Messages

16

General Discussion / Re: Erie Canal with kayak in tow

« on: January 28, 2010, 09:19:40 am »

Have you read "River Horse" by William Least Heat Moon?  It's a few year old now, but it might give you some insite into what the Erie is like.

17

Routes / Re: Mexican excursion from Southern Tier

« on: January 22, 2010, 10:26:55 am »

I've been to Mexico many times.  However, my last trip into Mexico included an incounter with Mexico Customs with their machine guns and flashlights.  No thanks, I'll stay in the USA.

18

General Discussion / Re: Wireless internet on the TransAm?

« on: January 22, 2010, 01:22:20 am »

In December McDonald's announced they would provide wifi.  No purchase necessary.

19

Routes / Re: New to board: Eugene, OR to Sacramento, CA

« on: December 24, 2009, 01:33:29 pm »

You mighty want to research the Pacific Crest Bicycle Trail.  From Eugene you can catch it off US 20 at Suttle Lake and eventually end up at Lake Tahoe.  Don't confuse it with the hiking trail.

20

Gear Talk / Re: 2009 Bike Friday New World Tourist vs Dahon Speed TR

« on: December 21, 2009, 03:06:12 pm »

I've owned Bike Friday products since 1997--Tandem Two'sDay, New World Tourist, and a trailer.   Thousands of fun filled miles.  There's no passing the buck here.  I've never flown  with it, but people do it all the time.

Scott 

21

General Discussion / Wounded Warrior Project

« on: December 17, 2009, 01:28:09 pm »

I didn't find anything in a search. 

Has anyone participated in Wounded Warrior rides?

Scott

22

General Discussion / Re: Oregon Trail

« on: December 17, 2009, 01:24:02 pm »

I'm eager for information about Historical Trails Cycling.  They have been leading an Oregon Trail tour every other year. I was hoping to make the 2010, but this group seems to have disappeared.  Old address, historicaltrailscycling.com, comes up empty. 

Fifteen years ago I bought a book called *Maps of the Oregon Trail* by Gregary M. Franzwa.  It's nearly 300 pages of detailed maps.  Much of the trail is located on private property.  It's like following Route 66--hit and miss.  My suggestion would be to check you local library to see if you can look at that book before you invest $700.

Near Baker City Oregon there's a place that looks like a four-foot-deep dry creek bed, but the sign identifies it as the Oregon Trail.  I knew where the picture was I'd send it to you.  Onjloy the handbars of my Bike Friday are visible.

Scott

23

General Discussion / Re: Bicycle Touring with Dogs

« on: December 09, 2009, 11:17:07 am »

My wife and I took a dog several thouand miles.  We use a trailer from Bike Friday, built a custom thing on the frame.  Very stable and anywhere the pedals will fit the trailer will fit.  He, McBark, was free to run along side when we were alone on on a bike trail.  There's too great a chance of your dog quarling with others or chasing a squirrel.  You have to protect him because he can't do it himself.  He's like a kid.  But they sure alert you to visitors.

We lost him to old age a couple years back.  Huge loss.

Scott

24

Gear Talk / Re: B.O.B. trailers

« on: September 18, 2009, 07:48:15 am »

My stoker and I pulled a BOB to Grand Canyon.  We were too heavy and the weight wagging behind us was not a happy experience.  

Eventually, we learned to bring only what we needed and do so with panniers.


watch movies

I'll roger that.  We towed a BOB to Grand Canyon with a Tandem Two'sDay.  Poor choice.  We then bought a two-wheel trailer.  It worked much better, no wig-wagging back into the bike.

25

Gear Talk / Re: Bike Clothing For Glacier National Park

« on: August 27, 2009, 08:18:10 am »

Hello........
I am biking from West Glacier National Park to Waterton National Park in Canada and back to West Glacier! I am starting on Sept. 3, 2009 . Self contained tour & camping. I am trying to figure out what the best clothing is to take. I have shorts, jerseys, light weight biking jacket. I have been looking online what to order and am looking for a little help form my fellow Adventure Cyclists... :-)
I am from So. California.... trying to figure out what I have to get to keep warm and be prepared.
If anyone has done this area, I'd love to hear from you...
Thanks for all and any help.....

[/quote
==================
Mountains can make their own weather. 

My wife and I arrived at Grand Canyon, South Rim in late May.  It was a balmy 70 degrees.  The next morning the temperature was something less than 20 and their was six inches of snow on the ground.

Make sure people know where you are.

