Thumper Club Forum
Club House => Events/Meetings/Rideouts => Topic started by: guest18 on July 12, 2010, 09:48:32 PM
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I've hardly been north of Inverness myself... however there is a provisional plan forming for Transalp John and myself to do a few days cycling down from the very north next summer if you fancy a cheap way to see some of it... ;)
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however there is a provisional plan forming for Transalp John and myself to do a few days cycling down from the very north next summer if you fancy a cheap way to see some of it... ;)
Count me in, I need to have some targets for my cycling... I've been piss poor at getting out lately :(
GC
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Excellent 8) any other closet pedal pushers around?? ;D
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Excellent 8) any other closet pedal pushers around?? ;D
Could be tempted, road bikes or Hybids ?
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Depends who's got what, I understand John is taking his MTB on road tyres (Specialized nimbus), I'm probably going to take my cheap roadbike a. because I'm weak (lol) and b. because it allows me to move my wrist position more easily (previous breaks can cause probs)
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Depends who's got what, I understand John is taking his MTB on road tyres (Specialized nimbus), I'm probably going to take my cheap roadbike a. because I'm weak (lol) and b. because it allows me to move my wrist position more easily (previous breaks can cause probs)
Ok subject to the usual caveats, keep me in mind.
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I'd be bringing my tourer which runs road slicks on 26" wheels. It's not blindingly fast mind, but comfortable and has lots of room for luggage.
GC
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Excellent 8) you should have an email....
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When are you guys looking at doing this.
Ken
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Summer 2011... everything still being discussed but the very rough outline plan is start at the top and work down, approx 80+ miles a day, camping (but with a friend in a car moving the camping kit) probably three or four days (ish ish)
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I think I will have to have a go at this. You sure you guys can go 80 miles in a day my best is about 25 10 years ago.
keep me informed please
Ken
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Lol, that makes as much sense as anything else, a cycling section on a motorbike forum :D
Currently John and I are both commuting by bicycle and building up our fitness, I need to build my endurance but I can do two 25 milers in a day (morning and night) with an average of about 15mph, so all day at an average of 10mph or better should be realistic, especially after a few months of training ;)
Maybe I need to start a fresh topic...
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IMHO 80 miles a day is a hefty amount for a commuting/leisure cyclist, but still achievable. As you say it will be down to your endurance, if you can survive all day at a 15mph average then you will do it easily. Are there any hills in Scotland? ;)
When I was very fit I did a couple of tours with 100+ mile days for the whole week. On my last tour of Brittany in the company of a bunch of carousing drunken blokes we managed a 35 mile per day average ::)
GC
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80 mile a day on a MTB is too much for me, so I'm bowing out early
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I can't see why you can't do that mileage on an MTB, some judicious adjustment of the handlebar height and the fitting of slicks should see you right. Half of my tours have been on slick-tyred MTBs.
A pukka 700c wheel touring bike is as heavy (if not heavier) than a modern MTB.
I have to say though that 60 miles a day would suit most people better, but if it has to be 80 then that's fine... it guarantees it will be an adventure ;)
GC
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IMHO 80 miles a day is a hefty amount for a commuting/leisure cyclist, but still achievable. As you say it will be down to your endurance, if you can survive all day at a 15mph average then you will do it easily. Are there any hills in Scotland? ;)....
GC
Two four hour sessions only requires an average of ten mph, that's achievable for most (honest!)
Hills? Nah, it's like Holland here... (wanders away whistling... ;))
Anyway, what goes up must freewheel down the other side 8)
Edited to add, bear in mind we're aiming to travel light(ish) NOT carrying camping kit etc.
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And just to try and establish a tenuous single cylinder link, my asthma-restricted breathing means I may as well have only one lung.
Every year I have my asthma check-up and after I've blown into the peak flow meter they always say "No, come on, try harder". It's only after my third attempt at blowing that they concede that yes I may still be asthmatic. It does my head in every year. For the record I blow between 300-350. I think the average for a bloke my height and age is 650.
GC
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Sounds like our little excursion will be very good for you medically then, and John is qualified to give you all the good drugs anyway ;) ;D
Now trying to pin down exact dates but it's looking like sometime in June/July 2010 (before the Scottish school holidays!)
