My second tour (I made it)

[theDaveB]

Some of you may remember my last thread - viewtopic.php?f=16&t=89668

Well am glad to report I tried again last Saturday and returned home on Tuesday, all by myself

Saturday went from Runcorn to Prestatyn - This time I ignored the 5 route from Bagilt over the hills and stuck to the coast road. I made it 3 hours quicker and could still walk!

Sunday went from Prestatyn to Conwy (well just past) - This was mostly on the flat around the coast but did hit a massive hill at Ross-on-Sea (think it was called), I went via Landudno as I wanted to visit.

Monday went from Conwy (well just past!) back to Prestatyn - Followed the 5 from Conwy to the coast and it was good, a bit hilly but I knew that beforehand as I had the right maps (borrowed from the library).

Tuesday went from Prestatyn back to Runcorn - Very hot day and my backside was killing me, think because of the sweat. But my legs felt great which was brilliant as gave me confidence for a longer tour.

Thanks very much for tips etc... from my other thread.

Felt a bit emotional arriving back into Runcorn, couldn't believe I actually made it.

Would you believe I even left my bike lock at home by accident and was soon just leaving my bike with trailer attached while I nipped in places. Thought if a thief jumped on the bike, he/she would be in for a shock if they tried to pedal away with the amount of weight and would probably just tip over.

Cooked a bit of food myself but would like to have cooked more, gonna look into one pot cooking over the winter.

Walked quite a bit pushing my bike, as soon as I felt tired I just got off and pushed, was in no hurry to get anywhere. Out of everyone that passed had one person stop and ask if I was alright and did I need anything (because I was pushing). Ignored by almost all cyclists who where racing along on day rides, spoke to loads who weren't. The trailer is defo a good conversation starter, the amount of people who stopped to ask how far I was going etc... etc...

Downside to the one wheel trailer is finding somewhere to park your bike while doing stuff, a two wheel trailer would be better I think.

Best sign I saw was the image attached.

Dave

[TonyR]

Congratulations. Time to start planning the next tour. Soon you'll be over those Route 5 hills you avoided wondering what all the fuss was about

[Vantage]

Well done!

[Bicycler]

Congratulations

Your turn Vantage

[honesty]

Sounds great! Did you make any changes to the kit you took, or just a different route?

[theDaveB]

Sounds great! Did you make any changes to the kit you took, or just a different route?

Different route helped a lot I think but I didn't take any lucozade and instead a 1.5L of water. In doing that I could put my tent inside the bag and just my chair tied to the top. This made the trailer lighter (obviously) but also more stable as it wasn't built up as much.

Dave

[Vantage]

Congratulations

Your turn Vantage

Ha Ha!
It's looking to be mid October for my 2nd attempt. With any luck, no-one will make any plans that include me till then.

[Farawayvisions]

Well done you.
I'm so glad you've ditched the lucozade. How are you finding the water?

[theDaveB]

Well done you.
I'm so glad you've ditched the lucozade. How are you finding the water?

The water was fine, I did what someone recommended in the other thread and took small sips instead of gulping loads down.

I did have a bottle of Coke one day as it was that hot, I needed something ice cold

Dave

[PH]

Well done, the first of many tours I hope.

[BE1]

Well done, I hope this is the first of many happy tours

[Graham O]

Well done, but come back without the trailer and do the hills from Bagillt to Gronant. You know you want to.

That sign is very true; I've been past it many times and not read it. Still don't want a caravan there.

[hondated]

Yes well done that has put that to bed then.

[mercalia]

nice feeling isnt it? You have to find out your limits at any one time. For me its 30 miles and a few hours riding after that mental fatigue sets in fast.

regarding how to park the bike with trailer - I met a guy some time ago with a proper BobYak - the one wheel trailer all our cheapos are copies of. Well he had attached a foot on the trailer near front if my memory is right, that would hold it and the bike upright, so didnt need to rest against a wall

[MarkusDeBute]

Really pleased you've discovered the wonder of it all. Remember looking at a map and seeing how far we'd gone and being amazed.

I was smiling at memories of that route 5 diversion (from your first attempt) and how much we swore after being diverted off the flat coast road. Have shown your post to my partner who reminded me that we'd done it west to east, and how steep the road was down to Bagillt, which obviously you went up. Your story of the first trip had a lot more resonance when I realised that, that's a bugger of a hill.

Our only tip would be to get a smaller tent and a cover for the bike. We use a motorbike cover that protects both bikes.