Rustynissan, thanks and makes sense now. Pretty confident chain tightness not the issue, so linkage check next job

Ok, I need an idiot’s guide to check shock linkage pls!

That’s interesting on linkage seizing. I’ve maybe been too simplistic in observing the movement of the linkages when son bounces on the bike?

Rustynissan … could you explain a bit more pls?

Good point…if my son sits on the bike and ‘bounces’ I can see the linkages all moving freely. No lateral play in them either.

And, back to the OP’s original thought, might be worth checking with the tour company how many hours riding you’ll do each day…talking to a couple of guys on guided rides, they were doing between 100-200km per day, loads of breaks (every 30-40 mins), actual ride time 2-3hrs. If that suits then great, but for me, I’d want a good bit more…horses for courses

Camping and biking without a pillion is much easier from bike logistics, but I’d hate to miss out on the 5* views campsites can give you! Southern Italy …

I’m with blokeuptheroad. 2 trips this summer, first one due to meet Mrs A in Milan, she was to fly out. Last minute she changed her mind, and met her in Sicily. Fantastic detour despite endless hours of planning!

Second one with son on his bike, he’s brilliant at ‘on the hoof planning ‘! Lots of Italian lakes and Alps.

Camping both trips, really allows great flexibility as we’ve never booked in advance, and never been turned away.

Riding in Europe, just wonderful. Camping is wonderful to meet so many people.

Probably the best advice we got before buying a campervan was…whatever you choose, it’ll be a compromise!

Ended up buying a T5, not the standard layout which was essential as it had to sleep us us 4 dogs. That was 4 years ago, and I do about 50nights away each year with the dogs, and then Mrs A, me and dogs do several 5 night trips which she finds enough.

Ours was lowered by about 60mm and just back today from a trip, and fear some top mount/suspension bush has failed as horrible clunking. So will finally get it switched back to standard suspension. Otherwise all good.

And v grateful Mrs A pushed me to buy one, it’s been great.  I’d just be pretty focused on what suits your main needs, and ignore anything else.

An alternative…Mrs A has tried a thin (1cm) plaster strip/tape vertically over her mouth/lips.

No snoring, and she reckoned she slept better.

I thought it seemed bonkers, but tried it and slept really well. No idea why, but game changer

Agree re Duo, engaged me at first but then found it irritating!

Fossy & tillydog, you’re bang on – thanks! Sorted with much embarrassment!

I’ve done heaps of motorbike camping with my son using a Vango Alpha 400.

And also solo using a Vango Blade 200. Both options great, robust, work v well.

2-up me and Mrs A did 6 months touring with a VauDe Hogan as obviously space a bot more limited on the bike. Again, it was faultless.

Mounty, firstly good luck. I have had nerve damage (+ bone damage etc) in my back and specifically lower back. Had the drug cocktail for a while but that became awkward, so had denervation op, plus extensive physio and a change in work structure/lifestyle and I’m in hugely better shape, cycling, dog walking, good level of activity and v little pain.

So there’s hope, and if you want to msg me, not that In know much or am an expert, but pls do – southbankaus AT gmail DOT com

Thanks for the kind words and absolutely agree – I used to run a very small business, and reliable team members who cared were gold dust, so he does offer a lot. Just finding that great environment!

And PGL – this was his suggestion, along with doing it as a residential … there could be great wins in a stint away from home, and I’d assume PGL is a pretty safeguarded environment. But I’ve really no idea on the tasks/roles or what a typical day might look like.

Thanks all, and Matt, pls do msg me, all help is appreciated.

To add a wee bit, he’s kinda happy in a very middling way, but then his personality is pretty even-keel. So there’s not a desperate situation, more his current role is v demanding (why kitchens operate this way, I really don’t understand!) and we just wonder if he’s been slightly taken advantage of as his hours are consistently 12+hr days.

Re driving, we’ve tried and he hated it initially, just too much to think about at once. So I changed my old car for an old automatic, so as he could easily have another go – this was better but he opened up about finding it v stressful as lots to think about, and quite frankly, it felt irresponsible to push it. So that’s parked (no pun intended) for the time being. It does tend to limit work options but I work from home and can make myself pretty available.

