Cycling UK Forum

I have in the past bought a Dutch Flyer ticket without cycle provision. On arrival at Harwich join the queue of cars in standard cyclist manner. At the passport/boat ticket booth ask for a ticket for bike. This has been provided without comment.

On the matter of train travel to Harwich, the vast majority of trains don't require reservation. You just turn up and get on. No payment. I have never seen a crowd of cyclists but I tend to travel midweek.

I'm looking for info about 20" tyres. At present I use Schwalbe Marathon Plus 20x1.35.
However I find them virtually impossible to put on and take off the rim. I'm accustomed to being able to take a tyre off with 2 tyre levers and put it back again with bare hands, and if necessary, a small amount of washing up liquid.
I have found these Marathons extremely difficult to manage. I have bought a device like a large pair of scissors which enable me, with great difficulty, to replace a tyre.
Can any users of 20" wheels please tell me of tyres which are easy to put on and off.

IGICB = I go, I come back.

I would expect the Loire route to be busy in August and you would be recommended to book accommodation in advance.

I have a Bike Friday New World Tourist which I bought 20 years ago. My decision to buy it was helped by a very positive assessment by Chris Juden in the Cycle magazine.
My requirement was for a bike which was good for touring and I am very pleased with it. I wasn't so concerned with size when folded. Clearly it can't compare with Brompton's portability.
I use it unfolded on trains and car ferries. Luggage comprises 2 panniers and bar bag.
There are only two clamps to fasten/unfasten when folding, in contrast to my companions Dahon which has 5. The saddle lowers by folding the seat mast so I don't have to re-set the saddle height when preparing to ride. The pannier rack doesn't need to be removed when folding. In fact it is useful because the inverted bike stands on the rack. However, it does increase the folded size.
If the OP is travelling by boat, I suspect that his requirement is for something smaller than Bike Friday.

Only about 6 miles from the outstanding church at Greenstead near Ongar (mentioned by LinusR above) is Magdalen Laver. On the list of Rectors inside the church is William Webb Ellis who is said to have originated Rugby Football and gives his name to the Rugby World Cup.

My partner and I took the train from St Malo to Nantes a few years ago. The journey involved a fairly lengthy wait for a connection at Rennes.
We had a short ride from the station at Nantes to our first overnight stay then the following day set out on Eurovelo 6.

Harlow in Essex could at one time claim the prize for Cyclist Dismount signs. See Warrington Cycle Campaign Facility of the month September 2007. (Sorry, I don't know how to create a link for it ).

I haven't read all the above posts line by line so I might be repeating a point made by somebody else.

The question about perceived risk whilst cycling has been addressed to readers of these boards ie people who cycle some of the time, whether it's a little or a lot.
There are lots of people who don't cycle at all and many of those I speak to say that it's dangerous. Has the OP asked non cyclists about their perception of danger. In asking only people who read these boards, you are omitting the majority of the population.

I too am mystified by the problem of fitting tyres on 20" wheels. I didn't used to be.
For a few years my partner and I have used Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres (20x1.35 or 35 406). I found them easy to remove with 2 tyre levers and replace using fingers only. Easy to cope with out on the road.

For a short time I tried Schwalbe Big Apple. They were difficult to fit and remove. I stopped using them because I didn't like their riding characteristics.
So I bought new Schwalbe Marathons as described above. I'm amazed at how difficult they are to fit. I had to resort to tyre levers and one of those devices mentioned in other posts.
It appears to me that the manufacturer has changed the characteristics of the tyres. I wonder if the beads will become more workable with use? I will watch this thread with interest to see if there is a favourite brand.

There is a posting in this thread (10 June) which suggests the possibility of returning from Ijmuiden to Harwich. I'm afraid this is not possible. The ferry from Ijmuiden goes to Newcastle. The only ferry to Harwich is from Hoek van Holland.

On another point, I have been told by a Belgian Friend that the Belgian Railways will be on strike on 27 and 28 June. I don't know how comprehensive these strikes will be. It would be prudent to enquire.

I have seen (but not used) bike racks on the front of buses. This was in Hawaii.
I have seen and used bike racks on the back of Post Buses in Switzerland. The system seemed to work ok. You had to make sure you communicated with the driver both when loading and unloading.

The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is suitable for short casual rides. It also give access, travelling northwards, to the off-road Lea Valley route to Ware and Hertford. Going south via canal towpaths, such as Limehouse Cut, and minor roads you can cycle by the Thames to Tower Bridge. Some interesting pubs such as The Prospect of Whitby.

I'm afraid I can't remember how much were the bike-only tickets on the ferry. My recollection is that I thought it was reasonable.

I suspect that Mercalia has drawn the wrong conclusion to the FAQs relating to Dutch Flyer
It says "....unable to include cycles as part of this product".

I have on occasions bought Dutch Flyer for 2 people to go from anywhere in the England catchment area to anywhere in Holland. At the car/bike check-in at Harwich I showed our Dutch Flyer ferry travel tickets and bought tickets for the bikes. The person at the desk provided the tickets without comment. Same on the return journey. The following day, on the Dutch train, the Dutch Flyer tickets conveyed the people and I paid the usual cheap fee for the bikes.

So, the people travelled as Dutch Flyer passengers and the bikes were not "part of this (Dutch Flyer) product."