Hi from the Piddle's n Puddle's

[Big foot]

Hi, newbie here from Dorset.

I'm very keen to start cycle touring. I've done a lot of motorcycle touring in Europe and North Africa, it's becoming very expensive and I'd really like to slow things down and take more in, plus the obvious health benefits now I'm 40 lol.

I'm looking for a touring bike but as always I'm on a budget, hopefully i may find a good second hand bike soon.

Cheers J

 

[welsh dragon]

Hi welcome from powys. Have fun

 

[biggs682]

evening and welcome

 

[Bikerta]

Hi and welcome from a fellow Dorset member.

I also have started touring on bicycle instead of motorbike this year. Luckily I took my last tour on a little Yamaha Serow 250 all the way down through France and into the Pyrenees, so not too costly for me. Had a fantastic time though. I have liked cycling for many years, but on a very leisurely scale, so thought I would try cycle touring this year. I bought myself a Dawes Galaxy and have been very pleased with it. Have done a couple a 3/4 day trips in this country and loved it. Mind you, the weight of all the camping gear is a lot more noticeable on the back of a push bike compared to a motorbike.

 

[Big foot]

Hi guys, thanks for the warm welcome. :-)

Bikerta, the Serow is a great bike and yes, much cheaper to run than my v-Strom 1000 haha. I love the Pyrenees, rode down the Spanish side and back up the French side in 2010 and again last year on the way back from Morocco I camped for ten days near Tremp, pony trekking and white water rafting, it's a great place!

I've done a couple 20 mile rides on my mountain bike unloaded but I really would like a dawes or similar steel touring bike. I'm thinking of tackling Le2jog next year if I can get fit enough.

Cheers J

 

[Ern1e]

Hi and welcome J, just to add my two penneth in once you have your bike and racks etc you may find it useful if you fit the panniers and shove some 2 ltr pop bottles full of water for balast ( I started with 2 they weigh in at about 5 lbs per bottle) and then increase these once you have got used to the weight etc and are covering reasonable distances ( as if you where touring so choice is yours I did 15 miles for a start) then come the day for the off it's not so much of a shock on the system lol.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

J!

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Hi and welcome, Big foot. What's the piddles-n-puddles bit?

 

[Big foot]

Puddles n piddles haha, I live in Puddletown by the river Piddle in the piddle valley, Dorset. :-)

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Hi Big Foot and .

I hope you find the tourer you're looking for. You may find something in the classifieds on here that'll do the job. (I believe you have to make a minimun number of posts before you get full access to that section though).

 

[snorri]

Welcome to the forum

. Mind you, the weight of all the camping gear is a lot more noticeable on the back of a push bike compared to a motorbike.

Yes, the weight.
There may be some mental adjustment required regarding the speed after touring on a motor bike, but the compensation must be the ability you have to take in a bit more of your surroundings as you plod along at a relaxed pace.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Hiya...

Go west young man

 

[ScotiaLass]

 

[Biker Joe]

Hi and a warm to you.

 

[Berties]

Great area to live,is it true even the puddles were once piddles,
Have ridden the valley from Dorchester to home via sturm and Shaftesbury
Welcome to the site