Messages

496

General Discussion / Southern Tier in late fall - weather?

« on: October 11, 2007, 07:50:05 am »

I don't use ACA routes so I hit no passes. I followed interstates 8 and 10 more or less (using the shoulders, frontage roads and nearby highways) from California to San Antonio. I avoided the interstates around the major cities, between Tuscon and Phoenix and around the Rio Grande, of course. From San Antonio I cut south to Victoria and Galveston. Then up through Louisiana and along the coast to home.
I believe the ACA route goes through Del Rio. This would probably be a lot more scenic and interesting than I10 but with more climbing.
Keeping your route as far south as possible is a good idea that time of year but I'd advise sticking to the ACA route as far as Texas.

This message was edited by litespeed on 10-11-07 @ 6:51 AM

497

General Discussion / Southern Tier in late fall - weather?

« on: October 10, 2007, 02:30:00 pm »

I did it, more or less, in November-December 2004. El Centro CA to Florida. Cold wasn't a real problem but it was a rainy year. And, since the jet stream ate Texas, I had a lot of NE winds in my face.
It's certainly not the best time of year for it but it's perfectly doable. You will probably have some cold weather here and there but it shouldn't be real bad - maybe dipping to freezing in the morning a time or two. The only cold weather I had was just below freezing in the early morning in Mobile. Other than that cold wasn't a problem.
The best roads you'll have are in Texas and the worst are in Louisiana.
Don't hesitate to ride the shoulders of the interstates out west if it's convenient for you.

498

General Discussion / Lojack for bicycles

« on: October 12, 2007, 12:22:31 pm »

Sounds like you live in a pretty tough neighborhood. Stealing bicycles is a teenage thing. Where I live, once a burglar gets known his home gets torched. It's a pretty good deterrent.

499

General Discussion / Lojack for bicycles

« on: October 10, 2007, 09:11:30 am »

I much doubt it. About the only place you could hide a transmitter on a bicycle would be under the seat. It would have to be mighty teeny. I don't know the size of a Lojack box but it is most likely too big. You could google Lojack and ask them.
You could always check with a shop that deals in spy and surveillance stuff.

500

General Discussion / Northern Tier and passports...

« on: October 03, 2007, 12:44:28 pm »

Regardless, it's ALWAYS a good idea to have a passport and to have it with you whenever there is the slightest possibility you might need it. You never know what travel opportunity will come up. If you don't have one apply now.

This message was edited by litespeed on 10-3-07 @ 11:48 AM

501

General Discussion / Bringing pets on long trips?

« on: October 02, 2007, 02:24:12 pm »

I think the decision will be pretty much up to the dog - whether or not it likes to ride. You'll probably have to train the little beast almost from birth. Some grown cats and dogs take to riding but it's rare. I've seen cats and dogs on day rides but never on a long trip. I can see the charm in it though. It would be a great ice breaker with strangers especially if it's a cute dog.

502

General Discussion / leg cramps

« on: September 30, 2007, 08:15:42 am »

Living in Florida and spending most of my time outdoors doing hard work has taught me to drink LOTS of liquid. Drinking between a pint and a quart of liquid per hour will most always prevent cramps. I haven't gotten cramps in over 20 years.

I used to drink lots of Gatorade but now drink mostly water. Water has the advantage of having 0 calories - a good way to keep your weight down. I take no pills of any kind, not even vitamins. I have been ill once in the past 40+ years - appendicitis at age 64, of all things.

503

General Discussion / Which Touring Tires?

« on: September 10, 2007, 11:28:29 am »

"Continental Top Touring are out of production and probably getting hard to find.  Right?"

Izzat so? I'll have to check that out. I know my shop still has two in stock. If they no longer make them I'll scarf them up and keep them aside for future use. I've never used anything else.  

504

General Discussion / Which Touring Tires?

« on: September 09, 2007, 08:12:21 am »

Continental Top Touring.

505

General Discussion / 55 + cross country

« on: August 25, 2007, 10:00:02 am »

When I'm looking for an inexpensive motel - the only kind I use - I look for a smiling Indian face behind the counter. It's most always a good deal. I avoid motels advertising "American Owned" like the plague.

506

General Discussion / 55 + cross country

« on: August 11, 2007, 01:52:44 pm »

I wouldn't even worry about your age(s). I'm 66, almost 67, weigh 200 lbs. and have no trouble knocking out 100+ miles a day fully loaded (camping gear but no food or cooking gear) even in the mountains. I've always felt that the main requirement for a touring cyclist is persistence - the ability to slog away all day at hard, often tedious work and to deal with problems as they come up.
I spent a lot of my life doing hard, dirty outdoor work. I'm not really joking when I say that it was good training for bicycle touring.

This message was edited by litespeed on 8-11-07 @ 3:27 PM

507

General Discussion / Hurting Feet

« on: October 07, 2007, 03:55:38 pm »

I tried vacyclist's advice to move my SPD cleats fully rearward. I did my Sunday ride today and the improvement in comfort was considerable. I wish I'd known about this years ago.

508

General Discussion / Hurting Feet

« on: September 26, 2007, 12:11:51 pm »

I use mountain SPD's and suffer pain in my right foot. It was crushed when I was 23. I can live with it but it gets real bad when it rains and my shoes get soaked. Apparently the skin softens - something like the "immersion foot" that soldiers in Vietnam got. I might get some type of waterproof booties to avoid this. Any suggestions?

509

General Discussion / Toruing shoes

« on: May 24, 2007, 09:28:22 am »

I used MTB Answer Speeders for years with generic double-sided SPD MTB pedals. No problems despite having a very sensitive right foot. It was crushed in a freak accident and painstakingly rebuilt when I was 23.
Now I have a pair of Shimano MTB shoes and the usual generic SPD's.
I used to get occasional "burning feet" but over the years it seems to have gradually stopped.

510

General Discussion / Spare Tire recommendations

« on: May 15, 2007, 03:25:03 pm »

I use Continental Top Touring 37x700 tires on the wide custom rims on my touring bike. For a spare I just double one over, tape it together with vinyl tape and stuff it in my rear pannier. It forms a circle about 10-12" in diameter. Other stuff gets packed inside and around it. Over the years I have cut (destroyed) one tire while touring and another on a paved trail near my home here.