Search found 2103 matches

by geocycle
28 Jul 2014, 6:00pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Shorts for commuting
Replies: 25
Views: 2220

Re: Shorts for commuting

531colin wrote:How far are you riding?
I can still tour (eg. 60 miles a day for a week) wearing cotton boxers under M&S shorts.
This "need" for special clothing is modern, and in my opinion, manufactured.
I'm still using leather saddles, which would suffer cosmetic damage with commuting, but I wouldn't be surprised if modern plastic saddles got torn and wrecked with the same use.


Tend to agree, I'm well into a 400 mile trip in France without padded shorts. Have seen lots of cyclists but very little Lycra. I think it's a British thing. With a leather saddle I don't need padding but heat and damp is still an issue as they encourage bacteria. Outdoors shorts are usually made in easy dry material which I think is better than cotton. I use Rohan but most polyamide fabrics will do.

I do wear ronhill tracksters for the commute as it's useful to have something that dries during the day and saves washing work clothes.
by geocycle
25 Jul 2014, 8:47pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Pannier rail thickness. Is it critical?
Replies: 11
Views: 1042

Re: Pannier rail thickness. Is it critical?

I use tubing on the corner of my tubus rack to prevent scrubbing when leaning against a wall and to stop it wearing into the pannier. My first tubus cargo rack perished at the lower corner. So far (since 2006) the ortlieb inserts have fine, although others report problems.
by geocycle
25 Jul 2014, 7:37pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: France: Cycling on Coast Paths and Wild Camping
Replies: 7
Views: 2750

Re: France: Cycling on Coast Paths and Wild Camping

Claud wrote:Hi,

A more couple of quick questions I’m hoping some here can advise on before we head off next week along the Breton coast ..........

1) Is cycling on the coast path allowed?
Mostly we’ll stick to the official Tour de Manche route, but a couple of short off-road detours right along the sea would be great, and from the pics I’ve seen some of the coastpath looks to have a good surface for riding, eg. around Perros Guirec.

2) What are the rules on wild camping in France? I’m particularly thinking of the grassy bits on headlands or above beaches.

(So far googling says nothing about #1, and nothing definitive about #2, but maybe it’s OK-ish??)

Thanks!


I'm currently on the TdM route. Day one from Cherbourg to carentan was mainly on an old railway. Surface was rough and v dusty. Chain, bike and me covered in link dust. Today was mainly on a path along the Vire, a much better surface. Heading to mont st michel tomorrow, will let you know!
by geocycle
22 Jul 2014, 9:54pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Getting to Whitehaven
Replies: 13
Views: 2765

Re: Getting to Whitehaven

Bicycler wrote:I will whinge to anyone who will listen about Northern rail and their antiquated junk but I have to agree that the conductors are quite amenable to cyclists on the cumbrian coast line. In some ways their flexibility is preferable to a mandatory reservation system.


Agreed on both counts
by geocycle
22 Jul 2014, 9:48pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Sustrans - oh dear!
Replies: 24
Views: 4446

Re: Sustrans - oh dear!

reohn2 wrote:
thirdcrank wrote:............ She thought my name was Gar. :shock:


A Gar or the Gar :shock: definitely a worry if it's the latter.


So the secrets out! You had me going there TC! Must rank alongside Darth vader's unmasking as one of the better concealed mysteries of our time.
by geocycle
21 Jul 2014, 9:51pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Getting to Whitehaven
Replies: 13
Views: 2765

Re: Getting to Whitehaven

NUKe wrote:You can't book on line, but you should be able to book at the station. You can still book the cheaper fares in the station


Not with northern rail. They just have a turn up policy and some sensible staff. Main concern would be if a team of c2c ers turned up but I'd be relaxed about it.
by geocycle
19 Jul 2014, 12:43pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: New to here - GPS question and canals...
Replies: 14
Views: 3329

Re: New to here - GPS question and canals...

mrjemm wrote:I have cycled the whole length of the Lancaster Canal... kind of- as suggested by Richard F it is not easy North of Tewitfield, requiring much patience and a bit of hunting (IIRC, been a couple of years for that bit). Rough as though. One stretch you ride along the old canal bed. Beyond Tewitfield there's a continuous path, but it is indeed a terrible surface much of the way still; if not muddy, it's rutted and bumpy. It improves a bit at Carnforth, but it's still too bumpy up to Lancaster to want to use it loaded or at any speed. Likewise after Lancaster. I'd only do it for the ride itself, I wouldn't use it as part of a longer route.


I agree, although personally I don't have a problem with the surface between Lancaster and carnforth. N of tewitfield there are quiet road options into Kendal, south of Lancaster the canal gets rough in places.
by geocycle
18 Jul 2014, 10:28pm
Forum: Lands End to John O'Groats
Topic: New to here - GPS question and canals...
Replies: 14
Views: 3329

Re: New to here - GPS question and canals...

