Messages

46

Gear Talk / Re: Camping Gas/stove

« on: March 23, 2013, 09:42:45 am »

White Gas is mainly normal gasoline which has not been formulated for using in automobile engines. It is more filtered and generally purer than what you get out of a gasoline pump. It is called by several names in camping stores such as Coleman Fuel, Crown Camping Fuel, and MSR Fuel. It can be sold in 1 gallon cans and in 1 quart bottles or cans. The big stores such as Wal-mart will have the gallon can and sometimes the quart bottle. Camping stores often have the quart bottles or will sell you a quart out of an open gallon can at the store. Often, you can buy a quart off of someone at the campgrounds that has a gallon can with them, they are the people with the big RV rigs.

+1 on availability of the quart cans. I tend to find them more at independent camping stores and at REI and EMS. Only once was I low and forced to buy a gallon. I left behind at a campground what I could not carry for others to use. And I also had a camp store offer to fill my fuel bottle from a gallon can. If you don't want to carry two fuel bottles, you can simply carry the can with the remaining fuel in your pannier and top off your bottle each time you use the stove until the can is empty.

Another handy use for white gas is starting campfires.

47

Routes / Re: video: Monte Grappa challenge : great cycling event, legendary, steep ascents

« on: March 23, 2013, 09:32:18 am »

We will be flying to Venice in late May for a week+ of riding at the Italian Cycling Center, which is located in Bassano del Grappo. Have every intention of climbing Monte Grappa, just not sure from which direction. But it will certainly be a much shorter ride than yours.

48

Routes / Re: Route 93 Arizona to Montana

« on: March 23, 2013, 09:27:46 am »

Forgot to mention that when you cross the Elk River after Roosville, there is a nasty little hill. 8% for 2 km:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davez2007/3673821956/in/set-72157620763740044

Then PR 93 has one of the craziest false flats I have ever ridden:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davez2007/3673822746/in/set-72157620763740044

It extends all the way to the junction with PR 3. I couldn't understand why I was having such a hard time until I turned around and saw that I was actually gaining elevation.

Finally, while I haven't ridden it, it's my understanding that U.S. 93 is not the optimal way to get between Missoula and the Big Fork area. The east side, which I rode back in '00, (Rtes. 200 and 83, if I recall correctly), is supposed to be nicer.

From Big Fork, U.S. 2 might be flatter than 93. If you go that way, I would avoid cutting over to 93 on Rte. 40 if you can. Heavy traffic and noisy in '09. We only took it because our hotel for the end of the trip was on 93. Instead, stay straight on Hamilton to Edgewood.

Bring ear plugs if you plan to camp at the state park in Whitefish. It's close to the rail yard. We started the trip from the KOA on 93.

If you walk around Whitefish, don't miss seeing Frampton & Morrison in an old F.L. Wright building. Best law firm name ever. They also have an office on 93 in Eureka.

49

Routes / Re: D&R Canal Trail - Road Bike

« on: March 21, 2013, 08:38:23 am »

Hi!

Although the canal is a wonderful trail- mtn tires are definitely a necessity.  I've ridden approximately 30 miles of it and there are areas that are cobblestones.   There are small sections you can ride on a road bike, but you'd have to plan ahead.  If you are absolutely determined to ride it on a road bike, be prepared to walk your bike numerous times. 

Tina

I have been corresponding with the OP on another forum. I have never ridden the path along the main canal (Trenton to New Brunswick), but I have ridden the entire path along the feeder canal between L'Ville and Frenchtown and some portions south of there towards Trenton on my road bike with 23c tires. No problemo, and I don't recall any cobblestones. Depending on the condition of SR 29 above Stockton, NJ, the trail can be a better alternative. The shoulder of SR 29 (especially heading north) can be strewn with gravel from broken road patching and small tree branches.

