Messages

166

Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: April 17, 2015, 03:21:07 AM »

Hugh, are you riding clipped in or on flats?

Flats. Trail mixes to be precise.

All of that makes sense, except for, an entire dozen eggs?!

8 fried for breakfast. Hard boil 4 while I'm eating breakfast to eat for lunch. I like eggs

167

The Lounge / Re: New Random Thoughts Thread

« on: April 16, 2015, 11:33:29 AM »

Just got the news one of my brothers mates drowned kayaking in Slovenia there a few days ago. Sucks as another friend of his drowned the same way less than 5 months ago. Both are with my brother in the same class in college. Stay safe out there dudes!

168

Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: April 16, 2015, 11:11:25 AM »

Yeah keep the updates coming, sounds like youre having fun. Tried warmshowers.org? You may have better luck than Tinder! Ive been looking at using my phone of a small tablet instead to save weight etc. I can see how using maps and asking people can lead to more serendipitous discoveries, though. My initial plan is to cycle from nothern Spain, through France, the Alps, and head east through to Bulgaria.

Haven't used warm showers yet. My biggest regret is not getting a french SIM card so I could use 3G. I'll get one when I get to Italy for sure though. Would be nice to have a constant internet connection for that stuff instead of having to hunt down a Wifi spot. France seems to be lacking in the free wifi department. McDonalds is always good though. And you can use their bathrooms to clean yourself up a bit.

I considered bringing my laptop with me but I'm glad I didn't. My phone is more than enough.  Once you have a decent enough phone you should be alright. I'm using an iPhone 6 and it's great.

How do you plan to keep all your electronics charged? I'm using a Shimano Dynamo with a Supernova The Plug 3 usb topcap. Works really well in flat areas. Places with a lot of climbing I struggle to keep a constant speed so it doesn't charge.

Keep the questions coming!

169

Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: April 16, 2015, 11:00:10 AM »

That's like a touring version of the Krampus right? I'm all for it. I plan of getting either a Krampus/ECR or a Crosscheck with 29" 'monstercross' tyres on it when I get back home. Do some bike packing around ireland.

Today was a nice one. Went from Toulon to Sainte-Maxime. Was overcast so I'm not a panting ball of sweat at the end of the day. Some nice climbs up along the coast and even managed a quick swim. Sitting in McDonalds now having a coffee.

I eat like a freaking horse now though. Kept track of what I ate today and it's as follows:

1 large baguette
12 eggs
1 litre milk
2 avocados
1 large tomato
1 red pepper
1 onion
8 bananas
2 chicken breast
x2 130g cans tuna
4 coffees
6 33cl beers
200g chocolate
2 croissants
4 apples
200g peanut butter
Big bag of salted peanuts

Everything cooked and also avocados are drenched in olive oil


And I'll probably have half a kilo of pasta and a jar of sundried tomatoes before I go to bed. And still I wake up hungry lol.

170

Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: April 15, 2015, 12:29:18 PM »

I had a really bad road map that I used for a while but have recently been using an app called maps.me where you download the sections you need and can view them offline.

For the first while before I got to the coast I navigated using the sun and just figured aslong as I was going south I was good. You get pretty lost but it's all an adventure I guess.

Yeah wild camping nearly every night. I've slept in a few pretty crazy places. A graveyard, 2 different caves, under an old rowing boat. I have been using tinder recently but they're usually a bit hesitant to let you stay the night. Good for a shower though!

If I wanted to find a campsite i could every night. They're everywhere. They cost about €5 if you have your own tent. I stayed in one once but only cause it was pissing rain and I was miserable. €5 and I had a spot of land, electric hook up and washing facilities. Got invited into a caravan that was parked up by a french lad and his missus and given a home cooked dinner and was sent on my way in the morning with a pound of cured duck fillet. You meet the nicest people on a bike tour!

If you've anymore questions just ask! I'd love to answer them

171

Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: April 15, 2015, 06:18:21 AM »

Yeah I noticed. Had no troubles though. Fucked off to the outskirts for sleeping. In La Ciotat at the moment. Loads of fucking climbing today. Got 2 new tyres today as well. 26 x 2.0 schwalabe marathons. Should allow me to slay some single track as I see fit

172

Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: April 15, 2015, 12:51:31 AM »

Went to Marseille today. What a fucking mad place. People don't obey traffic laws, scooters driving on the footpaths and breaking lights. Would love to come back on a BMX or chopped flat bar road bike. Everyone's car is shit so you can clip them with your barends and no one cares.

Roads are shit though. That being said I gave the Surly a good trashing. Probably shouldn't have but I got lost in the moment a bit.

Ended up sleeping on the beach. Sweet

173

Bike Gallery / Re: manual machine(credence m.o.d

« on: April 14, 2015, 05:31:28 AM »

Ohh yes. Reminds me of the orange Barcodes

174

Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: April 13, 2015, 07:08:34 AM »

Ohh if I were in Australia if probably be dead by now. I left my bike resting against a hedge a few days back and knocked a nest of spiders into my pannier. Had to dump everything out in the middle of the road to seperate the mess lol

175

Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: April 13, 2015, 06:28:04 AM »

Speaking of snakes I ran over one on the hard shoulder today and the wheel threw him up onto the pedals/my bare legs.

I fucking hate snakes. Stopped about 500m up the road and nearly cried. Fuck snakes.

176

Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: April 12, 2015, 11:00:15 AM »

Few more pics up there.

177

Bike Gallery / Re: Fixed gear bikes/ Post your big bikes V2

« on: April 12, 2015, 10:55:32 AM »

The "carbon gripper" stuff? That is fine to have in there. It has little bits of something in there so you don't have to torque the parts as much and they will still grip. My Chinese post that came with the frame had some texture on it already, though, you would be able to get away without using the paste if yours is the same.

Yeah the post did have the grippy stuff but I figured I was meant to use the carbon gripper anyway..

In Estaing now. Weather is superb. 20 degrees every day.

Smashed the climb to Conques yesterday. As an Irishman I'm not too used to this heat yet. Maybe I'm fucked for Italy in the summertime lol.

Fucking stoked I see fighter jets tearing through the valleys every day here. Defiantly a treat for me.

Threw up a few more pics on Instagram if anyone's interested. @hugh356

Isn't it @hughc356? Looks mega. Need to get a touring rig together.

Fuck your right. I blame fatigue haha

178

The Lounge / Re: New Random Thoughts Thread

« on: April 12, 2015, 10:53:13 AM »

I got chased by gypsie kids begging for money today and had to kick one off his bike after he tried to steal shit from my bag and spat at me. I hope he broke his wrists, the cunt.

179

The Lounge / Re: New Random Thoughts Thread

« on: April 11, 2015, 07:01:06 AM »

Congrats.

In other news, the Antonov 225 (aka the biggest plane on the fucking planet) is landing in Ireland this Saturday and I won't get to see it.

I've seen the smaller antonov 124? At the Shannon airport a few times, pure badass. They were white and blue or grey and blue.

Hugh you would wet yourself with the airforce planes i see on the daily since i live super close to an airforce base (has a nice skatepark too)..

I went to Virginia beach a few years back and there were tons of f-18's flying around all over the place. It was awesome.

I see Dassault Alpha Jets nearly everyday here and saw a pair of Dassault Rafales yesterday. I am stoked. I'd love to see some F18s.

180

The Lounge / Re: New Random Thoughts Thread

« on: April 11, 2015, 06:57:08 AM »

im on ig
@squirreldad1
get at me

A historical day