Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Establishing a budget. Can you review my list? Suggestions??

« on: Today at 05:45:36 am »

Honestly, I havent even left for my trip yet and I've already spent around $2800... but I bought about 80% of my gear from REI.

Nothing wrong with that if you like the stuff you bought and have the money.  I am tighter with the cash and bought a new bike, new panniers, some camping gear, and airline ticket to the west coast and did the Trans America including daily expenses for about that much or a bit less.  I did already own some of the camping gear and all of the clothing though.

2

General Discussion / Re: Establishing a budget. Can you review my list? Suggestions??

« on: May 17, 2013, 11:53:44 am »

Front Panniers - $160 - Nashbar or Performance Waterproof often on sale for under $40
Back Panniers - $180 - Nashbar or Performance Waterproof often under $50
The above panniers have worked well for me for a coast to coast trip and some other long trips.  That said you only list one rack.  If using 4 panniers you will need 2.
Socks - $25 - I usually use Underarmor low cut poly socks 4 pairs for about $14 (the poly ones).  I take two pairs three at most.  I have found that for me they work better than cycling socks. 
Spares (chain, tubes, etc) - $25 - Chain?  Why would you ever need a spare chain unless going somewhere really remote for a long time.   
Tools - $135 - Sounds kind of high.  It varies with the bike though.  
Locks - $100 - I usually tour with a $12 lock.
Water (CamelBak) - $40 - I'd skip the camelbak

3

General Discussion / Re: HELP! Items Checklist. Need advice. (especially from John Nelson)

« on: May 14, 2013, 04:47:39 pm »

Camelback - In the desert ice on your back can be nice, but most places I do not use one.
Air mattress or sleeping pad - 10-15 minutes?  Really? I find that it takes 18-20 deep breaths and it can be done in under a minute.  A complete non issue IMO
Camera - Your call.  How important is it to you?
Stuff/Compression Sacks - I use stuff sacks but usually not compression sacks.  I can compress stuff pretty well with small sacks.  I don't carry clothes where wrinkles are a problem.
Water - as much as you need to get to the next water with some room for error
Lock - I use a 5 ounce cable lock and am careful when and where I leave my bike
Charging - minimize your electronics, carry spare batteries and charge when you can.  Leave stuff turned off when not in use to save battery.  No need to have the phone powered on all day.

4

General Discussion / Re: first big bike tour

« on: May 08, 2013, 01:41:21 pm »

My GF uses a Cocoon pillow. Takes all of 3 minutes to pack up, weighs 3.5 oz. and is extremely compact.

Definitely try before you buy.  I was ready to buy, but hated it when I tried it.  I found the Exped pillow much nicer.

Unless you are riding long stretches with no services, how much water do you need to carry?

Yes.  Even when you need to carry extra it typically does not have to fit in a pannier any way.  If the pannier has flaps tucking bottles under there works well.  Also for rare needs I have stuffed a couple quart bottles in jersey pockets.  I wouldn't do it on a regular basis, but it was OK in a pinch.

Also a 2.4 ounce Sea to Summit backpack or a 11 ounce REI Flash 18 can be used for overflow food and water especially for short sections.

5

Gear Talk / Re: Ultra Light TransAm Ride

« on: May 07, 2013, 04:00:40 am »

Buddy, post the link!

OOPS!
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Ultralight

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General Discussion / Re: first big bike tour

« on: May 06, 2013, 02:54:11 pm »

Sweet thanks a lot guys i'll post again when i've worked out a couple details

Great.  I look forward to hearing from you as you have questions.

Sorry I couldn't provide better answers yet.

7

General Discussion / Re: first big bike tour

« on: May 05, 2013, 06:21:52 am »

You will do better if you do some research and then come back with more specific questions.  With the vague questions in your post I wouldn't know where to start.  Start by figuring out what kind of roads you plan to ride (paved, dirt, gravel?) and what you plan to do wrt lodging (motels, heavy camping and cooking, light camping and cooking, ultralight camping and cooking?).

When you have a good idea of all that, it will be easy to decide what to ride and what baggage is needed.

8

General Discussion / Re: Tents

« on: May 02, 2013, 12:48:27 pm »

Personally, I see the vestibule as being the overhang that allows you to exit the tent while it is raining and not get water in the tent.

To be clear...  The tents I mentioned using and not missing the vestibule did have a bit of overhang.

9

General Discussion / Re: Tents

« on: May 01, 2013, 12:05:07 pm »

The one vs two door tent is definitely a matter of personal preference.

