Retrobike Touring.

[hamster]

Got out last night after dropping son off at university in Plymouth. I decided to take my Dawes Edge former Feb 22 BoTM entry: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads...uary-2022-fillet-brazed-special.441023/page-4 and canti repair: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/home-canti-stud-repair.409558/
It was a bit of an experiment to see how it handled a load, typically light racy frames aren't happy conversions, but there again it's a Dawes with tons of tourer DNA...

A nice gentle ride as usual to Hoo Meavy - I had COVID in late June, was in bed ill for a week and then had to stop everything for 5 weeks to recover, so I am not at my fittest. Then the usual horrid slogs out of two valleys and up to Burrator to camp in the usual place near King's Tor. The sunset didn't disappoint...nor the 20T granny ring!

As forecast it started to rain around 0530, but by 0730 the forecast had been changed to it setting in for the day. I scrapped the idea of riding to Princetown, then over the tops back to Plymouth as it was very gusty and rainy. I packed up the tent in the rain, with it then drying a little for the ride back to Plymouth. I'd just got the car packed when it all started again.

 

[pw_pw_la]

Looks absolutely perfect, and everything a quick little solo overnighter should be!

 

[Trebz]

Great to see you out and about again Hamster. Pictures are amazing, thanks

 

[Titiritero]

We are currently touring along South America, on a couple of early 90's mtbs. We started in Colombia back in February, currently in the middle of Argentina, and hoping to reach Ushuaia by mid December. To make things "interesting", we are also traveling with our kids, aged 3 and 5. One travels in a trailer, the other one in a tag-along and they swap when tired or bored.

I ride a '91 Scott Windriver with a Thule Chariot Cougar, and my wife a '93 Trek 820 with a "Fun Trailer" tag-along.

If anyone has interest in following us, we have an irregularly updated blog and instagram at:
https://utilitariancycling.com/panamericana/https://www.instagram.com/utilitariancycling/

 

[FluffyChicken]

Great to see you out and about again Hamster. Pictures are amazing, thanks

You need to get your bike all setup and tour to the allotment and camp out

 

[shedobits]

We are currently touring along South America, on a couple of early 90's mtbs. We started in Colombia back in February, currently in the middle of Argentina, and hoping to reach Ushuaia by mid December. To make things "interesting", we are also traveling with our kids, aged 3 and 5. One travels in a trailer, the other one in a tag-along and they swap when tired or bored.

I ride a '91 Scott Windriver with a Thule Chariot Cougar, and my wife a '93 Trek 820 with a "Fun Trailer" tag-along.

If anyone has interest in following us, we have an irregularly updated blog and instagram at:
https://utilitariancycling.com/panamericana/https://www.instagram.com/utilitariancycling/

Great post, just signed up for this and put the kettle on.

 

[widowmaker]

Sounds like a plan for Spring 2023

 

[hamster]

As planned I got two sneaky days off for a little bike tour after a work trip to Malaga. Caught a train out of the city to ride to an inland railway trail. I used quite a bit of the Vias Verdes network, which makes distance in hilly Spain far less painful. Spain is an incredibly hilly place! The route was 62 miles to an old town with a fantastic Moorish castle, and a quiet room in a Pensione for £35. The only problem is arriving desperately hungry having to wait until any restaurant opens around 8. The rain in Spain doesn’t just fall on the plain, however the smell of the olive groves and fig trees on the way is amazing.

Second day: the weather forecast worsened overnight and it was rain squalls all day. The worst part was a headwind for the whole distance. Help from the lovely Renfe staff to get my bike more-or-less legal for the later train (I had missed the planned one by 10 mins).

I have toured in Spain 30 years or so ago, it's a great place to ride, drivers are patient and very courteous (even big trucks on busy roads).
The bike is an unrestored 1979 Witcomb UK. I have no idea what model, but it has mudguard eyes and was priginally for 27" wheels, so has space for bigger tyres - in this case 31mm CX rubber. It is sufficiently rugged and versatile to take a light load and withstand airport baggage handlers. The setup with DT levers isn't what I usually have, but it makes dismantling for flying and trains much simpler.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Looks a lovely place to tour Hamster.
Great photos

Jamie

 

[widowmaker]

Hamster, what type of front bag is that ?