France Vs.Holland Vs. UK

[Scoosh]

If it were me, I'd go France and South - it's bound to be warmer/drier vers le sud, n'est-ce pas ?

Oh, that it were me

 

[Andy in Sig]

..hmm...well I have the LF1 & LF10 route maps (arrived today) for the Dutch coast. They do the job. I also spent the morning at the LBS where my bottom bracket needed replacing, as did my spd pedals as the were bent and worn. The bottom bracket was corroded and a bearing had gone. I got a new computer fitted, fitted gel padded new bar tape, bought 2 new spokes and some spare cable, had the gear cable replaced and the cassette/gears set up. Not a cheap exercise, but at least I know th ebike is safe now.

D

HTF did you manage that? You've only done one bloody tour!!!

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

..I've done two...and in between I have been riding 40km each day pretty much including all through the winter. Also dont forget I was 21 stone when I got the bike and on tour I carried 20kilos at least. I think the final straw came on one particularly evil hill around Schaffhausen when i was on my last gear and standing just to keep moving...that is when i heard something give...and things were never the same after that.
From now on I am walking up evil steep hills if I cannot get up them reasonable comfortably in the saddle when loaded.
Also in germany I was riding on a lot on very poor radweg surfaces with lots of potholes and loose gravel etc which did me no favours at all.

 

[Andy in Sig]

It was probably more the fact that you weighed 21 stone than anything else although the corrosion in the bottom bracket suggests to me a dodgy seal or a poor fit. Didn't you say you've lost four stone or so? If that is so then I don't think you have to avoid pedalling up hills as a laden tourer is designed to take precisely that kind of punishment.

Have you got the kind of pedals which are spd one side and normal the other? Both my bikes are fitted with them and they are very robust.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

I have double sided spd m520...trust me thje th ething is bent where the pedal arm screws into the crank.

probably right about a poor seal...given the appalling service at LBS Les on canvey..anyway Its all packed and ready to go....still not sure where though!

 

[vernon]

I have double sided spd m520...trust me thje th ething is bent where the pedal arm screws into the crank.

probably right about a poor seal...given the appalling service at LBS Les on canvey..anyway Its all packed and ready to go....still not sure where though!

I discarded a pair of M520 pedals when the amount of play could not be taken up by the adjustable seal thingy but i've not been able to bend them despite never dipping below 21 stones over the past four/five years.

S'pose I'll have to lose weight and start some out of the seat pedalling to equal your feat

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

..well...looks like it's going to be France. Kick off tomorrow 6am le chunnel. Hope Le wevver holds....Calais, Arras, Bapaume, Albert (to take another look at the battle fields), then down noyon, troys, dijon, macon, lyon, orange, montpellier, more or less. I have allowed 14 days....so this will be my first foreign tour on me todd. Mange toutes..as they say in peckham.

 

[psmiffy]

BFTB-Good luck-

(I will be following in your tyre tracks on the 30th)

 

[yoyo]

We were in Troyes and Dijon on our recent holiday. They are both well worth visiting. I hope you have a great trip. Safe journey.

 

[Cathryn]

..well...looks like it's going to be France. Kick off tomorrow 6am le chunnel. Hope Le wevver holds....Calais, Arras, Bapaume, Albert (to take another look at the battle fields), then down noyon, troys, dijon, macon, lyon, orange, montpellier, more or less. I have allowed 14 days....so this will be my first foreign tour on me todd. Mange toutes..as they say in peckham.

You lucky lucky bloke. Have an amazing time!!!! Eat lots of pains au chocolate for moi!

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

...to be honest I am a little nervous...this is a BIG trip for me in terms of both distance and being alone for so long. Germany was an easy ride, the navigation was basically taken care of for long distances by the signposting on the Radwegs, and the language wasnt a problem for me. I hope I can do it in the 14 days I have and fingers crossed the bike wont let me down...or at least it do it near a bike shop.
...I will try to take some pics as I go along and post them up when i get back in september.

By the way here is th elist of choice phrases I will carry with me to facilitate communication with the natives in case it might help any fellow non french speaking crazy peeps on two wheels like me:

Bonjour,



1.je me suis perdu..pouvez me m’indiquer sur la carte ou je me trouve….merci



2.Je cherche le camping le plus proche,pouvez me dire comment y aller?



3.mon velo est casse ,pourriez vous m’indiquer le garage le plus proche?



4.pouvez-vous m’indiquer le supermarche le plus proche?



5.pouvez-me remplir mes bouteilles avec de l’eau du robinet.



6.je voudrais reserver une nuit de camping, pour 1 personne et une petite tente,je n;ai pas besoin d;electricite .Ai-je besoin d’une cle pour les douches?quelle piece de monnaie faut-il metre pour les douches?



7.ou puis-je acheter methalated spirits ??



8.quelle est la prevision meteo pour les prochains jours.?



9.pouvez- vous surveiller mon velo un moment?



10.pouvez-vous charger mon portable, je viendrai le chercher plus tard.



11.ou se trouve le gichet automatique le plus proche pour retirer de l ‘argent?



12.Puis-je camper ici,je repars tot demain matin et ne laisserai pas de dechets.



13.les velos sont –ils authorises sur cette route?



1) I am lost, can you direct me to........................................please show me on my map? Thankyou.



2) I am looking for the nearest cheap camping can you direct me there please?



3) My bicycle is broken and i need to find a bicycle shop with a mechanic, can you direct me to the nearest one please?



4) Please show me the way to the nearest supermarket.



5) Please can you fill up my water bottles with cold tap water. Thankyou.



6) I need to book in for one nights camping. It is just me and a VERY small tent. I do not need power and need it to be as cheap as possible. Do I need a key for the showers? What type of coin do the showers take (50c?)



7) Where can I find/buy a bottle of methalated spirits for my camping cooker?



8) Have you heard a weather forcast for the next few days?



9) Please can you look after my bike for a moment ?



10)Can you please charge up my mobile phone, I will collect it later



11) I need to find the nearest visa cashpoint machine



12) May I pitch a small tent here, I will be gone early in the morning and will leave no litter.



13) Are bicycles allowed to ride on this road?

 

[vernon]

Will you understand the French replies?

You should not have to worry about finding supermarkets there's lots of them around including Casino, Mamouth, Leclerc, Auchan and nearly all of them will have 'alcool a brulee' and wouldn't have a clue about methylated spirits. Alcool a brulee is colourless and comes in meths shaped bottles.

 

[Aperitif]

Good luck big man - you may want to add in a few bike words. Go to Sheldon Brown for his English French dictionary.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

Ok ..cheerz! I'm signing off now...hopefully for 2 weeks. C ya!

 

[Dayvo]

Bon voyage!