Author Topic: Anyone want to ride to SPEZI? (Read 7699 times)

Kim · « **Reply #25 on:** 24 January, 2015, 11:04:14 pm »

Okay, I've had a good hard think about this, and I'm out.

Partly because my planning mojo has completely evaporated, partly out of concern for knees and budget. Going to do some shorter tours at my own pace and build it up a bit more slowly, or something.

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #26 on:** 26 January, 2015, 10:43:19 am »

Sorry to hear that Kim.

We have a confirmed group of 5 recumbent trikes so it should be great fun (four ICE trikes and one Steintrikes Wild One so it will be interesting to compare how they deal with touring).

I will of course be blogging as we do this tour so you can read all about it.

I will also attempt NOT to buy a new trike at SPEZI as Alfie is getting quite long in the tooth but I can't quite justify it now I have a velomobile...

loadsabikes · « **Reply #27 on:** 26 January, 2015, 03:57:26 pm »

Justify.........Pah!

Wowbagger · « **Reply #28 on:** 27 January, 2015, 09:34:37 am »

I think our ride on Sunday justified our decision to pull out: 18 tandem miles at <7mph and I was suffering worrying calf twinges just where the tear was. I have found that walking doesn't worry my leg so have been doing a fair bit of that. We are intending a 30 mile solo machine ride on Saturday to see how my leg behaves then. It was OK after 25 miles on the solo when I went out with Canardly & JenM a few weeks ago.

loadsabikes · « **Reply #29 on:** 03 March, 2015, 06:56:29 pm »

Ok,after further deliberation, Mrs Miggins has vetoed camping in favour of more comfortable options.
This means that i will not have to tow the trailer which is a bonus.
I have booked ferry crossings and hotels for the tour with Auntie Helen and we will wing it for the rest of the trip.
Tigerbitten is booked on the same outward ferry crossing so we can form a posse for the trip down to the start.
looking forward to it!

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #30 on:** 03 March, 2015, 06:59:24 pm »

Sounds good! Were you able to get space in the hotels I booked or were they now full?

I can recommend some options in Kempen for the night before we go.

loadsabikes · « **Reply #31 on:** 03 March, 2015, 07:05:15 pm »

The same hotels bar two.
Hotel recs for Kempen would be good please.

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #32 on:** 03 March, 2015, 07:13:49 pm »

My suggestion would be Hotel Papillon which is opposite the railway station in Kempen. Several friends have stayed there and liked it. There is a patio area for bike storage (not covered though, as far as I remember).
http://www.hotel-papillon.com

An option with an underground parking garage that Wowbagger and Jan used is Hotel Alt Kempen.
http://www.altkempen.de

Alt Kempen is marginally more expensive I think.

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #33 on:** 20 March, 2015, 01:52:15 pm »

One month today we'll be off! I'm really looking forward to it.

Our German companion Klaus went to Rose Biketown (I tagged along) and spent 225€ on waterproofs so hopefully that means it will be an entirely dry tour.

loadsabikes · « **Reply #34 on:** 21 March, 2015, 09:54:04 pm »

Well done Klaus, that's the weather taken care of.
Have you recovered from your bout of flu Helen?

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #35 on:** 22 March, 2015, 06:12:30 pm »

I'm feeling back to normal now but my liver is still repairing itself. I'm so glad this didn't happen later and prevent the trip!! 29 days till the off and I can't wait.

Current tricky decision is SPD shoes or sandals...

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #36 on:** 22 March, 2015, 06:15:40 pm »

By the way, if you're overnighting in Neerkant then I'll ride out to Venlo to meet you all on Sunday 19 and guide you into Germany. The route passes horrifyingly close to a most-excellent cafe with enormous cakes.

Tigerbiten · « **Reply #37 on:** 24 March, 2015, 04:19:41 pm »

I've just done a 200 mile/6 day mini tour, without my knees giving me to much grief.
So I hope they will hold together for the full tour ......

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #38 on:** 31 March, 2015, 01:19:12 pm »

I've been off the trike for five weeks with the flu, bad weather, a week in England and now bad weather again. So I'll have about two weeks to get back to touring fitness. Should be OK though.

loadsabikes · « **Reply #39 on:** 06 April, 2015, 08:36:38 am »

OK, after a totally bonkers month of moving house followed by youngest daughter going into depression/anxiety meltdown, we are finally back home.
My total mileage for March, about 200k Mrs Migs nil!
We now have one week to get sorted.....hey ho!

Tigerbiten · « **Reply #40 on:** 06 April, 2015, 02:24:28 pm »

I've just had a lazy week ...........

Trike and trailer are fully tweaked.
Hopefully I'll pick up the second half of my tablet load on Tuesday/Wednesday.
Then set off for the ferry on Friday .....

loadsabikes · « **Reply #41 on:** 06 April, 2015, 05:54:52 pm »

What ferry sailing are you getting Nigel?

Tigerbiten · « **Reply #42 on:** 06 April, 2015, 08:46:48 pm »

Quote from: loadsabikes on 06 April, 2015, 05:54:52 pm

What ferry sailing are you getting Nigel?

I'm still on for the night ferry on the 14th ..........

loadsabikes · « **Reply #43 on:** 06 April, 2015, 09:33:29 pm »

Cool,see you at the docks dear boy

Tigerbiten · « **Reply #44 on:** 06 April, 2015, 09:55:16 pm »

See you there ........

If you get there silly early, I'll be in Morrison's cafe until chucking out time.
I've found it's a lot nicer waiting there as opposed at the docks .........

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #45 on:** 07 April, 2015, 10:43:43 am »

loadsabikes · « **Reply #46 on:** 07 April, 2015, 04:16:10 pm »

I have spent today trike fettling in the sunshine.
I have removed the winter gunk from my chain which has returned the transmission to it's usual slickness.
Changed the Trykers for Marathons because the former are just too fragile.
I shall attend to the Miggins Trice tomorrow.

Tigerbiten · « **Reply #47 on:** 07 April, 2015, 07:04:28 pm »

Days 1,2,3 and 5 have campsites near the end of each day, so they are fine.
Day 4 is the only awkward one with no campsite near. I'll probably stop early in Mainz and do the extra 10-15 miles to catch you up early the next morning.

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #48 on:** 07 April, 2015, 07:43:53 pm »

Have you found a campsite in Kempen? I don't know anything about them, despite living here! But I can research for you if you need. We will cycle from Kempen through Oedt and then to Viersen so anywhere along that route (further south) would also work well as we could collect you on our way past on the 20th.

Tigerbiten · « **Reply #49 on:** 07 April, 2015, 08:38:54 pm »

According to Google, there are load of campsites just over the border on the Maas.
I'll get to one on the 18th and have a day off.
So unless your leaving dead early, I should have time to cycle the 15 mile or so to your to meet up.