Cycling UK Forum

l've thought about cycling there myself as l was most impressed when l visited Thorshavn in 1976. l've heard the roads are good but there are tunnels running through the mountains and like Norway, maybe banned to bicycles.
Smyril Line have a lot of info: and they seem to run some of the hostels.
l'm sure l have more info somewhere at home.

Absolutely right. I have a helmet and choose to wear it when I think there is an increased risk of falling off the bike due to wind, ice or the road surface (mud is a real problem in this rural area). But I often choose to leave it at home and wear a cap and/or bandana, especially in the summer. Freedom of choice must remain the basic policy of ctc and they should, and probably are talking to the bma about this.

Andy is right Red lights mean stop not go. But if the junction is totally empty, then why not go through the Red.

During my eight mile cycle ride to college I only go through the red light once. Where i do this is a crossroad with fork juctions linked in to the main traffic lights so that when the fork juctions are green, (going only left) there is no traffic at all going through the middle traffic lights. I therefore go through the red light when there is no traffic in the middle and wait until there is no traffic coming out of the fork juction on that side of the crossroads as that almost certainly means those lights are red. Then I have a big advantage on the cars when the lights I was waiting for go green.

Surley this is safer than waiting for the red light?

Hi there,
I cant afford a touring bike so i'm thinking of buying a hybrid like the trek 7500 FX or SU300, or the Specialised cirrus sport- all around £500 to £600, then fitting drop bars, sti's and all the panniers etc.

Is this a good idea or will i seriously regret it half way through a tour of 2500 miles.

I'd prefere to beef up a road bike as even they seem cheeper but so few can take front panniers.

I really dont know what to do and shops just push want they want to sell.

Please, please can anyone help?
Thanks you.

Take the ferry to st malo or cherbourg and ride along the coast to calais in june you should have a tailwind .and travel back on the ferry from there.The cycling is mostly flat and youwill never be far from a campsite.you can see the amazing monastry at mont st micheal,take a look at the d,day landing beaches omaha is breathtaking.see the bayeaux tapestry.ride over pegasus bridge the first place to be liberated on d,day.Visit the little town of honfleur its amazing. take the bridge over the seinne to cherbourg and carry on up the coast. If you get bored with the coast cut inland and ride across the somme for a couple of days.

Albert is now 88 years old and continued writing for Cycling World until very recently but now finds this a difficulty, although he still manages to ride using his Brompton with very low gears! He appeared at the 2004 York Rally and had managed a 30 mile ride while there.

There are good cycle routes alongside most main roads and other roads into Amsterdam and most towns throughout the Netherlands.
Amsterdam Express (train plus ferry) will take bikes, also Eurostar using bagged folding bikes. Full cycles on trains in the Netherlands cost a fixed fee, about £6

If you feel uneasy about cycling in to Amsterdam, you can catch the Flying Ferry. From Ijmuiden, cycle a few kilometres on to Velsen Zuid on the south bank of the Noordzee Kanaal. From there you can get a hydrofoil which takes you and your bike right in to the centre of Amsterdam behind Centraal Station. The service is half hourly, and costs 4.70 Euros for an adult and 2.30Euros for your bike(fiets). The Flying Ferry website is at www.connexxion.nl it is in Dutch but you will probably get the gist of it. It is an exciting trip along the canal!

Hi,

has anyone travelled to Amsterdam with there bikes and can you advise the best route (on price and convenience)?

I have a various old maps and wondered if there is demand for these and if so could anybody give an indication of their value. Maps as follows:

1) A set of 25 O.S. "Cycling maps of England and Wales", half inch to one mile. These are printed on linen and housed in a leather case.

2) Various O.S. numbered sheets, again printed on linen. Some one inch to one mile & some half inch to one mile.

3) Some barts half inch.

4) Various O.S. paper "Popular Ed" one inch sheets of England and Wales which are more modern but still old judging by the pre-decimal prices.

You're so right Jon and you're the reason I started this thread. Some contributors have cottoned on to the politics of anti-car-ism, like, some people can afford cars and some can't; but you're so right in saying that car use engenders more car use by putting things ever further away. Consider my neck of the woods. Southampton, Winchester, Romsey and Eastleigh used to be distinct towns, and the suburbs were suburbs of those towns. The new 'burbs are suburbs of nowhere; because, when somebody settles there with the total assumption of car ownership/use, it doesn't really matter to them where anything is. They're going to drive everywhere anyway. Even older suburbs have been compromised by new out-of-town developments which might as well be on the moon as far as I'm concerned. Ironically, the best place to be without transport is the inner city.

I'm glad the TUC took such a firm line against those petrol price protestors a couple of years ago. Petrol should be at least twice as expensive as it is.

And - it's not just a matter of one form of transport versus another. Car driving may be a way of getting around, but I cycle to BE. Don't you? For years I cycled 8 miles to work, 8 back, and it was never "commuting". It was more intensely my part of the day than any other. Yes, I'm a disciple of Richard Ballantyne and Ivan Ilych. The bike conquers alienation like nothing else.

But, in a democracy, The People will always vote for what they think they want, which appears still to mean more roads and cars. The ruination of the environment, the carnage, the alienation and "the traffic" are still regarded as accidental by-products; but Twyford Down and the Newbury By-pass may have marked a sea-change. The protestors weren't all Swampy, rent-a-mob and the great unwashed.

yes, anywhere in france will mean that you are respected as cyclists, given road space and welcomed wherever you go. my best time there was in the vercors region to the south west of grenoble. it's a skiing area in the winter but empty in the summer and it's wonderful and welcoming, lots of campings and great food.

Thanks for the replies. I actually read Edward Enfield's book a few years ago - it was his brilliant book that inspired me to give the trip a go. Tom Vernon's "Fat man on a bicycle " is also well worth a read, although it's perhaps a bit short on practicle advice.
I'm more or less following Enfield's route, but since he did it the trip the Burgundy canal's towpath has been improved and there is a new 23km green path from Le Neubourg to Evreux. There's also a new 75km green path following the route of an old railway line that runs paralell to the river Soane from Chagny near Beaune to Villefranch -s - Saone ...ish. This even includes a 5km tunnel - I can't wait !.
Any advice on dealing with angry french farmyard dogs etc etc ...still wanted though.

Paul.

There are two types of Shimano cleat compatible with their SPD pedals. Single release (SH51) which hold the foot firmer and require a deliberate movement to release. Multi release (SH55) not quite such a firm hold, but are easier to get out of. I’ve been using the multi release and M520 pedals for four years, never had a problem getting out of them even in unexpected circumstances.
Don’t be tempted to buy the shoes mail order, the sizes vary considerably, I’ve found size 44 from one manufacturer is equivalent to 46 from another. All the Shimano shoes I’ve tried have been very narrow, luckily there’s plenty of choice from others.

The most interesting route would I think be to head from Le Havre to the Loire which you can do near Orléans. Follow the Loire to its source in the Ardèche then follow the river Ardèche to wards Provence (Orange, Avignon). There will be some climbs but not too challenging. If you avoid red roads on Michelin maps you should be OK for traffic. I have a route from Le Havre via Chartres to Marcigny on the Loire if you're interested. It'll be fun whichever way you go!