Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Moving back to Santa Barbara, CA. ugh

« on: June 05, 2013, 11:25:52 pm »

LOL I'm more interested in moving North, I keep getting dragged south. Plus the cost of living in SB is insane, so ugh...

But yes the climate there is fantastic.

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General Discussion / Moving back to Santa Barbara, CA. ugh

« on: June 04, 2013, 02:29:46 pm »

On the up side I will be leaving the central valley very soon I want to move north but SB is better than Fresno

I've been away from Santa Barbara sense '86 and only visited a few times sense then, I know I'm in for a shock... I'd love to hear from others that live and ride/tour in the area. I "live" on my bike having given up on driving the car just over a year ago and would be just as happy to not have to use it again

Having rediscovered cycling this late in life I'm trying to catch up on lost time LOL I rode my bike everywhere when I lived in SB the last time. All I know now is that the hills are going to be a challenge. It's flat out here in the central valley with few hills in my path.

Commuting and touring are my main focus, off road doesn't do anything for me. I'd like to see some of the old mountain roads I used to drive around in my youth, well I'm not that old but the millage this body has racked up... I feel it LOL

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Gear Talk / Re: Surly Disc Trucker v. LHT

« on: February 21, 2013, 02:59:34 pm »

4 mo's ago I picked up a DT, upgrading from a Trek 7100... Ya big upgrade :p  I don't have a front rack yet but carry a bit of weight up front daily and have not had trouble with pulling to the right yet.

I stopped driving a year ago for health reasons and really have no intention to going back to the car untill I can't peddle anylonger :p I use a BOB and rear paniers for shopping and all so while I have not put out very long rides, just local overnights, I have clocked 2k miles already. But my area is farking flat land... I'll be moving to Santa Barbara soon and look forward to all my old stomping grounds

I have not seen or played with the LHT yet but I would like to just to feel the difference myself. I went with the DT because I have some long downhill rides planned and after seeing a bike blow out on 154 due to rim fatigue... Ya I just feel better with the disc breaks

4

California / Redding to Eurika Hwy 299?

« on: May 22, 2011, 02:39:49 pm »

Planning our summer trip and would like some on the ground info about the route from Redding to Eurika on Hwy 299, Camping, Sites, Road conditions the works.  We are planning on taking a week long through the area. Also if there is an alternate route other than 299 that would be better suited to bike touring

I wish it could be longer trip but we are working on a negative budget :p so we are trying to avoid hotels...

Any help from thos that have been there would be great.

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Routes / Re: Level of ability vs routes

« on: November 05, 2010, 01:07:54 pm »

I do have an over night planned this christmas, we are riding up to my folks ranch. it's about 50 miles from here on the route we will be taking. It's a training run as much as a fact finding run with all our gear. This will also let us all know what it feels like to ride there and back the next day. We are also camping out in the field as if in a campground. I'm really looking forward to it and so is my wife, my daughter seems indiferent to the ride but really wants to be out there to take pictures, shes a budding photographer at 14 she took some college classes on photography and won awards at the state fair I'm hoping that motovation will keep her going for this

6

Routes / Level of ability vs routes

« on: November 04, 2010, 02:34:12 pm »

For the past couple months I have been planning a tour over parts of the Seirra Cascades route, Map #4 to be exact. After talking to a few people that have been on these roads, be it road bike or touring, have mentioned that these are not "novice" routes. While I believe I can handle them, I'm not so sure my wife and daughter will. I have the drive to do it and make this work, but they are only interested in getting out on their bikes for a stroll, any hard work may invoke a mutiny :p

I have voiced my concerns to the family and I'm getting mixed replies. So I started looking at alternat maped routes that would be best suited for novice levels in reasonable fitness (my daughter is not much for activity...) as I fear Monitor Pass would end the trip...

I'm looking at a few maps that could be interesting I have the #4 map in the Pacific route but my wife is not crazy about a bike on Hwy 1 :p We plan to drive out there and drive parts to see the road.

Our plan is to rent a van to get to the start point, so anything more than a day's drive from Fresno is not an option.

Any help would be great, the trip is planned for summer break, wife and daughter will both be out of school

7

General Discussion / Re: Touring Nutrition

« on: October 27, 2010, 01:36:11 pm »

I got that book and still reading it. Lots of general nutrition value there, also allot smaller than my Nutrition textbook from school There is some good info directed at cycling (go figure) though and that is why I bought it. Now to get my daughter on the same track to eating a bit healthier ugh...

