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The Cycling Chat Thread

nick said:
Does any one have any tips (recommendations / avoids) for London to Paris?

Probably organised - don't need to do it on the cheap

Mrs Nick and I are thinking of doing it next summer -
We are both late 50s overweight and not as fit as we should be - so there is that. Need to do a lot of training before then

Thinking of getting her a bike fit and a new bike (currently a Whyte Cambridge) for Christmas
Click to expand...

IMO, a bike fit is a Very Good Idea (for everyone) but especially if you're planning a long-ish ride.

Don't fret about "training", just get in plenty of miles beforehand.

Losing weight helps a lot. Normandy/Brittany is quite lumpy.

Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about what bike you're riding. Here's a pic of me setting off for Paris from Worcester:

1728982418400.png

I was in my 50s there and I'm riding a Pashley Roadster with heavily laden panniers and a rack-pack. The Roadster is hardly lightweight(!) but, hey ho, it has a five speed hub gear and drum brakes which is all the modern technology anyone needs 😁

Anyway, that's me setting off about 7am-ish. I got to Portsmouth in the evening, caught the overnight ferry to Caen. Then rode Paris arriving about 9pm.

Oh, and be prepared for all weathers. I've ridden Worcester-Paris (and back) three times (each time in August) and each time it's bucketed down somewhere along the way.
 
Leafster said:
The Avenue Verte is on both sides of the channel. I think it supposedly starts at the London Eye and ends at Notre Dame.
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Ah right, think the person I know would have done the entire route as they live in Redhill which is probably on the English route
 
Thanks all - yes Avenue Verte seems the way to do it, and I have read that it is far better on the French side than the English (figures, right).

And a_chap . Yes Thanks for the advice.
Yes, I would have known you would have done it - you do have a rep for being hardcore - only slightly surprised you didn't do it on a Penny Farthing or a balance bike "because you could". :)
 
My boy was obsessed with Danny's big day out when he was about 2, would watch it over and over again.

Been having a lot of fun watching Red Bull Rampage over the weekend.
 
nick said:
Does any one have any tips (recommendations / avoids) for London to Paris?

Probably organised - don't need to do it on the cheap

Mrs Nick and I are thinking of doing it next summer -
We are both late 50s overweight and not as fit as we should be - so there is that. Need to do a lot of training before then

Thinking of getting her a bike fit and a new bike (currently a Whyte Cambridge) for Christmas
Click to expand...
Lots of advice id guess on the Cyclechat forum and the broad outline here. 3 day cycle routes - London to Paris Bike Ride | London2Paris.co.uk

There's plenty of companies lining up to take your money but then you can't do it your way. Getting back is the main logistical issue. Eurostar have changed their cycle policy. I've got the train to Rouen (worth a trip in itself) and then cycled to Dieppe, ferry then train home from Newhaven.

There are various websites on the whole trip. Example one Cycling the Avenue Verte from London to Paris - Freewheeling France

Take as little as possible, you'll be thankful.
 
Last edited:
Looks like the route proposed for my new commute is along canal paths alot of the way... I know at least part of the route is unlit.

I was wondering - a) do people commute along canal paths in the winter when it's dark... b) if so, are there any recommendations for lights - I imagine you need a pretty strong front light?
 
Hollis said:
Looks like the route proposed for my new commute is along canal paths alot of the way... I know at least part of the route is unlit.

I was wondering - a) do people commute along canal paths in the winter when it's dark... b) if so, are there any recommendations for lights - I imagine you need a pretty strong front light?
Click to expand...

If you are in London, no I wouldn't. Heard too many tales of people being relieved of their bikes during broad daylight, never mind night time.
 
Hollis said:
Looks like the route proposed for my new commute is along canal paths alot of the way... I know at least part of the route is unlit.

I was wondering - a) do people commute along canal paths in the winter when it's dark... b) if so, are there any recommendations for lights - I imagine you need a pretty strong front light?
Click to expand...
Nope, avoid. A thief’s paradise, with no exit.

Towpaths are not, and never will be, proper cycling infrastructure.
 
beesonthewhatnow said:
Towpaths are not, and never will be, proper cycling infrastructure.
Click to expand...
Yes, I agree - I don't really like cyclists on towpaths. The one in question is a designated 'Cycleway' and the route planners are pretty persistent in using it. I will have to play around with them abit more to avoid.
 
The canal path in Leeds is pretty decent tbf, at least in from Kirkstall. Tarmac surface, pretty wide and I think some of it is lit, certainly at the city end. London canals not so much…
 
What is the etiquette on shared paths?
Pedestrian expectations of cyclists seem to vary. I don’t warn pedestrians unless to prevent an accident - the same as with motorists using their horns.
But I’ve heard pedestrians complaining about cyclists not warning them as they approach from behind to overtake. As a pedestrian, I’d either not hear them, or I’d get an unnecessary fright from a sudden noise, so I avoid it.
Surely pedestrians share some responsibility for their own safety and should keep their wits about them and be aware that a cyclist may overtake them.
 
