Search found 171 matches

by delilah
1 Jul 2019, 8:25pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: CTC Bike bags: Dublin airport and Ryanair
Replies: 16
Views: 2024

Re: CTC Bike bags: Dublin airport and Ryanair

Mr Vinegar it would help us all immensly if you could share Ryan Air's email to you and post it on line
by delilah
28 May 2019, 8:16pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: CTC Bike bags: Dublin airport and Ryanair
Replies: 16
Views: 2024

Re: CTC Bike bags: Dublin airport and Ryanair

mrvinegar wrote:Surprisingly Ryanair just confirmed in writing that the CTC bag is OK...

Did they really. I find that very surprising.
They refused to accept my plastic CTC bag on returning from Charleroi last year.
Refused point blank even took me the other side of the counter where they had a picture with plastic CTC bag firmly crossed out and not allowed.
They made me buy a cardboard bike bag for 30 Euros.
I would be very interested if you could post a copy or Ryanairs's letter.
by delilah
30 Apr 2019, 7:41pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: St. Martins or Overton cafe - Update
Replies: 9
Views: 895

Re: St. Martins or Overton cafe

I‘m not sure of the route you propose from Oswestry to St Martins but if you went Oswestry, Gobowen Weston Rhyn there is a good cafe a little bit off route in Chirk http://www.glynwylfa.co.uk/caffi-wylfa/ I don’t know of any cafe in Overton.
by delilah
13 Mar 2019, 7:58pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Riding in North Wales
Replies: 16
Views: 3869

Re: Riding in North Wales

If you pm me your email address I'll let you have the route sheet for a 200k audax which I did from Llandudno. It took in much of the roads you're thinking of and has some good riding which you could adapt
by delilah
1 Mar 2019, 12:18pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Mallorca
Replies: 9
Views: 2141

Re: Mallorca

San Baulo hotel outside C'an Picafort give access to all sorts of rides book with Tui
by delilah
31 Dec 2018, 4:55pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Portugal
Replies: 12
Views: 1017

Re: Portugal

Sorry cello but I have not received your pm. I need your email address to send you an attachment of my route, but I understand its not advisable to post email addresses in the open forum.
by delilah
29 Dec 2018, 8:31pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Portugal
Replies: 12
Views: 1017

Re: Portugal

If you pm me I'll let you have a copy of my route from Faro north to the Spanish border on quiet roads
by delilah
6 Dec 2018, 12:43pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Vietnam
Replies: 2
Views: 447

Vietnam

Vietnam
The Trip
From Hanoi airport north to Thai Nguyen then made our way east for a couple of days across to Halong for Halong Bay. A Unesco world heritage site although you’d never find it as there was no signposting!!!
Locals fascinated watching a puncture repair
Locals fascinated watching a puncture repair

Fish market Halong
Fish market Halong

Rode out along the coast and on to Tuan Chau island to catch ferry to Cat Ba Island. Ferry puts in at one end of the island and there’s a nice 17k ride to Cat Ba Town, stayed there 3 nights plenty to see and do.
On The Ferry to Cat Ba
On The Ferry to Cat Ba

Cat Ba National Park
Cat Ba National Park

Cruising Tam Coc
Cruising Tam Coc


Hydrofoil to Haiphong, and on to Thai Binh, then Tam Coc for 3 nights plenty to do and some nice quiet riding. Bus to Hanoi

