Messages

31

General Discussion / Re: hip pain

« on: October 10, 2011, 08:16:23 pm »

Get the new hip if they'll give it to you, ObamaCare is coming :-o   My 60 year old husband got one 6/09 and the doc let him ride again after the one month recheck. The only thing he wasn't allowed to do for 3 months was a full golf swing. We were quickly riding 25 miles again. We're not even hard core bikers, just do it for exercise and to get in shape for our TransAm ride this summer.

He got 2 new knees 6/10 on the same day and for that they put him on a stationary exercise bike after 3 weeks. He was only in the hospital for 3 days after the hip and 3 days after the knees. He did all his hip rehab at home and for the knees he went 3 times a week for 3 weeks to physical therapy along with his home exercises. The new hip technique is way better than back in the old days. They don't even cut any muscles, they just spread them. And if it ever needs replacement, a replacable "liner" just snaps out and they glue in a new one. We highly recommend Dr. Ezzet at Scripps in San Diego if you're anywhere near.

We just got home from the first half of our TransAm ride :-)  http://bicyclelife.topicwise.com/doc/yumadons1

Suzanne
Yuma, AZ

We just got back from

32

General Discussion / W2E credit card TransAm on Trek FX+ electric bike

« on: October 10, 2011, 04:45:00 pm »

My husband & I just cycled the first half of the TransAm, from the Oregon coast to Pueblo, CO. Will do the second half next year. We're weak riders, averaging 40-50 miles daily, all motels (didn't carry camping gear). He's  60 with COPD, lung lymphoma, 2 new knees and a new hip and rode a 2011 Trek FX+ electric assist bike (I rode a 20 year old Raleigh mountain bike). Wanted to post this so anyone sitting on the fence knows they can do it too

Our blog including names / prices of all accommodations is at:  http://bicyclelife.topicwise.com/doc/yumadons1

Suzanne
Yuma, AZ

33

General Discussion / Re: travelling long distance with my dog

« on: July 14, 2011, 03:57:05 pm »

We met a guy touring with 4 panniers plus an Australian Shepherd (~50#) in a Bob trailer last summer in Utah, they've been all over together. He ties the dog in and sometimes lets her run along beside him. If you don't have anyone to keep Jerry, you just have to do your best with a setup to take him along. Maybe it's not ideal but don't let anyone make you feel bad about it, adult shelter dogs are not faring well in this economy 

Suzanne   

34

General Discussion / Re: Astoria or Florence?

« on: July 03, 2011, 09:21:52 pm »

We're flying United into North Bend / Coos Bay, 48 miles south of Florence. You can ship bikes boxed on United for $100. We're UPSing them to Moe's Bike Shop instead, 2 miles from the airport, advertises "the biggest bike shop on the Oregon Coast" because there's a chance United won't be able to get both bikes on the puddle jumper into North Bend.

Suzanne
W2E TransAm leaving Aug 1  

35

Gear Talk / Re: Recommendation for a great shop to buy touring bikes

« on: July 17, 2010, 09:18:39 pm »

Thanks. I can hopefully hit a Trek store this summer with a 520 in my size to try (does a 54" frame sound right for 5'9" with 32" inseam and 135#?). Tinker with handlebars as needed. If that doesn't work, you've given me some ideas. The husband just got on a real bike for the first time in 7 weeks since double knee replacements, he has some interest in a recumbent because he likes the recumbent exercise bike he's been using. Will be keeping eyes peeled for one of those!

36

Gear Talk / Re: Recommendation for a great shop to buy touring bikes

« on: July 08, 2010, 02:35:31 pm »

<< The 520 is a touring bike.  No other Trek road bike rides and fits like a 520.  As opposed to other road bikes, you sit more upright on a touring bike. >>

Glad to hear this. Hopefully I'll get a chance to ride a 520 this summer. May spend more time at the bike store in Columbus than at my OSU alumni stuff  ;-)

<<There has to be some other reason why you are faster on your husband's mtn bike than your mtn bike besides bar ends.>>

You're right. His frame is longer and the seat is higher than the handlebars, so I can lean forward some with the bar ends. I just put the bar ends on my mtn bike and I'm so upright on it that they don't really help. Definitely want a new bike!

