Cycling UK Forum

Hello
Can anyone please update me on the condition of the route from Calne to Chippenham. It was pretty rough 6 years ago. I hope to lead a club ride from Chippenham to Salisbury return in 2025. Is it suitable for touring bikes|? Thanks Chris

Fancy cycling South America, Hawaii and/or Japan ? March to June 2020
Dear All, I know this trip of a lifetime will be of interest to some members of the club. Deadline for showing interest is 2nd December 2019. It is being organised by a community based budget world cycling group Crotos/ Baltic Cycles http://www.bicycle.pl/en/bc-2020/ which has been running amazing worldwide trips for some ten years. I have done two earlier trips with them. Fantastic people.
I will focus on the South American section of trip which is up to 90 days. It is possible to join and leave at any points in between Rio Janeiro, Brasil and Valparaiso, Chile. Accommodation is mostly camping in your own tent but can include hostels and bunk houses. Use of a support van to carry luggage is provided. Accommodation and the support van is being provided for only some 18e a day! depending on length of trip. A sturdy wide tyred bike is essential. Need to get flight out and return.
If any of you are interested in any of the above please let me know a.s.a.p. or register on website above. I am aware of 5 UK riders (2w 3m) committed so far. Contact me if you have any queries.
Thanks
Chris

Bought a rx alien carbon cyclops single bolt shokpost some years ago which has been fine on my tourer until I tried to hang a bag from saddle. Now having trouble tightening the saddle clamp sufficiently to hold the saddle firmly. Thinking of buying a replacement clamp part. Does anyone know if USE have increased the size of bolt for extra strength or have I misread the blurb on the chain reaction webpage.

Thanks for the responses. Well done Chrisso. Put 25 mm tyres on from my normal 28mm and on a training run felt some extra vibration but great when the road was smooth. As I am mostly sticking to main roads have to hope for best. Shame Swansea Cork ferry is not running this year.

Doing head to head in Ireland (south to north) in first week of July . Tending towards the west coast roads so can glimpse the sea now and again. We are camping but fortunately my partner Christine will be carrying all the gear in her car. Therefore trying to be light as possible on my tourer. Heard the roads can be bad. Any thoughts on the trip and in particular minimum tyre sizes for the journey?

two weeks to go and there is no going back now. 24 week training programme has worked pretty well. Done my first 100. Only a ham string pull for a couple of weeks to worry about. As someone recommended been hitting the hills in the last 3 weeks. Friend Jim has been ill recently but seems to have recovered well- still fitter than me.
So leaving Landsend on saturday morning 23/6/7 around 08:30. hopefully 14 days using mostly b&bs. 70 miles for first two days. In the spirit of CTC if any vets want to join us please let me know.

I want to buy a new pair of touring spd shoes which will be comfortable in summer, wide fitting, and fairly light but with I guess the ability to walk in them. Anyone have any thoughts or recommendations? I have bought a pair of lightweight Altura overshoes/covers so they dont have to be waterproof? Anyone used them? A bit fiddly to put on as dispite being 11-13 (my shoes 10.5) they have to be stretch to get the velcro to engage.

Thanks everyone for the above advice. I am going to do LEJOG in June and am trying to make a training program for myself. Have done a full marathon in distant past and remenber the hard (short)and easy(long) sessions approach with the gradual build up (24 to 16 weeks is ideal) . Time on the road (or in the saddle!) is the important thing. More importantly is recovery time so dont overdo it because you dont want to be injured. I realise I am repeating advice of others. I found when running that gradual introduction of hill work really paid off with stamina levels and I guess this is needed particularly in the first few days. I am in week 4 and definitely feel I need to stretch muscles now.

Thanks for interest Geoff. I have started some training and whilst there is some time to go I may be optimistic in my expectations as a four and a half hour (ride time) outing on Sunday admittedly with 2 bigish climbs with snow on top left me exhausted. You may be too strong a rider for my pace. I will keep you posted on my progress.

Bought a second hand Mercian with a Brooks professional leather saddle but its giving me a hard time! Bought Use suspension seat post (firm!) which has definitely helped but still on a long run is uncomfortable. Is it important to get the tilt right or my ageing bum firmly on the rear area or should I give up and buy something else? Any suggestions?

Planning a ride (need to get out of the comfort zone!) probably mid June which I would like to do in 12 days or so using b&b and if poss. hostels. If you think you might like to join me let me know. Friend Jim is warming to idea but not definite. I am a fit fifty something at the moment!