Messages

31

General Discussion / Re: Great Music For My Tour? Suggestions?

« on: September 01, 2011, 12:53:38 pm »

Think what you like, but when I'm on the road or camping or anything similar, I leave the electronic devices behind - I prefer the silence. For me that's the way the world came and I like hearing the wind, the birds, the screech of the hawk, and the truck coming up behind me. If I hear a tune, it's the ones that pop up in my memory, as though reciting an old story handed down. I also happen to like chatting with my perennial partner, my wife, about what we're doing. I prefer the endorphin load as well - it's a very restful place. It's a sad commentary on the modern world that we have little appreciation for silence and that we have to be entertained everywhere we go.

I should add that this comment was inspired by a conversation over dinner with another cycle tourist while we were camped at Elk Prairie CG hiker-biker site on the CA coast on 7 August. She had noted how many folks were touring down the left coast and were so absorbed with their iPads and such ("making love to their iPads . . (not her comment))". She was in her 15th month of riding around the world - www.getjealous.com/judezebedee

YMMV

Craig

32

Routes / Re: Western Express - Nevada & Utah

« on: September 01, 2011, 10:55:04 am »

Here are two journals well worth a good look. Both are experienced cyclists with a good approach.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=RrzKj&doc_id=6385&v=2S
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=RrzKj&doc_id=7318&v=1V0

Craig

33

California / Re: Bear issues in PCH campgrounds?

« on: September 01, 2011, 10:49:15 am »

Pretty much non-existent. CA parks provide food lockers so the bears and the raccoons won't rip into your tent - that's mostly what they're interested in. Bears are interested in your food, not you.

34

General Discussion / Re: New Member Question

« on: August 19, 2011, 10:35:44 pm »

Sweet!  Good knowledge.  I'm actually going to head south through Tonopah NV to Cedar City UT.  If I take off from MCMWTC (Bridgeport CA) and have to head up to the Fallon route (rt 50 i think) that may take a little longer then I want.  Basically want to just start moving in a easterly direction as quick as possible.  So thats why I chose the 395 to the 120 to hwy 6.   But who knows that may change between now and then.  

Leavitt Meadows is one cold place. US 6 is an interesting choice. With very little services. For a long distance, > 80 miles as I recall. You'd better be willing to haul a fair amount of goods to make that stretch presuming your intended destination is Ely, NV to join the WE/TA. Search Crazyguyonabike.com for John Egan. There was a discussion there in the last several months that included this highway with comments from him, I believe. It is a far more deserted road than US 50 with zip for water. I took a quick look but couldn't come up with the right link. I would research that stretch carefully before riding it. Best of luck.

Craig

Did a better search, here's the link http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/forum/board/message/?o=2SaFD8K&message_id=217123&v=G Be sure to read the other parts of that thread.

35

Gear Talk / Re: Power Supply on the road

« on: July 21, 2011, 10:50:27 am »

Appreciate your reply. I also received the "This charging product is not supported" and after dismissing, it no longer charged - batteries were at 9.6V. Retrying didn't work either. My suspicion is that the 4G has a larger battery (more AH) with a greater demand [research required]. It could also have been an issue with the plug-in charger (it isn't handy at the moment, so I can't give the model name). The more interesting item too was the crinkling noises the batteries were making, even after disconnecting. I doubt i have a any shorts, but I will take another look. The small size of the wires on the cap connector are a concerns as well. More experimenting to come. I'll check the links out later when I have a chance.

And definitely a DIY project, recommended only for those comfortable with electronics.

Craig

36

Gear Talk / Re: Power Supply on the road

« on: July 20, 2011, 10:11:56 pm »

I just tried this as I had all the parts and I'm going to say that I think it is a non-starter for at least an iPhone G4. With a nominal set of batteries it drained the batteries in a few minutes and I can say I've never felt a battery pack as hot as this one. I tried again with a full fresh set and it dropped a solid 2 volts in about 5 minutes and the batteries were sweating. What got my attention was the loud pop from some part of the setup (at least it wasn't the phone).  I think folks need to try this setup before going on the road with same. I had better luck charging the iPhone with the Power Monkey.

The voltage regulation from the power adapters works fine but with car batteries the voltage tends to remain level due to the amp-hour capacity of the car battery. With AAs the voltage drops relative to the demand of the unit. My Garmin doesn't take that much to charge, and certainly nothing like the iPhone.

My setup for charging a Garmin http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=2SaFD8K&page_id=129531&v=4L
The battery pack can be found here http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=140-978
The 9v snap clip is here: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?PartNumber=090-805
The socket is here http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=265-570

Bud may have a better parts list - his looks nicer than the one's I've listed.

