Topics

16

Gear Talk / Safari Kick Stand

« on: April 22, 2009, 09:19:37 pm »

Anybody know of a rear-mount kickstand that will work on a '06 Novara Safari? They have this funny little strut bar that keeps the Greenfield rear-mount from fitting.

Thanks,
Hans

17

Bike Clubs / Petrozavodsk Bicycle Travel Club

« on: March 13, 2007, 10:13:23 am »

The Backcountry Trail Patrol Association and BIKERussia Ministries have an excellent corresponding relationship with the Petrozavodsk Bicycle Travel Club in Karelia, Russia. (next to Finland) They have an excellent website, although it is all in Russian. Even if you can read Cyrillic, your computer has to be able to support it, or it will come across as gibberish. But like a certain men's publication, you're really there for the pictures. Volodia has hundreds of photos from their many trips. Go to http://home.onego.ru/~pashkov/index.html

These folks ride all year-round, at a latitude equal to Anchorage, AK. The new homepage picture shows a winter trip, probably last week! They also welcome visitors, and will put together a fully guided trip for you. They were our guides on the BIKERussia missions trip in 1997. Great people, beautiful country! Check it out.

Ride safe,
Hans

National Mountain Bike Patrol-MN
www.trailpatrol.org

18

Connecting ACA Routes / Twin Cities to Ithaca, NY

« on: January 28, 2007, 10:51:30 pm »

Thinking of riding to 35th reunion of our high school class (1972) from just north of Minneapolis to Ithaca, NY. 1100-1200 miles depending on the route using parts of the ACA North Lakes and Northern Tier Routes, . (Avoiding Chicago.)with some addendas based on areas I know in MN, WI and NY. Anybody ridden that way can give me any insights?

Thanks,
Hans

Minnesota Backcountry Trails
www.wintersnowtrails.org

19

Gear Talk / Fishing for Advice

« on: April 08, 2008, 07:31:55 am »

I'm planning a multi-day trip on the North Shore of Lake Superior combining biking and camping with fishing for trout in the many tributaries of "the Big Lake They Call Gitchee-Gumi." I have two collapsible, ultra-light spinning rods, that fit into my panniers just fine, and I'll be taking at least one of them with me. But trout fishing doesn't seem right without my fly rod and some choice dry flies. I don't feel like unloading $150.00-plus for a packable fly rod. My two-piece Eagle-Claw fits into a 3.5 foot aluminum tube. I use front and rear Jandd Expedition panniers, although I have and could use a BoB trailer. I plan on using my Novara Safari, although, again, I have an alternate, and could ride my Bianchi Volpe. Anybody have any good ideas how to take the fly rod along for the trip? It could be worth a free trout dinner for the winning suggestion!

Ride safe,
Hans

St. Brendan's Travelers Bicycle Missions Team
www.stbrendans-spoke.org

20

Gear Talk / Laptop Handlebar Bag?

« on: February 22, 2008, 11:02:58 am »

One of my riding friends has asked me if I know anyone who makes a handlebar bag for a laptop computer (10"x12"x2") Aside from my personal reservations about putting a laptop up front, anybody have any answers for him?

Travel the road,
Hans

St. Brendan's Travelers Bicycle Missions Team
www.stbrendans-spoke.org

21

Gear Talk / Front Rack for new Safari?

« on: April 10, 2007, 03:05:47 pm »

I bought a REI Novara Safari last week, and ordered a Jandd Extreme front rack that I thought would go on it. It doesn't...the '07 Safari has disk brakes and the rack won't fit over them. Not an issue...I put the rack on my Volpe, but other than Old Man Mountain, what might my options be? REI doesn't seem to have a front rack suitable for the Safari front on their website.

Ride safe,
Hans

22

Gear Talk / Front rack?

« on: March 19, 2007, 06:45:37 am »

On the cover of the February issue of "Adventure Cycling" that cute young lady (Dont get on my case...my wife called her that!---Besides, my wife is right.) in the purple pile has hundreds of dollars of Arkel panniers strapped to a high-mount front-end rack. Can anybody tell me what brand that rack is? Is it OMM? I have been looking for a higher rack for my Volpe. I just don't care for low riders. I think it comes from doing my bikpacking on a mountain bike for the past 10 years.

Any insights or suggestions would be appreciated.

Ride safe,
Hans

National Mountain Bike Patrol-MN
www.trailpatrol.org

This message was edited by Trailpatrol on 3-19-07 @ 5:45 AM

23

Gear Talk / Volpe vs. ??

