Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: Trailer Plus Bags

« on: April 15, 2013, 02:05:33 am »

On past trips I've used a BOB trailer combined with small front panniers  The only additional weight is that of the rack and bags. Contents have been transferred from the rear. It's just nice to have a little bit of weight on the front of the bike and a more convenient location for snacks and rain gear. I don't use a full size handlebar bag with all that weight up high. Just a small zipper bag for wallet, phone and glasses. I've recently retired the trailer and am back to 4 panniers.

2

General Discussion / Re: Bears

« on: April 15, 2013, 01:43:47 am »

The areas on the TransAm that you need to be most cautious about bears include Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the stretch through northern Idaho along the Lochsa River. That said, we did have a bear wander through our campground at Breaks Interstate Park in SW Virginia.

3

Gear Talk / Re: Camping Gas/stove

« on: March 27, 2013, 02:19:40 pm »

I see that Walmart is now selling a Coleman cannister type stove with the same threaded fuel tank attachment as the MSR "pocket rocket" stove, and they carry the fuel replacements. In the past an MSR butane stove user would need to find an REI or EMS type of specialty outdoor store to re-supply fuel. This made the MSR pretty useless for an extended trip in a rural area. With Walmart carrying the MSR size tanks, that stove is now somewhat more practical. There's not a Walmart around every corner in the US, but certainly lots more of them than REI or EMS. Hopefully other hardware chains will carry them in their camp fuel section.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Butane-Propane-Mix-Fuel/20595064

sal99-

I think you could make it coast to coast on the TransAm using the MSR "pocket rocket"or equivalent if you prefer a cannister stove. I've made the trip several times in the past using white gas fuel.

Just for the heck of it I used the "check store availability" tool on the above Walmart link. (It's a boring March day here in NH!). I entered a couple of towns from each state where I remember Walmarts close to the route. "In stock" locations included Williamsburg VA, Christiansburg VA, Hazard, KY, Berea, KY, Carbondale IL, Farmington, MO, Chanute KS, Pittsburg KA, Pueblo CO, and Frisco CO.

You'll run out of Walmarts across WY but there are backpacking stores in Lander WY and W Yellowstone MT. West from there you can fuel up in Missoula MT, Redmond OR and Eugene OR. "Out of stock" today includes Charlottesville VA, Newton KA and Baker City OR, but there are Walmarts and/or backpacking stores in those towns.

A 220g cannister is $4.88 at Walmart, maybe a buck more for the MSR tank at a backpacking store. I would always have a cannister in reserve in case you come to a town out of stock. Yes, $4.88 would buy over a gallon of petrol...... but butane is so convenient.

4

General Discussion / Re: Budget travelers: Phone calls from public phones (booth)

« on: February 12, 2013, 03:18:36 pm »

I've had good luck and good coverage with Tracfone also. Study their phone choices carefully. I bought the LG800 that includes triple minutes for the life of the phone ($20, 60 minute time purchase buys 180 minutes, etc...) without looking up a promotion code.

5

Routes / Re: Paris to the South of France (Mediterranean), and beyond

« on: November 26, 2012, 06:55:55 am »

For a more specific suggestion for a route that does not involve big mountains, I once started a trip from Charles de Gaulle airport and rode south to the Pyrenees to join friends on a supported tour. I headed generally southwest from Paris on country roads to Chartres. I crossed the Loire just west of Orleans. From there on south, a bit west of Chateauroux continuing through the Perigord region south of Limoge and crossing the Dordogne River at Domme just below Sarlat. Anywhere from there you could pick a gorgeous route more southeasterly to Marseille, hilly but avoiding the heart of the Central Massif. I continued south to the Pyrenees.

I chose my specific route by linking up the smaller "D" routes on the Michelin maps and avoiding the larger "N" routes in red. It was country roads the whole way with just an occasional connection on an "N" route. A large scale map of the country supplemental to the detailed maps is handy to see the big picture of your overall direction of travel.

6

Routes / Re: Paris to the South of France (Mediterranean), and beyond

« on: November 25, 2012, 01:40:54 pm »

James,

Buy detailed Michelin maps of France and simply link together the smaller "D" (departmental) routes that are in white and yellow. The choices are seemingly limitless so there is no point in suggesting a specific route. Just put together the little winding roads and go! Camping locations are usually marked on them as well.

The regional maps are detailed enough but you may find them large and unwieldy for using on the bike-

http://www.michelintravel.com/maps-cat/france-regional-maps/

The more detailed local maps are more bike friendly in size-

http://www.michelintravel.com/maps-cat/france-local-maps/

You can mail order enough maps to get started then pick them up at bookstores and tobacco shops locally as you go.