Exactly, it is a preference, not a need.  I don't think anyone said an extra door or a vestibule or two were a bad thing, merely that they weren't a necessity.  Someone certainly can prefer two of each.

I am sure how much difference multiple doors make depends on the design of the tent.  None of the tents I used ever required us to climb over each other. A single side door might require more climbing over and make a second door more desirable.  Our's all had a end door either at our heads or our feet.  With some cafe we were generally able to climb in or out without waking each other.  I have never shared a tent with a side door (other than with my dog).

On the subject of vestibules, none of us on my tours were inclined to bring in much gear. It mostly stayed on our bikes.  The tents I shared on tours had exactly zero vestibules and I didn't miss them.

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General Discussion / Re: Tents

« on: May 01, 2013, 08:43:58 am »

You don't REALLY need two doors. I backpacked for a decade with a samll tent for two. We coped just fine.

+1
I know that three of us shared a tent on the TA and on a partial SC two of us shared one.  Additionally I have done plenty of canoe camping, and backpacking in shared tents with one door.  At no time did we miss having another door.

As far as needing two vestibules...  You don't NEED one let alone two. 

11

Gear Talk / Re: Ultra Light TransAm Ride

« on: April 30, 2013, 11:30:09 am »

In general, lighter gear means more expensive gear.  But worth it IMO.

To some extent, but really you can lose the majority of the weight without going to a lot of expensive specialty items.  I could get to 6.5 pounds of base gear weight (everything including bags, gear, and clothing, but excluding bike, food water, and fuel).  That doesn't include 1 pound of tools and spares that always stays on the bike (I include that in bike weight not gear weight).

That would be if I left all of my luxury items home.  In reality something in about the 10 pound range is what I wind up with.

That is with no fancy Cuben fiber stuff, but some cottage industry items in more economical materials.  Total gear cost comes in at something in the $1000 neighborhood, but I once did a list that could be had for about $300, assuming the user already owned clothing, that managed to go pretty light.  The last few ounces that I could save by buying a buch of higher dollar stuff are not worth the cost to me.

12

Gear Talk / Re: Ultra Light TransAm Ride

« on: April 30, 2013, 07:42:45 am »

I wrote an article about my adventures in going from 45 pounds of gear to about 10 pounds of gear (in several stages).  Folks tell me they have found it useful so it might be worth checking out.  Also if you have more specific questions, please post them and you will likely get more feedback than with such a general post.

13

General Discussion / Re: Tents

« on: April 28, 2013, 02:31:26 pm »

plus it's easier to find a clear flat spot to fit the smaller footprint.

That can be an issue especially when you get to 3 or 4 person tents.

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General Discussion / Re: Tents

« on: April 28, 2013, 05:47:19 am »

Just another take on this... 
I find that tents are sized fine for me at their rated capacity.  I use a one person tent for me and find no need for more space.  If I am camping with someone I can't get along with in a two person tent, I probably don't want to camp with them in any size tent.

I think that is in part because I find that when I am in the tent I am either sleeping or reading.  Neither of those take much space.  Also I generally bring in only my handlebar bag and what I need to sleep and get dressed in the morning.  The rest stays on in the panniers on the bike unless some of it is hung or in the bear box.

All that is if I take a tent.  More recently I have been mostly cowboy camping when possible, and using a bivy and tarp when I need more protection from the elements.

15

Gear Talk / Re: ACA & Smartphones

« on: April 27, 2013, 07:24:25 am »

I ran into a lot of dead spots with Verizon along the Transam through the Rockies in 2011... We had three different devices with us and the problem existed with all three. As such, I wouldn't rely on real time access to the web via a smartphone as a primary navigation source. From speaking with locals there is no magic provider but AT&T held favor in some areas as having better access.

I have used both AT&T and Verizon on tour and Verizon definitely had wider coverage on average.  I do remember a few places where AT&T worked and Verizon didn't (Riggins Idaho comes to mind) but they seemed to be the exceptions rather than the rule.

I guess I should have mentioned that coverage is far from being available every mile.  I kind of took it for granted folks would know that, but on hindsight that is certainly a bad assumption.

My advice:
1. Use a paper map for the long stretches between larger towns
2. If you must use the GPS use a navigation app that pre-downloads the data

On the TA using AC maps, you really don't need a GPS at all.  I personally wouldn't bother with one other than maybe to locate services in town.  The possible exception might be if going off route much.  I found that on the TA I never even needed a compass.  I carried a compass and GPS at the start of the TA and mailed the GPS home.  I continued to carry the compass, but do not recall using it at all.