Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Near miss with truck on Trans-Am

« on: July 07, 2012, 02:54:06 pm »

The camera is attached to the handlebars and records at all time.  The driver should have anticipated that he could not get through the gap safely and slowed down, simple as that.  Read the road ahead and drive to that effect - at least that is what we are taught in the UK.  The driver buzzed all the group the same as us two EVEN when there was no other vehicles on the road at the time, so unless you are there at that time, it is very hard to make some of these comments.  Others in the group use mirrors too and had to jump off the road onto the side to escape him

I listen to some music in one ear, not the road ear, just like I do on all my rides and commutes around London, no safety impaired.   I think some of the comments are pretty scarey, almost suggesting that it is ok to do this to cyclists and that we don't have any rights on the road at all.  I'm not sure what some of the other comments "jamawani" makes off topic though.  Interesting reading!  Thanks guys

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General Discussion / Near miss with truck on Trans-Am

« on: July 03, 2012, 05:37:34 am »

Hey there, the ACA group out yesterday had a really near miss with a truck, he buzzed all of our riders by blowing his horn and trying to ram us off the road. Please share this video to try and get this jerk banned from driving before he kills someone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvHGZBbQmjo

http://webm8transamerica.blogspot.com/

3

General Discussion / Re: Getting bike to the west coast and back-from England.

« on: May 15, 2012, 01:07:53 am »

Hey there, I'm flying out with BA this Thursday to Richmond with my BMC roadbike.  I had lots of dilemas about what to do too.  In the end I went with the clear CTC bag with lots of bubble wrap and the silver heating pipe insulation you get from B&Q to go around much of the frame.  The thinking behind the CTC clear back, (from many posts on many forums), is that the baggage handlers will see what it is, and hopefully treat it accordingly.  My first tour trip too, and first transporting a bike by plane!  I will be posting pics on my blog of how wrapped up the bike is later.  Enjoy your trip

4

General Discussion / Re: getting insurance for UK rider in N America

« on: May 15, 2012, 01:03:49 am »

Hi after lots of research and reading of small print, comparing prices, (good that my other half is a solicitor and likes reading all that small print).  In the end the best deal with all the cover I needed for my TransAm, I went with CTC who have their policy with Citybond Suretravel.  Only cost £175 for a single trip 1 year cover.  Best we found

5

General Discussion / Re: getting insurance for UK rider in N America

« on: March 14, 2012, 09:57:17 am »

After lots of research and even more small print reading, I went with CTC for my 3month trip in the US.  They offered the best cover, protection etc etc for a UK cyclist.

6

General Discussion / Re: Must have iPhone apps

« on: February 27, 2012, 04:40:25 am »

All that for AC's Van supported TransAm, or has that changed?

Yep, added a few more:

http://webm8transamerica.blogspot.com/2012/02/iphone-apps-for-trip.html

Not going to use them all, and there are lots of similar ones till I find out which ones work the best

7

General Discussion / Re: transam

« on: January 31, 2012, 07:26:59 am »

Hi there.  Thanks, I did it mostly for myself to help plan my trip, as I have with interesting/nice places to eat.  Also places to avoid lol.

From reading his whole blog, I kinda thought the writer was gay anyway, I certainly didn't feel offended myself.  I think if you read the term in context ,I believe it was just a comment rather then a slur.  Maybe I'm wrong, the B&B info he supplied is helpful though.

8

General Discussion / Re: Must have iPhone apps

« on: January 26, 2012, 07:08:11 am »

thats great guys, thanks.  now got tons to help me out.  For anyone else who may want to app-up, then here is my list (TransAm cycle list)  Lots of simular ones as not sure which app is going to perform better.   Included are the ones on this postings from others - cheers.

countdown - how many days left to trip
compass - already on iphone
Google Earth - mapping
Currency XE - exchange rates etc
WS - warmshowers
track my tour - mapping your tour
blog press - blogging
blogger - blogging (prefer the blog press than the official app)
trip advisor - hotel ratings
bike doctor - maintenance
EMCL - locating medical centres
wi-finder - wifi finder
BA - flights
trip tracker - flights
flight aware - flights
skype - phone calls
viber - phone calls
iexit -
yelp -
foodspotting
around me - finds all kinds of things around you from a list
wifi finer- wifi finder
free wifi- wifi finder

Sunrise & Set
Amtrak
USPS mobile
Bike shops USA
Free wi-fi- wifi finder
REI

9

General Discussion / Re: Must have iPhone apps

« on: January 25, 2012, 10:03:22 am »

ah yes, I have that one, I've seen that on other blogs and looks really good.  Better then CycleMeter which I use, in that it doesn't use the network to record your journey, rather, that when you log in next, it joins the dots from when you last logged in.  Looks good.

10

General Discussion / Must have iPhone apps

« on: January 25, 2012, 07:17:09 am »

Hey again, just wondering what you guys consider "must have apps" to take on your tour?  Being from the UK, I wont have "roaming" turned on, so will be wi-fi'ing it across the US.

Also whilst I'm here, how about using the phone in the US.  Is it best to get a sim card when I arrive and stick that in, so I can make calls within the US as well as home?  Or are there other options.  Thanks 

11

General Discussion / Re: transam

« on: January 23, 2012, 04:22:29 am »

Hey there, yes that is a amazing blog.  For my own trip this year, i have taken the lodging information out of each page and put it on one easy to read version

http://webm8transamerica.blogspot.com/2012/01/next-list-of-b-hotelsmotels-recommended.html

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General Discussion / Re: Own Pace ~vs~ Shared Cooking Duties on ACA Self-Contained tours

« on: January 20, 2012, 06:29:07 am »

How about van-supported ACA tours?  I like cooking at home because I know the equipment I have in the kitchen and how it all works, not sure what we will have on the van-tour though.  Sounds like we are pretty free to do what we like when we like - within reason, which is good.  I really want to check out some of the restaurants mentioned in blogs I've read like Gertie's Country Store , E-Town restaurant, Jays Nest, Cooky’s Cafe, the-Split-Rock-Bar-and-Cafe  etc etc. 

13

General Discussion / Re: TransAmerica 2012

« on: January 17, 2012, 04:17:19 am »

Really? Wow, loved the photos

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General Discussion / Re: TransAmerica 2012

« on: January 12, 2012, 10:20:55 am »

Great photos on the blog

what camera did you use?

15

General Discussion / Re: TransAmerica 2012

« on: January 09, 2012, 11:47:40 am »

Yep def taking bike on plane, BA, mainly so that I can train for longer.  Only problem with this, is that its not a direct flight.   If I post it over, I could loose a month training and not be able to cycle to work.  I've ordered a clear CTC cycle bag, which I will bubble-wrap to heck.  Thanks