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General Discussion / Re: touring without "eating out"
« on: April 21, 2013, 06:12:29 am »
Several of you mention "local mom and pop diner" - What is that?
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Gear Talk / Re: Touring bikes...
« on: March 26, 2013, 12:44:17 am »[/quote]
No criticism intended for time it took you to choose a bike. I questioned side-track to ultra lightweight bicycle travel niche. I thought as a novice you had enough to think about in choosing a bike to buy. I stated even type of bike, because earlier you had not settled on a touring bike, considering also a cross bike. Best wishes on your choice, and may you have a very enjoyable and memorable tour.
[/quote]
Oh, I know
Thank you, I am very much looking forward to it!
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Gear Talk / Re: Touring bikes...
« on: March 23, 2013, 02:27:27 pm »It is nearly a month since this woman posted her initial question, and she has yet to decide even the type of bike she should buy. I suggested she concentrate on that....
I can´t resist cutting a quote from dkoloko.
I almost became a farmer this month too, so I have struggeld with quite a few decisions during these past months... 
Anyways - you have been very helpful - I thought I let you know what bike it is going to be.
Ta da! http://salsacycles.com/bikes/2012_vaya
The brakes will be upgraded, the gearing might be a triple and the tires won´t be that fat.
Thanks!
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Gear Talk / Re: Touring bikes...
« on: March 19, 2013, 12:48:16 pm »
Well we will see. I have fallen for the 2013 Salsa Vaya 3. After being in contact with bike stores - it looks like this bike was all sold out from Salsa in November 2012 
Who could have believed that?? In a consuming society like the US? Not me.
Who could have believed that?? In a consuming society like the US? Not me.
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General Discussion / Re: Touring Question
« on: March 17, 2013, 07:05:14 am »In Scandinavian countries you are typically allowed to have 5-6 weeks of vacation (25-30 working days). I mean paid vacation. And you get it from day 1 and everybody is entitled - even people without any sort of education.
That sounds great - and most Americans would love that.
But personal income taxes are at 50-60%. So yes, at least half of your pay check goes straight to the state. And gasoline costs 7,60 dollars a gallon at the pump. And 1 kWh costs the equivalent of 40 cents. I guess that all systems have advantages and disadvantages.
Lucas
That would mean that the americans have a great opportunity to prioritise a long touring trip because of more controle over the income, but I guess it´s not that easy... As to the medical question - Here (in Sweden) most people have a home insurance and adding another 30 dollars a travel insurance usually for 90 days comes with it. It covers all medical care, delayed flights, loss of luggage etc etc. Maybe there is something similar in the US?
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Gear Talk / Re: Touring bikes...
« on: March 16, 2013, 10:02:31 am »Uh-oh, did I just feed the obsession?Haha You sure did!
But... I think I will deal with the pannier color once in Portland... so don´t worry - I won´t start a pannier-color-thread here
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Gear Talk / Re: Touring bikes...
« on: March 15, 2013, 03:45:53 am »I agree that if you are buying a new bike for touring, your best bet is to buy a touring bike. But if you look for a bike that will do everything well, you'll never buy a bike at all, or you'll have a bike that will do nothing well.
Yea, I guess that is what I am trying to do...
Today I have been reading a lot about Salsa Vaya 3. That would be a good touring bike, right? As I would need a 54, I would get 700 tires. The disc brakes don´t seem to bad. I´ve been reading about them both here and elswhere. It seems that it is possible to take care of that squeeking.
If no new ideas will pop up in my head, I will probably end up with that one or a Surley.
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Gear Talk / Re: Touring bikes...
« on: March 13, 2013, 01:05:47 pm »
No pdlamb, I´m not doing a motel trip. I do need a good bike. I´m just so afraid of getting to much a bike that it will feel too heavy. I tried a Surley Cross Check. I guess it felt pretty good, but like someone here said – riding around the block doesn´t give that much. The Cross Check has the 700 tires and with a triple crankset it is slightly lighter then the LTH.
The girl that bought the Specialized mentioned above, reasoned that she is very light herself (50 kg) so that she could easily bring another 20 kg on the bike without any problems. It is possible to put on fenders and racks both front and rear. I have to admit though that it doesn´t look that much ”stronger” than my own Spec Roubaix.
