Search found 280 matches

by Rob Archer
23 Jul 2019, 8:47am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Mournes and County Down
Replies: 4
Views: 2183

Re: Mournes and County Down

Gontlib wrote:Here a couple of my rides that should be useful.
You could use the first one to do a loop through the Mournes from Annalong. Just cut across from Bryansford to Newcastle.
The second one is the route for the 2016 Gran Fondo.
Its a hilly route but avoids main roads and will take you right to Belfast harbour close to the ferry.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16966026
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/14125685


They look good thanks. I might need to do a bit more main road riding on the route to Belfast though as I need to be there for the 15:30 ferry.
by Rob Archer
22 Jul 2019, 5:30pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Mournes and County Down
Replies: 4
Views: 2183

Mournes and County Down

I'm staying with my brother in Annalong (on the coast road between Kilkeel and Newcastle) in early september. I'll be arriving by bike from Dundalk via the Greenore - Greencastle ferry. I've got a couple of questions for anyone who knows the area:

1) Any recommended day rides through the Mournes? Living in Norfolk I love hills! :D

2) I'm planning to ride from Annalong to the Belfast Ferry Terminal. Any recommendations as to recommended routes (or ones to avoid)?
by Rob Archer
5 Apr 2019, 5:27pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Replacement frame for folding bike
Replies: 2
Views: 313

Replacement frame for folding bike

The frame of my Viking VN45 has cracked at the top of the seat tube. It's partly my own fault. I'm 5'10" and 92kg and the seat post has been at it's maximum extension. I bought the bike second and was always a bit concerned that the seatpost diameter was only 27.2mm which seemed rather thin for such a long post. The original aluminium one started to bend where it goes into the seat tube and I suspected it could break so I replaced it with a steel one. I suspect the crack is because the steel one has more inherent flex than the aluminium around it. The frame isn't repairable sadly. The rest of the kit on the bike (some of which I've upgraded) is fine. Unfortunately nobody sells just frames for folding bikes. I need one that takes 20 inch wheels and a fatter seatpost.

Any ideas?
by Rob Archer
25 Mar 2019, 7:40pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: 5mph signs on national cycle route 1
Replies: 36
Views: 6339

Re: 5mph signs on national cycle route 1

The latest on the 5mph debacle. Just to make it clear, the 'vandalism' (some of which may have been the wind) wasn't perpetrated by any regular poster on this forum AFAIK!
https://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/officia ... d-9065117/
by Rob Archer
10 Mar 2019, 4:25pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: 5mph signs on national cycle route 1
Replies: 36
Views: 6339

5mph signs on national cycle route 1

5mph signs have recently gone up in Wootton Park in King's Lynn on National Cycle Network Route. I know they have no legal standing and aren't enforceable but will certainly increase antipathy to cyclists and possibly set a precedent for elsewhere on the network. It looks as though they were sanctioned by the Wootton Park Association although the minutes for their November meeting only mentions a 'Shared Space' sign (with which I've no problem). Is there anywhere else where a busy cycleway has a 5mph speed restriction?
by Rob Archer
11 Feb 2019, 12:23pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Radial Front Wheel build - spokes inside or outside the hub?
Replies: 5
Views: 1124

Radial Front Wheel build - spokes inside or outside the hub?

I'm building a front wheel with radial spokes for the first time. 32 spokes on Ambrosio wide-flange hubs, Chrina Ryde rims. Should the spokes be run from the inside of the hub flange, the outside or alternating? To my untutored mind, running them from the outside would result in a laterally stiffer wheel but inside might look neater. What are the benefits (if any) of either?
by Rob Archer
10 Feb 2019, 7:56pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Close pass by rail replacement bus
Replies: 12
Views: 4473

Re: Close pass by rail replacement bus

Bus replacement services are usually contracted by the train operator, not Network Rail so take it up with them. Unfortunately bus replacement is a fact of life (you can't replace track and run trains at the same time) but train operators have responsibility to ensure it's done safely. I dealt with bus replacements regularly as a station supervisor until 2017. Most of the drivers and buses we used were fine but I did regularly get reports about poor driving (particularly speeding) from passengers. On one occasion I was besieged by passengers getting off a bus who were clearly shocked by the ride. I spoke to the driver and it was very clear he was 'under the influence'. To cut a long story short he or his company didn't work for us again! That was a few years ago and I hope the industry is a bit more choosy about who they use but, as has been pointed out, buses are often sub-contracted.