I have started practicing cycling up hills just in case we encounter any... :D
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Whats the plan to get to the start point and then afterwards back to my car. Or do we do a circle. Do we camp or B&B
Ken
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Hi Ken,
The outline idea is to identify as many camping sites as possible along the route then, having dumped the camping kit in the chase car/cars travel South and make an assessment through the day of where we can get to, (ie if we are making unexpectedly good progress go further, if we've hit the headwind from hell, perhaps not so far!), then meet up at the chosen site and camp overnight.
Once we nail dates we can negotiate about lifts to start point etc, it would seem likely that we could squeeze a few of us into a car to get to the start.
The route plan (in it's infancy!) is to start at the top and see how far down we get, I'm going to get the CTC end to end pack and have a shufti at their routes and see what the best options look like :)
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OK
That sounds good. I will keep my eyes open for details
Ken
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Can I get my bike onto a flight to Edinburgh or somewhere similar? It's got to be cheaper than driving my van up.
GC
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Dunno about flights but Scotrails policy is that bikes go free though they should be booked in advance for long journeys.
Mind you, I'd have to look up the policies of the southern companies.
On a quick fare check for a random Friday a couple of months from now, a train from Cardiff to Edinburgh takes about 6 1/2 hours and costs either £60 or £130(!) depending what time you want to travel (seemingly randomly) http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/fares/tickets
Edinburgh to Falkirk is about 25mins with trains every half hour at peak times and costs about a fiver.
Maybe worth a thought, as I trust airport baggage handlers abour as far as I can throw a 747!
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I had two rides this weekend, the first in a while. As could be predicted I had no 'legs', but it all comes back pretty quick when you start again. I've also snaffled a cheap mountain bike to mount on my turbotrainer so I'm hoping to building up my cycling fitness this winter on the rollers.
Why not use your ordinary bike? some of you non-cyclists may wonder. Well, when you're training on rollers there is no air travelling over you as there would be if you were actually riding along. This means that you generate a huge amount of sweat which just drips down onto your bike. Some people use their good bike and put towels on it to catch the stuff, but if you don't your bike would be a rusty wreck in a couple of months. Far better to sacrifice a nasty little bike for the purpose. I seem to remember that cycling god and all-round eccentric British hero Graeme Obree used a humble shopping bike on his rollers at home.
GC
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Hey you guys are getting a bit serious about this. Its a long while yet and you training already or are you all so unfit you need to ;)
Looks like i better get my bike of its hooks and dust it down
Ken
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I'm so unfit I need to train :(
Also, I love cycling and I do too little of it so it's time to get back into the saddle.
GC
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turbo trainer :o
Sound far too much like proper training ??? I'm going to have to make an effort at this rate!
Incidentally GC, you said you were bringing your "tourer", out of idle interest, what is it? :)
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A Vincent Firefly! ;D ;D ;D
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A Vincent Firefly! ;D ;D ;D
(http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/vincent-firefly.jpg)
Now that is cool, though the saddle and mudguards could do with some adjustment! ;D I could enjoy one of these, if only we didn't need to wear motorcycle crash helmets on cyclemotors ::)
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My tourer is an old 'Team Marin' steel frameset with drop handlebars, bar-end shifters, LX groupset and 26" wheels with slicks. It has full mudguards and a tricky narrow rear rack.
The frame is made out of an exotic cro-mo produced by Fuji steel and it is triple butted.
The crowning glory is my venerable Brooks leather saddle, a veteran of thousands of miles touring use.
Incodentally I have just fitted an even older Brooks saddle to my Giant 20" wheeler... it looks a bit mad. The bike is ultra-modern (see photo below of standard bike), but the saddle looks ancient.
(http://www.biketraks.com/smsimg/3/1909-9379-main-g-3.jpg)
GC
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Hmmm, team Marin, 26" wheels... so are you saying it's a very nice MTB roadified? ;)
Incidentally, did you see the BBC4 prog last night about the bloke flying round the world getting parts for his "dream" bike? £4K+ ! :o
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Hmmm, team Marin, 26" wheels... so are you saying it's a very nice MTB roadified? ;)
Yes, although to be fair all I started with was a frame and forks bought for £70. The whole build was done with the intention of it being like the adventure tourers made by Thorn (but at half the cost).
