Messages

241

Urban Cycling / Re: Walmart Electric Bicycle Affordable To The Masses

« on: March 24, 2009, 08:47:50 am »

I am on a project down in Sarasota, Florida and there is a large Amish community and I see alot of people riding electric two and three wheel bicycles. The Amish won't ride in cars but I guess an electric bicycle is ok. Interesting

No no.  The Amish won't own a car.  Riding in a car owned by someone else is perfectly acceptable.  This using of your neighbor's resources and generosity can lead to bad feelings.

242

Routes / Re: How much to save to do the TA

« on: March 20, 2009, 01:33:34 pm »

I am doing LA to NY with my wife's brother in the summer of 2010 and am working on about £3000 (currently about $4000). However, this is to include the cost of flying from the UK to one US destination and then back to the UK from a different airport. In addition, we have yet to look carefully at the pros and cons of bringing our bikes with us and paying the baggage charges, buying two sets of bike carriers etc., or buying a new bike in Santa Monica and arranging a buyer willing to snap up a bargain in Battery Park! Then there is a long list of other things to think about including cell phones, insurances, consummables, camel backs etc.

We will be taking 28-30 days to complete the trip, and are planning for $75-$100 dollars per day to cover food and cheap motels. Emergencies will go on the credit card.

Richard

28-30 days?  Most direct route is 2800 miles between LA and NY.  100 miles a day every day.  Doable.  But less direct routes a bicycle needs would be even more mileage per day.  Maybe not doable with any kind of pleasure.  If you motel every day, which is possible, figure minimum of $50 per night.  Minimum.  More likely figure on $60 per night average.  Your $75-100 per day for lodging and food is about right.  Maybe closer to the $100.  Bring your own bike and take it home with you.  $200 airline cost.  Can't imagine a more miserable way to begin a cross country trip than on an unknown bike.  Thats even assuming you could find a suitable bike in your starting town without days and days of searching.

243

Routes / Re: Wanting to ride from Portland,Or to Des Moines,iowa - good route?

« on: March 17, 2009, 01:19:15 pm »

We are wanting to ride from Portland,Or to Des moines, Iowa this upcoming June. Would love some insight to a great route.

For the final 60 miles into Des Moines get on the paved bike trail at Jefferson, about 60 miles NW of Des Moines.  Trail takes you right to downtown Des Moines through the western suburbs.  As for the rest of Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, just get a state road map and pick out some lesser roads.  Most of the non interstate roads in the western states are lesser traveled.

244

Routes / Re: April Weather in Kansas

« on: March 11, 2009, 01:36:13 pm »

I am planning on taking the TransAm route, starting out in Colorado in late March, does anybody know what the weather will be like in Kansas and Missouri?

Kansas is usually OK by April.  Not hot and not cold, cold, cold.  Can be rainy and cool.  But late March on the Colorado plains can be cold.  You'd be better off leaving a month later.  Missouri similar to Kansas, cool and rainy.  BUT, it can be danged cold too.  I've ridden in the KC area where it was in the 30s in late March and early April.  And not much warmer a month later.

Tornadoes?  Lie in a ditch if you see one.

245

General Discussion / Re: ‘Camping’: Is it really necessary?

« on: March 11, 2009, 01:31:10 pm »

For all you biker/campers out there, what low weight set up do you use, or would you recommend for a short multi-day tour?

This is where I'm at for now, when packing light.  One downs bag good to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, and weights 2lb.  An emergency tent (>1lb), which could be used  only as a canapy/floor while it is low weight, but may be questionable under torrential rain. Thought of purchasing a bivy to better protect myelf from a rain storm. Note, there's no trailer or pannier, just a back pack carrying emergency kit, food, h20 etc. Riding technical back country trails vs. roads.   Any thoughts are welcome. thanx.

http://www.adventurecycling.org/features/ultralight.cfm

246

General Discussion / Re: Informatio Please

« on: March 09, 2009, 12:00:09 pm »

The Northern Tier goes through the northern part of Indiana.
http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/northerntier.cfm

The Transamerica goes through Kentucky just south of Indiana.
http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/transamerica.cfm

I presume both maps will have campsites and towns and such listed on the maps.

247

Gear Talk / Re: Oxford Low Rider panniers

« on: March 05, 2009, 01:13:58 pm »

Nashbar unfortunately doesnt ship to India... Performance does, but they dont really have anything that stands out.

Any other options for bags with good, robust rain-covers?  Worst case, I can probably get covers made locally but it just saves a lot of time to get them together.

V.

They sell the same Waterproof panniers as Nashbar and also the Transit line.  Both were acceptable and I would buy either again.

These would be the Performance version of the Nashbar panniers.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=23828&subcategory_ID=2312

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=23827&subcategory_ID=2312

Nashbar panniers below.

