Archev's adventures in the Berlingo

[Archev]

Why stop at pedals > Folding handlebars.

Yep I’m working on that
And an even MORE padded seat to obviate the paralysed perineum problem

 

[Rolfe]

Aye the folding pedals wearing the gloves (socks also admissible) save the snagging everything that goes on. I’ll take a photo tomorrow when I unload the car. I need another pair of the folding pedals for bike 2. There’s various styles and types on eBay or Amazon. They only cost about £10 to £15 and are easy to fit if you bear in mind one has a left hand thread to prevent it unscrewing as you pedal.

I'm not sure I really need them to be honest, as I lay the bike flat. I've got a system worked out. It was easier before I had the prop stand added (tends to catch on the seat backs as I push the bike forwards) and the handlebars changed, but it's still well doable. If I took the front wheel off it would make a lot of difference, and I always did that with my other bike in the Peugeot and then the Golf, but the MG4's load bed is a bit longer and that changes the parameters.

 

[Archev]

I'm not sure I really need them to be honest, as I lay the bike flat. I've got a system worked out. It was easier before I had the prop stand added (tends to catch on the seat backs as I push the bike forwards) and the handlebars changed, but it's still well doable. If I took the front wheel off it would make a lot of difference, and I always did that with my other bike in the Peugeot and then the Golf, but the MG4's load bed is a bit longer and that changes the parameters.

Yeah different in the Citroen as I load the bike upright, push it forward and turn the bars as the front wheel nears the back of the front seat(s) to allow the back door to shut.

 

[securespark]

I've already changed the handlebars once, not going there again!

Oh yeah, I've done it once before. NEVER again!

 

[Rolfe]

I'm happy with them now, not meddling further.

 

[Archev]

Junk expands to fill the space available for it! I can get all that's needed into an MG4, and sleep in the car as well!

View attachment 40345

On the load bed you can see the bike, the airbed and sleeping bag (just inside the tailgate), the bike's saddlebag and the cape I carry to get changed under if need be (also add extra toe warmth at night) behind the front wheel, and my flight bag (clothes etc) to the right of the saddle. Also behind that, the folding table and chair stored in the footwell behind the driver's seat.

View attachment 40347

This view again shows the table and chair, but also the big Ikea box behind the front passenger seat, which holds everything. Water supply, kettle, airbed pump, crockery, cutlery, you name it. Here, loaded to drive, it also has the bike charger and all the blackout curtains. It also provides the support needed so that head end of the airbed doesn't vanish into the footwell when the car is set up to sleep in.

View attachment 40346

Here you see the regrigerated cool box on the passenger seat, plugged into the cigarette lighter socket, and in front of it a box with non-perishable foodstuffs like pot noodles, camping meals, cup-a-soup, tea bags and so on. In the footwell there is my small rucksack, the induction hob under it, and the spare shoes in front of that. (I take sandals, trainers, and a pair of heavy-duty waterproof hiking shoes. Oh yes and there's a ski pole right at the front.

Folding pedals? You have my attention. This is relevant to my interests.

Folding pedals as promised.

 

[Everest]

I can get all that's needed into an MG4, and sleep in the car as well!

Do you sleep over or under the bike

 

[Rolfe]

The bike sleeps outside, with a heavy-duty cable round a car wheel and a bike wheel for security.

 

[Archev]

When the Berlingo was new in November ‘24 it started about 2.8 miles/ kWh. By about the beginning of March that crept slowly up to 3.7 and has not flinched from that figure since. The car has now covered 10676 faultless miles.

 

[securespark]

Excellent!

 

[Archev]

Scheduled services due at 12500, 25000, 50000 then 50000 intervals thereafter.

 

[Rolfe]

It sounds great, but I still can't believe you bought a car without VtL, after all that drooling over Caliban's VtL.

 

[Archev]

It sounds great, but I still can't believe you bought a car without VtL, after all that drooling over Caliban's VtL.

Aye but I’m quite happy with my - Vehicle / Mains / Solar to Power Bank to Load -
set up which works well enough for my needs.
The built in VtL is a very neat and elegant feature and would be grand if fitted to the Citroen.
(Perhaps it never will be a feature if Stellantis keep shutting down their production facilities ??)

Mind you I can’t help but think drooling over a VtL set up would be potentially detrimental to one’s health ️

 

[Archev]

Junk expands to fill the space available for it! I can get all that's needed into an MG4, and sleep in the car as well!

View attachment 40345

On the load bed you can see the bike, the airbed and sleeping bag (just inside the tailgate), the bike's saddlebag and the cape I carry to get changed under if need be (also add extra toe warmth at night) behind the front wheel, and my flight bag (clothes etc) to the right of the saddle. Also behind that, the folding table and chair stored in the footwell behind the driver's seat.

View attachment 40347

This view again shows the table and chair, but also the big Ikea box behind the front passenger seat, which holds everything. Water supply, kettle, airbed pump, crockery, cutlery, you name it. Here, loaded to drive, it also has the bike charger and all the blackout curtains. It also provides the support needed so that head end of the airbed doesn't vanish into the footwell when the car is set up to sleep in.

View attachment 40346

Here you see the regrigerated cool box on the passenger seat, plugged into the cigarette lighter socket, and in front of it a box with non-perishable foodstuffs like pot noodles, camping meals, cup-a-soup, tea bags and so on. In the footwell there is my small rucksack, the induction hob under it, and the spare shoes in front of that. (I take sandals, trainers, and a pair of heavy-duty waterproof hiking shoes.) Oh yes and there's a ski pole right at the front.

Folding pedals? You have my attention. This is relevant to my interests.

I ordered another set of folding pedals for my number two bike. Ordered yesterday on eBay for £8.49 due for delivery before Saturday.
I’m sure I’ve an old pair of thick hiking socks I can use as scratch proofing sleeves

 

[Archev]

Those folding pedals visited today but didn’t stay. The Royal Mail driver left a card to say he /she couldn’t deliver as nobody was home.
Well I’ve been here all day because I finally got round to upgrading the pump on my central heating system. I’ve fitted a Wilo modulating pump which will use less power. As each radiator thermostat closes (when rooms reach the set temperature) the pump will sense the reduction in flow and effectively shut down its performance and therefore its power requirement. A small reduction but over a year it’ll add up.
Tomorrow I shall have a note on the door “if my Bonnie blue Berlingo is on the drive then I’m in the house ready to take delivery”

 

[Archev]

Second set of folding pedals fitted to second bike today. It’s been a fine dry, windy day so I pitched the tent in the garden and got it dried and aired beautifully. I even washed and straightened the pegs .
I noticed a strange thing today. When driving about the Berlingo reports its efficiency as a solid 3.7 mi/ kWh. When I stopped tonight I noticed a report at the opposite side of the screen saying 4.7 mi/ kWh ?? I’ll need to investigate.
Perfect opportunity coming up as I’m heading to Aberdeen on Tuesday to collect a friend from the Norway flight and then drive straight to Ayr.
Speaking of Norway- did you notice it was a guy from there who won the Golden Spurtle porridge world championship at Carrbridge this weekend? He used Norwegian black oats and even brought the water from his homeland.
And a Lassie from Australia won the fancy porridge prize.
There’s more to porridge than meets the spoon you know

 

[Rolfe]

Well, I paid £33 to the new car wash at Hillend to tart Caliban back up after his Highland adventures, and well worth it it was too. I've put the winter car mats in, so autumn is definitely well advanced.