Search found 292 matches

by HarryD
21 Mar 2021, 10:46am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cogden South Bridge; Grinton Moor
Replies: 10
Views: 769

Cogden South Bridge; Grinton Moor

Hi

According to the BBC news this road is now open. Others say the road is still closed. Anyone used it and able to confirm the situation?

Cheers
by HarryD
21 Mar 2021, 9:51am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: 6-Day Inverness Loop!!
Replies: 24
Views: 1915

Re: 6-Day Inverness Loop!!

If you are set on starting in Inverness have a look at the section of the Great North Trail from Contin or Garve up to Oykel Bridge. 4km before Oykel Bridge turn west on the Ullapool Road as described in the Cicerone guide to mountain biking in West & North West Scotland. From Ullapool its a road ride back to Inverness which can be truncated by using the train back from Garve (as can the ride out)

Of course there are many other reasonable access points to the GNT further south: Dalwhinnie, Corrour, Rannoch, Glasgow
by HarryD
8 Mar 2021, 2:46pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: 29er MTB tyres for off road touring
Replies: 8
Views: 914

Re: 29er MTB tyres for off road touring

I've used 26" Marathon Mondials on the Camino. A mix of gravel, earth and bare rock tracks as well as road. Bulletproof with very good performance on all surfaces including mountain bike type stuff
by HarryD
22 Feb 2021, 10:26am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: It's not about the speed…
Replies: 9
Views: 1119

Re: It's not about the speed…

Quite simple really. In terms of fitness you are what you do

You do all-day steady rides and your body adapts to this way of working. To get your lower power long duration endurance you will have unconsciously sacrificed your short term high power. Can't have both

Your wife and granddaughter haven't. Children also have different energy systems to adults

The classic example is the American Olympic sprint champion and former world record holder Florence Griffiths Joiner 'Flo Jo'. Great up to 400m but her plans to run the marathon ended when her 5km time turned out to be over 20minutes, i.e. well of the lead in any Parkrun
by HarryD
26 Jan 2021, 9:42am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: mtb to touring conversion
Replies: 39
Views: 2618

Re: mtb to touring conversion

Like roberts8 I swapped out a suspension fork for a Surley compensated rigid one for touring. However it lasted a three week tour before swapping back. Didn't like the rigidity, the road roughness being transmitted and the small changes in handling. The weight savings didn't feel noticeable when touring. I swapped it back on return and gave the forks away. On climbs the suspension locked out but otherwise let it do its thing. Although this wasn't a factor at the time I often go off road on tours where you know what pays dividends.
by HarryD
14 Dec 2020, 1:21pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Thorne to Keadby by Canal Path
Replies: 3
Views: 495

Re: Thorne to Keadby by Canal Path

Thanks Ray & Richard for your advice

My plan now is to cut east of Thorne on one of the minor roads and have a look at the path and if I'm not happy will then cut south to use either the A18 or the parallel road south of the M180

Cheers, Harry
by HarryD
13 Dec 2020, 1:04pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Thorne to Keadby by Canal Path
Replies: 3
Views: 495

Thorne to Keadby by Canal Path

Can anyone advise on the condition and surface of the cycle route that follows the Stainforth and Keadby Canal between Thorne & Keadby?

Looking to do a Christmas eve 'Dales to Wolds' ride ending up at the out-laws. Will be on a road bike with 25mm road tyres. Not much daylight then so I wish to make rapid'ish progress

Cheers, Harry
by HarryD
12 Dec 2020, 10:33am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Loading top of rear rack
Replies: 118
Views: 6416

Re: Loading top of rear rack

Like many I carry my tent along the rack as that way it allows easy access to the paniers

I use 5mm shock cord zig-zagging the length of the rack to hold it in place. Cheap, light, grippy and with nothing to break. Easy to adjust the tension as things get added. Holds clothes that need drying or airing securely too
by HarryD
24 Nov 2020, 10:45am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Navigation in Scotland
Replies: 38
Views: 2451

Re: Navigation in Scotland

The OS do a paper version based on the 1;250K which I find just about the best for cycle touring although for the NC500 you could sketch your own on the back of a fag packet and be fine. It is also available on 'water resistant paper'

For what its worth I would take in the whole of the Assynt loop leaving the NC500 using minor roads between Lochinver and Drumrunie on the A835. There aren't many better rides around

The other traffic on the route isn't really a problem and its always been there. Enjoy your trip and take pleasure in others enjoying theirs. Not everyone is as fortunate as you will be on your bike
by HarryD
5 Oct 2020, 10:28am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Post EHIC - anyone know?
Replies: 21
Views: 1303

Re: Post EHIC - anyone know?

