Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Who's driving the increase in Cassette cog numbers?

« on: May 23, 2013, 08:39:29 am »

This is not related to cog size but to the manufacturers driving choices. The basic bike computer really only needs to tell me what my total mileage and days mileage and time of day are. Not all the splits, cadences and heart rate etc. I found my Planet Bike computer going blank while on a rainy day ride the other day. I just want something rugged, reliable and simple. Any suggestions?

I will throw this in the mix in case it might be helpful to you in selecting a model...

When I shipped my bike to Missoula for the start of a tour I asked the shop to throw on a basic computer like the one you describe. They did. A Sigma. Cost me $25. Not long into the first day of ridin I noticed that the day mileage counter had reset to zero. It happened a few other times that day. It was driving me crazy. Thought the thing was defective. I finally realized what was going on. I put my left foot down when I stop temporarily for things like photos. The computer was mounted on the left side of the stem. The one button the computer has is located on the bottom edge, not on the face of the unit. The weight on the front of the bike often caused the bars to turn to the left, which caused the button to press against my leg for several seconds. Pressing the button for several seconds resets the day mileage counter unless the computer is in the time of day or odometer function. Not a very good design, especially since if you stop for an extended period the unit goes to sleep. When you wake it up by starting to ride, it automatically goes to day mileage function. You have to remember to change the function or risk having you mileage zeroed.

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Gear Talk / Re: Bio Lite Stove...

« on: May 22, 2013, 07:26:06 am »

I think there was some talk about it over on Bikeforums.net. IIRC, someone there also said it was good for base camp cooking and/or large groups. Another comment was that you have to continually feed it.

Query: What happens when you don't have a good wood supply or what there is is soaked?

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Routes / Re: Route help needed from Ashland, OR to Shasta

« on: May 20, 2013, 06:31:13 am »

OR 66 to U.S. 97 to Weed then College & N. Old Stage Rds.

Interstate riding, while often not pleasant, is sometimes a necessary evil, at least if you want a direct route. I rode some busy parts of I-90 in MT and a stretch of I-80 in WY and lived.

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

« on: May 17, 2013, 10:17:54 am »

+1 on the pedals, shoes and cleats. E.g., My Shimano MT-33L MTB shoes were probably around $50 a few years ago. Got a disocunted paid of Shimano SPD pedals earlier this year for around $50.

Why carry a spare chain? Learn how to make temporary repairs and bring the necessary tool and extra links to do so. In all likelihood, if you start out with a new chain I don't see much of a chance of any problems. I crossed the country with 12 other people. That represented over 55,000 bike miles. Not one broken or damaged chain.

+1 on the "locks." A fairly light cable and small lock are all you need to deter oportunistic theft. And keep in mind that a u-lock doesn't come in that handy outside the urban setting. I personally think many people have an unrealistic notion of the risk of theft. When I carry a lock I find I rarely use it. During my last week+ tour (10 days) I used my lock 3 of the 7 nights I spent outside. Would have been 2, but the Missoula KOA seemed somewhat accessible to the general public.

I see a budget for fron and rear panniers but only one rack. Four panniers requires 2 racks.

Come up with a budget for clothing and things like gloves based on where and when you will be travelling. Nothern Tier in May? You are going to want/need cold/wet weather gear.

What tools are you considering? I have never toured with more than a chain tool, tire levers, spoke wrench, a set of allen wrenches and the screw driver and knife in my Swiss Arm knife.

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

« on: May 15, 2013, 05:29:21 am »

$20 says you will lose your constant fear of theft once you are in the element.

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Routes / Re: Cape May, NJ Ferry

« on: May 14, 2013, 10:19:55 am »

You might try getting in touch with the Princeton Freewheelers club. Some members might have routing ideas. I am pretty ignorant when it comes to central NJ unless it's west central/north NJ (Hunterdon, Warren and some of Sussex Counties).

http://princetonfreewheelers.com/

Here is a lresource for regional NJ clubs:

http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/bike/bikeclubs.shtm

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

« on: May 14, 2013, 10:05:46 am »

10 to 15 min. to inflate an air mattress? What type of mattrress do you have? I used a BA Air Core for my last trip. The long one: 72" and 2.5" thick. It takes me 20 breaths to inflate it almost full and a few extra puffs to top it off. As noted, they are important for insulation.