Cheffing – he’s thinking it’s not for him, but the bakery idea is possibly interesting, so Pete, details would be appreciated.

Really, we’re just after a work environment that’s supportive, appropriately challenging where he’s comfortable and happy.

If anyone wants to email, pls do southbankaus AT gmail DOT com

Cheers

I’ve broached this with him, in a very loose and casual way – he’s rather unwilling, albeit neither of us probably know what we’re on about! I think some sort of external counselling/guidance is an option tho…

Thanks all, v helpful.

I think my stack height running a 100mm fork is 605mm.

The reason for large Holt was I’m 180cm tall, and from comments on a previous thread of Holt riders, the advice was in favour of putting me on a large, plus, the reach of the Holt M is less than my current bike, and I kinda like a more stretched position, so don’t think I want shorter reach.

So am I right in thinking the head angle is probably the key element making a difference, and a slacker head is better for downhill, but arguably, modest difference elsewhere … so for me, my riding, probably not a huge difference?

So sorry, but you both raised an incredible daughter(s). V dusty here

Excellent, thanks all.  Looks like large is the way forward based on Chris’s comments and pic.

And to some degree, keen on steel as am old school and like the thought of welding etc! The Holt looks gorgeous, and what I gather from how it rides, would suit my gentle style!!

Chrisdw – want to sell your’s!!

@kayak, I’m off to study my photos now! 

Interested in vibration damaging a phone…I do 10k+ touring miles per yr on my motorbike using my phone, haven’t noticed a problem. What does the vibration do to damage the phone? (Genuinely interested, and now slightly concerned!)

Thanks all, really helpful.

From a brand point of view, I’ve had fantastic experience of Vango (tent), ME (clothing/sleeping bag), Vaude (tent) and pretty poor for Decathlon, Alpkit – totally unrepresentative but tends to influence!

Sounds like down bag is the way to go, for sure.  And reckon I’m better to be safe than sorry re warmth rating.

Interesting stuff on tents – Cloudup seems like a bargain and checking out the other recos.  And decent porch is def a win for motorbike kit, and side entrance – haven’t used one but sounds like it might be handy.

Excellent, thanks – happy to juggle budget and can stretch/dabble a bit.

Alpkit – I know there’s a lot of love here.  We’ve only had 3 bits of kit from them (camp mat, jackets) and each has failed with Alpkit only agreeing to look at 1 failure (broken zip, currently with them) despite agreeing the items had a manufacture fault, which has kinda put me off them … albeit I want to love them for their ethos etc.

And down bags – is there any issue in the longer term with washing them, looking after them?

The Cloudup looks neat, great pic!

They’re v lovely to look at, do they ride as nice as they look? Feel a little bit special?

Hi, any advice on sizing for someone at 5’11”, riding nippy singletrack? Does it feel compact or stretched out?

Cheers

And to add a positive note, my ti Dekerf frame, had it c.20 years and around 20,000 miles, still great…

thanks all … trickydisco is the way I’m kinda thinking, albeit we still do plenty of road miles – are AT tyres fine on road (noise and comfort the main questions)?

Brilliant and thanks all … have been offered locally a set of compact road bars to get up and running, and then will see how it feels, but really helpful guidance

thanks all – much appreciated and helpful.

The aliexpress suggestion – just figuring out if you can attach mtb shifters/brake levers … is that the idea behind part of the design?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005283907836.html?pdp_npi=2@dis!GBP!%EF%BF%A1%2083.49!%EF%BF%A1%2046.76!!!!!@211b612516830192328974297ed104!12000032485156349!btf&_t=pvid:74705dd0-84b4-4c50-9780-cedf74c90a37&afTraceInfo=1005005283907836__pc__pcBridgePPC__xxxxxx__1683019233&spm=a2g0o.ppclist.product.mainProduct

brilliant, many thanks

many thanks, ordered

Thanks all, becoming clearer!

Is this what I need?

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/race-face-cinch-bb30-pf30-conversion-kit

And yes, beginning to think it’s a road equivalent bb – seems the Rotor 3D+ cranks fit, which seem to be road/gravel based…

I think the axle is 134mm or 136 – the Whyte it came off had boost wheel set, but 11 speed Shimano drive chain.

