Messages

31

Routes / Help - Is there a safe route from Portland to the sea?

« on: June 25, 2012, 09:36:43 pm »

I am sorry if this is an old topic - I am on tour, and only have a Kindle, and topic searches are torture.

Is there a reasonably safe bike route from Portland to the sea?  We were on the PCH tour.  The hub on my wife's bike required a real bikeshop, so we took AMTRAK from Centralia to Vancouver.  We are in the "now what mode ".  We really don't want to go back ul to Centralia (getting really bad vibes from there and just want to movenon.

Thoughts?

32

Gear Talk / Re: Help. needed in Elma Washington

« on: June 25, 2012, 09:16:52 pm »

Just to close this out, it seems there are no real bike shops.in Centralia, either.  Willie's sells a little bike stuff, but cannot assist in bike repairs.  The other bike shop referenced in the GPX file is gone.  The bike gear sign should be removed from the ACA maps (if it hasn't already happened and I just missednit).

Anyway, thanks for the help!!!!!

33

Gear Talk / Re: Help. needed in Elma Washington

« on: June 25, 2012, 08:52:13 am »

Thanks for the feedback.  It turns out that Terry, owner of the Lavogue Bicycle and Apparel Bike shop in Aberdeen borrowed a car and met me half way.  The little town of Montesara was only 11 miles away with nice wide shoulders.  An unloaded Surly can fly!

Terry is a great guy!!!!!!!!!!

34

Gear Talk / Help. needed in Elma Washington

« on: June 23, 2012, 03:33:41 pm »

Hi - we are on tnd ran into a tire problem.  Somehow, my wife's 650 X 35 ripped near the bead and is ruined.  The dollar bill trick won't work and we need a new tire.  Elma has no bike shops or any source of tires.  Looks like I am riding to Centralia and back (round trip 70 miles) unless someone can think of a better solution.

Again, I apologize if I used the wrong forum.

Pat

35

General Discussion / Re: fitting tents into rear panniers

« on: June 15, 2012, 08:34:47 am »

I have Ortlieb Roller Classics - I put the tent in a front pannier and the poles on top of the rear rack.  Overall, I try to keep as much weight as possible on the front spokes.

36

Gear Talk / Re: Trek 520 wobble

« on: May 30, 2012, 11:43:22 am »

I have had the same problem with my Trucker.  I suspect it's the handlebar bag.  I can see it wobble when I pedal.  It is on the larger side and I think I've overloaded it (maybe 3-5 pounds).  I'm going to do some testing - maybe take it off and see, and put a little weight in it, or lash it to the top of my front rack (it wouldn't really make that much difference for accessibility).

Good luck,

Pat

37

General Discussion / Re: Neck injury

« on: May 29, 2012, 04:49:19 pm »

Shooter - I'm sorry to hear about your problems.  I've never had vertebra fused, so I cannot comment on that.  I am recovering from a rotator cuff tendon problem, and wen through extensive therapy (including weights) to strengthen the right muscles in my shoulder.

That being said, I am 61, and a day on my Surly includes the usual dose of stiff necks and shoulders.  Sometimes, at the end of the ride, I almost feel like the Hunchback of Notre Dame.  I have worked with my LBS, and they wanted to get me more upright, and a little closer to the handlebars -- to limit the shoulder reaching and the neck bending.  Second, I have regularly included one or two weight sessions a week, concentrating on core strength, shoulders and neck, as well as steps for legs (which has nothing to do with this).  Third, I religiously stretch after a ride - if my neck or shoulders feel stiff, I will stretch at a stop (doesn't take more than about 5-10 minutes so I don't lose much time).

Long winded way of saying - you might want to talk to your LBS about this, and maybe a sports medicine MD.

Good luck,

Pat

38

Gear Talk / Re: Replacing old RSX chainrings and/or crankset

« on: May 08, 2012, 07:32:34 am »

Not sure where you are planning on traveling, or how much weight you are planning to carry.  My wife and I just did a test run from San Francisco down to Santa Cruz.  With Surly and weight, I was pushing (literally in one instance) 105 pounds and my wife 90.  We were down in the Granny gear on those climbs.  We have a 24T and 12-34 rear cogs, with nine speed chains.  As I am 61, I do not think I could have made it over Devil's Slide with any other combination.

