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Cycle Tours / Re: Tentative Tour, London, Edinburgh, John O'Grotes
« Last post by PH on Today at 02:44:18 PM »
Plenty of good suggestions and choice, how many months have you got  ;D
There are some decisions to make, for all or segments, between the best cycling and visiting the most interesting places, my touring leans towards the former, for the latter I mix folding bike and the train or coach.  Andyb1's Easterly route has a lot going for it, plenty of interest, but not as scenic (Or hilly) as up through the Pennines. If visiting cathedrals is your thing, this is worth a look:
https://www.cyclinguk.org/cathedrals-cycle-route-challenge
As with the NCN, those routes are best used as a basis, rather than strictly adhered to.
The Scottish borders, as in South of the Glasgow/Edinburgh line, is an area I know little about, but having done a couple of Audax that passed through, they're on my list and there's centuries of history due to the English/Scottish animosity. The area is scenic in a rolling countryside way rather than the wilderness of the Highlands. IMO the North West of Scotland has the most scenic cycling in the UK, even if you don't jump across to any of the islands, but the things to do off the bike are few and far between.  Other parts of Scotland have some equally good bits, there's just some less good bits between them.
Couple of other random thoughts:
if you decide to ride out of London, the NCN route along the Lee Valley, from the Olympic Park in Stratford (Not Avon), is easy riding, mostly traffic free, and gets you well clear of the metropolis. 
I use trains quite a lot, mostly with a bike, it's a mixed bag, some considerably better than others.  I've never failed to get where I'm going, but it isn't always stress free!  If taking a London train from Edinburgh be sure to book one that originates there, that's most but not all.  it just gives you more time to load and you know the bike space won't already be full.  Another vote for booking with trainline, it's one of the few online options where you can reserve a bike space.
I'd second B cereus's point about trying to cram too much in, it's a trap I sometimes fall into, but exploring somewhere rather than passing through on a strict timetable usually, for me, results in more memorable tours.
If the Audax route you originally posted is more your thing, then have a search on RWGPS, for the LEL (London-Edinburgh-London) route.




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Cycle Tours / Re: Tentative Tour, London, Edinburgh, John O'Grotes
« Last post by Matt2matt2002 on Today at 08:27:33 AM »
...
...
I'm just back from 3 days in Edinburgh, yesterday!
Not on a bike but plenty to see and do.
What dates are you there? Maybe I could pop down.

Matt


No firm plans yet.

Found a hostel in London with secure bike storage.  Inconveniently located far from anything worth seeing.

Nothing worth seeing?
I guess that's subjective.

“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” – Samuel Johnson.
That was said around 1777 so things may have changed......
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Cycle Tours / Re: Tentative Tour, London, Edinburgh, John O'Grotes
« Last post by Andyb1 on Today at 08:06:28 AM »
‘Inconveniently located far from anything worth seeing.’

Have a look at how close it is to a London Underground station.   The tube system will get you to the areas you want to visit.
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Cycle Tours / Re: Tentative Tour, London, Edinburgh, John O'Grotes
« Last post by mickeg on April 03, 2026, 11:41:33 PM »
...
...
I'm just back from 3 days in Edinburgh, yesterday!
Not on a bike but plenty to see and do.
What dates are you there? Maybe I could pop down.

Matt

No firm plans yet.

Found a hostel in London with secure bike storage.  Inconveniently located far from anything worth seeing.
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Tandem Talk / Re: The trouble with cable splitters......
« Last post by HugoC on April 03, 2026, 04:49:54 PM »
Thanks Danneaux for your helpful response.

I've tried creating a nipple of super glue around the end of some spare cable, and it does seem to work. Now, I just have to try this on the actual cable after it has been threaded through the splitter (I'm using the J-TEK splitter, which Thorn fitted to the bike).

The cable splitter lies approximately mid way between the cable stops when the Rohloff is in gear 7, so hopefully cable flex will be at a minimum. My tandem has the Ex box, so both cables run under the down tube to under the stokers seat tube, and onwards to the Ex box along the chain stay, which I believe is the optimal set up.

Once again thanks for your reply.

BR
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Cycle Tours / Re: Tentative Tour, London, Edinburgh, John O'Grotes
« Last post by Matt2matt2002 on April 03, 2026, 04:09:44 PM »
George
You may know this, but the London rail system dates from when different rail companies had their own London termini.   Hence there is Waterloo Station, St Pancras, Paddington etc which are spaced out across central London.   Knowing which rail terminus you are going to use may influence where you choose to stay.

From London Heathrow ...

I had already figured out that there are several London train stations.  Thanks. 