There is a distinct difference between satisfying your body's needs for nutrients and your mind's desires for, erm, something to eat. Everything changes when your body gets into a mode where you are placing huge demands on it.

There are two excellent books from ACA's store but I can only find one listed:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/store/index.cfm/product/315_29/the-cyclists-food-guide.cfm

Any of the dozens of backpacking recipe books will provide you with solid and satisfying suggestions. 

david boise ID

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Gear Talk / Re: Shaking on the downhills

« on: October 21, 2010, 12:25:03 am »

I'm interested in this topic as I'll be going along the Cascades route from Truckee to Auberry, are these some of those hills you mentioned?? I worry about my daughters bike and her ability to control it. We are going to be practicing on local hills but I don't know where they are at the moment...

9

General Discussion / Re: Bike Fit Where LBS Doesn't Have My Size In Stock

« on: October 20, 2010, 01:26:37 pm »

I would try that with one of the big chain stores, small local shops may not have the clout to turn it back in or move it should it not be right for you. Big stores can ship it off to another shop if needed.

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Central California Valley Route/Corridor 93 / Re: Is there an interest in this area for a route?

« on: October 12, 2010, 01:18:51 pm »

I ride around the Fresno/Madera County area and find riding info few and far between. It seems to be word of mouth from LBS's or if lucky from some other riders. I'm stuck here for anoth 5+ years and would love to see some headway on getting some routes through here

11

Alaska/Hawaii / Re: Why No AK or Hawai on Route Network?

« on: October 08, 2010, 12:49:45 pm »

I'd love to see info on both locations. After living in AK for 8-9 years I'm pretty sure I a good idea what the will look like :p I'm sure the distance between services would be a bugger.

THere are some pretty good write ups from those that have started up in Northern AK and going south. I'm still reading the Vogel's trip blog in AK...

12

California / Cascades route map #4 2011

« on: October 04, 2010, 02:26:31 am »

 Next summer my wife and I will be taking our first long tour (not counting the over nighters  ) by getting a ride up to Truckee and riding the fourth Map route from the cascades route I'm sure I need to get some serious hill time in on my bike HAHA but I have driven all over this area but never took the time to do it on a bike While we are sad to not be able to make the Hawaii trip for our 20th anniversory, this is something we are not to sad about as a compromise Heck the map section swings right near our home so all we need to get is a ride out to Truckee :p Lucky for me I know LOTS of people that travel the area   So our costs are going to be greatly reduced and that makes my wife very happy

Has anyone done this route durring the summer season? You know when all the schools are out?? I know Yosemite is going to be a pain (it always is) but how about the rest of it?? I don't have the map in hand yet (it's on it's way ) so I haven't seen what roads it takes, I'm sure I've been on them at least once in my life lol... Going to camp as much as posable but will probably stay at a few inns allong the way.

At the moment I'm thinking 2 weeks for this ride. I'll see what comments I get and what the true route is when I get the map and really get a sence of what I'm getting myself into :p

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Alaska/Hawaii / Re: 2011 Hawaii

« on: October 04, 2010, 02:13:10 am »

Ack... Unless we win the lotto (crud, forgot we would have to buy tickets...) we are not going to be able to go to Hawaii next year... But we can still get a ride in Seems the Cascades route #4 map goes right near our city, so we are looking into getting a ride to Truckee and doing that instead So that is our new focus and now I'm awaiting the maps

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Gear Talk / Re: Cycling Sandals

« on: October 04, 2010, 02:08:23 am »

I have wide feet as well and I'm having a heck of a time finding any thing that fits...

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General Discussion / Re: Pannier Secuity

« on: September 29, 2010, 01:17:50 pm »

When I lived in the San Jose area I had a Specialized bike stollen off my 3rd floor balcony. Then next one wa stolen within 24 hours of purchase off the main street of Santana Row where my wife worked.

Any quality locking system will deter a mojority of these guys, but if they want it... it's gone... Nowdays I go with the theory of junky stuff doesn't grab attention, so I try to get the shiny new look off the item as soon as posable, lessen the ability to resell it fast.