I have a bell which is quite gentle and I give it a gentle ding as I approach folk from behind, as when walking things rushing past me (joggers/bikes) scare the shit out of me.

Often the ped has headphones in and can't hear me, or is nattering to their walking partner or is just deaf/away with the fairies. Occasionally those same people have had a pop at me not having a bell, I stop and demonstrate my bell to the mardy fucksticks, which is when they reply along the lines of, "Well most bikes don't have bells, I'm deaf anyway" - at which point I push them in to the canal and get on my way.
 
As long as you don’t rush, give as wide a berth as possible and go slow enough to put your foot down to stop then I don’t see the point of using your bell or calling out. I only call out when going under a bridge with a blind spot.
Maybe it’s my ADHD, but as a pedestrian, I do not react quickly enough when I hear a bell for them to be any use whatsoever. With me, you’d need two different bells - the firsr to get my attention, the second to prompt action. But maybe that’s also a cyclist issue if they’re using the bell too late or going too fast.
 
You're gonna get wet then mate.



nah, the towpath near me and most of the bridal paths that I ride on are quite narrow, so the bell is generally to let them know I'm here and to ask them to move out of the way. If they don't / can't I have to stop until it is wide enough to pass. On all the paths around here there are signs up reminding people that the priority order is peds, horses then bikes. They also have signs trying to break down the barriers between the groups, which as well know can get fractious at times:



Horse riders and cyclists encouraged to 'Be Nice, Say Hi' in the Surrey Hills | Cycling UK

Visitors to the Surrey Hills are being encouraged to ‘Be Nice, Say Hi’, as the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) adopts the joint campaign by Cycling UK and The British Horse Society.
www.cyclinguk.org www.cyclinguk.org

AAA.JPG
 
I could be wrong Orang Utan but I think I am right in saying both the etiquette and the actual law dictates that pedestrians get priority on all shared spaces. Nobody should certainly feel obliged to have to make way for cyclists whether they use their bell or not.

I guess one could argue it goes both ways and pedestrians should give way and always look out for cyclists in environments where you have a cycle path running alongside a promenade or large pedestrianised space, such as alongside Brighton’s seafront by the pier. As an occasional visitor I have been guilty striding onto the cycle path without looking and nearly hit by an irate cyclist. Though I find that particularly layout utter lunacy, frankly.
 
I always appreciate it - as a pedestrian - when a cyclist uses their bell and thank them for doing so

I don’t use headphones on a shared path when walking.

Didn’t realise towpaths were so dangerous, I’ve used them a lot and at night but not in London or with a perhaps expensive bike
 
T & P said:
I could be wrong Orang Utan but I think I am right in saying both the etiquette and the actual law dictates that pedestrians get priority on all shared spaces. Nobody should certainly feel obliged to have to make way for cyclists whether they use their bell or not.
Click to expand...
Yes, pedestrians have priority always. And no one should feel obliged to make way for cyclists on a towpath. I didn’t make an argument against that though. I just asked about the etiquette on bell use, because as a pedestrian I either don’t appreciate it or don’t notice it when cyclists do. It seems there is no consensus on bell use, so I’ll carry on as before.
 
Elpenor said:
I always appreciate it - as a pedestrian - when a cyclist uses their bell and thank them for doing so

I don’t use headphones on a shared path when walking.

Didn’t realise towpaths were so dangerous, I’ve used them a lot and at night but not in London or with a perhaps expensive bike
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Are they that dangerous? You might get the odd collision or some dickhead on a bike getting dunked in a canal, but towpaths are much much safer than roads, surely?
 
BigTom said:
Dangerous in terms of getting mugged for your bike.

I wouldn't use Birmingham canals after dark for this reason.
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Not a cyclist but this is the sort of thing I can’t imagine happening the places where I have lived. Worth knowing though
 
Speaking as a woman there is no way I would ride along Edinburgh's canal path in the dark. Way too dangerous. I don't like it during the day either tbh but that's because there's way too many oblivious dog walkers for it to be an enjoyable experience.
 
In mixed news
a) Buzz bike is closing down on Friday 15th|
b) they are flogging off their (non-electric) stock to anyone for £65 delivered including a lock.

Have ordered one on the off-chance it will arrive and be of passable "pub-bike" quality.

Have not yet plucked up the courage to mentioned the onward march of N+1 to Mrs Nick
 
klang said:
Is this for members only?
If not, can you share a link?
Click to expand...
If I am correct then,
bikes can be bought by members only for £250 or something.

Non-member can buy the "normal" 3 speeders £65 delivered.
here

Buzzbike

ride.buzzbike.cc ride.buzzbike.cc

I have paid and am meant to get delivery Wednesday, but won't believe it until I see it
 
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