26

General Discussion / Re: older riders

« on: August 27, 2009, 08:09:14 am »

I am 68 and started riding and wrenching in 2004 to help me beat cancer. Have been cancer free since I started riding--so I better not stop. I ride every day and use the touring bike I built up from a frameset to run errands, shop, etc. I also have three road bikes. My wife and I are currently caring for her 86 year old father---so getting away to go touring is out for the time being. To keep my mind off caregiving, I started a bike repair shop. I have almost every Park Tool in the catalog. People here donate unwanted bikes and I restore them and give them to the Y. They always seem to find a person who can use a bike. I have done 30 bikes in the past two years. Am now working on two 3 speeds--a Raleigh and a Free Spirit. Finding people my age to ride with is hard. We have a bicycle club here that I belong to, but can`t do their rides--they run pacelines and average 18 to 20. They are also in their 30`s and 40`s.

==================
I'm 72 and I ride nearly every day.  It's what keeps me going.  At our age it is difficult to find folks with whom to ride.  But I'm satisfied to go it alone.  I remember a group of club riders passing me by one morning.  I overheard one say, "Why's he going so slow?"  If I could have caught up to him I would have suggested he wait another 50 years then ask that question again  :-)

27

Routes / Re: Denver to Pie Town, NM

« on: August 20, 2009, 09:34:19 am »

We own some remote property on 603 northwest of Pie Town.  We've pedaled a tandem from Jackson Park in Pie Town out to the property and followed route 603 to get there.  Not a good choice on a loaded road bike.  There's a better way.

After you've reached Grants find 117 and follow it south to 36 and then on into Quemado then go back east on US 60 to Pie Town.

Quemado has everything you'd need short of bike parts and repairs.

I don't have all the answers you may need, but if you wish to know more you can email me at: n7net at yahoo dot com.

Scott

28

Urban Cycling / Re: what bike do you use for pure urban ridin'?

« on: August 11, 2009, 05:03:53 am »

My best commuter was a folding Dahon Helios I used in San Francisco. Jay Gaerlan, a gifted bike guy in San Francisco, (http://www.gaerlan.com/)used the Helios aluminum frame and added front suspension, seat post suspension, 24 gears, fenders, a rear rack that allowed me to carry a briefcase pannier or a grocery sack pannier without hitting my heels or the ground, and combo SPD and platform pedals as well. He chose Vuelta rims that never went out of true, and Schwalbe Marathon tires that never suffered a puncture despite daily rides through SF streets with debris and potholes.

The big advantage of the folder in SF was being able to take it on the BART subway trains, folded, at any time of the day. Ordinary bikes are restricted to the first and last cars, and forbidden during rush hours. Busses and the CalTrain communter train allow bikes all the time in special facilities, so folding was not an advantage there, but being able to take the bike into a restaurant or hotel or library, folded, was a huge advantage. I had a hybrid stolen, while locked with a Kryptonite cable lock to a standpipe in a lighted, covered garage patrolled by an off duty SF policeman at an in-town SF hotel. The cable had been cut and no one saw anything. After that, the folder came in with me when I was visiting in town. Most places simply accomodated it as they would a wheel chair (which the folded bike sort of resembles). Great commuter -- carried my gear to work and back, and on errands. Quick to set up and take down, every bit as fast as the public transit in SF, but with a reliable schedule: I could leave when I wanted and be on time at the destination.


Doug Stetson
San Francisco bound

I own a Bike Friday NWT for the same reasons you've stated.

Scott

29

Gear Talk / Re: panniers

« on: August 10, 2009, 07:43:52 am »

I bought a set of four panniers from REI back in 1997.  I'm still using them.

Scott

30

Gear Talk / Re: Bike Friday or Bilenky

« on: August 10, 2009, 07:42:00 am »

Hi,

I owned a Bike Friday, a New World Tourest, since 2005.  I owned a Bike Friday Tandem Two'Day, a 1997.  Wife and I rode it thousands of miles--Granc Canyon, across Missouri's Katy, and crossed Arizona's Sonoran Desert.  Good bikes and good people who build them. 

Bike Friday wheels are smaller for ease of packing, but you have to completely disassemble it to get it into the case for travel.  The down side is that premium tires are more difficult to locate and smaller wheels mean a rougher ride.

You need to consider how much you want to travel and take along the bike.  Getting a bike carton and removing the pedals and handle bars is not really such a bad idea.  When you reach your destination throw the box away.

I would suggest googling for YAK, the list for Bike Friday owners and those who are considering.  The company stays out of it, and folks are free to say what they think.

I own a Cannondale with 700c rubber on it.  I sure like that smooth ride.  And it's as dependable as the sun coming up tomorrow.

Scott in Texas