37

Gear Talk / Re: Recommendation for a great shop to buy touring bikes

« on: July 07, 2010, 11:20:47 pm »

Thanks all. My problem with drops is having to lean way forward to grab the brakes. Plus I'm used to shifting a mtn bike with hands up on the bars. I was planning to do the TransAm on my old mtn bike til I rode my husband's mtn bike with bar ends and went 2-3 mph faster. So I got to thinking how much faster proper touring bikes would be. Let's not even think of all the extra time I spent in the saddle on Northern Tier and North Star  ;-0   Apparently, the (heads up) mtn bike was the reason I was always the one who could find license plates from every state by the side of the road and have extras to hand out . . .   

I've never even ridden drops until last week I tried a couple laps around a parking lot just to see if I could ride a Trek 520 with drops (they didn't have a 520 so I rode another Trek set up the same way). Scary hurled forward like that on flat, woe is me down a mtn pass. LTB says just buy the Trek 520 with the drops since it comes that way, ride it like that a little, then change it if I still want to. I really want a quality touring bike with the low gears I'm used to having on my mtn bike and the 520 seems the closest thing? I hate the idea of "low level" Valencia when I'm perfectly willing to pay for high level. You'd think if ACA magazine recommended Trek 7.3FX for touring, it would be good but the cheaper price worries me. Should it?

I really do appreciate the advice, I don't have much opportunity to ride different setups in Yuma.

38

Gear Talk / Re: Recommendation for a great shop to buy touring bikes

« on: July 05, 2010, 01:32:55 pm »

LBS owner also suggested Trek 520 with different handlebars but I was skeptical having looked at all the 520s at fullyloadedtouring.com and not seeing anything but drops. Now with all your comments, I think it's the way to go. I DO NOT want to buy bikes elsewhere unless absolutely necessary. I'm thinking we'll wind up with 2 of the same thing (me and hubby) and carry one set of tools / parts. Can spend whatever but thinking in the neighborhood of $1500-2000 apiece set up. We already own good panniers but probably need new racks. So whenever the 520s come in (Trek is out right now), we'll buy one and ride it as is just in case one of us likes the drops, you never know. Then proceed to change handlebars, etc in some way that allows a handlebar bag - I see in the fullyloadedtouring.com photos that people manage it even with the trekking bars. To me a Cannondale-type bag that I can reach into while riding is a must (chapstick, XM3pi, styrofoam cup with cold drink, map on top, etc).     

39

Gear Talk / Re: Recommendation for a great shop to buy touring bikes

« on: July 04, 2010, 10:06:53 pm »

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm in Yuma, AZ and would prefer to buy from my LBS, they're clients of mine and I honestly don't want to have to take them a bike I bought somewhere else. They sell Trek and I don't like drops so the Trek 520 is out. They suggested the Trek Valencia, which looks good in the pix but reading online reviews I got stuck on one that said the gearing isn't low enough for loaded touring. Previous tours (Northern Tier and NorthStar) self-contained I used all the gears on my Schwinn High Sierra mtn bike and spend lots of time in granny gear. Any thoughts on Valencia? - it just came out in 2009. Future tour (TransAm next summer) will be credit card so minimal load (rear panniers only). Would have to order without ever getting to see or ride one: 

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/urban/valencia/valencia/

The bike that looks possible is the Novara Safari. I'm 5'9" with a long torso so hopefully could buy the large frame with 29" wheels.l I'm not heavy if that makes a difference. No Safaris in stock online or at any Arizona REIs but eventually someone will get one in. Safari is really the only touring bike I've come across with upright handlebars tho at www.fullyloadedtouring.com, there are plenty. The high end custom builts just seem overkill for my purposes (tho I can afford to and don't mine spending whatever I need to).

Any other suggestions for a touring bike without drops?

40

Gear Talk / Recommendation for a great shop to buy touring bikes

« on: June 27, 2010, 10:05:21 pm »

Can anyone recommend a shop (or even a specific salesperson?) for touring bikes for a TransAm next year? We're not gearheads, to the point we've gone cross country and to Alaska on our mountain bikes just because they're trusty and familiar to us. Would love to upgrade to real touring bikes - lighter, faster, comfier, all that.

We live in Arizona but will be driving to Jackson Hole - Bozeman - Missoula - Minneapolis-St. Paul - Columbus, OH - Forest City, IA and back this summer so anywhere near that route is fair game.

Thanks for your suggestions.

41

Routes / Re: When did Adventure Cycling discontinue the big trips?

« on: June 17, 2010, 08:35:23 pm »

Thanks, is there a way to get an idea of the departing dates?

42

Routes / When did Adventure Cycling discontinue the big trips?

« on: June 17, 2010, 06:34:03 pm »

Did the Northern Tier and North Star with Bikecentenniel many moons ago. Now that I've got time for the Transamerica, it's gone    When? Why?