Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Cycling partner(s)

« on: June 06, 2013, 06:20:30 am »

Edmilkman. The FBI say the majority of women seem to have been abducted from truck stops on interstates. They suspect longhaul truckers in many cases. Many trucks are equipped with GPS by their companies. If a serial killer is driving and stopping at interstate truck stops, it is normal for him to be there with a great many others. If he drives away from his appointed route, he can be traced. If a woman suddenly disappears, and he is traced there where he is not expected to be at the time of the disappearance, and he can be located at points of other disappearances at truck stops, he will be seen.  As long as he stays on his route, and operates at truck stops where many other truckers are normally expected to be, there are no detectable anomalies in his route, and no reason for suspicion. That's one reason. That way he is anonymous. The killings have been happening at an alarming degree of frequency. And keep in mind, the numberof those murdered are only for those whose remains have been found. There are a great many more who  disappared, perhaps never to be heard from or seen again.

Just a word of caution. Cross country cycling is great, but the bears you really have to watch out for walk on two feet and drive trucks and cars.

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

« on: June 06, 2013, 06:02:52 am »

$1994.00  I believe I can do the same for $300.00 with almost identical functionality. For one small example, you need  hundred-dollar pedals like you need a hole in the head. $25.00 pedals will get you there just fine, no problem. An $18.00 seat in Wally's is almost identical to the expensive ones and just as good. A $30.00 Shimano derailleur will get you across the continent and a great deal farther. Why the camel back? I have cycled 37,000 miles around the world. I've never had a problem reaching down to the bottle and getting a swig. Tires and wheels are things you do not want to scrimp on. Cables and housings can be had in Wally's for $10.00. I have gone on very long, heavily loaded, tours over extremely hilly and mountainous terrains without the first problem with such cables. Those are just a few examples.

I have always said, within certain limits you can spend as much or as little as you want on bicycle touring.

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General Discussion / Re: Late fall, winter West to East Southern tier ride

« on: June 06, 2013, 05:46:27 am »

I've done the ST quite a few times. Winter or Fall is a good time for it. Don't ask me about camp grounds. I am adverse topaying for sleeping on the gound. It's a good time to go.

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General Discussion / Re: Choosing a bike and could use advice

« on: June 06, 2013, 05:43:14 am »

It's expensive for 25 years old. It probably did not cost that much new. It's ok for someone who just wants to cruise around town, maybe. I don't think they fitted that bike with long-distance, loaded, touring in mind. For about $100.00 more you can get a new Giant Sedona. Go to Youtube and write---the world's best touring bike, Giant Sedona.

When it comes to very long road trips over varying topography, you need certain kinds of components and a certain kind of frame. That bike is the wrong combination of frame and components for the kind of traveling you mention here. Can you do it on that bike? Yes, you can. You can also hike the Appalachian trail in lead boots too, but what would be the point in that?

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General Discussion / Re: Cycling partner(s)

« on: May 26, 2013, 08:50:34 am »

I averaged over 90 miles a day from SE coastal Florida to Bangor, Maine. That was twenty-three years ago. I don't think I would want to try and do that kind of mileage now,

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General Discussion / Re: In low gear and can't ride up hill!

« on: May 26, 2013, 08:38:41 am »

You need to supply more detailed information to get sufficient correct answers to your question. There are hills and then there are hhhiiiillllllsss. Some are long and gradual. Some are short and abrupt. Some are long and steep. How about a one in four. Does that describe your hill or is it a one in twenty? Then there is the subject of your gear ratios. There is also the human factor. Are you the 90 pound weakling in Charles Atlas advertisements, or are you Lance Armstrong's worst nightmare? It's kind of like asking--How long is a pieceof string? or How high is up? 

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

« on: May 26, 2013, 08:27:30 am »

I can recomponent a bike frame for $250.00, and some more if you are looking for new cranks and rings. I do it just about every time I do a transcontinental cycling trip. The $250.00 will get you lower level quality components. You can get brake cables and deraileur cables and housings for eight or nine dollars at Wally World that will easily get you 8000 miles depending on the number and steepness of hills for the brake cables.

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General Discussion / Re: Inspire or Scare the Begeebees?

« on: April 26, 2013, 10:08:35 am »

Do not focus on fears of what might happen. Focus on the fact that thousands of people have cycled and camped cross country without incident. If, by some offhand chance, you are a woman and are aproached by a stranger at a truck stop or gas station, just stay around where people are, get away from the stranger, and do not encourage him in any way. Women have cycled the perimeter of the US alone in safety and security. Get your bike. Get your gear. Plan, practice, and go. The most likely scenario is that you will have the experience and adventure of a lifetime.

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General Discussion / Re: Inspire or Scare the Begeebees?

