Wanted: Following the Rhine - Tourer needed

had a look in the ctc for sale ads too? although they tend to know what's what, so teh bay may be best opportunity.

right i'm off now, time for wine

As it turned out, the total climb was about 400 metres in about ten days.

Angus, you could plan for some climbing along the narrow section of the Rhine (between Koblenz and Mainz), though, just to visit some of the castles. Beautiful views all round. You can leave the bike down in the villages and towns along there, too, of course, while you walk up to the castles. I grew up in Mainz and I highly recommend paying special attention to this section of the route. It's a remarkable landscape. It's even worth doing it several times--once on the western, once back on the eastern side, and yet another time to get back on track. :)

Should be a great trip anyroadup.

Sounds fantastic, thanks Oliver, I'll make sure to check those castles out, I'll try and post some pics up of us there. Got to try and stop myself googling Mainz and Koblenz, don't want to spoil the surprise.

I am getting seriously excited about this.

There's not that much to see in Mainz, as most of it was carpet-bombed in WWII, but the cathedral is worth seeing. A small section of the Altstadt has also been restored, and there are various museums to Roman finds scattered around.

Try out the Fahrradmuseum in Gau-Algesheim, too--a short distance from the Rhine.

http://www.fahrradmuseum-rheinhessen.de/

I've never even been there myself--I even ride through there when I'm in Germany but I always forget to visit.

[URL="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FRIENDS-TOUR-BIKE-BASKET-PANNIER-PETS-/360258998758?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Dogs&hash=item53e11c11e6#ht_500wt_1182"]

thats what you need

Might this do the job - spotted on gumtree

http://edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/51/58702951.html

cheers

John

Cheers John, Yep that one looks brillaint, just in negotiations with fourteenwinters at the moment but if it somehow falls through then I will certainly be giving that gumtree seller a ring. Bet he wouldn't post it though.

apparently the frame has a crack... i emailed him. he said he would split up the rest...

Sorethroat, how are you organizing your Rhine tour? Did you buy a book or using a particular web page? I'm really thinking about making this my end of the season tour.

It might sound a bit stupid but we're not organising it really.
Just going to buy some phrase books/dictionaries and a few maps to get us started (picking up more along the way).
Last tour I did we hardly planned it at all and it was great. Plus it will probably be pretty hard to go wrong when you've got a massive river to follow.
Every morning we would wake up and whilst eating breakfast we would take a look over the maps and plan out our days cycling.

It gives you a lot more freedom when there aren't places that you have to get to by a certain time that force you to take a pre planned route.
Non planning is only really workable if you are going to be doing some wild camping though, because you won't always be able to find campsites before it gets too dark and late.
But this just means that you can take deviations whenever you want and not have to worry about missing the campsite office closing.

edit. I probably am going to be buying a tourist guide to the rhine though, or a cycling one if I can find it. Just something to point out good things to see and visit.

..another thought, buy hilary's very nice iceni frame and build it up with the langster/gazelle bits, plus guards, rack, etc..

Thanks for the help rive gauche, that Iceni is very nice but my Langster has almost made enough money needed for fourteenwinters lovely tourer.
That way when I come back from the Europe having spent 6 weeks on a burly tourer Ill be able to jump on the Gazelle and itll feel like im flying.

Hey Sorethroat I saw your Lansgter sale up there. Hope it's all going well.

Nearly there, nearly there.

Ha, Let me know when you're thinking about picking the bike up. I still need to tune in that granny rail for you!

Still in the market for a tourer, ideally a frame but whole bikes considered too.
I have seen Hilarys £75 jobbie but its not for me.

Much appreciation will go out to anyone who has anything, maybe even a pint at SEs

Cheers

Still no bloody frame.
I know I am making illegal bumps (this will be the last one) but if there is anyone with anything like I have described in the op then shoot me a pm and we'll make a deal.
Thanks

something like this king of mercia then?

its now 600 with loads of luggage!
buy it.
NOW!

I cant it's too much. All I need is a frame anyway (and wheels but they're sorted).

Tough time of year to be in the market for touring bikes I reckon. I tried to buy Hilarys frame but it had gone. I'm having no luck at the moment.

I'm going up to Oxford soon- It'll be end of term- PM me size + price range and I'll put my ear to the ground- usually some tourers appear.

Nice paramount 531 tourer today at the VCC track day herne hill for £260 complete. It was very nice.