Cycling UK Forum

Cheers! The Ludlow site has gone into my 'favourites'.
A view from the tent door is one of my requirements of a great campsite - along with clean loos and showers, somewhere to wash up, and reasonable site fees. I have been known to move pitch when someone parks their car in front of my tent so I can't see out!

You could always try your local Freecycle - if you have a problem with someone not picking up then you've someone to report it to.
Don't skip it please!

Lovely views - can we have campsite locations please?!

Wow! So many comments so soon!
It does sound like the rather unpleasantly-named 'chain suck' - it's almost as if the chain gets sucked up then gets caught.
It's a new bike, but I've ridden it quite a lot, and the chain was a bit dirty so I've cleaned it. I've also noticed that there is very little space between the cogs and the frame - far less than my previous bikes. It's also the first bike I've had which changes gears with a click (don't know proper terminology!) So it may be that it's my riding which is partly at fault - I'm used to changing gears more slowly, and I'm used to bikes where the chain can mess about more without getting caught up!
So I'll be changing gear more carefully and buying a tin of hammerite...
Any further thoughts most welcome.

A few months ago I bought a bike for commuting - it's great except that the chain occasionally gets caught between the smallest front cog and the frame, scratching off the paint and bringing me to a sudden halt - not good in traffic. It's not actually falling off the cog (I think I know how to sort that out) - it's apparently either jumping up or being pulled up behind the cog and getting stuck against the frame. This happens when changing down from the middle to the smallest cog - but only occasionally.
It was a mailorder bike from a good company but it's difficult for them to help via phone or email. I'm loath to take it to a bike shop straightaway - any suggestions?

Edinbugh Bicycle Co-operative have a shop in Manchester and do decent reasonably-priced bikes (I just got a Revolution Trailfinder which is my commuter bike but I might end up touring on it if I don't get my tourer fixed).

I've got a bike cover but only used it once - the bike was soaked with condensation. I just put poly bags over the seat and handlebars. It's been OK for the last nearly-20 years with this treatment...

I think you'll find that all big stations have lifts now, for disabled passengers, ones with push-chairs, ones with lots of luggage - and ones with bikes. Occasionally it all falls down when the lifts malfunction but I've only had that happen once and then I was 'escorted' across the lines by a member of staff.

I used to cycle along the canal from Cov to Nuneaton but mebbe it's not fast enough for you. Lots of interesting old churches to the east of Cov, and some quiet roads. See http://coventryblog.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html - it's my old blog, I'm now in Nottingham.

My new bike!

Edinburgh Cycle Cooperative Revolution Trailfinder. Nice sensible budget commuter/canal towpath/days out bike. My first new bike for nearly 20 years and the first one the right size for me since the 18" Raleigh Winner 5-speed which I did years of cycle-touring on in the '80s.

First impressions are very good, and the 'customer care' from ECC was great. The bike was virtually ready to go, just needed the handlebars turning round and the pedals put on. I guess some 'tweeking' will result after I go for a longer ride.

Cheers rualexander! I wanted to hear this but didn't realise it was on the documentaries archive.

I remember Vision On, it was one of my favourite programmes, and in many ways before its time. It was a really good innovative programme, and it was brilliant because it was for deaf children but hearing children just as much.
I never did get a picture onto the gallery though!

Brill!
Thanks to you all for all your help!
Slowroad

It's a bit of a shock to find out how many ferry services have been cut - I'm very disappointed that I didn't get to do the Newcastle to Bergen route again while it was still running. Wanted to do the Hurtigrute with my Mum - doesn't seem the same to fly.
But perhaps someone who can really unpick these things will tell us that flying in a full plane is better than sailing in a half-empty ferry!
It's not easy being green... have a good time.

Cheers Gaz!
Anticlockwise thread?