http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: How light can you go? en Wed, 13 May 2026 04:52:17 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473&page=2#post-225798 Fri, 29 Jul 2016 11:27:46 +0000 cb 225798@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The inference from the photos accompanying that BBC article is the NC500 has encouraged people to do doughnuts in the Kylesku Bridge car park. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473&page=2#post-225766 Thu, 28 Jul 2016 19:58:50 +0000 HankChief 225766@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It was interesting on my trip how the support for the North Coast 500 varied from place to place. </p> <p>I was hearing that bookings were up c.40% year on year. This seemed to please the business owners but some of the workers were less happy with the extra workload.</p> <p>There were several complaints about the amount of extra traffic but it didn't go to a level that impacted us.</p> <p>Although it did feel like every other vehicle was a Tesco.com van. They were everywhere on the West Coast. We did hear that the population of Durness were up in arms that Tesco had stopped delivering to them as it wasn't cost effective. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473&page=2#post-225724 Thu, 28 Jul 2016 12:48:01 +0000 I were right about that saddle 225724@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-36867467" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-36867467</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473&page=2#post-224727 Thu, 07 Jul 2016 09:23:58 +0000 amir 224727@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good one! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473&page=2#post-224726 Thu, 07 Jul 2016 08:59:36 +0000 steveo 224726@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Impressive. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473&page=2#post-224725 Thu, 07 Jul 2016 08:34:12 +0000 gembo 224725@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Enormous effort. What is your mate saying about doing it again? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473&page=2#post-224722 Thu, 07 Jul 2016 08:22:56 +0000 fimm 224722@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well done! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473&page=2#post-224721 Thu, 07 Jul 2016 08:20:53 +0000 LaidBack 224721@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hankchief - that's a week's worth of cycling compressed. Well done. DaveC did that route too recently I think. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473&page=2#post-224720 Thu, 07 Jul 2016 00:10:44 +0000 I were right about that saddle 224720@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Hankchief</p> <p>Massive. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-224715 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 21:16:59 +0000 Greenroofer 224715@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Chapeau! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-224714 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 20:56:34 +0000 HankChief 224714@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well that was a fun weekend...</p> <p>North Coast 500 done in 4 days.</p> <p>Thanks to the advice on here and some last minute panicking with the weather looking stormy, I set off with 4kg of luggage (half of which was food) in a frame bag and saddle bag together with clip on mudguards.</p> <p>Day 1 (Friday) saw us leave Inverness in a headwind but soon making good time until my mate hit the deck crossing the Garve Level crossing. Fortunately only road rash and my limited first aid kit came in handy.</p> <p>Pushed on through the headwind and rain to Lochcarron for lunch. Bealach Na Ba straight afterwards is quite a challenge - my mate's lack of a low gear (and the crash) made him struggle up it but after plodding it out we made it. What a climb though - the unrelenting steepness of the middle section is quite something. Great views at the top over to Skye makes up for it.</p> <p>Really enjoyed the road up the coastline, up to the point you turn inland and have repeated short sharp climbs and technical descents and we realise we will be cutting it fine to get to the hotel in time for dinner. It's hard to push on with 100miles &amp; Bealach Na Ba in your legs and wasn't helped by my 2nd pinch flat of the day.</p> <p>We made it though and gorged out on dinner and a medicinal Guinness and to bed.</p> <p>With an even longer day ahead we asked for an early breakfast so we wouldn't be chasing for dinner. Still too much faffing though.</p> <p>Ullapool for lunch in the sunshine and we were feeling good. It got even hillier and wetter after that and it wasn't helped by my mate misremembering how many hills were ahead if us.</p> <p>The Lochinver/Drumbeg loop was incredible in terms of scenery and hills. I'd been warned they were bad and every time I struggled up what I thought was the worst one I would crest the top and then see an even worse one ahead. I was very glad of my 32t.</p> <p>Kylescu bridge is iconic. A beautiful bridge and a fantastic location. That and the sun cheered me through the last slog to Scourie for dinner. During which it absolutely chucked it down and gave the bags a good testing of their waterproofness.</p> <p>Another morning of faffing, mainly because it was raining saw us leave later than planned but in the dry. Durness for coffee and shortly after we were slogging into a headwind round Loch Eriboll when we pointed out to a big merc that they had a flat tyre. They asked us to help them change it, which being good samaritans we did, or rather we tried and failed. They did give us £20 and ask if we were students - LOL!