Messages

31

General Discussion / Re: What's an 'average' day?

« on: June 30, 2015, 05:06:44 pm »

It's really a question of why are you on the bike?
If it's to simply stay on the bike all day, enjoy the scenery but ultimately do little else then 75-80 miles a day
If however you want to meet the locals, enjoy a cafe and see what you are passing through then 45-50 miles a day.
I've led tours with both types of cyclists and I am definately in the 45-50 mile a day catagory.

The Lands End John O'Groats in the UK is a classic example.
It's a 1000 miles trip. For some a 3 week meandre is ideal. However for most it's a 10 day sprint and I personally think they are missing the point as if you talk to them they have nothing to say about the trip aside fatigue, but look on it more as an achievement.
    Neil

32

General Discussion / Re: United Airline Policy on Bikes

« on: June 29, 2015, 07:27:57 am »

Flying to Europe? There are plenty of European air lines that don't charge for bikes, don't require they be boxed or crated and treat flyers like customers instead of criminals.

Which airlines?
The only one that has a 'free' policy is Virgin Atlantic where they are carried as sports equipement
British Airways do too, but you must get under a certain size and weight (23kg) not impossible
Icelandic air are opening up a few routes, but do charge

I flew United 2 years ago as led a tour round Yellowstone and they were the only connecting to Jackson from the UK. $150 dollars each way

   Neil

33

General Discussion / Re: Has anyone biked the east coast?

« on: June 29, 2015, 07:13:06 am »

Yes
Sarah and I did it on a Tandem in 1996, before it was 'officially routed'
Frankly you're doing it the wrong way round, head North from Georgia back home
We started in the spring and it was spring/early summer all the way up
Also the prevailing winds on the east coast are southerly
Finally, unlike where we live in England, you pedal on the right, so you'll have the ocean along the Outer banks next to you rather than across the traffic, much nicer.

As Kevin Bacon says in an ad for a UK phone company when he's trying to imitate the English, this decision really is a 'no brainer'

   Good luck it's a fabulous ride and I'm leading  CTC Tour (Cycle Touring Club) ride along a section in September 2016

      Neil

www.cyclingholidays.org
www.cyclingwithchildren.com


       

34

Routes / Atlantic Coast ride

« on: May 20, 2015, 10:28:10 am »

19 years ago we spent 3 months cycling the whole Atlantic Coast following the Mountainers guide. We went south to North, logic being, setting of in spring meant we were following the good weather and the prevailing winds are Southerly.

Looking to take a group back next year, Wilmington to Washington, however ACA route runs North to South, why is that, or am I mistaken

   Neil

www.cyclingwithchildren.com

35

Routes / Re: Seeking advice on which side of Danube to bike (Passau to Vienna)

« on: May 20, 2015, 10:24:19 am »

Did it once on the south bank
However somewhat marred by it stopped raining at 1100 and started again at 1200 for 10 days.
It's a bit of a motorway, flat and not much variety but very pretty.
You could take boats down the river for sections if memory serves me right
In the end we gave up and took the train to Vienna
  Neil

36

Routes / Re: North Sea Cycle Route suggestions

« on: May 20, 2015, 10:18:49 am »

Would guess you've consulted the SUSTRANS site
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/node/11697/long-distance-rides/north-sea-cycle-route

The Northumberland part is a highlight. There are campsites, and the castles and beaches are some of the best in the UK. It's also stuffed with tearooms.
Take time to look at Bamburgh castle and Dunstanburgh castle http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunstanburgh-castle/ It's an hour walk past the golf course, but well worth it

Further south I can't help I'm afraid
    Neil

37

Pacific Northwest / bicycle friendly accomodation in Portland

« on: October 22, 2014, 11:39:26 am »

Last piece of a large jigsaw for September 2015
Can anyone recommend
1) Cycle friendly accommodation in Portland where 12 of us can stay 2 nights after flying in from the UK and 1 night before leaving (I need to leave bike bags there)
2) A provider of transport for 12 people and 12 wrapped bikes from and too the airport in Portland in above accommodation

   Thanks in advance
      Neil

38

Pacific Northwest / Re: Getting bikes from Vancover to Portland

« on: October 12, 2014, 03:40:00 pm »

Because Portland is the most accessible place to get to from other places, especially from overseas. There is a small airport in Astoria, but I can imagine the logistics/cost of getting twelve people and their bikes there from the UK would be prohibitive. (And they would probably have to take a connecting flight from Portland or Seattle anyway.)


[/quote]

Yes above sums it up
This is a tour of Oregon not just the coast
I cycled the west coast 19 years ago and the section Vancouver to Astoria isn't as nice as the section we are doing. We did it on a tandem and my wife remembers the traffic.
The route is on the other post I've posted on this subforum for NW.