YMMV
Craig

37

Gear Talk / Re: Power Supply on the road

« on: July 20, 2011, 02:33:09 pm »

I like what you've done here. I've used the same battery holder but with an LM380A voltage regulator and a mini-USB connector to power a Garmin Edge 305. But looking at this it makes obvious sense. I'm changing my set up when I get home. Thanks much.

38

California / Re: Pacific Coast #3 San Francisco to ... Crater Lake

« on: July 19, 2011, 12:48:01 pm »

Interesting. I would first like to see what YOU would plan for stops. I'm only asking as this is a pretty simple route and that would give us a better idea of how good a grasp you have of the route. And it should be a short list. It is likely doable but you may end up at Crater Lake a little tired. And Crater Lake is at 9000' more or less. You didn't say how you plan to get home . . .

Since I scouted a similar route last year, here's my suggestion. Take Amtrak to Klamath Falls. Ride over to the Crater Lake area for the century. Then ride over 199 and on down 101 to Castle Rock. You'd be on the right side of the road and the wind would be at your back. You're going light, so I won't offer my favorite alternative along the Klamath River to Hoopa and then to Eureka.

YMMV

Craig
Santa Rosa, CA

39

Routes / Re: Lincoln,Ne heading east through Iowa

« on: July 08, 2011, 02:43:49 pm »

This may help http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=2SaFD8K&page_id=207786&v=8y

40

Routes / Re: San Francisco to San Luis Obispo

« on: July 02, 2011, 09:10:28 am »

"Anyone done that ride?" Kind of a funny question for this site, dontcha think? You might want to search these forums first (or crazyguyonabike.com) - there've been a lot of posts on this route over the years and I'm sure you'll find a great deal of info. That being said, it can take as long as you like. You can probably rush it in 5-6 days. The only area that is slightly 'hairy' is the stretch south of Pacifica over Devil's Slide. After that, the route is a pleasure. Camping is plentiful unless they start closing state parks. You do have the ACA maps for this portion of the route, don't you? I think you need to do a little more research.

As for Amtrak, Yes. But Amtrak arrives in Emeryville and you'll have to get the shuttle into SF. If you're flying, you can take BART back to SFO.

41

Gear Talk / Re: High Compression Sleeping Bag in XL?

« on: June 25, 2011, 09:21:31 am »

We recently purchased the #3 version (reg and long). We're quite happy with them and especially like that they take a lot less space than some of our older fluffy down bags. In general, we've become fond of MontBell - they've got good stuff that packs small.

42

GPS Discussion / Re: Routing Software

« on: June 22, 2011, 10:37:33 pm »

Did you take a look at ridewithgps.com? Our club has been using it for routes for some time. Lot of folks use it, just beware that the computed elevation gains aren't necessarily correct.

Craig

43

Routes / Re: Pacific Coast - Rain or RV's, which is worse?

« on: June 07, 2011, 08:03:08 am »

My tentative plan is to fly into Crescent City on Friday, July 1 and ride south from there the next day. How's that? - I don't know which way the holiday traffic goes. If I had to, I could fly up the Wednesday before instead, though for some reason the flights from SF cost $320 on the Thursday rather than the $160 on Wednesday and Friday.

I don't see a problem with that. Gives you an early morning shot at the climb on 101. Crescent City is pretty far from the major urban centers so it's not like it gets a surge of holiday tourists. We rode it about the 3rd week of July in 2009 - you'll be fine - have a good trip.

cg

44

Routes / Re: Pacific Coast - Rain or RV's, which is worse?

« on: June 06, 2011, 09:56:55 pm »

Which part of the ride? If you're starting in Crescent City that weekend, I would imagine it wouldn't be that bad since you're headed south. Monday would likely be bad with folks headed home. Remember though the shoulder on 101 on the climb south of CC is non-existent and no fun. Hard to tell which is worse - the RVs or the semi's spilling fish juice on the road. After that everything really is pretty cool. Fact of the matter is traffic will be heavy on the holiday weekend and diminish after Tuesday. HB sites shouldn't be a problem, but motels might.

45

General Discussion / Re: Accomodations in Astoria

« on: June 06, 2011, 09:49:57 pm »

May not be your style, but we stayed at the Best Western near the OR end of the Astoria bridge and the folks were very cool with us and our tandem. Let us bring it in the room, no problem at all. Not sure about shipping to the motel - give them a call. OTOH we had a great experience with a shop called the The Bike Garage - you could maybe ship it to them if they're still in business - they're not showing up on Google maps though.