</p> <p>Tongue for lunch with a tailwind pushing us along. It amazed me how spread out the villages are up there - very difficult to work out how big each settlement was - probably less than they look and they didn't look big.</p> <p>Disaster struck when my mate's gear cable snapped, possibly a delayed consequence of the crash. Fortunately he had brought a spare but couldn't get it to work so we had to bodge him with a middle gear.</p> <p>We'd done most of the hills by then so it was bearable. On one hills we were descendig we saw a group of mopeds struggling up it so we gave them some encouragement - in return one of them pulled a wheelie - good effort. </p> <p>It was quite a shock to drop onto Reay and return to an agricultural setting with crops and houses huddled together. It was more of a shock to get to Thurso just as the Ferry was unloading. Lovely flat straight roads took us on to John O'Groats in time for dinner in bright sunshine.</p> <p>After dinner we headed out to the lighthouse to see the sunset, only to find 'the sign' was just down the hill from the hotel.</p> <p>Last day and another headwind. Fortunately my mate managed to fix his gears using a butchers knife he found in the garage we locked our bikes in...</p> <p>Can't say I'm a fan of the A9 but without any choice we had to grin &amp; bear it. Berriedale is a good test of weary legs...</p> <p>Golspie for lunch and then the heavens opened and we cycled in a deluge from Tain to Beauly before some final sunshine as we entered Inverness.</p> <p>530miles in 82hours, with 34.5hrs moving time. Really pleased to have done it - didn't know it was going to be possible, mentally or physically.</p> <p>We definitely need to cut out the faffing both off the bike and on it as we weren't finishing until 8pm each night, but there were just too many views to photograph.</p> <p>The kit worked well. Not much I didn't use - leg and arm warmers didn't get used but glad I had them with me. </p> <p>Maybe next time I'll do it over longer time or bite the bullet &amp; go audaxing... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-222069 Mon, 06 Jun 2016 10:01:30 +0000 kaputnik 222069@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thought. I know you said "no mudguards", but if you're riding in a group you may want to reconsider; imho you'll go faster and farther with the marginal weight increase of some lightweight plastic guards like Road Racers or Raceblades than you will without on a damp road throwing spray in everyone's faces. You'll also be far more comfortable yourself. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221998 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 20:26:29 +0000 I were right about that saddle 221998@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@dougal</p> <p>No - if I've decanted it with care the lees are left behind in the glass bottle. I'm not an utter heathen. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221996 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 20:18:37 +0000 HankChief 221996@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks CCE. I always knew I'd get a mix of helpful &amp; whimsical advice ;-)</p> <p>I'm too much of an optimist to have thought about tools. </p> <p>I agree that there will be an element of risk taking but that is part of the fun. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221959 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 14:02:14 +0000 dougal 221959@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@IWRATS Do you not find that you need to let the wine settle after travelling? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221957 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 13:52:02 +0000 Ed1 221957@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I did 200 miles from Monday night to Wednesday , I cycled to Longtown I had 2 days off work. Although not 500 miles and I was by no means racing.<br /> I did just took one pair of the trousers was wearing, tent, sleeping bag, tooth brush, socks and T shirt bike tools, bottle of wine and 4 beers a waste of weight only drank half a can and took rest back home, if had a week of and was doing 500 miles would have taken waterproofs also some food. I stopped at supermarkets and a bakers to buy sandwiches but between Pebbles and Moffatt there was no shops or anything the historic Crook inn was shut.</p> <p>I ended up staying in a caravan at Moat Vale camp site near Longtown, but only paid to pitch a tent £6 the owner said liked and respected cyclists and because arrived at 10pm said I could stay in caravan for the same price, as had no food he was going to offer to make some food but I said would go to town. He called the chip shop in town to stay open which it did but because door closed I though closed and cycled further to Gretna. He also made breakfast because I had no food. A great place to stay if cycling in that area. It has a large bike shed which I did not use as so remote, only £6 and in nice location. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221905 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 08:54:41 +0000 I were right about that saddle 221905@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I can't read this thread any more. Haemorrhoid cream and bubblewrap have done for me. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221898 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 00:11:31 +0000 crowriver 221898@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yeah oatcakes are good. LiDL do nice 'deluxe' ones made with olive oil which I recommend. Can be prone to cracking in the saddle bag, so worth wrapping in something soft or just popping a cellophane batch of them in rear pocket if wearing a cycling jersey. Best savoured when temporarily stationary to avoid choking however. </p> <p>I also find midget gems an agreeable snack: worth storing a bag in a back pocket for those low energy points in the ride. They've helped me round the final legs of a few audax rides.