To be honest I can't see the point in running a tourer on 700c wheels these days when the whole world rides 26". With narrow slicks fitted there's no difference in rolling resistance, etc.
I've done my time on classic 700c tourers with skinny(ish) tyres, but broken spokes and dented rims spoil your fun so I started using 26" MTBs with slicks and haven't looked back. If I weighed 10 stone and didn't carry much luggage it wouldn't matter, but I weigh lots and insist on carrying home comforts like an espresso pot alongside all my other kit.
Mind you, with a support car taking the kit I could ride something really light and trick. That would be cool.
GC
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Fair point, though I have to say, subjectively, my Giant OCR on 700c 23 tyres seems to roll a lot easier than my hybrid on 26 x 1.5 road tyres?
Maybe I just have the wrong tyres lol (specialized nimbus)
The frame builder Dave Yates I see offers a frame specially built to take mtb wheels etc http://www.daveyatescycles.co.uk/custom_bike_frames-Touring_Frames-27.php
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A Vincent Firefly! ;D ;D ;D
Now... that gives me an idea for the 50th Dragon Rally... hmmmmm ;) :)
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The frame builder Dave Yates I see offers a frame specially built to take mtb wheels etc http://www.daveyatescycles.co.uk/custom_bike_frames-Touring_Frames-27.php
As he says: "A 26" wheel version of the Wanderer. Many riders prefer the extra comfort of the larger section tyres that this sort of wheel allows. They are also stronger, being a smaller diameter with consequently shorter spokes and are therefore seen to be better suited to carrying heavy loads. Another big advantage is that tyres for this size wheel are generally available worldwide."
I'd still opt for 700c for a fast roadie, if only because they look 'right' on a roadie. Having said that, I took the 20" wheel bike out earlier and that feels really fast. They always say that a pound of weight off a wheel feels like two pounds off the whole bike (in terms of acceleration, etc.) The 20" wheels really seem to prove this point, the bike leaps forward when you hammer down. And taking the shorter spoke argument to its conclusion the 20" bike should have the stiffest wheels in the world.
I got this from the Moulton website:
"Small wheels with high pressure tyres have been integral to the Moulton design from the beginning. The combination of the lower rolling resistance of high pressure tyres and the lower aerodynamic drag of small wheels, allows the bicycle to go faster with less effort. In contrast to large bicycle wheels, the smaller Moulton wheels are immensely strong. Their lower moment of inertia allows faster acceleration and more responsive steering. Smaller wheels also reduce the overall length of the bicycle, making it compact and easier to transport."
GC
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I also remember reading a blog by one of the HPV (human powered vehicle) crowd that the uk speed record was/is held by a streamliner built around a moulton because the smaller wheels were more efficient as well as spinning up faster.
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82mph I think... on level ground :o
GC
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Well chaps, we have a provisional route, and it's a belter ;D I know it's not for half a year yet and I'm still drooling over the prospect 8) Oh and I'll be on a 26" wheeled bike as well so it looks like we'll all be on mtb type wheels /drivetrain! (albeit with road tyres). I'm steadily getting fitter but Obree/Armstrong etc have nothing to worry about....ever! :D
Rough route is below, so get a dram and an atlas, sit down and dream of empty roads, warm winds and big scenery 8) (that way even if it rains during the trip the planning is nice :D:
JoG-Border route
JoG – Dunnet Head – tongue (via Thurso)
Tongue – Lairg (A836) – Bonnar Bridge – Dingwall-
National Route 1
Preferred option 1
Beauly – Drumnadrocket (A833)
- Fort William – Glen Coe – Crianlarich (A82)
- Callander – stirling (A85)
National route 78
Option 2
Dingwall – Inverness – Perth – stirling
National route 7 and 765
Stirling – Falkirk – Shieldhill – Armadale
- Lanark – Abingdon (A71 & A706)
- Locherbie – Gretna (A7076 Parallel to M74)
A6071 Longtown – Carslile (A7)
National route 74
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Aye Smudge,
Ya whit???????????????????????????????????????
