Search found 599 matches

by Thehairs1970
26 Sep 2023, 7:37pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Packing tent poles
Replies: 25
Views: 12640

Re: Packing tent poles

ian5spot wrote: 3 Nov 2012, 11:24pm My concern with putting a tent on the rack is that you could end up with the rack rubbing holes through the tent, so wrapping it up in a mat or something els that is tough sounds like a good idea. Having said that, last cycling tour I did, I strapped a supermarket re-usable bag to the rack and used it to carry food and anything else I needed easy access to during the day; it seemed cheaper than buying an Ortleib stuffsack!
Quick solution to this would be to put a ‘base ‘on your rack. I used a bit of codex (corrugated plastic) that I fixed with a few small cable ties. Also worked well to keep mud from being flung up onto kit.
by Thehairs1970
18 Sep 2023, 8:28pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Summer cycle across Sweden
Replies: 8
Views: 4439

Re: Summer cycle across Sweden

Watch this for some inspiration/warning

https://youtu.be/ANw2jlXoV74?si=eQRa_22ooHfYf7G7
by Thehairs1970
12 Sep 2023, 5:51pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Dartmoor suggestions
Replies: 6
Views: 2413

Re: Dartmoor suggestions

Thanks all. Didn’t think of the old railway despite using it hundreds of times on my mtb. The quarries could be good…
by Thehairs1970
12 Sep 2023, 5:49pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Cookers leaking gas
Replies: 4
Views: 3271

Re: Cookers leaking gas

Many moons ago, when I was involved in scouting and started doing multi day hikes, we used Trangias as resealable gas canisters were non-existent. I moved away from these to a multi fuel stove when I did a round the world trip with my wife using an Optimus. This stove is great as it also runs on resealable gas. In fact we have rarely used multi-fuel since starting bike touring as the gas was easy. However:

A couple of years ago, as we just about to start cooking an evening meal after a long day with the family, cycling in Suffolk, the hose split. So no gas, or hot meal. We bought a cheap replacement stove for the trip and then a new hose on our return. However the valve has now broken on the new hose making it difficult to light and control so:

We just bought a new trangia. There is nothing that can go wrong really.
by Thehairs1970
11 Sep 2023, 10:00pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Dartmoor suggestions
Replies: 6
Views: 2413

Dartmoor suggestions

I feel I know Dartmoor quite well but…

We fancy a wild camp, getting there on our tourers but don’t want to go off road too much. I’m struggling to think where we could go.

Any suggestions? Proncetown area as we’ll be cycling up from the Yelverton side.

Thanks
by Thehairs1970
3 Sep 2023, 7:51pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Dartmoor wild camping ban now to go to Supreme Court
Replies: 19
Views: 4846

Re: Dartmoor wild camping ban now to go to Supreme Court

Pinhead wrote: 3 Sep 2023, 3:40pm I LIVED near the Moors, campers can be pig ignorant selfish littering and burning and WE HAVE seen MOOR fires thanks to smokers and campers
I live on the moors and yes you do get littering etc etc. But these people aren’t going to start obeying the rules just because they have banned camping. They’ll still do it because they are ignorant and don’t care about the laws.

Tbh, there are already enough bylaws and rules around trespass that the few who do treat our wild places could be fined etc, however, no one will investigate or pursue them as the police in the area are already stretched to the limit. So quite how Mr Hedge-Fund thinks a new law would help when no one will be able to police it, I don’t know.

Btw some of he fires you see are swaling not accidental.
by Thehairs1970
20 Aug 2023, 11:51am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: DMR V8 servicing
Replies: 1
Views: 207

DMR V8 servicing

Can you service DMR V8 (classic) pedals without their pedal tool?
by Thehairs1970
19 Aug 2023, 7:41am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Campsite Reviews - Wales
Replies: 18
Views: 6664

Re: Campsite Reviews - Wales

Quarry Lodge - Carmarthen.

Actually just north of Carmarthen, 1/2 mile off the A40. I’ll start with the bad -it’s a steep half a mile at the end of a hard day.

Lovely site overlooking the valley with a selection of pitches from ‘wild’ to serviced. Small thought and arranged that it would be hard to feel hemmed in. Simple facilities in way of toilets and showers but clean and do the job well. Lovely owners, they even asked if we wanted anything as they were popping to the shop! On top of that cyclists get a very good price - £10 for two of us!