Since I am flying in and out of Edinburgh, Heathrow is not in my plans.  That is one reason I chose Edinburgh to fly into and out of, and Edinburgh as a community is only slightly larger than the community that I live in based on population, so I see that as a much simpler plan.

I'm just back from 3 days in Edinburgh, yesterday!
Not on a bike but plenty to see and do.
What dates are you there? Maybe I could pop down.

Matt
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Tandem Talk / Re: The trouble with cable splitters......
« Last post by Danneaux on April 03, 2026, 03:54:35 PM »
Hugo, thinking a bit more about your problem, I'm wondering about the role of excess or repeated cable flex at or near the grub screw causing metal fatigue.

Of course, the rear splitter allows for actual un/screwing, as it is basically just a seat for the leaded end of the cable and this tolerates some "slop". The front splitter half is secured rigidly to the cable so any movement will be concentrated at the screw.

Besides reinforcing the stranded wire as I suggested earlier, is there something causing the front run of cable to bend and flex unduly? Something like a nearby cable stop or frame boss? Maybe a clamped-on accessory band? Is the anti-scratch o-ring still intact on the front half of the splitter? Is the cable end getting bent overmuch while the bike is disassembled or put into a case?

Just trying to think of possible contributors.

If your splitters have hex flats, it might be worth holding the front half stationary from twisting with a small wrench while you spin the freely turning rear half. I modified a small, automotive ignition points wrench for a friend's similar need and it seemed to do the trick for him.

EDIT 1: If you are using the J-TEK cable splitters without wrench flats, they're available in different lengths and for gear vs brake cables. I presume the difference is related to the size of the leaded cable end? Perhaps fitting a longer or shorter example -- if possible -- would ease stress on the cable. See...
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/search/?term=j-tek%20cable%20splitter&geoc=US

EDIT 2: Is the cable splitter fitted midway in the open run of cable between stops? If the splitter is too close to the front stop, the cable will flex at greater angularity, right where it is clamped by the grub screw(s), resulting in metal fatigue and snapped cables.

Best, Dan.
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Tandem Talk / Re: The trouble with cable splitters......
« Last post by Danneaux on April 03, 2026, 03:43:16 PM »
Hi Hugo!

I'm not sure if this will work but back in the day, people would sometimes tin and solder the cut cable ends to prevent fraying rather than use crimped ends. I've done it myself, using a small torch and acid-flux solder for galvanized cables and, later, silver solder for stainless. It allowed for dis/re-assembly at the clamp bolt without having to replace the cable.

Now'days, I prefer using super glue, specifically beta-cyanocrylate to do the same. It not only binds the cut strands, it stiffens them for easy insertion and clamping without adding a lot of bulk.

Perhaps reinforcing the stranded wire (cable) in these or similar ways would prevent flattening, pinching, and fatigue stress at the grub screw inside the front cable splitter?

Might be worth a try. It has to be frustrating, replacing that cable so frequently.

Best, Dan.
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Tandem Talk / The trouble with cable splitters......
« Last post by HugoC on April 03, 2026, 03:22:23 PM »
Greetings all,

My Raven Twin tandem has S&S couplings and hence cable splitters for gear and rear brake cables fitted as standard. This allows me to dismantle the bike to get it in the car, in a bike box for air travel etc. So far, so good.

During uncoupling and reassembly of the bike, I take great care to minimise twisting the part of the cable splitter that fixes the cable with a grub screw, and I do not over tighten the grub screw in the splitter when replacing cables.

Despite these precautions, I find that the cable that is fixed to the splitter by the grub screw snaps too often. In 43000kms of riding the bike since new, the "front" cables, i.e., those connected to the Rohloff gear selector on the handlebar, have snapped a total of 4 times (always at the grub screw) whereas the "rear" cables have not yet snapped.

There must be a better way of using cable splitters to reduce the frequency of cables snapping. I'm trying to figure out how to add a nipple to the end of the cable after it has been fitted, and doing away with the grub screw altogether.

Has anyone any bright ideas?
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Cycle Tours / Re: Tentative Tour, London, Edinburgh, John O'Grotes
« Last post by mickeg on April 03, 2026, 12:15:00 PM »
George
You may know this, but the London rail system dates from when different rail companies had their own London termini.   Hence there is Waterloo Station, St Pancras, Paddington etc which are spaced out across central London.   Knowing which rail terminus you are going to use may influence where you choose to stay.

From London Heathrow ...

I had already figured out that there are several London train stations.  Thanks. 

Since I am flying in and out of Edinburgh, Heathrow is not in my plans.  That is one reason I chose Edinburgh to fly into and out of, and Edinburgh as a community is only slightly larger than the community that I live in based on population, so I see that as a much simpler plan.
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