What a couple of plonkers!

[Clarky]

Haven’t charged my bike battery for months. I try not to use the motor if possible.
Just been out on a nice bimble along to Narbonne Plage and back, about 17 miles, and no battery use at all.
#tryingtokeepfit

Richard

 

[Lenny HB]

Haven’t charged my bike battery for months. I try not to use the motor if possible.
Just been out on a nice bimble along to Narbonne Plage and back, about 17 miles, and no battery use at all.
#tryingtokeepfit

Richard

Depends on the gearset our Bosh powered Scotts only have 9 or 10 gears really hard work without assist, gears not low enough, I found out the hard way.

 

[carolyn]

We had a nice 25 mile bike ride today. The Tarka trail is not as flat as you might think, might be something to do with that big river it runs alongside ! Battery lasted for the uphill bit back to the campsite.

Re lists. Obviously there is a list, I am an experienced traveller/packer so everything on my list list is always packed. I am like Mary Poppins ( original version ) practically perfect in every way. There is however an addendum with bike stuff and hard drive on it. This is Nick’s packing. I have been known to give little reminders hoping for a response along the lines of ‘ thank you for being so helpful’ , I don’t get what I’m hoping for shall we say!

It might not be a hard drive but it’s a little black box of magic with lots of films and TV series downloaded on it. Nick failed to pack that for Beni one year as Sheddy will confirm. Equally scatty son posted it out but forgot to put our names on it, took a few trips to Villasol reception before someone put 2 and 2 together!

 

[Puddleduck]

I have a laminated printed form with all the basics I need in categories, I then tick off items as I pack them, that way it means you always have what you need for that trip, these things come with experience so I'm sure eventually you will find a system to suit your needs having learnt by this mistake

We do the same and still forget stuff ........ I now use a permanent marker to score through things as they are actually put into the van. Leaving by the front door ready to go into the van doesn't work as something always gets left behind.

The laminated sheets clean with acetone (nail varnish remover) so can be used over and over.

 

[TinaLes]

We like the Tarka Trail, start near Holsworthy and go as far as we can, stopping for ice creams on the way out, beers on the way back, fish & chips once in Barnstaple.
Check out Headon Farm campsite in Holsworthy if you like a quiet well kept working farm site with good views and lovely owners.
Have fun.
Les

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[JollyJack Hawkins]

Don’t worry we just left home to catch the Newhaven Dieppe a week last Thursday and got in the line with plenty of time infact we were at the front for a change . They opened the gates and we went for the passports to check in and they were still in Wimborne 110 miles away. Good old DFDS no hassle changed the crossing to Friday we went home and picked them up did a overnight in Port Solent on the way back to Newhaven nice meal and now in sunny Porto heading for the Algarve

 

[2x2camper]

We have a 2 inch spacer and the towball on the lower two holes. We reckon it would just about be ok with a 1inch spacer and we are going to try that when we get our new van shortly. It’s a Witter towbar. Apparently it is only ‘approved’ for use on the top two holes but all the tests are done for towing rather than for use with bike racks. That’s what we were told anyway. We don’t like it as much as our nice Thule 931 as that is less bulky and fits in the boot nicely when not in use.its also easier to fit the bikes on.

However the Atera strada Dl3 does word but the 2 electric bikes do have to be on the back two slots for the doors to open which will be a boon if we get stopped and searched at the ferries and on holidays especially when we just stay a couple of nights. Don’t read the small print on the roofbox company website as it says it may not be suitable for electric bikes! Even though I’m my lengthy discussion with them that’s why I said I wanted them.

We have a fiat Ducato.

It has to be the DL3 not the DL2 for the slide out distance

Which towbar do you have?

Have you tried it with a 1 inch spacer. Thinking of this arrangement myself.

 

[carolyn]

Which towbar do you have?

Have you tried it with a 1 inch spacer. Thinking of this arrangement myself.

We reckon it will work with a 1 inch spacer and I have just bought one and that’s what we’re going to try when we pick up our new van on the 10th October. It’s the same van plus the same Witter tow bar. All the official tests are done with the tow ball on the upper holes but that’s for towing. It definitely won’t work with the tow ball on the upper holes even with the 2 inch spacer, it’s too high.

We had the 2 inch spacer with our Thule easyfold 931 as it meant we could half open the right hand door and ease the buckets out or the levellers but that was it.

We have just bought the Atera Strada DL3 and it does indeed slide out far enough to allow full opening of both barn doors which is why we bought it. We looked at the Busbiker, Vanswing, Van star etc which are great but the cheapest version was going to be £1400 whereas a tow bar was about £500 and the bike rack was £365. We don’t like the bike rack quite as much as the Thule as it is longer and “waggles” a bit more. It also doesn’t fit in the boot when we’re on site. You have to have the DL3 even for 2 electric bikes to get adequate slide out but it is the best compromise. It’s taken the worry out of getting stopped at the ferries, with the Thule you had to get the bikes plus bike rack off if they wanted to do a full search. It will also make touring nicer we’re thinking.