« on: April 25, 2013, 01:51:36 am »

I agree. Cycling cross country is safe enough to do without undue concern. I have not heard of any cyclists attacked or killed. Crime can happen to anyone anywhere. There is no need to be more concerned with it just because you are riding a bicycle across the continent or across the state. However, this world has always been a dangerous and uncertain place. For example, consider this.
 
http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2009/april/highwayserial_040609

If you ever get a strange feeling that something just isn't right, don't go looking for tangible reasons to justify those feelings. Obey your intuitive senses, and get out of the situation ASAP. That is what my experiences have taught me.

But really, cycling is safe enough. It is the world that is messed up. People generally do not want to mess with cyclists. You can easily cycle across the USA totally without incident. Just know which kinds of social situations, people, and places to stay away from, and you are in for some free sailing and you are home free.

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General Discussion / Re: Cycling partner(s)

« on: April 25, 2013, 01:26:50 am »

I would definitely like to do the pacific coast again. The scenery is out of this world. There is plenty of good fresh air off the ocean. There are many many hills, but so what? If you're a cyclist, you do the hills. The PCBR IMO is the premiere cycling route in the USA. It is Americana writ large. It is the route 66 of cycling.

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General Discussion / Re: Cycling partner(s)

« on: April 25, 2013, 01:21:31 am »

As for the AC three times: Well, the times were spaced out quite a bit, and it was kind of like a sentimental journey, or one for nostalgia.

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General Discussion / Re: Cycling partner(s)

« on: April 25, 2013, 01:15:59 am »

Exactly! The ST to me is the southern tier of states. One time I did it using 90 all the way past New Orleans from FL. Then I went across TX following roads that took me through Odessa and midland, etc etc.

Another crossing went on 19-98 out of FL along the gulf waters. Another followed 20 out of FL between90 and 19-98. Another followed 90 again. In LA I have followed ACA's route, 90, 190, and various roads. Another crossing of TX took me along the gulf to Post Isabel and Brownsville and north along the border road to Van Horn. Another crossing took me into Marfa, etc. On one crossing I went north at the Salton Sea and cycled into Los Angeles instead of San Diego.

I tend to agree the same roads can get boring. We want something new. Highway 90 and the FL pandandle are always pretty good. But getting out of the eastern US tends to be a bit --ho hum I've seen it all thousands of times. When will the scenery start to change? I like the changing scenery to rugged western mountains, cactus, plains, prairies, and gunfights at the OK corral.

ACA's mapped ST is just fine. I often take the interstate across TX, NM, and AZ. It seems more direct. The scenery is comparable. Services are more than adequate. However, road surfaces often are not really good for cycling.

A great many people use interstates which might increase the likelihood of running into some maniac. The FBI have a special team investigating serial killers operating along the interstates. Check it out on google. It's scary. Ladies, I advise you not to cycle the interstates alone, and if you do, it might be a good idea to avoid truck stops. Look at the FBI's map where bodies have been found. Almost all were women, and those are only the ones who have been found. A great many more are missing, and you know that means. They might never be found. There are some extremely nasty characters running around just looking for women to murder. It's a terrible thing but true. I would advise women to avoid the interstates.

I have used interstates alone a number of times through Sentinel, AZ, Tucson, AZ, Yuma and into Winterhaven, CA on the Colorado River. The ST to me means only FL, AL, MS, LA, TX, NM, AZ, and CA. The roads are any roads and the towns any towns.

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General Discussion / Re: Do we need to do any training?

« on: April 22, 2013, 11:04:05 am »

It isn't a necessity. IMO it is a good idea to do some kind of training whatever you're doing. Strengthening the legs and upper body is advisable. Get a good book on sports stretching and do exactly what it says. Stretch regularly during your tour. You will be in a front leaning rest on your bikes. That puts pressure on the palms of your hands, and can cause a bit of stress to the arms, shoulders, and lower back. Stretch regularly. Interval training on your bikes, on a tread mill, or on stationary bikes in a gym can strengthen your leg muscles, and it can improve your cardiac fitness and aerobic efficiency faster and more proficiently than just straight riding or running. Try some weight training.

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General Discussion / Re: Cycling partner(s)

« on: April 20, 2013, 01:04:51 am »

Not even a nibble on this yet, much less a bite.

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General Discussion / Re: touring without "eating out"

« on: April 12, 2013, 05:11:34 am »

Beware of getting caught in the convenience store trap. Sometimesyou might be in a region where you go through small towns for days. Getting in late and on Sundays might force you to use CSs only for a while. If you get the ones that sell prepared pizza, fried chicken, potato logs, maccaroni and cheese, and other deli stuff, you are ok for a while. Others may have plenty to drink but a paucity of nutritional food.  Potato chips and bologna sandwiches don't make it for a day on the road. The beer is always good though.