Author Topic: Berlin to London by recumbent trike - es ist Vollbracht (with apologies to Bach) (Read 12358 times)

Kim · « **Reply #25 on:** 29 April, 2012, 09:14:59 pm »

Such a difference! Electronic signs that show where the bike space is! Conductors who help, not hinder!

If it weren't for the poor selection of crisp flavours, I'd consider moving to Germany.

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #26 on:** 30 April, 2012, 07:36:06 pm »

Today's report: http://auntiehelen.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/b2l-berlin-to-borkheide/

Also I now have a tracker so you can see where I am: http://followme.mikeadam.de/?1l6V68W9IsbRW3206o6n

Kim · « **Reply #27 on:** 30 April, 2012, 07:48:12 pm »

If you're finding the ride spongy, you might benefit from moving the rear suspension elastomer up a hole, to stiffen it up a bit to compensate for the increased load. 5 minute allen key job, described on page 7 of the manual (PDF)

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #28 on:** 01 May, 2012, 06:53:21 pm »

Today's report

http://auntiehelen.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/b2l-borkheide-to-oranienbaum-day-5/

orienteer · « **Reply #29 on:** 03 May, 2012, 04:38:09 pm »

Following your progress on followme, which keeps saying "the tour seems to have ended"; presumably at the cake stops?

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #30 on:** 03 May, 2012, 05:49:36 pm »

It's because the chap who invented it assumed your phone would be on all the time; in reality, that means you have about three hours of battery. So what I do is 'start' the tour, watch it log, then 'stop' logging so it turns off the GPS. It's set to take a fix every minute (so it does it as soon as I start up) and it knows that so when it doesn't get a link for five minutes it thinks I've given up.

I tend to do a waypoint on the quarter hour although when you look at the overall map that's a lot of little dots. Still, for zooming in it helps a bit.

I have now written up yesterday's and today's blogs in full.

I'm still on for Colchester to London on Sunday; I've got about 40 miles in hand now in case I develop this cold that I think may be about to hit me with a horrible coldy onslaught... Perhaps I should take the waters here in Bad Harzburg.

orienteer · « **Reply #31 on:** 03 May, 2012, 07:35:19 pm »

Just read the latest blogs - love all the cake pics!

Don't know whether I should tell you this, but Monday is a bank holiday so if you miss your target to reach London on Sunday, the traffic won't be so bad.

L CC · « **Reply #32 on:** 03 May, 2012, 07:46:39 pm »

I hope it's not this Sunday! I'm all set for the 12th...

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #33 on:** 03 May, 2012, 07:54:44 pm »

No, not this Sun, it is next Sun.

Good point about the Bank Holiday, Orienteer, I didn't realise that. That helps!

RJ · « **Reply #34 on:** 03 May, 2012, 08:28:20 pm »

Just caught up with this on your blog - great stuff.

I remember this building you commented on:

Apparently it's a WWII bunker, built for railway passengers and staff. More here:
http://julie-woodhouse-photography.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/bunker-on-albrechtstrasse-berlin.html

orienteer · « **Reply #35 on:** 03 May, 2012, 09:31:23 pm »

Quote from: Auntie Helen on 03 May, 2012, 07:54:44 pm

No, not this Sun, it is next Sun.

Good point about the Bank Holiday, Orienteer, I didn't realise that. That helps!

Sorry, mixed up with this sunday! So you have to stay on schedule.

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #36 on:** 05 May, 2012, 01:52:24 pm »

James has just spotted that there are engineering works between Liverpool Street and Colchester so I won't be able to get the train back from London after my tour on Sunday week. Can you believe it! Info here: http://www.greateranglia.co.uk/travel-information/journey-planning/service-alterations/details?ew_id=145

James will do a taxi service with my car, but others from this part of the world who were thinking about doing the ride take note!

Wowbagger · « **Reply #37 on:** 05 May, 2012, 03:07:30 pm »

In that case I'll try to intercept you somewhere.

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #38 on:** 05 May, 2012, 04:36:08 pm »

Good plan Wow, I'm intending to try to keep up a pretty smart pace (well, smart for me) so I don't spend all day getting to London. I hope to aim for a moving average of around 11-12mph - I will have panniers full of polystyrene to bulk them out rather than clothing and gadgetry so Alfie ought to feel really light and fast!

Somewhere I have posted the link to the route I am taking (I can find it if it's not in this thread though I think it's on the first post) so you should be able to see some interception points hopefully!

