Cycling UK Forum

Recently I was dealing with a leaking inner tube in a 35-406 Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyre. I found that it was a significant struggle getting the tyre off. Fortunately I was at home rather than at the roadside. It raised in my mind the question which tyres might be easier to change. A local shop has similar size Oxford tyres. Has anyone experience of those, in particular the ease of getting them off the rim?

This is a response to the features of small wheel bikes, not about a separate location for information.

I have a Bike Friday New World Tourist 20" wheeI. I bought it in late 1998 and have used it for numerous tours, mostly in nearby continental countries. Before buying it I tried a few small wheel bikes and didn't like the quality of the ride. My eventual choice was based upon an article in Cycle Mag Feb/Mar 1995 in which CJ said it was "a genuine performance bike that is also light enough to carry and reasonably compact folded". Also "it was as much fun to ride as its inflexible equivalent". I had a test ride at a dealer's that was in Wellingborough.

My tours have used cross channel ferries and trains and occasional buses. On one occasion the bike went in a suitcase (CTC tour to Croatia, island hopping ). I stay in B&Bs/ hotels, not camping. 2 panniers and a bar bag. In my view it is an ideal bike but the price might deter people.

The last time I went from Calne to Chippenham you could, by request, stop at Black Dog Halt.

This must be an occasional topic of conversation at the Tea Shop.
If a mobile phone (not Apple) has been lost/mislaid how easy is it to find it on-line? It looks very easy. Find a website that claims to find it in an instant. Enter the number of the missing phone, click on "find my phone" and its location will be revealed.
It looks altogether too easy. What are the pitfalls? I'm guessing that the moment you click on "find the phone" it asks for money or payment details of some sort.
Has anybody tried it?

Mine arrived in 8 days early in June.

A few years ago I devised a ride for an elderly companion. It was similar to the OP's intention. ie attractive scenery and not a lot road cycling. It mostly followed NCN 4.
We started from Gloucester, Sharpness canal, followed river Severn to Avonmouth. Then EAST following river Avon through Bristol, Bath, Kennet and Avon canal, Reading, river Thames and eventually to Richmond Park. With a few minor diversions it totalled about 200 miles.

I've just been looking at the side wall of a Schwalbe Marathon tyre where it says "For crotched type rims only".
Never noticed it before. What is a crotched type rim please?

I came across a French supermarket titled "Huit a Huit" ie 8am to 8pm. I just managed to squeeze in before they closed for 2 hour lunch.

Welcome.
France has lots of cyclable roads.
One type of routes is called Voies Vertes (Green Ways). They exclude motorised traffic and are for the use of horses, cyclists, wheelchairs, roller skaters. Generally they were created from former rail tracks and canal tow paths. You can find details if you click on AF3V.

cc1085 might consider Islabikes Joni. It seems to fit the requirements he described. However, at a glance I wonder if the hydraulic brake actuation mechanism would impede a bar bag.

Like Richard F above, I too have a Bike Friday New World Tourist. I wanted a bike that would be good to ride but would also enable travel on trains. (At the time I didn't realise that I could travel very widely on the continent's trains without folding). I was influenced by an article by CJ in the CTC mag (Feb/Mar 1995). He referred to it as "a genuine performance bicycle." I bought it in 1999. My touring hasn't been quite as adventurous as Richard F but I have ridden in several European countries, mostly on roads and occasional rutted tracks. Only travelled by air once. CTC Tour in Croatia Sept 2005. A suitcase is much easier than parting with your bike at Check-in. My comments on foldability and rideability are the same as Richard's.

I would like to be able to make use of it. Clearly it can be useful in all sorts of ways including when on tour. It's a Samsung.

I have a smartphone but can only use it for a very limited range of functions....certainly not for navigation. Unfortunately I don't have grandchildren living near. Is there a book or other source of information?

One Winter a few years ago I cycled NW from Barcelona. On the look out for somewhere to stay overnight, I went to one of the well known Costa Brava resorts. Can't remember which one. Wandering along the sea front lined with hotels, I passed numerous closed ones before finding one that was open. I'm sure the OP will be OK, but not surprisingly most places were shut.

As the starter of this thread....thanks for the replies. My friend found the Tour on 24 as you said. She was probably unable to find it by clicking thro' the channels because of the adverts. Thanks.