Pootling is the best thing ever! I am of the strong opinion that touring, the type where country lanes, old railway lines and coastal paths are mixed with tea shops, chippies and a warm B+B at the end, averaging 10mph and no more, are the future. 🙂

Tom we covered that 20 minutes ago 5 post up ^^^^^^^^^

Should see if I can get over your way for some enduravelpootle some time!

It’s a great way to ride, takes me back to my early days on MTBs. Was living in the middle of the Plain at the time, and would just ride wherever the mood took me. “Oooh, I wonder what’s along that lane/path/trail” sort of thing.

Well it’s not remotely a secret, but it does have your name on it Peter:

It goes up the Col de Croix de Fer

(BTW did I see you in the Sony RX gallery on Flickr?)

this was mine before I stripped it down – 22.5lbs with pedals :

If I do get one of these here Pootlers I’ll need low ratios.

Might be my weight, might be high cadence, certainly not being very fit

So assuming the bike I buy is like a CDA sora 9 speed

If I do a triple conversion I’ll need a new chain set and left hand shifter and a new front mech? (oh and a longer rear mech)

Could i use a MTB or treking chainset as long as its 9 speed

Or put a 36 tooth block on and MTB mech

I can’t find a 9 speed 28 42 chainset. Is that something that no one makes, in 9 speed

28-42 chain set. You have a few options. 74 BCD inner triple with outer ring in the bin. careful as some newer (shimano) triples have a bigger bcd
Middle burn do one
Surging have OX601D
Rene herse
Velo orange

My C2C pootle was perfect.

There was a lot of this:

And this.

And this.

All done slowly along lanes like this

ThomThumb thanks

Cinnamon Girl

are you sure? CDF isn’t an abbreviation in 2015 its a model

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/genesis/croix-de-fer-10-2015-adventure-road-bike-ec073913

I think Sora is 9 speed

Tiagra is 10 speed

CG

My 2013 CdF is definitely a 9 speed Sora :).

The 2013 full fat Croix is a 10 speed (Tiagra)

Same for 2014 models.

2015 range is expanded more = 4 models IIRC

Maybe those of us from the Sarf should all go en masse to france and cycle up the Col?

I need to study your route Peter – living Guildford and working Farnham, I commute on the road sometimes but I wouldn’t mind a gravel commute for winter months, that is short and direct enough but avoids traffic along the normandy-ash road in the dark and wet.

I tried the xmas pie trail a few weeks back and got lost – started off on old railway but that ran out into an overgrown swamp. I retraced to a bridge that put me back on the trail eventually crossing the wanborough road, then somewhere after that I lost signs again and ended up hacking round some fields eventually coming out onto the wood street road but quite a way east of the white hart / village green, and was way too muddy given this was before the wetness started!!

Went to the launch night of the 2015 Genesis range tonight at SprocketsCycles in Kilmarnock. Superb looking kit and scrummy sausage rolls and tasty beer 🙂

The Croix De Fer 30 is a peach, IMO looks better than the Stainless Steel one and with Shimano chain set rather than FSA. Only criticism was that the 105 front mech at the cable clamp bolt is awfy close to the rear tyre when on outer ring but apparently the frame was pre production and factory ones have slightly longer chainstays.

Yep, with a newish / renovated barn on the right iirc. That’s where i went wrong, looking at your map.

After that, is it well signed?

The other bit where i deviated from your route, is along the disused railway. I went further along, as far as Whitegate copse, before retracing to Drovers way. Should have turned instead at Bin Wood, by the looks of it. Is that an obvious turn, because the railway line is still flat and inviting at that point?

What size tyres can the croix take now ?

I just fitted some 40c WTB Nanos and I am very impressed. Had 33c Maxxis Raze but these are much less sketchy in the mud and sand, and as fast or maybe faster at 35psi tubeless.