Messages

16

General Discussion / Re: Realistic time requirements

« on: January 14, 2013, 04:50:12 pm »

Jamawani, Your discription of Hwy 12 sounds really lovely, the kind of travel I live for. Actually, I was considering cutting across from Miles City through Ekalaka on to Camp Crook SD on dirt but I don't really know if it would be possible or feasible. I would be running on scwalbe 32c's but I can mount 45's on my 98 trek 7500 hybrid with the dead rocksox fork. I'd be a bit concerned about the bentonite in some areas. I did a sliding 360 on a mountain road in CO with my pickup on that shit. Had to change my undewear.

17

General Discussion / Re: Realistic time requirements

« on: January 14, 2013, 02:03:36 pm »

Thanks for all your help, I feel a little bit more of the warrior spirit coming back to me. Yes I know it could be cutting it close with weather and other delays. I figure there's always the bus home if I get snagged up enroute. I was wondering if US 12 was terribly hilly between,say, Townsend and Forsyth. I have a co-worker at my job who worked on the airforce missle silos who said MT 200 was endless ups and downs out of Greatfalls. I love getting off the main roads as much as possible. A few years ago, I was riding west through SD towards the missouri when I stopped by a cityhall to inquire about a road. The clerk kept insisting that I not ride it because it was in terrible shape with potholes and such. She was of the impression that I was on a harley because I had told her about my bike ride out of Mpls. I'm glad I persisted because the road was fine for my needs and at the end of it was a herd of bison in a fenced off field that I could get practicaly nose to nose with. I'am thinking I'd take the ferry to Vashon island and by rainbow falls. Back in 83 I rode from Morton to rainbow falls to a beach st.park on the ocean with a slow girlfriend in two days. Should be able to do it in a day. We caught a ride over White pass into Morton. I'm thinking as much flat level riding as possible with paved shoulders as availiable. I don't much relish riding on the interstates. It's the pits with flat tires, no public interaction and the ever present danger of sleepy truckdrivers. (I drive concrete trucks) I got the last miles into the cities covered. Luce line trail from Cosmos!

18

General Discussion / Realistic time requirements

« on: January 13, 2013, 11:11:11 pm »

I've got it in my head that I want to ride from the west coast to my home in St. Paul MN this summer. I'am thinking of flying to Seattle WA. Riding out to Cape Disapointment st. park, dip my wheels in the Pacific ocean and ride home in about thirty days. My route would be the lewis and clark, I 90 to Miles City and US 12 through Baker MT. Cross the Missouri at Mobridge SD. Am I in a state of personal delusion? The hwy miles between Seattle and Minneapolis are upwards of 1600. I've done bike trips out to Garrison ND and back by various routes with total miles over 1800, granted it was kind of flat.

19

Connecting ACA Routes / Great alternative to ACA route out of twin cities

« on: August 22, 2008, 05:09:05 pm »

Starting at St.Joseph MN just west of St. Cloud is the Woebegon trail. At Salk Center it becomes the Lakes Area trail which will take you to Fergus Falls. I highly recommend the viking cafe in downtown Fergus Falls, Couldn't eat it all!

May the wind at your back always smell like home.
                  MORG

20

Connecting ACA Routes / Duluth, Minnestota

« on: March 15, 2008, 02:33:15 pm »

Take the Munger trail out of west duluth. It's a railroad grade so it's long but scenic and REALLY easy

May the wind at your back always smell like home.
                  MORG

21

Urban Cycling / commuting by bike

« on: April 12, 2008, 03:05:21 pm »

I wish I had a longer commute. I ride to work every day except in winter when I take a three month layoff. My commute is about a quarter mile, I could probably walk to work but it's easier and safer to bike it. Some years ago, I had an eleven mile commute. I lived near the west side of Minneapolis and cycled to the west side of St. Paul. I would arrive at work all bright eyed and bushy tailed. My coworkers would come in sleepy and bleery eyed from their cars and pickups
 I was hoping to take an assignment to work out of a readymix plant on the MN.-WI. border to have a twenty mile commute but the bid was dropped by the company. With the down turn in the housing market it's unlikely the bid will be offered again soon. Well, I guess I'am lucky to have a bridge to work on.
 You never know some times times things just flow your way. The bid from last summer had a grievance filed on it last year that went to arbitration. The company lost at the arbitration.(wonders never cease)So now to get revenge on the drivers the company moved the top five of us from the plant near my home to a plant on the east side of St. Paul, 10 miles away! YAAAAY! The guys who have to drive it are really pissed but I'm just tickled pink !            May the wind at your back always smell like home.
                  MORG

This message was edited by freightbike on 6-27-08 @ 5:11 PM

22

Classifieds / selling Bob YAk trailer and a regualer bob trailer

« on: June 07, 2008, 01:38:46 pm »

Replying to Bowman; The yak BOB trailer has a solid frame extending all the way to the rear wheel. The BOB Ibis has a suspension with a dampening shock for the fork and rear wheel. The ibis is for off or rough road travel. I have a Yak and I find it very useful and efficient.

