Messages

16

General Discussion / Re: Share how you got $ & time off to tour

« on: June 11, 2012, 02:38:29 pm »

I have packed in my job to go off travelling on several occasions, I am currently on a 3 month motorcycle tour of Canada and the US after a 3 month cycle tour of India. I work in engineering where there is a skills shortage in the UK so have no problem find employment on my return, I also make myself as useful as possible when working so am usually welcome back at previous employers.
I have met many people who have chucked it all in and gone off travelling and none of them has regretted it, it can be an eye opening and life changing experience especially if you travel in developing countries.
Apart from the good advice already given about saving money I have sold everything I don't need on ebay, look around your home at everything you own and think will I ever need that again, it is amazing how much a lot of us have that we don't need and how much of our lives is spent earning money to pay for it.
 

17

General Discussion / Re: Getting bike to the west coast and back-from England.

« on: May 14, 2012, 06:23:53 am »

A tip for flying your bike is use a cardboard box from a bike shop and fly your bike in that, dispose of it and get another for the return. I saw a couple at Heathrow the other day struggling to get purpose made plastic boxes into the oversize luggage belt, it was too big whereas my box from the local bike shop fitted easily.

18

General Discussion / Re: Cash for cycling trips

« on: May 14, 2012, 06:17:53 am »

I presume that you are American so cannot advise on the best credit/debit card for foreign ATM use but here in the UK there are a couple that do not pass on the fee for foreign ATM use and there might be some in the US that do the same, others may be able to help here.
At least try and find out the lowest fees charged and go with that card. I have cycled/motorcycled in many parts of the world and have found using ATMs to be the best way of getting money, take out as much as possible each time and keep a couple of hundred dollars emergency cash which can usually be changed anywhere.

19

General Discussion / Re: overseas travel

« on: April 16, 2012, 08:18:55 am »

I hav flown my bike to a couple of tours in Asia in the last three years and have used airlines with a larger luggage allowance, Emirates and Gulf, packed my bike in a cardboard box from a bike shop and had no problem, there won't always be this option but it is worth bearing in mind. I once flew it back wrapped in clingfilm at the airport which kept the weight to under 20 kg but it got a couple of scratches on the paint, it depends on how fussy you want to be about it, on a RTW tour your bike will pick up a few anyway.

20

General Discussion / Re: Bike Box

« on: April 16, 2012, 08:06:37 am »

As John says, go to your local bike shop and get a cardboard box that they come from the factory in, dump it in Holand and get another in Italy. If you do go for a hardcase make sure it is not too big for oversized luggage, I was at Heathrow airport a few months ago flying out for a tour of India and a couple with hardcases could not take them as they were bigger than the oversize allowance, my box had no problem.

21

Gear Talk / Re: B17 issue. Am I the only one?

« on: December 12, 2011, 12:54:54 pm »

It could be that the nut on RussSeaton's saddle needs a 1/4 Whitworth spanner to fit it, an old English size that is .525 a/f, if you have too much time on your hands and want the full historical explanation it is here. If it were not pouring down with rain and blowing a gale outside I would go to the shed and find out what size mine is.

http://www.sat.dundee.ac.uk/~psc/spanner_jaw.html

22

General Discussion / Re: 100 dollar bills too large?

« on: December 09, 2011, 01:03:56 pm »

As a point of interest $100 bills are almost totally useless in some places outside of the US, due to a fear of counterfeits I have found them generally not accepted particularly in Africa and Asia. Having said that Dollars in smaller denomination notes are welcome everywhere.

23

General Discussion / Re: A question for the more mature on which bike to tour >>>>

« on: November 27, 2011, 11:45:59 pm »

Your BSA looks like the bike me and many of my friends had in the early to mid 1970's, I think they were the same bike produced by Raleigh in Nottingham but badged up as BSA, Triumph and possibly Sun, fitted with single speed or Sturmey Archer three speed. Mine was a Raleigh three speed in black with old fashioned pull back bars which I changed quickly. It was made for the US market with the guarantee label addressed to its US headquarters but it has somehow found its way into the UK market.
 

24

General Discussion / Re: A question for the more mature on which bike to tour >>>>

« on: November 27, 2011, 01:47:22 pm »

How about a Raleigh Chopper? Although more suited to a journey back to your childhood than anywhere else, you will need deep pockets given what they fetch now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Raleigh_Chopper-001.jpg

25

General Discussion / Re: TransAmerica 2012

« on: November 23, 2011, 11:57:32 pm »

My tuppence worth on lightweight camping, I have a Terranova one man tent which weighs less than 1 kg, a ultralight Thermarest and a light sleeping bag should add about another kg and all take up 1 pannier with poles strapped under the top frame tube. It is reassuring to know you have something if other plans don't work out and need to camp.

26

General Discussion / Re: Insurance for U.S. trip

« on: November 23, 2011, 11:49:26 pm »

I have used Ensleigh for both cycling and motorcycle trips and have read on other forums that the post office travel insurance is pretty good for longer trips, most travel insurance policies cover cycling as long as you are not racing. Fortunately no experience of having to claim so cannot advise here.

27

Gear Talk / Re: Changing a Rohloff Wheel

« on: November 18, 2011, 10:06:40 pm »

I have a Rohloff hub on my disc braked Roberts Rough Stuff and the rear wheel is no more difficult to change than any other. Although expensive I can recommend a Rohloff.

28

General Discussion / Re: Edinburgh - Lisbon (Winter) Possible?

« on: November 02, 2011, 02:01:12 pm »

If this winter is anything like last it will be very cold and snowy, also remember short days particularly in Scotland, only about 8 hours of daylight at the beginning of January. Not such a good idea unless you like being uncomfortable and have really good gear if you plan to camp.

29

Gear Talk / Re: folding bike for touring

« on: October 09, 2011, 05:24:45 am »

I met a Frenchman in Hanoi who was touring with a Brompton although he was more using it to explore cities and commute to and from bus and train stations.
He was staying in hotels so had minimal luggage, just one bag front and rear.

One of the advantages of a Brompton is it allows you to participate in sporting events, as long as you can meet the dress code.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WmwFFyeG8I&feature=related

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Gear Talk / Re: DEET dissolves helmets

« on: August 26, 2011, 12:43:02 am »

I have had Deet dissolve plastic, it does make you wonder what it does to your skin.