Cycling UK Forum

I haven't bought a fully-assembled bike since 1998. That one was written-off after a car T-boned
me in 2000. Since then, I have bought frames and added my choice of components. My oldest
frame is a titanium one purchased from xacd in about 2006/7.

Put a shoe-stretcher in your (narrow) shoes and stretch to the maximum width. Hold stretched
shoe over a boiling kettle for several seconds and then leave the stretcher in the shoe for about
(or at least) 24 hours. The steam from the kettle would have penetrated the leather and made it
supple enough to stretch.

Then, if desired, moisturise your shoes with something like Renapur.

Jdsk wrote: ↑12 Mar 2024, 9:13pm

maanderx wrote: ↑12 Mar 2024, 8:17pm Finance and health card sorted. Just the accommodation to finalise.

You need a Crit'Air sticker if you're going into Reims:
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motori ... ch-cities/

Jonathan

I've driven to France many times before. I acquired the sticker (which I acquired 12 months ago).
Any recommendations on places mid-way between Calais and Roanne where you have stayed?

Finance and health card now sorted. Just the accommodation to finalise.

@Simonhill.
My bike will and luggage will stay in the room with me. You mentioned credit card charges.
To avoid them, would you recommend using a debit card, one that is used for 'holiday purposes
only'?

Jdsk wrote: ↑12 Mar 2024, 1:06pm We've stayed at a couple of Campaniles recently, including this February. Cheap, clean and food was OK.

There's one in Troyes:
https://troyes-sud-bucheres.campanile.com/fr-fr/

You could probably get a better meal elsewhere in Troyes, and you certainly can in Rheims.

Jonathan

Thank you for the details. That is definitely one to consider.

Not too bothered, providing it is clean. A location about halfway between the two locations would entail about
a four hour drive. That will be in addition to three hour drive to Folkstone (where I'd be able to rest and get
some food/drink).

I have booked to take part in the Semaine Federale in Roanne, France, this year and intend to travel
via the Eurotunnel in my car. The drive down to Roanne will be up to 8 hours and my intention is to break
up the journey and stay somewhere around the halfway distance (+/-) between the two locations.

Can someone recommend a place where they have stayed and had an ok night's sleep without any
issues? I'm not looking for five-star luxury, nor a dive. Ideally I would book a room for both legs of
my journey.

(Mods: feel free to put this where you think most appropriate).

Found it, as your post disappeared from yacf. Anyhow, I was going to say; 'would it not have
been cheaper to take your bikes with you (eg, with an airline) than incur additional costs with a company entrusted to get it to you once you arrived overseas?'

Psamathe wrote: ↑3 Mar 2024, 11:21am I carry one of those emergency inflate & repair little canisters which uses slime stuff but you only use it when you have a flat and as an emergency get you home them repair properly.

Ian

What brand is it? Do you have a link to it? Is it for presta or schrader valves?

£2.49 (inc postage) from www.diy.com

https://www.diy.com/departments/tile-an ... 003_BQ.prd


I've just ordered one.

Here's a BBC article about how much fluid to drink.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/fluid_in_food

briansnail wrote: ↑27 Feb 2024, 3:19pm

The recommended daily water intake varies depending on the source, but the general recommendations are:

For men: 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day

For women: 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day. (Mayo Clinic)

Those figures (above) seem a lot to me.

PH wrote: ↑16 Feb 2024, 6:44pm

thirdcrank wrote: ↑16 Feb 2024, 1:52pm

CliveyT wrote: ↑16 Feb 2024, 9:46am Two bits of advice i would offer- Don't seek legal advice off a cycling forum. There are almost certainly people on here that know exactly what the law says, there are people on here who have a good idea, there are people on here who don't know and some of them will still venture an opinion. Working out which is which is difficult and " some people on the internet said it would be OK" will not be looked at favourably by customs and excise.
Secondly don't go around telling people what you're planning to do on a publicly viewable forum?

My nomination to be preserved in "Non technical: Too good to lose"

Engraved on a brass plaque would be a bonus

I think it pretty rude. I'd say this forum is a great place to gather information, a lot of the posters provide links to the detail for others to check for themselves. I wouldn't rely on advice gathered here, or any other forum, but that isn't the same as not seeking it.

Blimey, people on this forum are so sensitive about stuff!

Deary me!

gbnz wrote: ↑15 Feb 2024, 9:17am Anyone else experienced declining mileage ! Never had an interest in speed, mileage, competition, merely did 150 miles a week @ 20mph avg speed

gbnz wrote: ↑16 Feb 2024, 9:27am Hmm, may get the superlight road bike back on the road. Comprehensive rebuild in 2012, only had one token, post-rebuild trial ride on it since, stored behind the living room armchairs

Can't see myself back in lycra, but a 20 mile, aiming for a 20mph average spin would be useful exercise.

cyclop wrote: ↑15 Feb 2024, 3:55pm Now, let me get this straight. 20 yrs from retirement, which puts you mid 40s. 40yrs of huge mileage puts you on your bike at age of 5 doing 150 mls a week!!! Am I being a bit thick ?

I was thinking the same thing, but concluded that it was either badly written, or (god forbid) a large bit of embellishment?