</p> <p>Some folk swear by stuff like strawberry/chocolate milk drinks procured from convenience stores en route, as a slow release form of hydration, with useful nutrients, protein and glucose in there too. Have tried them on occasion and they work pretty well. Not everyone's taste of course. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221891 Thu, 02 Jun 2016 22:15:04 +0000 gembo 221891@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I favour a proper Normandy galette. They have salt around the circumference so are not as sweet as other biscuits. Hard to find outside of Normandy, though tesco use to do them.</p> <p>Here is what I am taking on my 100 miler around Dumfries. Five cereal bars, five banana bars, both decathlon brand, ten gels, two packets of Mrs Tilly fudge. </p> <p>Won't eat all that. But we have a warm up and I think warm down cycle tomorrow and Sunday. Coffee and lunch stops also booked. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221890 Thu, 02 Jun 2016 22:02:48 +0000 Snowy 221890@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Flapjacks! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221889 Thu, 02 Jun 2016 22:01:51 +0000 Rosie 221889@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Fruit cake. Moister than oat cakes. I buy up Christmas cakes cheap on Boxing Day and take hunks of them on long cycles. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221887 Thu, 02 Jun 2016 21:37:49 +0000 wingpig 221887@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oatcakes don't produce crumbs if you stuff them in whole. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221884 Thu, 02 Jun 2016 21:28:32 +0000 kaputnik 221884@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I do love an oatcake and have tried them as portable fuel on long-distance cycles, and unless you are stopping to eat them found myself almost choking on multiple occasions from inhaling oat dust. They are also not easy to eat with a dry mouth. I think they'd need to develop a squishy, oat-less oatcake for it to be good for eating on the wheel.</p> <p>I find moist foods as mentioned above that do not produce crumbs or dust and can be squished in a back pocket to be excellent cycling fuel. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221881 Thu, 02 Jun 2016 21:14:27 +0000 wingpig 221881@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote><em>"A kilo of Soreen will provide 2,800 kcals, 600g carbs, 220g sugars and 5g salt* and costs about a fiver."</em></blockquote></p> <p>A kilo of oatcakes contain 4,310 kcal from 586g carbs, 173g fat and 102g protein. They contain four times the fibre of Soreen (for easier output) and none of the disgustingness (for easier input). I didn't know about oatcakes when I lugged tins of rainforest-depleting corned beef around with me on long energy-depleting walking trips or I'd have taken oatcakes instead. Raw jelly cubes are good for a wee mouth-energy-boosting nibble. Chocolate is good for energy content but has a distinct lack of fibre, making it unsuitable for consuming in large quantities. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221808 Thu, 02 Jun 2016 12:22:51 +0000 kaputnik 221808@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's an indisputable fact that a 70cl bottle of wine weighs less when decanted into your person than it does when in its glass (or even plastic) container. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221803 Thu, 02 Jun 2016 12:10:49 +0000 I were right about that saddle 221803@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>It's this sort of behaviour that gives all cyclists a bad name. </em></p> <p><em>Chacun porte sa croix.</em> Drugs other than alcohol are of course even lighter but I wouldn't touch them with a carbon fibre pole for just that reason. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221787 Thu, 02 Jun 2016 11:28:33 +0000 crowriver 221787@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Soreen:</p> <p><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ler6CnwN4MM/UdXSzjs0VYI/AAAAAAAAG-E/hCX-aSl6tr0/s640/20130704-fruit-loaf-soreen-banana-2-buttered.jpg"></p> <p>Each to their own, I suppose! I used to quite enjoy a slice back in the 1970s when I were a lad... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221783 Thu, 02 Jun 2016 11:15:20 +0000 Stickman 221783@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I save weight when touring by decanting my fine wine into a plastic bottle and drinking it from an alloy mug.</em></p> <p>It's this sort of behaviour that gives all cyclists a bad name. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221779 Thu, 02 Jun 2016 11:00:24 +0000 I were right about that saddle 221779@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Don't take any spare clothes, just Anusol cream, a simple first aid kit...</em></p> <p>I put my stake in the ground at this point. I save weight when touring by decanting my fine wine into a plastic bottle and drinking it from an alloy mug.</p> <p>If you're in a hurry get a motorbike. They're much quicker. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16473#post-221773 Thu, 02 Jun 2016 10:33:10 +0000 kaputnik 221773@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>But the lighter you are, the faster you'll go. </em></p> <p>I've ridden it on a fully laden touring bike tipping the scales at over 40kg and what Dave C says is true!</p> <p>My touring average daily speed was about 10mph, I imagine a fit cyclist on a light bike would be averaging around 15-16mph a day? So a 60%-ish gain in speed by not weighing yourself down. </p>