Thread to tell people where you're heading off to

attica

It's all getting rather close, on Saturday I'm heading off to Italy for 10 days and I'm taking a bike (yet to decide which one)

It's not the Pyrenees but Tuscany, but nonetheless I will get to ride my bike every day I'm there (apart perhaps from Bank Holiday Monday - I'll be giving my sister away at her wedding might be a bit rude to turn up in lycra). Also I will get to go to Florence to see the sprint finish of a Giro stage - one that Cav stands a reasonable chance of winning, after the last few days he'll be hungry too!

So I have a few questions:

1) Anybody flown with CO2 canisters before, are they OK in the hold?
2) Do I need to find tickets for the area near the end of the stage or can I just turn up (Sehr tres early I presume)
3) Anybody recommend any good rides in the area?
4) Do I take my Aluminium winter trainer and not worry too much about it or take my carbon fibre lovely bike and spend both flights worrying about my baby?
5) Anybody got any hints or tips for "Father of the Bride" wedding speeches?
6) Anyone want any "duty free"?

il_principe

Attica wrote:

It's all getting rather close, on Saturday I'm heading off to Italy for 10 days and I'm taking a bike (yet to decide which one)

It's not the Pyrenees but Tuscany, but nonetheless I will get to ride my bike every day I'm there (apart perhaps from Bank Holiday Monday - I'll be giving my sister away at her wedding might be a bit rude to turn up in lycra). Also I will get to go to Florence to see the sprint finish of a Giro stage - one that Cav stands a reasonable chance of winning, after the last few days he'll be hungry too!

You lucky fcuker!

Attica wrote:

1) Anybody flown with CO2 canisters before, are they OK in the hold?

AFAIK, no you're not supposed to fly with em. Check with the airline!

Attica wrote:

4) Do I take my Aluminium winter trainer and not worry too much about it or take my carbon fibre lovely bike and spend both flights worrying about my baby?

How tough's the bike bag/box? I'd say carbon but I'm not taking mine anywhere until I have a solid bike box - bikeboxalan: http://www.bikeboxalan.co.uk/

I'm off to Turkey for a week on the 26th May. Can't take the bike as the GF is coming and it'd be a bit rude to keep pi$$ing off for hours. Also I don't have a bikebox yet!

I'd love to get away with the bike to Italy of France this summer, but have no one to go with *sniff. Any SCR's up for a few days in the alps/pyrenees?!

artaxerxes

What are the roads like in Tuscany? When I went through the Alps from Switzerland to Italy it was noticable how poor the roads were on the Italian side compared to Switzerland.

lost_in_thought

jashburnham wrote:

I'd love to get away with the bike to Italy of France this summer, but have no one to go with *sniff. Any SCR's up for a few days in the alps/pyrenees?!

I would but suspect I may die from over-exertion trying to keep up!

@Attica - sounds fab - I am most jealous. However, I think you'd be OK with your CO2 as long as it's in your hold baggage - see here

Personally I'd take the winter bike but wish I'd taken the carbon one! Maybe a bike box is a good investment if you're planning more similar trips?

EDIT: for the speech - keep it brief!

Porgy

Attica wrote:

1) Anybody flown with CO2 canisters before, are they OK in the hold?

Have you asked the airline company? they might know.

il_principe

lost_in_thought wrote:

jashburnham wrote:

I'd love to get away with the bike to Italy of France this summer, but have no one to go with *sniff. Any SCR's up for a few days in the alps/pyrenees?!

I would but suspect I may die from over-exertion trying to keep up!

Nah, no intention of hammering it! You'd prob just scalp me anyway. I might put a post up around this see if other peeps might be interested too. The missus has basically used all her holiday up already so I'm free to indulge in a few bike centric days. Ideally in Europe but might head to Wales or the lakes. Be nice to have some company!

EDIT: Apologies for the hijack!

Feltup

Pretty sure you will be stopped. Apparently you cannot take the cartridges which power those avalanche survival airbags and I think they are almost identical to the tyre inflators. Best option is to call or e-mail the airline to be certain.

Feltup

Oh and you lucky bar steward!

attica

jashburnham wrote:

You lucky fcuker!

jashburnham wrote:

AFAIK, no you're not supposed to fly with em. Check with the airline!

Cheers, they'll be staying at home then - frame pump is no hardship

jashburnham wrote:

How tough's the bike bag/box? I'd say carbon but I'm not taking mine anywhere until I have a solid bike box - bikeboxalan: http://www.bikeboxalan.co.uk/

I don't know just yet - I'm hiring one from the LBS - pick up on Thurs or Fri - guess I'll make a decision based on that

jashburnham wrote:

I'd love to get away with the bike to Italy of France this summer, but have no one to go with *sniff. Any SCR's up for a few days in the alps/pyrenees?!

Yes yes yes

A mate of mine has just organised a trip to the Alps on the weekend of the Dragon - I'd have gone if I could have got the time off work, £150 in train fares - less from London.
I'll be interested to see how he gets on with the bike ride from Grenoble to Borg D'Oisans with all his camping gear though.

August would be excellent - or July, hmm, something going on in France in July....

jonginge

Attica wrote:

A mate of mine has just organised a trip to the Alps on the weekend of the Dragon - I'd have gone if I could have got the time off work, £150 in train fares - less from London.
I'll be interested to see how he gets on with the bike ride from Grenoble to Borg D'Oisans with all his camping gear though.

August would be excellent - or July, hmm, something going on in France in July....

Reminds me of a Dutch chap we caught in the last km of the col de galibier. He was on a fully laden mountain bike. I'm sure he had a kitchen sink stashed somewhere. Had a chat in the cafe near the desgrange memorial: he'd ridden all the way from holland :shock: He then set off only to come back 15mins later when he realised, a couple of k into the descent, he hadn't paid his bill

tardington

Bachory! In the highlands, they give away free sachets of that udder creme. A draw!

Then Hungary in July...

And Avignon in september.

Bike only getting to Banchory. 'Mon the Deeside Way!