Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: older riders

« on: May 10, 2009, 05:57:26 pm »

    I'm 69 and leaving next Sat. to ride the Northern tier to Astoria, Or. solo and self supported CELEBRATING MY 70TH BD in Dec. Have done 2 and 3 week tours in the New England states and into Quebec over the last 4 year's and will be thinking about my next 2 or 3 week tour soon and haven't even started my latest journey. Right now there is a man who just turned 82 the 24 of April and riding the Southern tier solo and is journaling on Crazyguy.

    DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THE GOOD NIGHT
    OLD AGE SHOULD BURN AND RAVE AT THE CLOSE OF DAY
    RAGE, RAGE AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT.
    DYLAN THOMAS

    HAPPY TRAILS, FRED

   

    HAPPY TRAILS, FRED

2

Routes / Re: Northern Tier next summer

« on: April 27, 2009, 08:26:30 am »

2006, we left Anacortes on May 10th. Rainey and Washington passes loaded with snow but road was dry and open (had opened only the week before)
. Averaged 50+ miles/day and when reached Glacier NP Going to the Sun Hwy. was still closed due to snow. We took alternate route over Marias Pass which was fine. At Rugby, ND we left NT route and headed due east thru Duluth, MN and across Upper Penninsula of MI crossing into Ontario at Sault St. Marie, N of Lake Huron to Mannitoulin Islands then ferried across Lake Huron to the Bruce Penninsula. South to Niagara Falls where we rejoined the NT route. Ended up with 3850 miles. Some road segments in Canada were shoulderless and fairly heavily travelled but only for short distances and very doable.

    Hi Jim, I'm riding the NT this year and from Escanaba I'm not sure if I should take rt. 2 across Michigan to Ironwood, services are a concern, or follow the NT rt thru Wic. to Hayward and then work my way to rt. 35 and up to Duluth and then on west thru Grand Forks and reconnect with NT in Devils Lake area. Any comments would be appreciated.

     Thanks Fred

3

Gear Talk / Re: Impressions on the Jamis Aurora Elite (2009 Model)

« on: April 24, 2009, 04:18:19 pm »

        If your dad is 5'9, I'm 5'9 he probably has a 23" bike and you may need a 25 and I bet that would solve your fit problem. The Trek 520 is a great touring bike for the price. I've done 4 3 week tours on mine and and leaving the 16ht May for a xcrountry ride. I did have to make some changes in the gearing.

        Fred

4

Routes / Re: does anyone have experinace maping routes with www.viamichelin.com ??

« on: April 24, 2009, 04:11:06 pm »

    Thanks Jenn. I used Pittsburg to Cleveland and it worked but I don't want to go to Cleveland but I've gotten other help.


      Fred

5

Routes / Re: does anyone have experinace maping routes with www.viamichelin.com ??

« on: April 23, 2009, 08:19:08 am »

        I tried to use it but couldn't figure out how to get USA to come up and input a route from Pittsburgh to Sandusky. If you get to work let me know.

        Fred

6

Routes / Pittsburg, Pa. to Sandusky, Ohio

« on: April 11, 2009, 10:52:40 am »

     It's Fred.  My reason of going up towards Erie is gone so I'm looking for a route from Pittsburg to Sandusky and with the wealth of knowledge out there I'm sure there must be someone that has information on this rt. I'm waiting for a reply from one person any idea's?

      Thank You, Fred

7

Routes / Re: Michigan bicycle road work

« on: April 10, 2009, 09:14:41 am »

Fred here, hope they have it done by mid June as I will be going up 23.   HA! HA!

8

Connecting ACA Routes / Michigan Hiway 23 to Mackinac bridge

« on: August 06, 2008, 02:52:19 pm »

It's me again planning my 09 NT ride. Instead of going across Mi. to Luther then up to Mackinac bridge what is hiway 23 like from just north of Bay City to the Mac. bridge. Traffic, shoulders, etc.. I'll be coming from Port Heron, Mi. using the Lake Erie connector,
Thanks for your help.
Fred Lonas

9

Gear Talk / msr whisperlite or simmerlite stove

« on: April 30, 2008, 12:47:02 pm »

I tried to do a search but no results. REI has the Whisperlite stove on sale 49.00, after that rebate $ , and I'm not sure which to get that or the Simmerlite. Can the Whisperlite do any simmering at all by playing with the adjustments. I also hear that the Simmerlite is not much better at simmering. Getting ready for my Northern Tier ride next May and trying to keep cost of needed items down. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

10

Gear Talk / Thermarest pad slipping

« on: November 03, 2006, 12:31:54 pm »

Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do to my thermarest pad to keep my sleeping bag from slipping off during the night short of buying a new pad.
Fred

11

Gear Talk / Buying a New Trek 520

« on: November 03, 2006, 09:00:06 am »

Enjoy your new Trek, it's a great touring bike. As for gearing you should also change the 52 chain ring to a 48 and the middle to a 36 and it's my understanding that a 22 will not fit unless you change the whole chain ring setup. Also keep an eye on the rims for spider cracks around the spoke holes after 2 or 3000 miles.
  Enjoy, Fred

12

Gear Talk / Trek 520 rim cracks -no warranty service

« on: October 23, 2006, 10:03:23 am »

I have a trek 520 which I bought in 2001 and in 2004 I was told by the bike shop that my rear rim and spider cracks around the spoke holes and that a new rim was not covered under warranty. At that point I had not started solo touring so had never carried any weight on rear except a small pannier but love my 520 a great touring bike after you do the upgrades for touring.

13

Routes / Route xcross Michigan

« on: November 24, 2008, 09:57:46 am »

Thanks for your help Windrath. I guess I'll stay on AC route untill Hayward Minn. then head up rt.53 or back roads if any exist to Duluth.
Fred

14

Routes / Route xcross Michigan

« on: November 21, 2008, 11:38:50 am »

Requesting more info on Northern Tier ride May 09. Can anyone tell me what Rt.2 xcross Michigan from Escanaba, Mi.to Duluth Minn. is like for bike riding as apposed to following the ACA rt. to Hayward then rt. 53 up to Duluth? I don't want to drop down to the St Paul are as the ACA rt does.
Thanks for help.
Fred Lonas

15

Routes / Going To The Sun Road

« on: June 12, 2008, 12:21:15 pm »

 Planning my 09 No. Tier ride. How many miles is it from the east side at the beginning of the restricted rd. to the end of the restriction on the west side and approx. how many hrs. on a loaded bike? Article mentions Apgar turnoff to south end of Lake McDonald. also mentions from west ent. Logan Creek to Logan Pass.  
Thanks for your help. Fred Lonas