I resisted a Camelback when I rode across the country despite having weeks of 90+ temps with massive humidity. I then went to southern Spain without one and ended up getting one the first chance I got. It was not the hinderence I thought it would be. I now routinely use one, albeit it a smallish one. 40 oz. I think. Nice thing to have when you have to dozens of miles to cover with no services, especially in the hot sun. I also carry two bottles, which allows me to carry stuff like juice without getting the Camelback gunked up.

Take the camera if you want to take the camera. I toted a Mamiya 645 with metered view finder, power winder and three lenses across the country along with a 35mm. Both were film. Didn't regret it for a minute.

A u-lock is great fior locking yuor bike to things parking meters and bike racks. A picnic table or tree at a campground, not so much. A simply cable will deter opportunistic theft. I don't lock up my bike far more than I lock it. If you are worried about someome walking off with you panneris every time you turn your back, you might very well give yourself an ulcer. Rationally assess the risk presented by the particular surroundings and take reasonable precautions, which may range from not letting your stuff out of your sight (downtiown Cleveland, OH) to nothing (an empty USFS campground in the middle of nowhere MT).

I don't think anyone is going to notice, much less care, if your clothes are wrinkled. And if you have synthetics, wrinkling shouldn't be a major problem. I have never used compression sacks for anything other than my sleeping bag and I have never been asked to leave any place because I looked disheveled.

Relax and have fun.

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Routes / Re: Cape May, NJ Ferry

« on: May 13, 2013, 12:24:33 pm »

I think I just saw on the news the other day that planned repairs to 35 have been put on hold--sort of. They are going to work on drainage before actually working on the road itself.

This was the original plan:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/02/christie_route_35_repairs_to_s.html

Like I said, I think some of the work is being put off for a while.

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Routes / Re: Cape May, NJ Ferry

« on: May 13, 2013, 10:49:21 am »

Did you end up travelling north along the coastline via 1/9/parallel routes?

There is a gap in U.S. 9 that cannot be ridden. There is an old causeway and drawbridge that carried U.S. 9 across the Great Egg Inlet. The brdge was closed to all traffic several years ago due to structural problems. The state eventually bought it and was going to rehab it. Then it found out that the bridge needs a lot more work than first believed. Last I heard, the plan was to demolish most of it and maybe leave a bit on both sides for fishing. It's fenced off and the draw is in the open position. U.S. 9 now combines with the Garden State Parkway to get across the inlet. Even if it's legal to ride that section of the GSP, you don't want to.

Your two choices are to go way inland to May's Landing to get across the Greast Egg River or ride through Sea Isle City and Stathmere and cross Corson's Inlet into Ocean City, where you can take 34th Street west out of Ocean City to get back to U.S. 9. Personally, I would ride through the coastal towns all the way through Ocean City, taking in some of the boardwalks if timing allows. The Wildwood boardwalk is interesting if you have never seen it. At the north end of Ocean City is a bridge that will take you to SR 152. Following that west until it ends at the traffic light in Somers Point. Make a roght onto Bay Ave., bend left onto E. Ocean, right onto Buffalo and left at the T onto Ocean Heights. That will take you to U.S. 9. The newly rebuilt 9th St. causeway (SR 52) out of Ocean City does have bike facilities, but it drops you off in a busier section of Somers Point.

Note that U.S. 9 in that part of the world can be very busy. Also, the road leading to the bridge between Avalon and Sea Isle City was damaged by Sandy. My GF's parents live right near it. It's supposed to re-open temporarily at least (it may already have) but there may be some necessary closures for final repairs this summer. I will try to get more info.

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General Discussion / Re: first big bike tour

« on: May 08, 2013, 12:55:17 pm »

Other than the camp chair, I don't see anything out of the ordinary item-wise, although the Q-Core is inordinantly heavy

No way I am sitting on one of my Ortliebs, especially if it's muddy. There might be hard items in them like a pump and tools. And using one for a chair necessitates taking it off the rack, which many times I don't bother with. I bring a 12 oz. plastic tarp. Great for two people to sit on and can be used as a shelter to cook under in wet weather. The tarp goes on the rear rack under the tent so it takes up no pannier space.

Never do I unpack all my gear on any given day. I take out what I need for the day/night and leave the rest packed. If I need to get out quickly the next morning, I a make sure I am prepare the night before by making sure I have packed everything I won't need the next morning.

Don't think a half a body legth of bubble warps is going to cut it when it's literally freezing out, especially for sometone like me who is 6' 2" and over 200 lbs. I will stick with my Therma Rest Pro Lite 3 or Big Agnes Air Core.