Good points
Very friendly people, safe country
Warm and perfect for riding
Cheap we never paid more than £14 for a double room anywhere except Hanoi where it was £24
Standard of accommodation plentiful and good providing towels and toiletries
Good, cheap food you will easily get away with £8-10 for an evening meal and a couple of beers
Bad points
Lots of traffic on their QL (B roads) but there’s nearly always a cycle type lane Noisy you can’t escape the sound of horns from buses lorries and mopeds. If you‘re not used to it, then it can be very scary.
Route finding difficult. Signs are almost none existent maps are useless I’m not a fan of digital maps but we used map. me for finding quieter roads and getting around. Finding your way out of any major town is difficult!
No bikes allowed on trains at least they refused us in Nam Dinh so check it out before travelling. No problem taking them on buses
(Someone asked about riding into and out of Hanoi and bike boxes if they pm me I’ll give you more details.)
In short it’s a fascinating country not for the beginner tourist and not really geared up for cycling touring. If it’s your first trip then I’d stick to Europe
I posted earlier in the year re problems travelling with a bike with Ryan Air and we were not spared problems with Qatar. They are allegedly a good airline for bikes but on departing from Hanoi with bikes in plastic bags there was a lot of arguing. We had arrived with our tyres full of air but on leaving with the bikes already packed they tried to get us to let the air out of the tyres. Round one to us
I leave my saddle bag on the bike. They tried to make me unpack it all and take it on separately. Round 2 to us
Next they would not accept bikes in plastic bags and made us pay for them to be wrapped in Cellophane. Round 3 to them
I had looked their policy for handling bikes before I went, there wasn’t one... I was told their policy was “Flexible” but that basically means they can do what they want as it is not written down anywhere.
Travelling by air with bikes becoming more and more difficult!
by delilah
23 Oct 2018, 11:07am
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Woodrup cycles
Replies: 4
Views: 7546

Re: Woodrup cycles

Jezrant wrote:Wouldn't be the first place I'd think of for accessories and clothing, but they've been building well regarded custom frames for decades.

I'd second that about the quality of their frames. Very pleased with my 631 tourer.
by delilah
13 Oct 2018, 5:38pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: waterproof cycling jacket repair-bristol area
Replies: 3
Views: 377

Re: waterproof cycling jacket repair-bristol area

These people may be able to help you
Lancs Sports Repairs
http://www.lancashiresportsrepairs.co.uk/index.htm
And Scottish mountain gear repair
http://www.scottishmountaingear.com/
But not in Bristol.
by delilah
12 Oct 2018, 6:05pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Hanoi - bike/box logistics
Replies: 4
Views: 560

Re: Hanoi - bike/box logistics

I'm off to Hanoi in November flying with Qatar.
Cardboard box out, leave at airport, CTC plastic bag back.
Will post how I get on!
by delilah
23 Sep 2018, 7:54pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Should I sell my Mercian?
Replies: 55
Views: 3279

Re: Should I sell my Mercian?

I'm reluctantly selling mine. See "bikes for sale". Great bikes but technology has moved on.
by delilah
21 Sep 2018, 9:20pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Flying with a Bike
Replies: 29
Views: 2164

Re: Flying with a Bike

Ryan Air have almost signalled the death knell for me touring with my bike by air!
Flew out to Charleroi in June with bike in cardboard box.
On returning dismantelled, packed and taped bike up in plastic CTC bag only to be told Ryan Air would not accept it!
They took me round the counter and showed me picture sent from Ryan Air Air showing plastic see-through bags would not be accepted. Only Boxes and Bags.
I complained that it was news to me and that I had flown Ryan Air several times before and they always accepted plastic /nylon bags.
They wouldn't budge. Made me unpack my bike. Purchase a cardboard box from them for E30 which I had to assemble myself!
So Ryan Air are definately off my radar?
ps I had considered flying to Luxembourg next year with Flye Be but they have a policy of only accepting bikes if there's room on the plane at the time so I'm not sure if I turned up whether I get out or back with my bike!!!
by delilah
9 Jun 2018, 9:21pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Huddersfield Narrow Canal Greenfield to Guide Bridge - Local knowledge please
Replies: 2
Views: 480

Re: Huddersfield Narrow Canal Greenfield to Guide Bridge - Local knowledge please

Yes no problems and quiet scenic. Your route would be Greenfield, Mosley, Stalybridge, Ashton, Portland Basin, Guide Bridge.
by delilah
9 Jun 2018, 9:08pm
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Canyon
Replies: 2
Views: 1240

Re: Canyon

Well that's given me some thought for thought. The Canyon Endurace CF was one on my list of 3 but I'll seriously consider it now . Thank you for the information