"Preferred option 1
Beauly – Drumnadrocket (A833)". Either the heed's minced, your spellings gone AWOL, you think your going to be wet, as in 'drouket' or else you have dellusions of speed, as in rocket! ::)
Drumnadrochit! ;)
I've seen more, but will stay quiet as it must be that dram and the euphoria!!!! ;D ;D Do you require a driver, backup, another rider? My head is already thinking of some of the climbs on these routes!
Slainte, Bill.
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;D ;D not my spelling boss, I just cut and pasted (in a lazy manner!) and no, I'm not naming the guilty party ;)
Tricky the climbing thing, some of the prettiest routes have some fairly cheeky hills :-\ but then for every uphill there is a downhill ;) and the aim is an average of 10mph (or better). That all said you know these roads better than us so advice is always welcome :)
As to a driver, we're still discussing, another rider is always welcome if you're feeling strenuous ;)
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but then for every uphill there is a downhill ;)
You've obviously never ridden in Devon ;)
GC
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Might be worth joining and putting a few questions here perhaps, I am on there as Pedaldog.
http://z10.invisionfree.com/Travelling_Light/index.php
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Incidentally, did you see the BBC4 prog last night about the bloke flying round the world getting parts for his "dream" bike? £4K+ ! :o
Nowt to do with the trip but a friend of mine used to DH professionally. His full carbon fibre rig came in around £9k, back in 2002/3ish.
Was amazing to ride, from memory it had around 9" travel and you could do BIG drop offs without feeling a thing.
(http://home.comcast.net/~hood_mussel/bcd/bcd_inedible_07_1.jpg)
Not his bike, but one very similar.
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but then for every uphill there is a downhill ;)
You've obviously never ridden in Devon ;)
GC
True... but I've ridden into the prevailing West wind up here (shudder) :o
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Was amazing to ride, from memory it had around 9" travel and you could do BIG drop offs without feeling a thing....
Right up until you get one of the big drop offs wrong, then you feel lots of things ;) :o :D
When you start looking at proper competition bikes the prices just get silly, I've just recently committed to a Surly Long Haul Trucker frameset (hereafter known as the "LHT" to save typing/speaking boredom!) and that was quite expensive enough at just over three hundred quid!
Will inherit a lot of my (decent) hybrid mountain bike components though allied to a selection of carefully chosen new parts, so the build will be pretty cheap overall. Especially when I start using it for my normal commute/travelling where every 50 miles covered is a gallon of petrol not bought!
Fun fun fun, (though 40mph down the hill this morning was blooming freezing! :o)
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Its looking more and more like this may happen. Do we have any dates? I put new tyres on my bike and done 6 miles and still have a sore a..........s shall have to stick with it.
Ken
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Actually some dates would be good, I need to pencil stuff in a long way ahead to prevent Mrs Onepot getting huffy puffy.
My riding is close to zero at the minute, but I will be getting back into it over the next month or so. The 20" bike is now fitted with 'guards and plenty of lights so I can get out even in bad weather and the dark of the winter evenings.
GC
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Am trying to pin down dates now ::)
Currently doing about 12 miles a day commuting and managing to average just over 10mph (which isn't as bad as it sounds when you count the sedctions I have to walk, the stairs at the rail station etc etc!)
Also breaking in a Brooks flyer saddle which at a hundred odd miles is starting to get quite comfy now 8)
Ken, if you're a practiced touring/sporting cyclist ignore me, but if not, if six miles hurts eighty miles runs the risk of breaking you, which is not the object(!) We're aiming for 8 - 10 hours in the saddle of a day and an average of 10mph or better for a week. Def time to break out the padded shorts/longs/underthings and/or get a comfier saddle and start pushing out the miles ;)
It's an achievable target for most people we reckon, but it will require a fair level of fitness allied to a bike that is comfortable.