My GF uses a Cocoon pillow. Takes all of 3 minutes to pack up, weighs 3.5 oz. and is extremely compact. I simply stuff my sleeping bag sack with the clothes I will wear the next day and cover it with my towel.

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

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Routes / Re: Across North America

« on: May 07, 2013, 10:42:24 am »

If you want to bypass all the issues associated getting out of NYC/N. Jersey by bike, you can take Metro North from Grand Central Terminal all the way to Pougkeepsie, which is on Bike Route 9. Bikes are permitted at certain times provided you buy a one-time permit for $5:

http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/bikerule.htm

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General Discussion / Re: Companions needed for Trans America Trip in late June - Seattle, WA start

« on: May 07, 2013, 06:36:41 am »

As a veteran of an organized, x-country tour with twelve other people I had never met before, I would advise you, and anyone else who might be considering joining you, to be independent or at least be prepared to become independent quickly. If it turns out you are not compatible and need/want to split, having only one tent, one stove and one set of cookware is going to cause problems. Some of the people in my group annoyed me to the point I nearly dropped out at least once to continue on my own. In the end, I am glad I did not. Being in a larger group provided some insulation from the two or three people I did not get along with. I had to share shopping, cooking and cleaning duties with them every once in a while, but other than that I could limit my interaction as I saw fit and not feel on my own.

And you never know who you might click with. I was 34 at the time. My best good friend during the trip turned out to be someone who was 60.

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Mid-Atlantic / Re: New Jersey Wolf Preserve & Campground

« on: May 01, 2013, 10:09:07 am »

Finally made it to this place last week during a 3-day trip from Port Jervis, NY to Philly. Took a detour off the ACA Atlantic Coast route from Millbrook Village in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The campground (Camp Taylor) is somewhat rustic, but the bathroom and shower facilities were clean and pretty well maintained, and there is a lot of shade. On the way there you pass though Blairstown, which has a lot of services, including restaurants, a large grocery store, pharmacy and liquor store. NJ 94 was somewhat busy in places on a Tuesday afternoon, but there is a very good shoulder the entire way. Bears in camp are not uncommon. One had come into camp the night before I was there. There is no bear box, but I was allowed to store surplus food and such in the shower facility.

Took the tour of the preserve the next day. Before I did, I heard wolves howling earlier in the morning. In addition to the wolves, they have three rescued bobcats and two foxes. The tour guides were very informative and the animals are clearly well cared for. It was nice to see that the wolves are not kept in cages or small pens. They are kept in large, fenced, wooded areas that are measured in acres, not square yards.

My detour took me to the center of Columbia, NJ. From there, you can get back on the ACA route via the pedestrain bridge to Portland, PA. (Portland is the home town of the man who wrote the song "All I Want For Christmas Are My Two Front Teeth.") Send me a PM if would like the exact route. Be forewarned that the climb out of Millbrook, while short (about 1.1 miles), is severe the entire way. The 2.5 or so mile climb up to Camp Taylor averages 3.6%, but there are two very steep sections, so it is more difficult than it looks on paper. When you descend back to NJ 94 you will be glad you came up the way you did, as the way down is even steeper. On the steepest part, I had the brakes fully depressed yet could not come to a complete stop.

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Routes / Re: East Coast Greenway--Will my bike be ok?

« on: May 01, 2013, 08:21:26 am »

Be careful going through Chester, PA. Another flareup of violence there very recently.

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General Discussion / Re: touring without "eating out"

« on: April 22, 2013, 08:12:05 am »

Several of you mention "local mom and pop diner" - What is that?

Small, locally owned and operated diners are often operated by the owners' family, thus known generically as "Mom and Pop Diner."  They know and are known by the locals, who often will go there for a regular cup of coffee, sometimes a breakfast, every morning.

In Darby, MT we had breakfast at Sandy's Silver Spoon or something like that. A couple of regular locals came in, went behind the counter and poured their own coffee so the lone waitress could see to the other customers.

Places like that are fun to visit. They are also good places to pick up intel, such a nicer roads to ride. You may even get a surprise. In a local diner in Poe, IN on the Northern Tier, a compadre and I ended up in a conversation with the former Mayor, who was an active farmer. We talked about our trip and he told us all bout the new volunteer fire house the town had built. He eventually went to work in the fields. When we asked for our check a short time later, the waitress told us he had paid for our breakfasts.