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Re: Cycling: Wiltshire to Somersetshire

Posted: 18 Sep 2009, 12:20
by Nigel H-J
Ian, you have without realising it found yourself a new seasonal career.

"Speedbird 591 Cycling Tour of the Kennet and Avon Canal" no, this is not a wind up mate, with many people turning to cycling as a favourite past time as well as one way to a fitter lifestyle, an 18 mile accompanied tour along with stops en-route to give a brief history then further stops for the inevitable ice-cream and possibly a pub snack meal, you would pull the punters in.

Then just carry on with your old job out of season!! :-#

Regards
Nigel.

Re: Cycling: Wiltshire to Somersetshire

Posted: 18 Sep 2009, 14:54
by FlyTexas
Thanks very much Ian for all the canal/narrow boat history. :thumbsup: Nigel is correct, you could be a local cyclist tour guide. I'd be one of your paying customers if I could just get over there to the UK. :agree:

Brian

Re: Cycling: Wiltshire to Somersetshire

Posted: 18 Sep 2009, 15:03
by DispatchDragon
Ian, Nigel, Brian

Seeing the number of people who pay 200-250 bucks a pop to ride up to the top of Haleakala on Maui then coast the 20 odd miles down to the valley
again (A pain in ass if your driving from anywhere "up country" to the airport or to go shopping) I think you could have a very profitable business doing that
the major outlay would be buying the bikes and a Transit with a bike trailer to roll them back to the start point when finished :)

Good luck gents

(Im about to get back into being a spokehead -- my sons training wheels came off the other week!!!!!)

Leif

Re: Cycling: Wiltshire to Somersetshire

Posted: 18 Sep 2009, 21:40
by speedbird591
Nigel H-J wrote:Ian, you have without realising it found yourself a new seasonal career.
Thanks, Nigel but I've got enough careers to be getting on with for now :lol:

Guided tours aren't necessary on the canal. You can hire mountain bikes by the hour or the day at Bath, Bradford-on-Avon and another place halfway between. You can't get lost - you either go one way or the other and there are signposts. There are information boards at every point of interest and pubs or tearooms every few miles. What on earth would you need a guide for?

Ian :lol:

Re: Cycling: Wiltshire to Somersetshire

Posted: 18 Sep 2009, 23:30
by Paul K
Terrific photos Ian, and some great history too. Love the bit about the trapdoor! :)

Re: Cycling: Wiltshire to Somersetshire

Posted: 19 Sep 2009, 14:16
by Nigel H-J
you either go one way or the other and there are signposts. There are information boards at every point of interest and pubs or tearooms every few miles. What on earth would you need a guide for?
Ian quite simply......there are signposts to guide you as you drive along the roads, there are maps you can buy to plan your route and sat-navs for those who can't read a map............but they still manage to get lost or take the wrong route and end up where3 they shouldn't be!! :help:

Nigel.