On which note I need to go and lube my chain and identify the nasty clicking coming from the bottom bracket area of my hybrid! :o
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Not forgotten and still on! Am hoping to sort dates with TransalpJohn this weekend :o
On a related note, I have been roped into doing a significant bit of the organising, and participating in a chariddee Edinburgh to London bicycle ride in May... so I may be casting around for sponsorship sometime... ;) (and wishing for an engine! :-\)
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Hi
Am I mixing with hardend cyclists here? I consider myself quiet fit but yes 80 miles is a long way. I have trip with my son soon and will be doind 25 miles a day for a week so see how it goes. I the hard bit as i see it is the sore backside but was told if I invest in good cycling shorts it should help.
Ken
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Hardened idiots possibly, but I wouldn't call us hardened cyclists ;)
I've put a Brooks Flyer on my commuting/touring bike, old fashioned looking but it's like an armchair compared to the "modern" torture devices bolted where seats should be...
Exciting news...dates (FINALLY!) 3 - 10 JUNE! (and it's sunny and warm(ish) here 8) )
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Suggested slight alteration to the route, as we'll be passing Culloden, it seems a shame further down not to make a slight diversion to Glenfinnan as well to see where the '45 started.
Looking forwards to this more and more, and the phone will be getting left behind! ;D
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Aye Smudge,
First weekend CRMC will be at Knockhill, second weekend Bob Mac at East Fortune! I'll keep my fingers crossed for your weather Smudge, going on what we've endured under canvas in the past 5 years!!!!!!! :o I hope I'm proved wrong this year! You could always take a weeks tour between the two circuits during the week! :) :) :)
My regards, Bill.
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Ken & GC, you have pm/email ;)
Anyone else interested pm or email (or call me if you have the number) soonest to get the details :)
A week of relaxed bimbling in the highlands, bring it on! 8)
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I've put a Brooks Flyer on my commuting/touring bike, old fashioned looking but it's like an armchair compared to the "modern" torture devices bolted where seats should be...
I've had one on my Tricross for the last 200 miles and have just taken it off as I can't get on with it. Know anyone who might want to buy it?
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As it happens I may well do, drop e a pm with contact detail/s and we can sort something out :)
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I think if I go for this I shall get the train all the way ( from lincs) as its long journey in a car May have to leave early as Mallory festival of 1000 bikes on the friday night and weekend.
Ken
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Haven't been able to contact GC ( :-\ ) so have booked tickets and bike spaces for me and Transalp John arriving at Thurso on Friday 3rd at about twenty to ten at night. Hope it's dry/warm.. A repeat of the weather we're having just now would be nice! :D
I'd suggest anyone joining in books asap as bike spaces on the trains are limited.
Hope to see you there Ken :)
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Happy travels, John's saddle is going in the post this afternoon. Thanks for the pointer.
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Smudge you should have an email from me re the trip
Regards ken
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Well I am booked for this. Come one guys lets have a few more names here.
Ken
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Aye Smudge,
I trust this 'jolly' is progressing smoothly. If you need assistance, you know the contacts. However, I suspect the mobile has been left at home.
Safe pedalling.
Regards, Bill.
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(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5303/5817743878_dce3681a7a.jpg)
Smiling there.... :o
A sniff under 400 miles later we were still smiling but somewhat stiff and achy! Good weeks cycling though and some absolutely glorious scenery 8) We've had sun, rain, wind and all sorts, awesome efforts from Ken who hadn't really done much cycling before this trip and all home safely. win win ;D
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Aye Smudge,
Good to read that you are all safe home and the mug shot brings back memories with the 'dark island' in the background!
Health not so good at the moment, but the CRMC at Knockhill was good last weekend and we are going to the Bob Mac tomorrow, just for the day, we think.
Maybe get a chance to get my Dawes 'Horizon' sorted, but then I've been saying the same about the motorised beasties for a good 10 years.
Our regards, Bill and Kat.
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Big thanks to Smudge and Natts who without their help and encouragment I wound not have got through this.
All the best Ken
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Glad you did and I hope it hasn't put you off! I was round at Natt's place today and he, like me, has had pretty sore/tired legs the last couple of days. Getting better now though, and I'm already plotting my next excursion ;) 8)
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Great stuff guys