Cycle Paths

tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Lidl got their cycley stuff in again tommorrow.

Unfortunately I just had a call from Specialized, gonna cost £150 to fix my bike! Not gonna bother, asked them to replace the front caliper but gonna leave the cables/sprocket for now. I only use it to commute, not sure its worth doing on a 2 year old bike that only cost £400 to start with :(
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
tek-monkey said:
Lidl got their cycley stuff in again tommorrow.
Click to expand...
I finally picked up one of Lidl's cycle work stands, in Port Laoise, well worth the money. Probably around £30 here. I would suggest that anybody who works on their own bike should keep their eyes open for one over here. I had to go back and get two more when people had seen it. You might need to modify the clamp slightly, depending upon your cable arrangements..
workstand-lidl.jpg
 
tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
If cycling down the lines to derrington be aware there is a lad on a 125 using it as a road. Saw him going both ways, between doxey and castlefields. Was something like an aprilla, same sort of shape but may not be one. Reg was similar to FP05 AYE, may be wrong though.
 
tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Anyone ever cycled the shropshire union canal? Seems to go straight to Chester, could be a nice run to Wales.
 
Withnail

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
While not a cycle path as such, there are moves afoot to create a 'pilgrimage' route between Lichfield and Chester - http://twosaintsway.org.uk/ - that seems to use the canal in part ( map here ).

I've found cycling on towpaths to be a bit hit and miss - some are great for cycling, others are very hard going. I once rode from Oxford to Stafford solely on towpaths, my favourite bit (not) was the mile or so section where the recent dredging sludge had been deposited on the path, rendering it virtually impassable on wheels. Other than that they have the virtue of being flat of course, but potentially quite slow.

Also you are (nominally) supposed to have a licence to ride on them - as i believe has been mentioned on here before - though i very much doubt you'd have your collar felt at any stage for not having one.
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Withnail said:
Good thing too - when did that change?
Click to expand...
I think it's to do with the 'Big Society' thing - the operation of inland waterways has been transferred from a quango to a charity, or something like that. Maybe somebody's realised that a permit that you can just download and print off at no change, and which almost nobody has ever been asked to produce, is a bit pointless.
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
According to my just-arrived Jeremy Lefroy newsletter, there will be a footway/cycleway from the Tixall Road/Wolseley Road junction, straight across the Sow valley to the canal bridge on Baswich Lane.
 
flossietoo

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
tek-monkey said:
Anyone ever cycled the shropshire union canal? Seems to go straight to Chester, could be a nice run to Wales.
Click to expand...
Just seen this. I've been walking it in chunks, with the dogs, heading towards Chester. There is a HORRIBLE bit between Goldstone Wharf and Market Drayton. Never known mud like it. Right up to a spaniel's stomach. It went on. And on. I kept debating whether to turn round and had no means of knowing whether I'd gone further than half way through it. Should imagine it would be virtually impossible to cycle. Everywhere else has been busy on the towpath and on the water but that section was completely empty and a bit unsettling - very dark because of high, overhanging banks either side. When my husband picked us up at the end of that day, he made me wear plastic bags on my feet and fastened the dogs inside bin liners tied under their chins. All three of us were hosed down before being allowed in the house.
 
flossietoo

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
Gramaisc said:
Lucky you didn't get mud on your head..
Click to expand...
I don't think that would have stopped him. He has very high standards and the misfortune to have fallen for someone whose default condition is one of disarray.
That picture is a very good representation of what it felt like. Very odd. It was a sunny Sunday everywhere else. Lots of boaters, families on the towpaths, children in sandals, silly women in heels. Then, suddenly, we pitched into the canal that time forgot. Hardly any light, a constant dripping noise and thick, thick mud. Not a soul around and no evidence even of birds. Fortunately, at that point, I had not watched the new 'supernatural crime thriller' series Grimm. It's just the kind of place you'd find a blutbad.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top