Messages

31

Gear Talk / Re: Surly Disc Trucker v. LHT

« on: April 05, 2012, 06:07:29 am »

Hans, all your other points can be argued...

I wasn't responding for the sake of arguement. I was responding to paddleboy17's comment, "I am dying to hear what happens when a pannier laden touring bike does a panic stop with disk brakes. I keep thinking spokes should shear..."

I have been riding a touring bike with disc brakes for five years now, front and rear racks, sometimes with a BoB trailer, and have never had any problems with them on descents, paved or unpaved. That was my point, based on my experience.

Ride safe,
Hans

32

Gear Talk / Re: Surly Disc Trucker v. LHT

« on: April 04, 2012, 10:10:02 pm »

If you look at my profile/avatar picture, I am riding an '07 Novara Safari with disc brakes, fully loaded. Never had any problem at all with the brakes. Much better control on descents, no likelihood of the brakes overheating the rims and blowing a tire. No brake fade. Based on my experience with the Safari, I won't buy any new bike unless it has disc brakes.

Ride safe,
Hans

33

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Adirondack Loop after Irene

« on: September 12, 2011, 02:04:05 pm »

Latest on Rt. 73; It's open again, both lanes, from the Northway to Lake Placid.

http://adirondackexplorer.org/out-takes/2011/09/12/route-73-dix-wilderness-reopened/

Ride safe,
Hans

34

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Adirondack Park Loop - 2011

« on: September 12, 2011, 02:03:17 pm »

Latest on Rt. 73; It's open again, both lanes, from the Northway to Lake Placid.

http://adirondackexplorer.org/out-takes/2011/09/12/route-73-dix-wilderness-reopened/

Ride safe,
Hans

35

Routes / Re: How early to start Lewis & Clark?

« on: September 12, 2011, 01:57:49 pm »

Lemhi Pass shouldn't be much of an issue after May 1. Bear in mind we were still plowing snow in the Dakotas into April this year, and we are supposed to have another La Nina winter this year, which could mean more flooding on the Missouri all spring into the summer. If you plan on taking the overland route from Powell to Kamiah (The "Lolo Motorway") Forest Service normally says June 1 as a safe date. But remember, the Corps ran into problems with snow on September 15th, and that is not all that unusual for that part of the Rockies.

Ride safe,
Hans

36

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Adirondack Park Loop - 2011

« on: September 06, 2011, 04:14:42 pm »

This just in from Adrondack Explorer: Rt. 73 to re-open this month.

http://adirondackexplorer.org/out-takes/2011/09/06/good-news-for-keene-valley/

Ride safe,
Hans

37

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Adirondack Loop after Irene

« on: September 04, 2011, 06:51:45 pm »

Go to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) website for information on state campgrounds in the Adirondack Park. (http://www.dec-campgrounds.com/) There is a map with locations on the website. For reasons unrelated to the storm, about half of the DEC campground do close right after Labor Day, with the remainder closing on October 10th.

Ride safe,
Hans

38

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Adirondack Park Loop - 2011

« on: September 04, 2011, 06:43:07 pm »

From NY DOT: Exit 31 on the Northway (I-87) is open. You can get to Lake Placid by exiting at 31 and taking Rt. 9N through Elizabethtown to Keene, then Rt. 73 to Lake Placid (normal route) through Cascade Pass.

Rt.73 south of Keene Valley is still closed at St. Huberts. Rt. 9N to Wilmington and Jay, north of Keene hamlet is also still closed.

Sources: Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Adirondack Explorer

Ride safe,
Hans

39

General Discussion / Re: What about your Bike??????

« on: August 31, 2011, 08:49:15 am »

Seriously, we've never worried about it. I mean... how many criminal types are wondering in the woods and/or campgrounds looking for a bike to jack?

Seriously, as a park ranger for 23 years, bike patrol for the past 17, working in a very rural state forest/park area for the past 8 years, I lock my bike whenever I leave it unattended. Anything that can happen in the city can happen in the parks and forests, too. We have had homicides, suicides, rapes, assaults (even on rangers!) and many, many thefts in the parks where I have worked. Tents, sleeping bags, stoves, radios, and yes, bikes, have been taken from campsites. Sometimes, the loose items are taken while the campers were sleeping right next to them. It happens. Rangers can't be everywhere at once.

