Cycling UK Forum

We cycled a fair bit of this last spring - from Sluis to Hoek. Due to time constraints we headed straight through Middelburg rather than do the coast. Beware Middelburg - I had my Brooks saddle and seatpost nicked there. Someone knew what they were looking at. The whole bridge/dam/dyke system on the coast is amazing and the beaches are pretty good too. The weather over the first few days was bitter -in April- so be prepared. We were camping and campsites were either closed or only just open for the majority.

Thanks! I may be doing this in late May.

Yes, taken my Brompton on the Harwich-Hook ferry as Rail & Sail several times. It was x-rayed the last time!
REALLY making me want to go on this route again next year, it's been 5 years, far too long!

Last October, a combination of sudden sun in my eyes and the way the shadows were falling, and probably a dose of hubris, caused me not to see this:

IMG_2646.jpeg

It’s an upstand, not a kerb, installed to help delineate what is now a car park from what is now a cycle path (the deeper question is “why?”), both being bits of a now diverted road, and I rode straight over it, unseating both tyres, unseating me quite spectacularly, and having my bike land on top of me. I was only “trickling along”, and glad I didn’t “have steam on”.

This is the approach view without sun, and even here I think you’ll agree it isn’t easy to spot.

That's dangerous! Did you contact the relevant local council about it?

Thanks - I'm planning this too, and you've answered some of my questions.
I'm going to do it in May/June, if all works out. You are hardier than me if you do it in January! It could be fine, or it could be impossible weather. I was really cold in Brugge in February one year...

Oh yuk. Did you fall off before the eye test? Oh dear...
Thanks for sharing, made me smile!

I've been cycle camping since the 80's and the improvement in technology is fantastic. I manage to keep my luggage weight below 12 kilos, and for two people that should be slightly easier. I'm guessing you may have to leave some things behind that seemed important on your non-camping tours, so well worth a couple of weekends to shake down what you really need and managing your new kit. Alpkit are a brand to look at for lightweight cost-effective kit.

ANTONISH wrote: ↑13 Jul 2023, 9:18am
There is of course the tunnel cycle shuttle service which I think drops you off in Ashford (or used to).

It's the Holiday Inn Express in Folkestone now, and only once a day in each direction.

Slightly more convenient going from France to UK rather than the other way round. Pick up from Coquelles is at 12.30, whereas the pickup from Folkestone is at 08.00, which effectively means you have to have stayed at or near the Holiday Inn the night before (unless you live locally).

I do fancy trying it one day but it's impractical for me on the outward leg. Maybe coming back.

There is a camping and caravan club site in Folkestone, admittedly at the other end of town, but I used it with no problem when I used the Eurotunnel Shuttle minibus a few years ago. I work on Saturday mornings, so an early afternoon train from the Midlands to London then Folkestone by very late afternoon. Left at 7am, time to get to the pick-up and grab a coffee before my lift arrived. I was the only one on board going out and returning. Would certainly use it again.

I bought this in 1983 - within a couple of months I was off on my first cycle tour and by the end of the summer had done three. Cycle-toured ever since! It just painted a picture of a fascinating (almost exotic!) land of variety and character just out there ready to explore. And I took a copy of Richard's Bicycle Book with me!

Thanks both - I couldn't remember the name of the o-ring! I suspect I may have been over-tightening somewhat. The difficulty is finding the size of o-ring, it's not listed on the MSR website, and they don't have any repair info for the PocketRocket on the website. There's some interesting information on here which sheds light on this: https://threepointsofthecompass.com/202 ... -check-em/
I've been wondering about getting a different stove, one which sits lower and has the gas bottle outside the windshield, so maybe this will be one of several winter projects!

In May 2019 whilst I was touring, my several year's-old Wilko screw-on gas cooker started leaking gas from the connector when the canister was screwed right on. I stopped using it, and bought a MSR Pocket Rocket a couple of days later, thinking it'd be better to buy something better made. After approximately 6 to 8 weeks use max, over several tours, it has now started doing the same, fortunately at the end of a tour, when I was at a campsite with kettles! Is it worth buying rubber washers and seeing if that helps?
However I've never particularly rated the Pocket Rocket - the Wilko one had a better, more spread out burn - so have been thinking about buying another cooker. Is there any design which might avoid - or realistically reduce - the issue of suddenly being without hot drinks and food on tour?
TIA

I got clobbered for 20+ euros when I camped in 2019 in a site which online still seemed to be a municipal - beware zombie websites! As the name had been changed I had no way of knowing that it had changed hands, and my French wasn't good enough to read the new board properly when I got there. I also asked locally for the 'camping municipal' and was directed to it! I set up as there was no-one in reception, and only found out a couple of hours later when a man came and started bellowing at me in French. A very difficult situation but he was OK in the end. I think he got a cheap emplacement in return for managing the site, he worked nights on train maintenance (we communicated in French and hand signals!) and was worried he'd get in trouble. The site was listed in the Avenue Verrte Handbook, I did let them know, so I hope that new editions don't include it, or with a warning if they do.
The difficulty is if you have to have membership of several organisations just to your! There are some like this in the UK, not just the Camping and Caravan Club, but Green Camping, and I think another at least.

Campsite name: Ty Croes Farm Campsite
Location: Dwyran, Llanfairpwll LL61 6RP
Fees: £10 reduced fee for cycle camper, not on website
Facilities: two unisex loos, two unisex showers, sink, washing up area. Nowhere to charge things.
Comments: near to lovely Newborough beach and on NCN route. Shop in village but not much else. Few cafes round about. Cheapest campsite this side of Anglesea, nice enough.

Campsite name: Dinarth Hall Caravan & Camp Site
Location: Dinerth Hall Road, Colwyn Bay, Colwyn Bay, LL28 4PX
Fees: £10 per adult for tents
Facilities: older but very clean loo blocks and showers (free). Sockets you can charge from. Fence you can lock bike to.
Comments: it's the only campsite for tents near Llandudno. Could be lively on sunny summer holiday weekends as there's little supervision.

I do enjoy this guardian series- sometimes the routes are a bit limited in length but it’s sharing useful info to inspire people.

What series is this? Can't find any links on the article.
Thanks!

Thanks for asking the question, I was wondering too. Great value bikes, I bought my Trailfinder in early 2009 for £200 (2008 model £50 off). Still going strong!