« on: February 27, 2007, 08:56:42 am »

I bought a Bianchi Volpe last summer and I love it! It is the most comfortable bike I have ever owned or ridden. It has verything I want, does everything I need. Since this bike is so good, I am wondering why would somebody spend 2, 3 or 4 times as much for a bike with pretty much the same construction and componentry? What makes a Gordon better than a Bianchi or a Americano better than a Trek 520 or a Koga-Myata over a Novara Safari? Nothing against anything else, really. I am thinking about the economics as opposed to the "ego-nomics" (Sort of like Chevrolet vs. Cadillac) Is there really that much of a difference in construction or durability to justify the big price tag?

Just curious,
Hans

24

Gear Talk / Russian Panniers

« on: July 18, 2006, 08:18:53 am »

When we were in Russia back in 1997, most of our guides had a fairly unique, "U" shaped set of panniers, which they may have made themselves. They are now available retail, in Russia.

http://www.veloclub.ru/rkzk/index.htm

Anyone have any idea if anyone is selling them in the USA?

Thanks,
Hans

Minnesota Backcountry Trails
www.wintersnowtrails.org

25

Gear Talk / Volpe vs. Lolo

« on: June 29, 2006, 07:15:41 am »

I just bought a Bianchi Volpe and was curious if anyone has taken one (or any other bike with 32mm-wide tires) across the Lolo Motorway on the Lewis and Clark Trail. I have a friend who is an avid (15,000 km per year) cyclist and leads a lot of touring trips in NW Russia on back roads, using a bike which is basically a Russian version of the Volpe. I am inviting him over to the USA next year and thought the L&C from the Adventure Cycling office to Kamiah via the Lolo would be a good ride. Could it be done on Volpe-type touring bikes or do I need to pack the Trek 4600, too?

Ride safe,
Hans

Minnesota Backcountry Trails
www.wintersnowtrails.org

26

Gear Talk / Novara Safari?

« on: March 21, 2006, 08:05:24 am »

I am considering a Novara Safari for my next touring bike, to take the place of my Trek 930SHX mountain bike (which is set up for off-pavement touring) I ride more on dirt roads and x-c ski trails than on pavement, and I also have a road bike for pavement and a heavy-duty mountain bike for singletrack riding. I have both panniers and a BoB trailer to use as the ride dictates. Anyone have much experience with the Safari that you could tell me about?

Ride safe,
Hans

Hans Erdman, WEMT
Backcountry Trail Patrol-MN
www.trailpatrol.org

27

Gear Talk / "Adventure/Wilderness" bikes?

« on: January 17, 2006, 05:31:50 pm »

Anybody out there heard anything about these so-called "adventure" or "wilderness" bikes? There was a feature regarding them on a local outdoors show in the Twin Cities. Basically they are wide fork, non-suspended mountain bikes with 3.5 to 4 inch tires that go on snow, sand, muck, etc. The two models I found anything about are the Surly Pugsley and the Evingson.

Ride safe,
Hans

Hans Erdman, WEMT
Backcountry Trail Patrol-MN
www.trailpatrol.org

This message was edited by Trailpatrol on 2-24-06 @ 9:11 AM

28

Gear Talk / New Bike

« on: April 27, 2005, 11:51:01 pm »

I bought a road bike. Nobody I know can believe it. I'm not sure I even believe it. The picture of Hans on a bike is Hans on a mountain bike. well, that has all changed. I was going to get a Bianchi Volpe, but it was gone when I got there, so I got a Marin Venezia with a rear rack. (Also my first non-Trek bike) Rode it 30 miles the next day. Really different than even my Trek patrol bike. Raised the stem 20 degrees, and put a WTB SST.2 saddle on it. Plan to add wider tires before heading out on the Lewis and Clark this fall. Hey, it's all about advenure, right?

Ride safe,
Hans

Hans Erdman, WEMT
Backcountry Trail Patrol-MN
www.trailpatrol.org

29

Gear Talk / Racks?

« on: July 30, 2004, 01:36:36 am »

I have a Trek rear rack on my Trek mountain bike and it works fine for my Trek Panniers II, but I am planning to upgrade to Jandd Mountain Panniers, should I go with the Jandd Expedition Rack? Any other suggestions?

Ride safe,
Hans

Hans Erdman, WEMT
Backcountry Trail Patrol-MN
www.trailpatrol.org

30

Gear Talk / Wheelie need help

« on: April 29, 2004, 10:16:42 am »

I am wheelie having wheel problems (Okay, enough with the puns!) I ride a Trek 930SHX, 24-speed SRAM 7.0 and I use both panniers and a BoB at various times. I also weigh about 250 lbs. I have started wearing out my second rear wheel of late, and am blowing spokes even on un-loaded rides, like the 30-mile Minnesota Ironman Ride (Fund raiser for AYH, that owned the "Ironman" name long before the triathalon came to be) I don't have a ton of money, but I want to get something that will last. Any Suggestions?

Ride safe,
Hans

Hans Erdman, WEMT
Backcountry Trail Patrol
www.trailpatrol.org