A real calm oasis.
by Thehairs1970
27 Jul 2023, 5:43pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: planning a Alps cycle tour, advice needed.
Replies: 16
Views: 1527

Re: planning a Alps cycle tour, advice needed.

Went to the french alps a few years ago - as a family of four- camping, so fully loaded.

The thing that struck us, and another big roadie from our local Devon spot was that the roads are designed to be claimable to a large degree. We found a lot more long 5 to 8% grades rather than shorter high % hills.

Heat was hard so bear in mind.
by Thehairs1970
22 Jul 2023, 12:30pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Panniers on Ferries?
Replies: 27
Views: 1679

Re: Panniers on Ferries?

Steve X wrote: 22 Jul 2023, 9:34am
Thehairs1970 wrote: 22 Jul 2023, 7:46am
pjclinch wrote: 21 Jul 2023, 10:48am We visited Gent (Flemish spelling doesn't have the 'h') earlier this year, nice place. As well as the town itself there's plenty of good riding round and about.
We stayed at a campsite that's in town but doesn't feel it, in amongst a big sport and recreation zone, https://urban-gardens.be/en/.
and booze too!
Are you saying you take your own Alcohol on board, is this allowed.

We have looked at the Brasserrie and for a Nano Second (perhaps not even that long) considered paying £27 each plus wine, but then decided we can produce a sumptuous picnic for £15ish. But did not even consider taking our own alcohol!!!!!!!!!
Well, I’ve never asked if I can or been asked if I have any. So I don’t know about allowed. But I guess yes. I will have paid duty in uk and I can’t import enough in a pannier on the return to be an issue anyway. We only take a bottle of wine ….
by Thehairs1970
22 Jul 2023, 7:46am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Panniers on Ferries?
Replies: 27
Views: 1679

Re: Panniers on Ferries?

pjclinch wrote: 21 Jul 2023, 10:48am We visited Gent (Flemish spelling doesn't have the 'h') earlier this year, nice place. As well as the town itself there's plenty of good riding round and about.
We stayed at a campsite that's in town but doesn't feel it, in amongst a big sport and recreation zone, https://urban-gardens.be/en/.
We visited an Urban Gardens in very early April. Fantastic in terms of location to town with a free shuttle bus a few minutes walk away. The campsite was ok but being early season was not at its best and fewer staff meant it was as well maintained as you might expect - loo roll not being renewed, a bit untidy.

Panniers? We take one each plus our bar bags. Rest stay on bikes with no issue. We tend to arrive in our ‘off bike kit’ if we have any and then change on the ferry so we are ready to go on arrival. And we are cheapskates so take our own food and booze too!
by Thehairs1970
10 Jul 2023, 6:23pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Camping Chairs - Helinox Chair One and lookalikes
Replies: 23
Views: 5484

Re: Camping Chairs - Helinox Chair One and lookalikes

We have Helinox Zeroes and love them. One developed a crack on a plastic piece shortly after purchased which was dealt with very quickly with no quibbles.
by Thehairs1970
2 Jul 2023, 7:18pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Shimano dynamo hub
Replies: 12
Views: 916

Re: Shimano dynamo hub

Bike now back from LBS. I have no reason to believe there was any mis-installation of the hub.

1) The bike has been fine for about three years and been ridden for a few thousand miles. I think we’d have noticed.
2) The bike has been to two different shops, both well respected and run by cyclists not corporations.

LBS owner/mechanic says he hasn’t seen anything like it before.

Anyway, new hub supplied and installed.
by Thehairs1970
27 Jun 2023, 10:00pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Shimano dynamo hub
Replies: 12
Views: 916

Re: Shimano dynamo hub

Re direction. It has been ok for a couple of years and it has to go one way for the connector to reach so not sure how it could now be wrong way round…

Yes, I replaced the rack about 60 miles ago. I am fairly certain the bolts weren’t interfering. I think we’d have heard and the problem would have happened quicker.

Thanks for thoughts though.

Now with LBS, so we’ll see.
by Thehairs1970
25 Jun 2023, 8:46pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Shimano dynamo hub
Replies: 12
Views: 916

Shimano dynamo hub

IMG_0161.jpeg
My wife’s dynamo hub fell apart yesterday. The wheel wasn’t turning well but we thought it was the brake binding. Then all of a sudden it fell apart. What might have caused this?