Ok – I should hurry up and decide and order...
The girl that bought the Specialized mentioned above, reasoned that she is very light herself (50 kg) so that she could easily bring another 20 kg on the bike without any problems. It is possible to put on fenders and racks both front and rear. I have to admit though that it doesn´t look that much ”stronger” than my own Spec Roubaix.
Ok – I should hurry up and decide and order...
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Gear Talk / Re: Touring bikes...
« on: March 13, 2013, 03:32:52 am »
Many thanks for your advises!
So - I have decided to buy the bike in the US. It is so very much cheaper and also saves me the trouble and cost bringing it over. I would order it in advance.
I was going for a Surley LTH or a Surley Cross Check. I understand it would never be wrong, especially not with the Surley LTH.
But how about Specialized? How about this one?
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/road/secteur/secteurexpertdisccompact#specs
The fork and the saddle thing is made of carbon, and it has discbrakes. I don´t know about that.
I have a Specialized Roubaix – so it would practically be almost the same bike but this one is more for touring, well... kind of.
I guess I can get both the Cross Check and the Specialized Secteure with a triple crankset?
Or am I way off the road now??
So - I have decided to buy the bike in the US. It is so very much cheaper and also saves me the trouble and cost bringing it over. I would order it in advance.
I was going for a Surley LTH or a Surley Cross Check. I understand it would never be wrong, especially not with the Surley LTH.
But how about Specialized? How about this one?
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/road/secteur/secteurexpertdisccompact#specs
The fork and the saddle thing is made of carbon, and it has discbrakes. I don´t know about that.
I have a Specialized Roubaix – so it would practically be almost the same bike but this one is more for touring, well... kind of.
I guess I can get both the Cross Check and the Specialized Secteure with a triple crankset?
Or am I way off the road now??
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Gear Talk / Re: Touring bikes...
« on: February 19, 2013, 01:47:25 pm »
Hello again and thank´s a lot for your thoughts!
Just booked the air ticket and will stay a couple of days in the area of Portland to handle possible jet lag and to fix other practical things like cell phone etc. And then there is this Northwest String Summit Music Festival during four days west of Portland, up in the mountains. That will give me the time to get used to the camping gear and so. Then I´m off!
I think I will try to get the bike in Sweden. It would be good, like you say, to really try it out and get a feeling for it before the TransAm. I just found a little store in Gothenburg that put touring bikes together based on customers wishes. He does have a Surley LTH and a Cross-Check at home and he talked about frames from Thorns. It is not exactly around the corner, he might be far too expensive, but I´m very exited to go and see what these Surleys are like.
Just booked the air ticket and will stay a couple of days in the area of Portland to handle possible jet lag and to fix other practical things like cell phone etc. And then there is this Northwest String Summit Music Festival during four days west of Portland, up in the mountains. That will give me the time to get used to the camping gear and so. Then I´m off!
I think I will try to get the bike in Sweden. It would be good, like you say, to really try it out and get a feeling for it before the TransAm. I just found a little store in Gothenburg that put touring bikes together based on customers wishes. He does have a Surley LTH and a Cross-Check at home and he talked about frames from Thorns. It is not exactly around the corner, he might be far too expensive, but I´m very exited to go and see what these Surleys are like.
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Gear Talk / Touring bikes...
« on: February 18, 2013, 04:32:36 am »
Hello!
I have started to plan my very first tour on a bike
I´m looking for a bike to ride the TransAm this sommer. I´ve read some of the previous threads about touring bikes here but decided to bring it up again, since I have some questions that aren´t brought up in those treads.
Are there any touring bikes that are known to be more comfortable for women, with women´s geometry?
I wish to travel fairly light. I figure it will add up to 10-15 kg (20-30 lbs) or so. Bikes like Surley LHT seems nice but they are built to carry much more weight than that - so maybe I can do with a lighter bike?
I also find it hard to decide whether I should buy the bike here in Sweden or in the US. Buying it in Sweden would give me time to get used to it (I normally ride a very light carbon) but it would be much more expensive, the variety of bikes would be limited and then some hassle bringing it over (extra charge and the great risk of delay and disappearing). It might be easier to buy the bike in the US and just bring my own saddle..
And if so - does anyone here know of a good bike store in or close to Portland?