Kim · « **Reply #39 on:** 05 May, 2012, 04:38:19 pm »

Quote from: Auntie Helen on 05 May, 2012, 04:36:08 pm

I will have panniers full of polystyrene to bulk them out rather than clothing and gadgetry so Alfie ought to feel really light and fast!

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #40 on:** 05 May, 2012, 04:39:07 pm »

Today's report:

http://auntiehelen.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/b2l-einbeck-to-nieheim-day-9/

It was like English weather out there!

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #41 on:** 05 May, 2012, 04:40:06 pm »

Quote from: Kim on 05 May, 2012, 04:38:19 pm

Quote from: Auntie Helen on 05 May, 2012, 04:36:08 pm
I will have panniers full of polystyrene to bulk them out rather than clothing and gadgetry so Alfie ought to feel really light and fast!

Is that shock at an ICE Sprint feeling light and fast or at me dumping 90% of my luggage at home on the way past?

Kim · « **Reply #42 on:** 05 May, 2012, 04:48:15 pm »

More at the going to the effort of putting a dummy load on (for the arrival photos, presumably)...

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #43 on:** 05 May, 2012, 05:00:54 pm »

Yes, for the photos, the Help For Heroes fundraising lady will be there.

Just plotting my route for tomorrow - to Gütersloh. It's quite a long way, I'm having second thoughts...

jane · « **Reply #44 on:** 06 May, 2012, 01:09:16 pm »

So, Ah, if you are indeed to be riding from Colchester to London next Sunday, what kind of time would you be leaving Colchester? Just a rough guide. And any idea of the route? Can't find it on the thread.

jane · « **Reply #45 on:** 06 May, 2012, 01:10:50 pm »

Pooh, forgot to say, love the ride posts and hoping you don't get poorly.

orienteer · « **Reply #46 on:** 06 May, 2012, 03:25:11 pm »

Quote from: Auntie Helen on 05 May, 2012, 05:00:54 pm

Yes, for the photos, the Help For Heroes fundraising lady will be there.

Just plotting my route for tomorrow - to Gütersloh. It's quite a long way, I'm having second thoughts...

See from the tracker you've made it - well done!

Clare · « **Reply #47 on:** 06 May, 2012, 03:40:43 pm »

Do you have an ETA for Traf Sq?

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #48 on:** 06 May, 2012, 04:01:44 pm »

Quote from: jane on 06 May, 2012, 01:09:16 pm

So, Ah, if you are indeed to be riding from Colchester to London next Sunday, what kind of time would you be leaving Colchester? Just a rough guide. And any idea of the route? Can't find it on the thread.

Hi Jane,

Wrote a long response and changing tabs on the iPad went a bit wrong and the long post got lost!

Shortened version is:

Leaving the Colchester Personnel Recovery Centre around 9am (I will have been on German time and want to get to London ASAP!)

Following this route: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=http://www.hancox.org.uk/h4h.gpx

I think there will be 5-6 people leaving with me from Colchester (my James, friend Mark, fboab, boablet, ?Ham, someone else who I can't remember at present) and I may be waved off from Colchester by TimC too. Being a Sunday it's possible the PRC will be closed so I won't be able to have a pic taken there but the car park outside it (the Corporal Budd VC Gymnasium) is a good a place as any to meet up and is outside the MoD wire so ordinary chaps like us can go there.

My James will ride with us to Maldon and then return home - he will be needed later to collect me and Mark in the car due to lack of trains!

Sorry for the early start, chaps, but I've been leaving my hotels at 8:15am most mornings which is 7:15 UK time so for me to get to the PRC (half an hour from home) for 9 is a real lie-in!

Wowbagger may well be meeting us en-route.

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #49 on:** 06 May, 2012, 04:07:28 pm »

Quote from: orienteer on 06 May, 2012, 03:25:11 pm

Quote from: Auntie Helen on 05 May, 2012, 05:00:54 pm
Yes, for the photos, the Help For Heroes fundraising lady will be there.

Just plotting my route for tomorrow - to Gütersloh. It's quite a long way, I'm having second thoughts...

See from the tracker you've made it - well done!

Yeah, weirdly someone seems to have moved it a bit nearer than my book suggested as it was only 43 miles rather than the 64 I expected. I think I may have written down some distance figures wrong when I set up my little spreadsheet last October! I wonder if the same will happen tomorrow when I head off to Münster - I hope so as I'm probably meeting a chum there (Stefan, also known as Babe) who I haven't seen for years so I'd like a good chance to chinwag wiith him.