Search found 171 matches
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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.
- 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
- 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!!!
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.
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!
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!!!
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.
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!
- 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.
- 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.
Lancs Sports Repairs
http://www.lancashiresportsrepairs.co.uk/index.htm
And Scottish mountain gear repair
http://www.scottishmountaingear.com/
But not in Bristol.
- 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!
Cardboard box out, leave at airport, CTC plastic bag back.
Will post how I get on!
- 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.
- 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!!!
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!!!
- 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.
- 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