Ride safe,
Hans

40

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Adirondack Park Loop - 2011

« on: August 30, 2011, 06:39:32 pm »

The Enterprise and the Albany Times-Union reported that Rt. 73 east of Keene Valley is "gone", according to Governor Cuomo. NYS DOT hope to have the road re-opened before winter. Rt. 9N from Elizabethtown has reopened. but is still closed from Keene to Wilmington.

(Why am I posting this from MN?  Because, for many years, prior to moving to MN in 1988, this was my summer "stomping grounds" and I still have many friends in Keene and Keene Valley.)

Ride safe...watch the sky,
Hans

41

General Discussion / Re: Best touring blog sites?

« on: August 23, 2011, 08:35:06 am »

I use a combination of my website, (www.twowheeledexplorer.org), blog (http://twowheeledexplorer.blogspot.com/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TwoWheeledExplorer) Timbuctu.me (a social network for missionaries) and SPOT Adventures for anyone who wants to track me in real time. Although I have a spot on CGOAB, I have never used it because it takes all evening to keep the others updated! Consquently, the FB page gets the most info and attention. I can update it from (the little, tiny QWERTY keyboard on) my cell phone. The SPOT Tracker is pretty much hands-free after you turn it on.

Much of my travels are Christian missions trips, so I try to keep our supporters and team member's families as informed as possible on our progress.

Ride safe,
Hans

42

General Discussion / Re: Camping after Labor Day - Northern Tier

« on: August 01, 2011, 02:46:55 pm »

In these times of fiscal austerity, particularly in the budgets of state and federal park and land management agencies, it is a good idea to check the web and call or e-mail ahead to see if the facilities you want to camp at are open after Labor Day.

On the plus side, the worst of the biting bugs and extreme heat should be over by then, making for a much more enjoyable trip.  

Ride safe,
Hans

43

General Discussion / Re: Location-tracking website (route-specific)

« on: August 01, 2011, 07:26:16 am »

Last month I used SPOT Tracker with some success on the Lewis and Clark Trail east of Pierre, SD. Unfortunately, the weather turned against me and we had to bail after the heat index hit 105F and the winds were 25 MPH in my face, so it was only about a 20 mile test.  Have not decided about using it on the make-up (it was a fund-raising ride) on the Paul Bunyan State Trail, at the end of August. Our "base operator" in Minneapolis, was able to access the info on the SPOT website and keep track of our location and status.

"TrackMyTour" sounds good, but I have a Blackjack, not an I-phone or Droid, although with the "planned obsolescence" of smart-phones, I probably will have an I-phone sooner than later. I like the SPOT because even where the cell doesn't work, the SPOT will, and if I get in trouble in one of those "dead zones" I can still call for help.

Ride safe,
Hans

44

Gear Talk / Re: Novara Randonee Bike - 2011???

« on: July 28, 2011, 01:29:14 pm »

I've noticed REI/Novara has "commuterized" both of their touring bikes. The Safari like I have used to be one of the few (if not the only) "trekking" bikes available in the US. (I don't remember when Koga started selling the World Traveler here.) Now it has a standard Chromoly frame and 700c tires. It's basically a commuter bike. Sounds like the Randonee may be going the same way. Even though they sold out of the 26 inch, aluminum frame Safari every year, have to go where the $$$ are. I wish somebody would come up with an affordable (I love the Co-Mo Pangea, but it costs more than I paid for my car!) trekking-type bike on this side of the pond again.

Ride safe,
Hans

45

Gear Talk / Re: Novara Randonee Bike - 2011???

« on: July 26, 2011, 04:06:38 pm »

Novara touring bikes are good machines; I have an '07 Safari. But you can spec an LHT almost any way you want it. 700c or 26in wheels, "s" couplers, your choice of brakes and drivetrains, bar-end or STI shifters, etc. I would give it every serious consideration if I were in the market for a new ride. (And I may be, next spring!) It is a true "semi-custom" touring bike.

A new arrival on the touring scene is the Marin Four Corners. I have yet to ride one (or even see one in person) but the specs look really great.

Ride safe,
Hans