May the wind at your back always smell like home.
                  MORG

23

Classifieds / selling Bob YAk trailer and a regualer bob trailer

« on: March 12, 2008, 01:11:17 am »

What is a CELLO bike case for bob trailers? Is it a special transport case to ship BOB trailers in?

24

Gear Talk / Long-shot handlebar bag question

« on: July 16, 2008, 05:36:10 pm »

I don't remember if it's a madden unit but I have at least one probably two that I'd be willing to send you for the joy of putting it to good use.

May the wind at your back always smell like home.
                  MORG

25

Gear Talk / Camelback stopper

« on: July 10, 2008, 03:23:45 pm »

Where do you suppose I get food grade silicone grease?

May the wind at your back always smell like home.
                  MORG

26

Gear Talk / Camelback stopper

« on: July 08, 2008, 06:32:33 pm »

Does anybody know of a good lubricant for the screw in stopper for a camelback hydration system? I have a heck of a time getting it open sometimes.  Thanks!

May the wind at your back always smell like home.
                  MORG

27

Gear Talk / Handlebar bag what to do ?

« on: June 14, 2008, 06:55:53 pm »

What about putting all that stuff in a camelback pack? As for the apparent discusion on aero bars, I couldn't get by without them. My hands and wrists will go numb and or cause searing pain at night if I can't get off them while on long rides. The only problems I have with using them are that my knees slap into my belly when I've put on a few pounds over the winter and getting to the brakes in a hurry. I tried to cobble up an inline lever to work my rear brake. But it was too troublesome.

May the wind at your back always smell like home.
                  MORG

28

Gear Talk / panniers in front or rear?

« on: March 28, 2008, 10:08:38 pm »

Kind of depends. You can switch back and forth if you have both racks. Front panniers are great for really heavy stuff as long as there is no wiggling on the racks. If the panniers are some what aerodynamic the wind won't be too much of a problem. You can mount them in back for days when the headwinds are brutal. One problem with front rack panniers is the heavy feel of the handle bars. Front racks were really developed to even out weight distribution for heavy touring. Making the front wheel carry more weight so the rear wheel, which naturaly carries more body weight plus deals with torque forces is less prone to spoke breakage. Plus front panniers could be mounted lower helping with center of gravity issues. I'd carry my five pounds of bike tools and spare parts down low in my front lowriders.

May the wind at your back always smell like home.
                  MORG

This message was edited by freightbike on 3-28-08 @ 9:09 PM

29

Gear Talk / AMTRAK, V.S. BOB trailers

« on: March 14, 2008, 03:41:40 pm »

 Hi Guys. I have some questions about traveling on Amtrak with bob trailers and specifically the CELLO system. I've so far had good luck with shipping my BOB trailer on amtrak in a large cordura duffle bag. I take the wheel, fender, off and reverse the fork. I put a shipping block in the dropouts. The resulting package with some gear added fits under the 36 inch length and under 50 lbs, the bike goes in to one of their boxes. So far I've had pretty good luck with this except for the time amtrak lost my bike for two days. As well as the possibility that amtrak won't have a bike box at the station for me to use.(and won't reserve or obtain one for me). It seems that it's up to the baggage supervisor at the time whether or not it's okay to ship the trailer this way. When I tell them it's a bike trailer, they'll say it has to be in a case, ie. box, carton, etc. I point out to them that it fits under the criteria and has no sharp points or pokes and is easy to pick up move around, so far, they have accepted it. I fear some day I'll get a baggage guy with a "tude" and get screwed. On the Katy trail there is a train you can take out or back but they won't allow trailers.(they have reserved racks for 3 bikes) Does any one know of problems with amtrak baggage concerning the Cello system? Also with the cello system, will the use of the BOB 28 fork fit it?   Thanks  MORG

30

Gear Talk / Trailers and Mass Confusion

« on: March 14, 2008, 02:12:00 pm »

I've toured New Zealand and a bit of Australia. My Aussie touring was mostly urban but in NZ I tried to get off the main roads as much as possible on the north island because the trafic is crazy. Drivers of all types were fast and not very kind to me as far as moving over a bit. Watch out for the "Newmans" tour busses on the south island! The back roads are "metaled" which translates to gravel chunks about an inch and a half in diameter. I was riding a trek 850 antelope with front and back panniers and generally went over the "chunks" making for a bumpy ride. If you're planing to head of the main roads, I would recommend a sturdy trailer with good off road capabilities.
 They drive crazy but generally Kiwi's are the nicest people you're ever going to meet, second only to the Aussies!