lost on the purple route, but with more time, you get used to checking the warning on the top of the screen as to when the next turning is due.
It can be (is) an annoying device, but, with time, I suspect you'll get, if not to love it, then to admire what it does do well.

Thanks again all. The 'bodybag' has arrived from Groundeffect in NZ and is perfectly able to take bike with rear mudguard and rack in place. Very little dis-assembly needed - just front wheel and 'guard, and pedals and then bars swung round. Will take only a few minutes at the airport. I took a photo, but it needs more ability than I have, digitally, to post it here!
Happy touring in '19!

Hi
I am cycling velo 6 to Basel this June and I am taking a "Dogsbody" bag with me. It's available from 'Groundeffect' in New Zealnd and weighs 1.2 Kilos. I'm ok with that weight as it makes me self contained. The bag is A4 size and about 3" thick and costs £103. I will fly back from Basel airport on a booked easy jet flight. I can't remember the cost, but I think it's about £100 for me and the bike to Luton which compares well with the alternatives.
My original plan was to cycle to the Decathlon shop in Basel and buy one of their Btwin cycle bags for £49 and use it to travel and I have only recently decided against that plan only because it leaves me vulnerable to either the shop not having the bag in stock, or worse, not keeping it under the counter after I'd paid in advance. ...... you can see I am a bit neurotic about such things going wrong!
The whole train thing looked a bit to risky for me. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Reassuring, because I was going to have to absent myself when the postman arrived and it's a trick my wife doesn't much like!
Thank you for that simonhill

Ridgie wrote:Hi Sweep
It Comes to £102.13 delivered. Best wishes.

Someone has just suggested that there might
be VAT to pay at the door Aaagghh! If so I shall post here

It's a wonderful idea and you will have a great time ... But, I think your daily mileage estimates are way over the top. It's not so much about fitness but stamina and what happens to your body, and especially your mind, when you start to get dog tired. The most catastrophic thing is that you become negative and start to fantasise about dropping out. That always happens to one more than another and sets you up to argue all day. And your partner, unless she's a really fine athlete will get caught out even faster than you! Also bottoms. How hardened are they? They really hurt if you push it too much. Again, especially your partners!
If it were me, I'd aim for no more than 50 miles a day - and that's a lot of cycling. Join up with a local club and try it.
The great thing about 50 a day, even averaging only 10mph, is that you arrive at your destination in mid afternoon and you have a chance to explore, have a swim, make plans for the evening etc. It becomes a holiday and not a trial. Remember ... 50 miles is not a short distance!

Hi
Just to add something about your 23 tyres. I did the Nantes to Nevers section last year in dry June and found the underfoot conditions fine for my marathon 28 tyres, but I think I'd have struggled with 23's unless they were pretty tough. Almost half the route is off-road, excellent surface nearly always, but sometimes sandy, sometimes pave, (not too much of that) and sometimes branches (thorns?).
BUT, I'd recommend it for you even so. It's a quiet part of the world and in the way with France, there is a multiplicity of roads. You'll always find a road that'll get you there. The route's lovely and there's a campsite every 10 miles or so. I used the 'Huber' Velo6 maps and found them excellent. They route in the centre so you always have perhaps as much as 10 miles of mapping top and bottom to use to sort out alternative roads.
Mix it and you'll get there fine .... good luck.

Hi Sweep
It Comes to £102.13 delivered. Best wishes.

It was of course the Dogsbody as you guessed. The lighter of the two and less breaking down needed. It's only a short flight - what could possibly go wrong!
Again, many thanks for such useful and knowledgeable advice. Ridgie

Thank you all for invaluable advice . I have taken it all in and ordered a 'Groundeffect' bag from NZ today.
It packs down small and weighs only 1,200g which is what was wanted and I will be able to carry it on tour with me saving money and much hastle at the end.
Affectionate best wishes to you all Ridgie

Thank you all for your considered replies. The CTC bag is just too difficult to manage into taxi and at the airport with panniers etc. All I am concerned about is folded size and weight so that I can cycle 1,000K with it without lobbing it aside on a bad day! It will sit over the panniers on top of a bed roll, so it can have a bit of bulk. Pedals, bars, mudguards, rack, mech and the rest I can handle. The type of bag doesn't matter a lot as long as it will take a tourer split down a bit. Any more ideas would be great, but ta for help in any event.
Ridgie

Travelling across France this summer and flying back home to London at the end of the trip. I can buy a bike bag at Basel just before I fly back and use that, but it would be a lot better if I can carry a bike bag with me. My bike is tough (titanium) and I am prepared to risk a bit of damage by using a thin bag. Does anyone know of a cheep(ish) bag that is light enough and small enough when folded to take on the tour with me so that I can save the trip to Decathlon.

You could have a look at a Ridgeback World Tour, or I think they now call it simply Tour. I had one for 3 years and toured quite a lot with it carrying some big loads and had no problems. Try and source a better saddle before setting off. You should be able to find the bike new for under £500 leaving you something spare for those panniers which I would buy cheap from ebay. Assume the panniers aren't waterproof and put all clothes inside bin bags or equivalent, Have fun.