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Post by Humph on Jul 9, 2019 7:31:37 GMT
We're heading to a different part of France this year, down near Perpignan. Apparently there are some good trails for the bikes. Proximity of the Pyrenees is a bit of a worry though. Steep in parts I gather... If you get chance, take a trip down to Collioure for the day. Somewhat touristique, but a very attractive outing. I once 'inadvertently' scaled the cliffs into French National Commando Training Centre there, and had to walk nonchalantly out past the armed guard at the main entrance; squeeky bum time or what! The most hilly parts of the Pyrenees are over the other (W) side, though they do rise quite quick!y from the Med end. I think riding the Cols du Tourmalet and Aspin would put you off cycling for life. Had a good few years in my formative life climbing in the Pyrenees, but mostly in the high stuff more westerly. We stayed in Collioure for a couple of nights back in '98 on one of our Westfield "Grand Tours" having been down as far as Barcelona. On returning to France we turned right and went along the coast almost as far as the Italian border before turning left and messing about in the Alps for a few days. All good fun in such a car. Will definitely drop in to Collioure. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2019 21:09:45 GMT
We're in north Cumbria. It's so flat it make Holland look hilly.
Only a few days but hopefully some nice walking along the Solway Firth. Should have brought the bikes....
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jul 16, 2019 9:10:38 GMT
Yeah, but to be fair, that was when you had crap sorry, older, bikes, stuffed now... Pleased to report that bikes and riders all returned home with no loss or damage this year.  Incidentally, the tyre nearest the camera is one of Boy2’s supposedly less aggressive set. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2019 8:42:51 GMT
we're back from our trip too, the only loss was some prick pinching the front light from my 11 year old daughter's bike, just before sunset. It was docked and locked whilst we strolled up the pier to watch the sun go down. What kind of tosser nicks a kid's bike light at sunset?
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Post by Humph on Jul 29, 2019 10:08:14 GMT
A Belgian one maybe?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2019 10:22:30 GMT
If I'd seen him at it he'd have been a horizontal one.
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Post by Humph on Jul 29, 2019 10:39:25 GMT
I know that pier well. Tried to learn to surf there once. Didn't go well.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2019 10:44:45 GMT
From my observations last week, you are not the only one to have that experience.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2019 10:46:11 GMT
Yeah, but to be fair, that was when you had crap sorry, older, bikes, stuffed now... Pleased to report that bikes and riders all returned home with no loss or damage this year. Incidentally, the tyre nearest the camera is one of Boy2’s supposedly less aggressive set. Not long now until the air suspension starts playing up on that motor, I shouldn't wonder. Only a couple of grand to sort, I expect. |
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Post by Humph on Jul 29, 2019 11:11:53 GMT
There's quite a lot of sand in and on my car. Is it illegal to import sand? Also, there was a dead sparrow caught in my bike rack but I've removed him, poor little bugger must have flown into the path of it.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jul 29, 2019 11:13:50 GMT
Doubt it. The old one ran to nine years and 92,000 miles (including six long, hot French road trips) with no hint of trouble. Approved Used you see, rather than Derek’s Dodgy Motors. 🤠
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Post by Humph on Jul 29, 2019 11:16:16 GMT
Mine has 114,000 on so far and everything still works, old one did 5 years and nigh on 200,000 similarly untroubled. I reckon its operator error m'self...
😎
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jul 29, 2019 11:23:28 GMT
As long as the sand is for personal use you’re fine. Just don’t try selling it to any passing Arabs. Also, there was a dead sparrow caught in my bike rack but I've removed him, poor little bugger must have flown into the path of it. Well, if you must carry your bikes up in the sky... I reckon the CLS suffered a 2-3 mpg penalty for carrying the bikes on the tow bar (and four of us and a full boot load.) That’s possibly a little more than the E, because the lower roof creates a smaller aerodynamic shadow to hide the bikes in. There was a little extra noise too — but I only noticed it when riding in the back seat, and possibly then only because the car is otherwise so quiet. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2019 11:30:04 GMT
Doubt it. The old one ran to nine years and 92,000 miles (including six long, hot French road trips) with no hint of trouble. Approved Used you see, rather than Derek’s Dodgy Motors. 🤠 Like Espada's 50k miler, you mean? |
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Post by Humph on Jul 29, 2019 11:37:44 GMT
Yeah, my fuel consumption on this trip dropped to 31mpg which is terrible by comparison to its normal 50 or so. Still cheaper than hiring bikes for a fortnight or paying for a towbar though I suppose, and subjectively, I feel they are, or might be, less prone to theft up there locked into a secure rack.
No evidence for that theory really, other than some bloke I heard about who had his bikes stolen off a rear mounted rack...
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