Touring suggestion?

[Sepia]

Did you guys get hold of a 1.5L cage bottle? I am also interested in getting one

Nope, not  as yet.  Working on it.

[CJG]

May i just leave this here .... https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/314260-surly-ecr-29er/

 

 

 

[Tatt]

Our trip so far... The £45 was well spent on the bike, however, it is just a tad too small. Also my first bike I am riding with plastic cranks, so I have kept my butt firmly in the saddle..

 

Started out in London, did a bit of the tourist thing, and then got on cycle path route 1 ( I think). Couldn't believe you could do so much pedaling off the beaten track, and the paths are very good! 

 

Relives of the first 3 days:

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/1670072827

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/1672238433

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/1674004596

 

Tomorrow we head to Hull. We are trying to do around 100 km's per day ( although Day 2 we did just under 140). 

 

Our route is being posted to Strava, so can share gpx files if anyone fancies doing this trip.

 

Tom

[Sepia]

Thanks for sharing.  Great weather and excellent format.

[Tatt]

Quick update: Lincoln to Hull was a bit slower than expected.. Firstly a puncture for me, and then around 10 kays later, my rear tyre burst... Luckily I have a friend who lives close by,  so a new tube and tyre was procured. Just a note, if you buy a £45 bike to do a trip like this, it will be well worth putting new tyres on, no matter how good they look..

 

Stayed at an Ibis Hotel in Hull, they are incredibly bike friend.

 

Next stop Whitby, about 120 kays. Once again, a combination of cycle paths and mostly B-roads. Stayed at the Youth Hostel at the Whitby Abbey.

 

Yesterday was shorter, Whitby to Stockton. We crossed the Moors, incredibly stunning scenery, also following the dedicated cycling route.

 

Today we do another 120 kays, not too sure of the final destination!

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/1676183033

https://www.relive.cc/view/1678291272

https://www.relive.cc/view/1680524691

 

Tom

[Tatt]

Our final route. Once we undertood the cycle paths in the UK, it was flippin easy to head in the right direction,  so hats off to whoever put them together.

 

Best kit: the rack and panniers on the bike. Had originally intended to use a backpack. Will look to see if I can fit some on my bike when I get back.

 

Mistakes made: took too much kit. Only need a max of 2 sets of kit.. I took 5... Routes througj the towns - the cycle paths tend to take you the long way through towns, adding unneccessary miles, and also heading through some seriously dodgy areas that are not scenic.. More direct route will be chosen next time!

 

Once in Edinburgh,  we discovered the charity we were going to give the bikes to was closed. So we dusted them down, and left them against the railing outside the flat we were staying at... Mine took a good few hours to go!

 

 

[Fat Boab]

Our final route. Once we undertood the cycle paths in the UK, it was flippin easy to head in the right direction,  so hats off to whoever put them together.

 

Best kit: the rack and panniers on the bike. Had originally intended to use a backpack. Will look to see if I can fit some on my bike when I get back.

 

Mistakes made: took too much kit. Only need a max of 2 sets of kit.. I took 5... Routes througj the towns - the cycle paths tend to take you the long way through towns, adding unneccessary miles, and also heading through some seriously dodgy areas that are not scenic.. More direct route will be chosen next time!

 

Once in Edinburgh,  we discovered the charity we were going to give the bikes to was closed. So we dusted them down, and left them against the railing outside the flat we were staying at... Mine took a good few hours to go!

 

Sounds like a great trip and kudos for donating your bikes, in one way or the other, to the needy. Edinburgh's my home town so mixed feelings about the time it took for yours to be 'donated', but good for you.

[toimaloi]

Hi Guys. I am new to this forum and would like some advice please. My wife and I would like to cycle from Stellenbosch to Bloemfontein in December on the back roads. Does anyone have a route that we could follow - should be as much as gravel as possible. We would like to sleep over in towns as Sutherland, Loxton etc.

 

Appreciate your input.

[Tatt]

Hi Guys. I am new to this forum and would like some advice please. My wife and I would like to cycle from Stellenbosch to Bloemfontein in December on the back roads. Does anyone have a route that we could follow - should be as much as gravel as possible. We would like to sleep over in towns as Sutherland, Loxton etc.

 

Appreciate your input.

 

You could possibly look at doing a reverse Munga....

 

Tom

[toimaloi]

You could possibly look at doing a reverse Munga....

 

Tom

Hi Tom. That was what I was thinking. I am not sure however about the exact route. The Munga doesn't have the route on their site...

[Dusty]

Hi Guys. I am new to this forum and would like some advice please. My wife and I would like to cycle from Stellenbosch to Bloemfontein in December on the back roads. Does anyone have a route that we could follow - should be as much as gravel as possible. We would like to sleep over in towns as Sutherland, Loxton etc.

 

Appreciate your input.

Message sent

[Sepia]

Message sent

@ Dusty, PM sent.  Thanks

[J∆kk∆ls]

On the 5th of August, my German buddy and I set off on a mini tour from Amsterdam to Gütersloh. Around 320kms over three days. Even though a fairly flat ride at times it was a massive challenge as we decided to do this during a heat a wave. 

 

Day01 Amsterdam to Arnhem 100km

 

My buddy had the wrong wheels for the job and he popped a spoke into the first 40km

We removed the spoke and pressed on.

 

Apidura saddle bag was carrying our tent and some extra clothing for myself. Top tube bag had my phone, knife, spork, money and lip balm. On the handles, I stuffed a waterproof bag with my sleeping bag and roll mat then strapped in on. Not very pretty but it worked. 

 

Not all roads were paved which was a little worrying for my mates back wheel. Buy the end of it we had to open the brake hoods as the wheel had buckled a little. 

 

 

Day02 Arnhem to Reken 105km

 

The next day we made coffee and headed out in search of a bike shop.

 

 

In Arnhem, most small businesses are closed on a Monday which began to stress us out. We were very lucky to stop outside Cycle Nation in Arnhem where the owners (Who lived upstairs) parents came to visit him. He came downstairs and saw us looking very lost and in need. Jasper opened the shop and over to fix the wheel for us.

 

We pressed on and grabbed breakfast in Germany.

 

Nothing was open and it was beginning to get very hot! We were very grateful for a little shade though. 

 

 

Made it to Reken, set up camp and went on the hunt for a couple of beers. 

 

Day03 Reken to Gütersloh 108km

 

The temperature on day three reached a high of 44℃ so it was a no-brainer to stop for a swim when we discovered this lake. At the end of the day, we had consumed 6L of water each before reaching our destination. 

 

Lunch in Münster. YUM!

 

In the end, we arrived at my buddy's parents' house where we were greeted with cheers and beers.

There are a few things I will do differently next time, like get a lighter and more compact tent. I will also get the rest of the Apidura range to fully complete the setup. In the long run, I might consider getting a proper touring bike to as I wouldn't want to use the racebike for touring on a regular base. 

[Dusty]

We did the Sishen to Saldanha Iron Ore Route in August. Great experience.

[Sepia]

We did the Sishen to Saldanha Iron Ore Route in August. Great experience.

Do you have the blog post where we can see more pics?

[Dusty]

Do you have the blog post where we can see more pics?

I don't, but I'll post a few more.

We had extremely cold and misty weather with temps going down to -7 deg at night. Lots of very soft sand in the first couple of hundred kms, but thereafter the road surface was very good. 

Edited September 4, 2018 by Dusty