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my SM-A310F using hovercraft full of eels.
by Rob Archer
13 Jan 2019, 8:11pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Trucks Do Not Have Cyclist-Obscuring Blind Spots
Replies: 174
Views: 19475

Re: Trucks Do Not Have Cyclist-Obscuring Blind Spots

thirdcrank wrote:A propos of nothing, a large white van has just driven up my street and back down. On the offside back door there was a prominently displayed sticker showing the NO CYCLING road sign - black bike within a red circle. That's the attitude we are discussing.
Is that not misuse of a road sign? AIUI that sign indicates a cycle ban and will be backed up by a Traffic Regulation Order. If that's allowed maybe cyclists should have a No Motor Vehicles (flying motorbike) sign in their backs?

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.
by Rob Archer
1 Dec 2018, 10:39am
Forum: National Standard Cycle Training
Topic: Cycle Training UK to close
Replies: 5
Views: 15491

Re: Cycle Training UK to close

mjr wrote:Bikeability is brought to you by the gig economy and short-term and zero-hours contracts :(
Unfortunately the nature of the training makes that the only viable option and, to be fair, it works for most of us, who are just topping up another income (in my case a pension). I can take work as and when I'm available and reject work that's too far away or awkward to get to. In an ideal world we would have full-time trainers, properly funded from public money but until such time Bikeability training for adults becomes much more widespread we're stuck with what we have. It's still way better than Norfolk CC's nonstandard training using unpaid volunteers!

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.
by Rob Archer
3 Nov 2018, 5:26pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Cost of Underpasses
Replies: 57
Views: 19321

Re: Cost of Underpasses

I've been following this project with interest as my wife is starting a new job in Soham next week. She plans to travel by train to Ely then cycle. When the weather's OK she'll use NCN11 but there's a mile of unsurfaced, muddy track near Barway which can be all but impassible in really wet weather and she's naturally concerned that some sections are very lonely and exposed. WE haven't tried using the direct A142 yet as, from memory it's a busy, truck infested road with a very narrow footway on one side.
Any locals out there with any suggestions as to options?
by Rob Archer
25 Sep 2018, 9:50pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Children to be banned from riding bikes without number plates.
Replies: 138
Views: 7261

Re: Children to be banned from riding bikes without number plates.

Maybe the parents of kids who ride bikes to the school should inundate the head with reports of car drivers misbehaving (parking on the footway, driving whilst on the phone, not indicating, passing cyclists and pedestrians too closely etc, etc.around the school and demanding action against those drivers - Stopping them driving their kids to school? Maybe confiscating their cars?
by Rob Archer
29 Jul 2018, 8:55am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Ely to Soham via NCN Route 11
Replies: 3
Views: 725

Re: Ely to Soham via NCN Route 11

The ride to Soham was fine thanks. Apart from the new bit under the new bypass the riverside path is awful! I rode it as part of the NCN '10 000 miles in 10 years a decade or so ago and Sustrans told us back then that it was being upgraded and surfaced all the way to Barway. None of it appears to have had any maintenance since then at all, with only a small gap between the weeds on either side. It's still rideable but it's hardly a good advert for the NCN.

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.
by Rob Archer
24 Jul 2018, 7:04pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Cycle transport: train, car, bus..?
Replies: 28
Views: 1494

Re: Cycle transport: train, car, bus..?

I don't have a car and where I can't cycle because of distance I use the train. Taking a bike on the train isn't the ordeal some on here make it out to be. Book in good time (a couple of months but no more than 12 weeks ahead as services can change). It's usually easier to book at a station rather than online as staff can book tickets, bike and seats at the same time.

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.
by Rob Archer
18 Jul 2018, 11:13am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Ely to Soham via NCN Route 11
Replies: 3
Views: 725

Ely to Soham via NCN Route 11

I've got a couple of days working in Soham next week and will ride from Ely. I'm not a fan of the A142 (fast and lots of trucks). I would usually ride out along the Great Ouse riverbank to Barway then back roads but I've heard a rumour that this route is closed because of the works building the new Ely bypass. Anyone know whether it's open or not? Or what sort of condition it's in - I'll be riding a tourer with 35mm tyres.
by Rob Archer
16 Jul 2018, 8:44am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Close passes help
Replies: 36
Views: 2607

Re: Close passes help

In my experience drivers pass me leaving roughly the same amount of space as I leave between me and the kerb. So if I ride about 1.5m out they tend to give me 1.5m of space. If i really don't want to be overtaken closely (or at all) on approach to a junction, traffic island, or when cars approaching from the other direction, I move out into the centre of my lane. The problem is that this requires confidence to do, particularly if your habitual road position is less 'positive'. The other issue is that a minority of driver's won't understand why you're 'blocking' them and hoot, yell and swear. Ignore them then give them a wave and smile as they pass. I really confuses them!


I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly using hovercraft full of eels.