I do have a little sympathy with airlines. Bikes are tough to handle, X-ray etc so don't mind a small extra charge. I would far prefer they are flown than banned, but please don't hijack this post discussing costings
   
   Thanks again
      Neil

39

Pacific Northwest / Re: Getting bikes from Vancover to Portland

« on: October 11, 2014, 04:39:08 pm »

Looks like we'll have to fly to Portland as Virgin Atlantic are stopping flights to Vancover this summer.
  Thanks for everyones help
       Neil

40

Pacific Northwest / Three week tour of Oregon - How does this route look?

« on: October 08, 2014, 08:06:35 pm »

Hi
Following on from the transport question here's the route
It was put together via a request to Cycle Oregon
The coastal part is as they say in the UK a 'no brainer' I'm more interested in the return inland section, thoughts? I'm especially interested in views and in that I don't mean endless trees.

Thoughts?

Day   Start   Finish       Miles   Lunch   Lodging   Notes
1   Portland   Vernonia        50   Banks   Coastal Mt Sport Haus Via Banks-Vernonia Trail
2   Vernonia   Astoria        61   Mist/Jewell Many Options   
3   Astoria   Garibaldi        59   Cannon Beach Several Options Via Oregon Coast Route
4   Garibaldi   Lincoln City   54   Pacific City Many Options   Via Oregon Coast Route
5   Rest Day in Lincoln City      Many Options   
6   Lincoln City Yachats        50   Newport   Several Options   Via Oregon Coast Route
7   Yachats   Reedsport        47   Florence   Several Options   Via Oregon Coast Route
8   Reedsport   Sutherlin         61   Elkton   Many Options   
9   Sutherlin   Cottage Grove 54   Drain   Village Green   
10   Rest Day in Cottage Grove      Village Green   Row River Trail
11   Cottage Grove Oakridge   60   Limited Options   Challenging climbing day
12   Oakridge   Belknap Springs   68   Belkanp Spr Resort (only)   Aufderheide Drive - challenging climbing day
13   Belknap Springs   Sisters   40   Dee Wright Obsv.   Many Options   McKenzie Scenic Pass
14   Rest Day in Sisters            Many Options   
15   Sisters   Madras         50   Terrebonne   Many Options   Via back roads
16   Madras   Maupin         67   Kah-Nee-Tah   Imperial River   Via Warm Springs Indian Reservation
17   Maupin   The Dalles      52   Dufur    Many Options   Via Deschutes River Road
18   The Dalles Cascade Locks 52   Hood River Several Options   Stretch on freeway
19   Cascade Locks Portland  50   Troutdale      Via Hist. Col Rver Hwy/Multnomah Falls

41

General Discussion / Re: brooks saddle break-in how long

« on: October 04, 2014, 06:53:24 pm »

3 bikes, 3 B17's, all broken in within 100 miles and I wear shorts, no padding. Use the Brooks proofer just before cycling to soften it. However I had a titanium railed narrow saddle from a friend, awful, fortunately he took it back. B17's are worth every penny, then again I'm biased as from England!!

42

Pacific Northwest / Getting bikes from Vancover to Portland

« on: October 04, 2014, 09:22:41 am »

Hi
Attracted by Oregon, 12 of us are coming in September 2015 for a 19 day tour around Oregon from the UK.
We intend to start and finish from Portland.
The issue I have is getting the bikes too and from Portland from the United Kingdom
There are several options
1) Fly to Portland, however United charge an eye watering $200 dollars each way to transport the bikes.
2) Fly to Vancover with Virgin airlines who carry bikes free and then drive the bikes to Portland and back again. in effect I have a budget of less than $4800 dollars to do this for a 7 hour trip each way.

Does anyone have any suggestions please and if this includes a reliable contact/company or someone would like to do this with a large van then please let me know

   Thankyou
      Neil Wheadon

43

Routes / Re: Detailed maps

« on: October 05, 2012, 12:11:28 pm »

Thanks
The links are very useful - thankyou
This links to the 'When's the best time to tour Yellowstone' discussion posted a few months ago
I bring groups of British Cyclists to sample the delights of America on a regular basis and for 2013 was specifically looking for a map to include Jackson, Bozeman, Gardner, Livingston, Cooke City and Cody as well as Yellowstone and the Tetons

  Neil

44

Routes / Detailed maps

« on: October 04, 2012, 10:52:35 am »

Hi
Can anyone recommend a detailed map for cycling the Yellowstone area, New England, Colorado and California? (Yes they are a long way apart and so separate recommendations are needed!!)
In England we have 1:50.000 scale maps covering the whole country that are very good, but it's a smaller place.
I can find maps with a 1:750.000 scale and have cut up a Rand McNally in the past, but are there better ones out there?

   Thankyou
     Neil

45

Routes / Re: Barcelona to Amsterdam

« on: September 24, 2012, 01:28:35 pm »

To be honest this is a new one on me, European winds are traditionally westerleys. Being a continent different to America our wind and weather patterns are far less set, so I'd not plan a tour on wind alone. Your idea of following the sun is far more sensible
   Cheers
     Neil