This may be a very very stupid question but the most common answer is that you have to try out different bikes carefully and see if you like them or not. How does that work? Do the stores lend you the bikes or do they put you up on a trainer in the store?
Every little bit of information is very much appreciated!
Greetings!
Cat
I have started to plan my very first tour on a bike
I´m looking for a bike to ride the TransAm this sommer. I´ve read some of the previous threads about touring bikes here but decided to bring it up again, since I have some questions that aren´t brought up in those treads.
Are there any touring bikes that are known to be more comfortable for women, with women´s geometry?
I wish to travel fairly light. I figure it will add up to 10-15 kg (20-30 lbs) or so. Bikes like Surley LHT seems nice but they are built to carry much more weight than that - so maybe I can do with a lighter bike?
I also find it hard to decide whether I should buy the bike here in Sweden or in the US. Buying it in Sweden would give me time to get used to it (I normally ride a very light carbon) but it would be much more expensive, the variety of bikes would be limited and then some hassle bringing it over (extra charge and the great risk of delay and disappearing). It might be easier to buy the bike in the US and just bring my own saddle..
And if so - does anyone here know of a good bike store in or close to Portland?
This may be a very very stupid question but the most common answer is that you have to try out different bikes carefully and see if you like them or not. How does that work? Do the stores lend you the bikes or do they put you up on a trainer in the store?
Every little bit of information is very much appreciated!
Greetings!
Cat
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General Discussion / Companions wanted - TransAm West to East
« on: February 16, 2013, 01:00:50 pm »
I am planning on riding the TransAmerican Trail starting late July 2013 or early August. I plan to follow the transAm to somewhere around Wichita, meet up with some friends, and from there head down towards Savannah. I'll be camping most nights, using hot showers when possible and occasionally a hotel room would be nice.
I´m a 49 year old woman from Europe and would very much enjoy to ride along with some more bikers for some/all of this adventure.
I´m a 49 year old woman from Europe and would very much enjoy to ride along with some more bikers for some/all of this adventure.
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General Discussion / Re: The TransAmerican for a beginner?
« on: October 15, 2012, 06:33:21 am »
If it gets too hot, one could start early in the morning. I suppose it doesn´t stay light all night long, not even up in the north of the US?
I think somewhere between 60 and 80 F is the most pleasant temperature - thats why I thought july would be too early.
I think somewhere between 60 and 80 F is the most pleasant temperature - thats why I thought july would be too early.
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General Discussion / Re: The TransAmerican for a beginner?
« on: October 14, 2012, 10:06:03 am »
Yes, I will try to ride as light as posible even with that camping gear. I will read your journals, thank you!
Oh, I don´t expect to complete the ride in 6 weeks. I think I can get 3 months off of work. I could start a little bit earlier but I understand that if I do - it´ll be too warm in the beginning, right? (I´m a swede and not used to very hot temperatures...)
I guess the appalachians have pretty much the same weather as I have at home. And thinking about it, we have already had some snow... A friend mentioned the posibility to end in Savanna. I would then follow the TA to Kansas or so and then go down more to the south east. But when I look at the map of biking routes, I can´t see any at all in that area. I guess there would be a reason for that?
Oh, I don´t expect to complete the ride in 6 weeks. I think I can get 3 months off of work. I could start a little bit earlier but I understand that if I do - it´ll be too warm in the beginning, right? (I´m a swede and not used to very hot temperatures...
)I guess the appalachians have pretty much the same weather as I have at home. And thinking about it, we have already had some snow... A friend mentioned the posibility to end in Savanna. I would then follow the TA to Kansas or so and then go down more to the south east. But when I look at the map of biking routes, I can´t see any at all in that area. I guess there would be a reason for that?
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General Discussion / Re: The TransAmerican for a beginner?
« on: October 14, 2012, 04:05:46 am »
Thank you very much for your very useful information, yumadon!
Since spending 85 dollars every night seems a little bit too much I think I will camp as well. I don´t mind camping but biking without luggage seemed so tempting...
I guess I have to look for a touring bike and a new nice sleeping pad.
Since spending 85 dollars every night seems a little bit too much I think I will camp as well. I don´t mind camping but biking without luggage seemed so tempting...
I guess I have to look for a touring bike and a new nice sleeping pad.
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