Good luck in your search,

Pat

39

Routes / Re: Mexican Border to San Diego AMTRAK

« on: April 15, 2012, 07:52:12 am »

Thanks everyone - I will let you know how it all turns out - we plan on starting our trip on 11 June in Seattle and expect to be in San Diego sometime after that (maybe end of July).

Pat

40

Routes / Re: Mexican Border to San Diego AMTRAK

« on: April 14, 2012, 03:03:22 pm »

Thanks for the feedback...I have no idea what time of day I will finish the actual tour...I'm thinking get it done...find a Motel 6 or hostel or something...spend the next day seeing some of SD...see if any bike shops have extra boxes...and go to the station the next morning.  If it sounds like I'm making it up as I go along...you would be right. 

Pat

41

Routes / Mexican Border to San Diego AMTRAK

« on: April 14, 2012, 11:03:08 am »

Hi - I am looking for recommendations on how to get from the end of the PCH (at Border Field State Park) to the San Diego AMTRAK Station.  I could just rewind part of the ACA map and redo the Silver Strand (maybe into the wind).  Has anyone done surface streets in San Diego?  Is the traffic bad?  Are there parts of town to stay out of?

Thanks,

Pat

42

General Discussion / Re: Good workout supplement to cycling?

« on: April 03, 2012, 04:16:49 pm »

You might try looking up what Joe Friel writes about.  I bought some of his books several year ago and he emphasizes a broad range of activities for a well-rounded workout.  His typical BASE weeks include

(1)  Two days of weight lifting
(2)  One day of single leg pedaling and / or spins
(3)  One day of Cruise Intervals
(4)  One day of long riding
(5)  One day of aerobic recovery riding

I started out using his weights, which emphasize strengthening the core and the legs.  After a couple of years, I dropped most of Friel's weight bearing and adopted a low weight drill put together by Joyce Vedral.  Overall, I think it works for me.

If you are really interested in this, maybe you can find a coach or personal trainer to work with you, assess your strengths, and build something which hits your goals.

Good luck,

Pat

43

Routes / Re: Weather in October

« on: March 21, 2012, 04:44:12 pm »

Hi - I live in San Jose, and train outside year-around.  October is usually just fine, although there is some chance of rain, it is usually quite good.  At this point, the coastal areas start to become warmer than the interior (or is it that the interior gets cooler), and there can be some winds.  But they are usually pretty consistent, and I think North-to-South is still the best.

44

GPS Discussion / Re: Garmin DVD vs Card

« on: March 21, 2012, 04:40:22 pm »

I appreciate the feedback.  I am aware of the limitations of the 705 as a tool for touring...as I am retired, I need to watch the pennies...so I'm trying to reuse as many existing resources as possible.  But I will upgrade where I need to.

Thanks for the idea of using courses.  I will have to see how that works out.  If all else fails, and I have a detailed "vanilla" map (no waypoints or other Adventure add-ons) I could always use it as a confirmation of where I am, as long as I can see enough satellites.  What to do about recharging is still something that I must work out.

Thanks for the feedback.  I will report back if I figure something out.

45

GPS Discussion / Garmin DVD vs Card

« on: March 13, 2012, 08:25:37 am »

Hi - I've looked through the GPS discussions regarding Garmin (since I have a 705), am new to Touring, and hope to do the PCH from Seattle to San Diego this summer (this is my first big retirement project), and may try to do the North German Plain next summer from Calais to Warsaw with some excursions through some of the Baltic Capitals.

I get that the DVD for the USA allows for "off GPS" trip planning on my PC, which sounds like a good idea.  But, before I order the DVD, I have a question about what can be loaded onto the Garmin.  I fully expect I will be able to load the route as a course, and it will display nearby Way Points (any number of web sites and other programs support that as well).  But I have never seen the added map detail from the other sites (I use GPSIES mostly).

QUESTION:  Will I be able to load the entire map to Garmin (assuming my card is big enough), or will I just get the particular route information that I have built up?

I am sorry if this has been specifically answered already, and I missed it.

Thanks,

Pat