The bb bearings sit inside the 79mm width – compared to the Whyte frame that had a RF bb, bearings sitting outside the 79mm width, its total bb width was nearish 90mm compared to 80ish on the Open.

Is it OK to take up 10+mm of slack with spacers?

Thanks, v helpful. He’s a RaceFace Turbine 30mm spare so hopefully this will marry up OK

Hi all, just to check …

I have an aftermarket head unit, which has a plug & play adaptor to it, with my current door speakers plugged in. Presumably I can/could:

1) door speakers – remove old ones and simply plug in the new ones, and if the supplied plug is not compatible, solder the current speaker wires to the new speaker connections

2) I have no dash tweeters, so I’ll need to run wiring from the plug & play (there are currently tweeter wires coiled behind the head unit), and plug / solder to the tweeters

So I could simply buy speakers, with no wiring/loom/adaptors/cross over stuff and I’ll be OK, or not…?!

Cheers

Brilliant, thanks all.

So confirms my plan to:

1) pull door cards and add sound insulation material

2) upgrade door speaker and add dash speaker (thanks for the tips), sounds like SCR are worth chatting too

I’m assuming if I buy a VW T5 upgrade ‘kit’, then it’s pretty much plug and play as per the current door speakers i.e. nothing connected to the head unit’s RCA connectors, but simply plugging into the VW adaptor junction box?

Suspect that’ll probably do a fine / good enough job. Not sure I’ll be in a11y’s league though – v impressive!

Hiya, listening to music whilst driving 99% of the time.

I think the guy who converted it did a reasonably good job of insulation, but appreciate a van’s noisy per se. I’ll have a look at removing the door card to check the speaker there, but it sounds better than I’d expect so suspect it might’ve been upgraded at some point.

The sub woofer option slightly complicated by no space under our seats, plus we have dogs in the van 90% of the time, so don’t want too much booming at floor level!!!

Wonder if a sensible first step is to replace and add door/dash speakers and see???

Hi, just a quick update …

Replaced the oversized pilot jet yesterday. Struggled to start from cold – took 5 mins But, once warm, the idle setting was wayyyyy too high – 3000rpm! SO adjusted it, and did 30miles, running well.

Went out this morning to try cold start – full choke, no throttle, and YES! Coughed and chuntered briefly and then ran nicely. Did 50 miles, some ‘rapid progress’, some crawling along, a real mix and all very well.

Took the cylinder 4 plug out, and it’s a little white – running lean? But will continue to try a few runs before any more adjustments! Staggered that that little pilot jet alone could be so troublesome!

Hopefully this week I can get a few 100s miles in, and then reassess … again, thanks to all for the help/guidance.

Great, and thanks again to all – it’s proving to be a good education.

So to recap – my issues in this thread(!) were:

1) poor cold starting (I was using full choke)

2) very sooty no 4 plug, others all good

3) low mpg

Am I right in thinking …

– The sooty plug carb had an incorrect (too large) pilot jet – ordered the correct one.

– Poor cold starting, or the need for v little choke when cold likely to be resolved by no 4 pilot jet switch??

– Mpg – still unsure but suspect it’s running lean because of the exhaust …

My bike has a Lazer exhaust designed for the A1 > A6 models (a straight replacement for the O.E system) so consequently I have an exhaust designed for A1>A6 air box and carb jetting of pilot 35/ main jet 135/ pilot air jet @ 2.5 turns out, so I’ve got a less restrictive exhaust added to an air box that is 50% more restrictive and a main jet of 100, which will be way too lean for top end performance along with the restricted breathing.
So I could take the carb jetting to A1 > A6 settings, and modify or replace the airbox to A1>A6 spec and then balance the carbs when refitted.

So my next steps, unless any more useful pointers, are:

1. Check my km odometer is accurate (after the wheel change) to make sure actual mpg

2. Check exhaust for restriction – don’t know how but will Google. It also is very sooty from a visual look, so could it be ‘bunged up’ and restrictive because of collective soot? Any pointers on how to clean?

3. Look into main jet change, airbox change

4. Explore compression testing and carb balancing!

Thanks again!