Simon

Looks like if you already are resident in the EU you should be fine if you satisfy certain requirements. Visiting after 1st Jan 2021 is still up in the air
by HarryD
10 Sep 2020, 10:18am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Training for NC 500
Replies: 21
Views: 1930

Re: Training for NC 500

One important thing to remember is that distance is one thing but parts of the 500 are seriously hilly. A complete loop of Applecross is only 71km but I've recorded 1850m of ascent while a complete loop of Assynt is 103km with 2300m of ascent. 80 to 100 miles per day can easily mean 8 to 10 hours in the saddle depending on your total load

On my lightweight road bike I burn around 500 calories per hours going steady but pushing it takes that up to 700. Obviously you are still burning calories when not cycling at around 100 per hour. That's a lot of food to get through. My experience is that eating that much day after day is pretty hard and the guts don't always like it

One strategy you may wish to consider is two full days followed by an easier day to recover
by HarryD
26 Aug 2020, 11:24am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring Destination 2 Months Mid Oct to Dec - Any Ideas
Replies: 47
Views: 3578

Re: Touring Destination 2 Months Mid Oct to Dec - Any Ideas

Our experience is different to Martin's. We were there in January and February this year and did a number of rides. None were near the coast which I know tends to be busy traffic wise. Very much like Spain. Many motorways are costly toll roads as are many of the upgraded IC roads (which usually ban bikes anyway) so lots of drivers tend to avoid them.

Inland we tended to define many roads as 30 minute, 45 minute or 60 minute roads. The designation being the time between seeing motorised vehicles. Even on the bigger roads linking towns traffic was light and considerate. Many of the roads were in an excellent state and had been rebuilt. In towns it was different. Our rides were round Alfanga da Fe in the NW, Serra da Estrella which is more central and Monchique in the Algarve. Hilly in places yes but that's where they tend to keep the scenery and it is easier to find satisfaction at a job well done at the top of a hill.

One thing I would advise is to use OSM maps to route plan and navigate in Portugal as the Michelin maps lack a huge number of minor quality roads. OSM maps can be used on Garmins'. Just google for how. Otherwise we found maps of Portugal to be hard to get and often lacking in detail.

Looking at EU cyclist fatality statistics show that Portugal has more per population than Spain but in Spain 50% occur outside urban areas whereas in Portugal the number is 30%. The rates for November and December are worse in Spain.

Although our experiences have been different to Martin's and I would I avoid some parts myself Portugal has plenty left to enjoy. And of course Spain is never far away. Do both
by HarryD
20 Aug 2020, 9:25am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring Destination 2 Months Mid Oct to Dec - Any Ideas
Replies: 47
Views: 3578

Re: Touring Destination 2 Months Mid Oct to Dec - Any Ideas

Given that you have flexibility over the start date and caveats over travel restrictions here are my comments based on many new year breaks and for the last two years taking our camper van with bikes south for 6 weeks. Setting off around new year

France can be hit or miss weather wise. This year we spent a week in the French Basque country in warm weather (15C+) under blue skies and had some great rides and walks. The year before we just kept moving through that kind of misty fog that chills the bones. The Biscay coast tends to be clearer

Into Spain. Weather generally warm, sunny and good for cycling. All the high road passes were open except for the odd day when there was some snow. Generally inland Spain can be quite cold in January and February but this year it wasn't. Last year it got icy at over 1500m. Again good cycling conditions. This year we headed into Portugal to avoid storms over Spain and again warm and sunny with the odd wet day. However, arctic at 1900m in the Serra Estrela having had good weather for walking and cycling for a few days before. Southern Portugal and Andalucia again good warm cycling and walking under blue skies. On our return we got more good rides in the mountains of Salamanca, Burgos and Cognac

Previously the east coast and well inland have provided warm/hot and sunny cycling at the same time of year

Apart from the ferry ticket nothing else was pre-planned although Liz did want us to visit Cadiz which we did. We went where we fancied as modified by the weather. The weather forecasts were generally pretty reliable and gave us enough notice so we could avoid the bad stuff. Easy enough in a van but maybe a long day on the bike

Based on our experiences you could start in Bordeaux or northern Spain and head south following the good weather with plenty of places to centre some interesting day rides
by HarryD
21 Jul 2020, 10:11am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Greenhow Hill Re-Surfacing
Replies: 6
Views: 639

Re: Greenhow Hill Re-Surfacing

Keyboardmonkey, like you I'm a bit puzzled by what Sustrans are doing

The map you show has sections of the WotR deleted where the road is wide with good sight lines but cars can travel fast but I'm unaware of any cycling injuries on those sections. However, the descent into Pateley is retained although three have died and several others seriously injured on it. In Pateley itself Nidd Walk which is a dead end road is listed as route 688. Hey ho

Sustrans are still selling the map of Way of the Roses as an National Cycling Network guide although they have deleted road sections from their classification. Hey ho

Why they call their network 'national' is a puzzle to me as they leave so many other excellent cycle paths and lanes off their map? As a charity Sustrans do some really great work but to only include their own efforts seems a bit strange when their objectives include promoting cycling and walking. Promoting routes made by local authorities and others on their 'national' map would be a great service to us cyclists and walkers
by HarryD
17 Jul 2020, 10:39am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Greenhow Hill Re-Surfacing
Replies: 6
Views: 639

Greenhow Hill Re-Surfacing

The bottom 1.5 miles of Greenhow Hill into Pateley Bridge have just been surface dressed. There is lots of loose gravel and several deep drifts in the carriageway. Should be OK going up but dreadful descending. Peat lane, starts at the Toft Gate car park/lime kiln is an alternative but beware that the final part through the trees with the sharp bends is in a very broken state so requires care. At least you'll walk less that way

Should improve a lot over the next few days