Welcome!

There are a fair few gps threads around. The garmins will all hold the routes you need. Edge and etrex series are worth looking at.

Lancaster canal is a very pleasant ride. The surface is fine for a touring bike. The bridges and dog walkers can be a nuisance. I use it often for Sunday pootles but most end to Enders want a faster ride and use the A6. Again see lots of threads about the A6. You can mix and match according to traffic on the day.
by geocycle
18 Jul 2014, 9:15am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Why are many anti TDF on here?
Replies: 58
Views: 3948

Re: Why are many anti TDF on here?

Dave W wrote: I was curious as to why a cyclist might have no interest in it.


To answer your quote, for me it is the same reason I have no interest in motor racing yet I drive a car, the two activities are just poles apart. Does racing cycling get more folk cycling? (a) Yes, look at the number of folk doing sportifs, or (b) No why would normal people choose a mode of transport that involves getting out of breath in lycra: take your pick.

TdF was a great day out, really enjoyed it but the the race was a side-show to the brilliant cycling atmosphere. Riding back over the dales with informal groups was a highlight of the year so far.
by geocycle
17 Jul 2014, 9:06pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Rattling Ortlieb Ultimate Plus Bar Bag!!
Replies: 9
Views: 1417

Re: Rattling Ortlieb Ultimate Plus Bar Bag!!

I don't like the handlebar mount. I've just fitted my third. One cracked, on another the plastic got brittle around the lock nut and it pulled away. I've also had a couple of extra cables as reusing them is difficult. A more reusable mount would be good as Id rather not have the block in place all year. The only problem I've had with the bag is the map case blowing over when the wind gets behind it.
by geocycle
17 Jul 2014, 9:10am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: what GPS?
Replies: 71
Views: 6567

Re: what GPS?

bikes4two wrote:Another potential issue using phones for GPS rather than say, Garmin specific devices, is the touch screen action.

Phones use capacitive touch screens whereas the Garmins use resistive touch screens (except the new Garmin Edge 1000 which uses capacitive - see the product review by http://www.dcrainmaker.com - he doesn't rate the touch-screen in the rain AT ALL)

I don't have specific experience of capacitive touch screens and using them with gloves and/or when the screen is wet, but I suspect they don't work very well - what are your views?


I have a Motorola defy, one of the first waterproof phones which I used once on a tour mounted on the bars. I quickly discovered it can't be used in the rain. If the screen is wet it gets impossible to select icons. Even worse, if its raining really heavily it will select random apps. The good news is that it works perfectly well in the map case on the bar bag. The display is better than the garmin touring and it's possible to use OS/IGN maps depending on the software you've bought. On my garmin the detail on the maps overwhelms the resolution of the screen. Next week I'll be touring with the garmin and having the phone as a backup. If forced to choose between the two I'd take the phone with an extra battery.
by geocycle
16 Jul 2014, 4:21pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: The Cycle Show
Replies: 37
Views: 4102

Re: The Cycle Show

robc02 wrote:
geocycle wrote:Wouldn't it be great to have a cycle programme where folks weren't slogging their guts out to go as fast as possible, wearing garish outfits, doing some endurance challenge, or getting cut-up by traffic... maybe something about a pleasant, stress free, healthy day out.... but that wouldn't make good TV :?


http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t69gd She is even riding Harold Briercliffe's touring bike (Dawes Galaxy if I remember correctly).


Yes that's true, and there was that series with the Australian brothers following Hannibal. Anything that makes cycling looks normal and fun, not hard and dangerous!
by geocycle
16 Jul 2014, 3:11pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: The Cycle Show
Replies: 37
Views: 4102

Re: The Cycle Show

Wouldn't it be great to have a cycle programme where folks weren't slogging their guts out to go as fast as possible, wearing garish outfits, doing some endurance challenge, or getting cut-up by traffic... maybe something about a pleasant, stress free, healthy day out.... but that wouldn't make good TV :?
by geocycle
14 Jul 2014, 1:37pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Rhine cycle path
Replies: 7
Views: 1768

Re: Rhine cycle path

Yes there are some long stretches on dedicated paths. Surfaces are good. usually tarmac or compact gravel and they are well signposted. They can be a bit dull so you might want to pass through a few villages.
by geocycle
9 Jul 2014, 10:39am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Tour de Manche Mapping (St Malo-Roscoff)
Replies: 11
Views: 5322

Re: Tour de Manche Mapping (St Malo-Roscoff)

I'm doing Cherbourg to Roscoff using that route in a couple of weeks time. I've downloaded the gpx files onto my phone and Garmin thingy. I also bought the memory maps for france at 1:100,000. These are on the phone and I've printed them with the route marked on it. If you pm me I might be able to help....