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_172248_-1_200350_200282_200350

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_172282_-1_200350_200282_200350

248

Gear Talk / Re: Oxford Low Rider panniers

« on: March 04, 2009, 01:44:06 pm »

You might want to look at the Nashbar waterproof panniers.  I used the Nashbar ATB panniers years ago and they worked perfectly great.  The ATB are not waterproof, which is one of your requirements.  I just put everything in ziploc bags and then put a plastic trash bag inside the panniers and everything stays dry.  Waterproof panniers don't seem to add much for me.  But based on my good experience with the other Nashbar panniers, the waterproof models may be OK.

249

Gear Talk / Re: Should I get a new bike?

« on: March 04, 2009, 10:54:24 am »

Building a wheel is rocket science.  Truing a wheel approaches rocket science.  Setting the tightness on cones is like doing drywall (one day it will magically make sense).  Everything else is pretty easy.

You overstate the complexity by a considerable amount.  Drywalling is much much more difficult.  And permanent if its not perfect the first time.  There are various books or online resources for building wheels.  Just takes some time and patience.  Hub adjustments is a feel thing.  You can feel if its right or not.  Although lots of new hubs have no adjustment to them.  Bicycle mechanics is pretty simple with a few special required tools.  I know there are many incompetent bicycle maechanics who ride across the country, but thats not what I would do.  I think everyone should know how to work on their bike before riding it.

250

General Discussion / Re: Looking for Cross Country Tour Group that accepts Trikes

« on: March 04, 2009, 10:47:28 am »

and wide--though only a few inches wider than a cyclist's shoulders, actually.

I looked at the Cat Trike website and they list 33" as the width of their trikes.  Greenspeed was also 33" width.  TerraTrike was 30-34" width.  I measured my own shoulder width at 20".  I'm not huge.  I don't consider 13" (33-20) a few inches.  A loaded bike with panniers front and back is only about 20-24" wide.  6" to 10" narrower than a trike.  Might be more perception than anything.

251

Gear Talk / Re: Four gears in hub.

« on: February 27, 2009, 02:52:52 pm »

I can't think of any advantage to having multiple chainrings and cassette and internally geared hub.

Unbelievable range of gears.  For the recumbent tandem I mentioned that does come with all three, it needs super duper low to get up the hill.  And can utilize super high going down.  For a single bike, no need at all.

252

Gear Talk / Re: Four gears in hub.

« on: February 27, 2009, 12:26:50 pm »

Recumbent tandems frequently use a SRAM/Sachs rear hub and triple crankset. 

The recumbent tandem I am speaking of would use a triple crankset, the rear internal hub gear, 3 speed most likely, and a 7-8-9 cassette.  60 to 90 gears, lots of overlap.

253

Gear Talk / Re: Four gears in hub.

« on: February 27, 2009, 07:21:32 am »

SRAM, formerly Sachs, also makes internal gear rear hubs.  Yes you can combine them with a multi ring crankset and front derailleur.  Recumbent tandems frequently use a SRAM/Sachs rear hub and triple crankset.  Chain tensioning would be accomplished with the second link.  As you state wheel strength should be good.  More gears over a wider range is a benefit.  Thus their use on tandem recumbents.  Upright bike would have no need for this though.  Disadvantage is cost and complexity.

http://www.sram-imotion.com/us/html/navigation_us.html

http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=8&description=Singleator+Chain+Tensioner&vendorCode=Surly&major=10&minor=6

254

General Discussion / Re: Looking for Cross Country Tour Group that accepts Trikes

« on: February 27, 2009, 07:13:27 am »

Er... Adventure Cycling? 
Cycle America
PacTour (fast!!)
Any number of charity organizations....

There's lots of them.  To each his own -- if the OP wants a supported tour, who are we to pass judgement.

Adventure Cycling is not offering a coast to coast supported tour.  Cycle America is in 2010.  PacTour true.  Not sure I would say there are lots of them, but some.  Not judging.  Just was not aware anyone was doing such an extended supported tour ride.  Lot of committment and cost to have support people and trucks for 2+ months.

255

Gear Talk / Re: Tri-Cross

« on: February 25, 2009, 02:50:43 pm »

I'm new to biking, and I plan to ride across America this summer.  I know very little about bikes.

The guy at the bike place I went to really pushed a Tri-cross.  I'll be taking about 50-60 pounds with me.  I told him I wanted to research it online, but I don't see much about loaded touring on one anywhere.  Does anyone have any advice or recommendations?

Assuming you are referring to this bike:
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=22302

Its not a loaded touring bike for carrying 50-60 pounds in panniers.  Its a cyclocross bike, sort of.  Its probably fine for pulling a trailer.

I believe there are articles on the Adventure Cycling website discussing touring bikes and what to get for a cross country bike ride.  And some webstie called crazy guy on a bike or something like that has many articles about people who rode all over the world.  I suspect many of these stories talk about the bikes and bags and trailers the people used.