7

General Discussion / Re: Tales of Calamity and Woe

« on: October 31, 2012, 02:09:31 pm »

On one trip my frame snapped where the chain stay is brazed to the dropout. It was late in the day when I was riding sweep with one other rider on a group Trans Am tour. We were climbing the hills from Buckhorn Dam to Booneville, KY when the bike started swaying wildly in the rear. I first thought the rack had lost a bolt until I stopped and discovered the damage. We hitched a ride into Booneville where the local garage mechanic welded it back together. With a touch of spray paint it was good to go for the rest of the trip!

On another trip when I was just out of high school my left crank broke on a trip from VA to Wisconsin. My buddy and I were in Saginaw, MI at the time and I had to hitch hike to Detroit to find a replacement Campagnolo crank. It was 1968 and the experience gave new meaning to the Simon and Garfunkle lyrics about taking "four days to hitch hike from Saginaw"!

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Gear Talk / Re: Frame Saver or T-9?

« on: July 15, 2012, 05:23:55 pm »

Seriously, when was the last time you even heard of a steel frame developing more rust than surface scaling?

I did about 20 years ago on my Bill Vetter touring frame. It had been professionally re-painted a couple of years before and looked brand new so I had no concerns about rust in the near future. A bubble of paint appeared on the top tube and this is what was below. I'm not certain, but I think the rust started on the surface perhaps caused by sweat dripping from above. It served me well though. One Trans Am and several long trips through the Rockies and France.

9

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Northern Tier Section 11 - 2011

« on: September 12, 2011, 04:57:00 am »

The Kancamagus Highway (Route 112) in NH reopened yesterday, 9/11/2011.

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Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Northern Tier Section 11 in NH - 2011

« on: September 01, 2011, 04:15:32 am »

For the benefit of those currently headed towards NH on the Northern Tier, here's the latest update on the Kancamagus highway closure that was printed in today's (9/1/2011) Conway Daily Sun newspaper:

CONWAY — The state said on Wednesday it had a plan to get the Kancamagus Highway open by mid-September in advance of the fall foliage season.

“The governor has made opening the Kanc a priority,” Department of Resources and Economic Development Commissioner George Bald said. The target date is Sept. 15, he said, “which is a lot sooner than we anticipated.”

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Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Northern Tier Section 11 in NH - 2011

« on: August 31, 2011, 10:37:02 am »

The Kancamagus Highway (NH Route 112) from Lincoln to Conway is closed due to flood damage. This includes the Passaconway Road that parallels 112 from the Covered Bridge Campground into Conway. They hope to have the Kancamagus repaired before the Fall foliage season.

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Gear Talk / Re: which freewheel remover do i buy?

« on: June 07, 2011, 06:59:00 pm »

Well, that is indeed a freewheel in your link. I have my FR 1 remover here at my desk.The cylindrical cross section is 21mm, exactly the diameter of a US nickel. The rectangular shaped splines extend no more than 1mm from that circle. The splines are about 2mm in width. If your freewheel matches that model the FR 1 should work. If in doubt, you could order the FR 7 as well. Better yet, if you're replacing the freewheel just trash it using the "destructive method" above and make sure the new freewheel is compatible with the FR 1.

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Gear Talk / Re: which freewheel remover do i buy?

« on: June 07, 2011, 11:29:28 am »

I just read your other thread, Ice. Did you determine if you indeed have a freewheel? A Specialized Hard Rock would most likely have a cassette, not a freewheel. If so, the FR 5 would be a better choice to remove the lock ring. If it's an old cassette. just two chain whip tools are needed to unscrew the outer sprocket and the other cogs just lift off. As briwasson has suggested, a photo would help.

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Gear Talk / Re: which freewheel remover do i buy?

« on: June 07, 2011, 10:39:55 am »

Ice,

The FR 5 is to remove a cassette lock ring, so don't order that one. The FR 7 is manufactured specifically for a Falcon freewheel. Unless yours says "Falcon" on it it's likely the wrong one. It's just slightly larger than the FR 1 according to the Park website. If you have to guess, I'd order the FR 1. It fits the most brands. It fits my IRD freewheel.

15

Routes / Re: Tidewater Potomac Route options?

« on: April 22, 2011, 04:31:41 pm »

Peter,

I don't think you'd want to cycle across the Rt 301 bridge. I'd imagine that it is prohibited.....almost 2 miles long, no shoulder, lots of traffic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_Harry_W._Nice_Memorial_Bridge

If you can arrange a lift across, just continue on Rt 301 until it intersects the Tidewater/Potomac route at Salem Church and Port Conway Roads. If you're traveling the loop counter-clockwise be sure to take the "Leedstown Alternate". My brother and I own a cabin on a pond in Westmoreland County (on map 4) and I cycle those roads when I visit.

edit- VA 218 winds around more directly to Fredericksburg from the Va side of the bridge. Not sure of it's traffic volume. It is a "red" road on the state map but winds around thru small towns and is labeled as scenic.