50

Routes / Re: Route 93 Arizona to Montana

« on: March 21, 2013, 08:30:17 am »

A couple of random thoughts:

Heed Carla's advice. A few years ago we headed out of Missoula towards Lost Trail Pass at the end of June. While that day turned out to be decent, when we landed the day before it was chilly with off and on showers. When we passed through Darby on Day 1, a local told us they got over 1" of cold rain the day before. Again, this was at the end of June. Snow showers had been forecast in a few places the week before we arrived.

In '09 I did Whitefish to Roosville in mid-June. Chilly and dreary most of the day with off and on showers:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davez2007/3673007081/in/set-72157620763740044


http://www.flickr.com/photos/davez2007/3673815126/in/set-72157620763740044

Same was true when I rode Eureka to Whitefish in mid-June of '99 and '00.

Adventure Cycling's Great Parks North and Nothern Tier routes between Whitefish and Eureka keep you off 93 in places. They are quiet roads with nice scenery. I recommend you follow them. Stop in Olney, just off 93, along the way. There is a neat store there with a collection of old pop bottles:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davez2007/3673005485/in/set-72157620763740044

Salmon to Missoula is 140 miles with a nice climb out of the box. Are you used to long mileages like that? Once you cross Lost Trail Pass, it's mostly down hill to Darby to one degree or another. I would describe Darby to Missoula as pretty much gently rolling to rolling unless you take Old Dabry Rd./Sleeping Child Rd. between Darby and Hamilton, which has more hills but is much nicer than the highway. Amy way you slice it, it's a long way.

51

General Discussion / Re: Touring Question

« on: March 18, 2013, 07:06:16 am »

"Significant deprivations in other areas of their life."  Living below your absolute means for a few years is a significant deprivation?  Saving money is a significant deprivation?  Not buying a new or luxury vehicle every other year is a significant deprivation?  Buying and driving a basic car for ten years is a significant deprivation?  Not buying the most expensive house in town is a significant deprivation?  Not flying to the beach twice a year and staying in the most expensive hotel is a significant deprivation?

+1. If they are, then I lead a seriously deprived life. For example, my car turned 18 at the beginning of this year, and I recently bought my first TV in 10 years. I have a dumb phone and a $45/month calling/texting plan. If I go to the beach, I usually ride there. Yet for some reason I don't feel deprived.

52

General Discussion / Re: Will the 'Sequester' effect my tour this summer

« on: March 18, 2013, 06:54:20 am »

Part of the answer could depend on whose jurisdiction a particular road falls under. For example, SR 20 in WA is maintained by WADOT, not the federal government. And I have a hard time believing they won't plow GTS in Glacier as scheduled. The local economy would come close to collapse. In '09, the last time I was there, the road not being fully open in late June was big news in the local papers because of all the money local businesses were not making.

53

Gear Talk / Re: Panniers

« on: March 13, 2013, 08:31:22 am »

I would wait until REI's 20% off member sale. If you buy the Back Packers at full price you will lose out on the savings you can get here:

http://thetouringstore.com/ORTLIEB/Ort%20PANNIERS/BPP/BPP%20PAGE.htm

I have a set of Back Packers and Sport Packers. You shouldn't need any more room unless you are carrying A LOT of stuff. They keep things dry if properly closed, which isn't hard to do. Make sure the flap on the outer pocket is properly closed or you may get water in it, and it will stay there.

One thing you have to ask yourself is whether you a one big compartment person or a lots of small(er) compartments person. I started out the latter with my first set of panniers. When I was forced to buy new ones, I was worried about the transition. Turned out not to be a problem. You can always incorporate individual stuff sacks or even Zip-Loc bags if you feel the need to segregate things.

As noted, critters can get into most things. (I stupidly left some bread in my tent when I went to visit a museum. When I returned a few hours later, I found a squirrel had chewed through the tent mesh, crawled inside and went to town on the loaf.) I would definitely not leave them unattended with food in them.

54

Routes / Re: Great Parks

« on: March 13, 2013, 08:15:16 am »

I asked online a few posts ago about the border safety on the ST route.  Basically all's I got back from the ACA folks was that it is all good, don't worry.  And from other cyclists, well...people are being murdered all the time...just go and hope the border patrol can save you.

Where do cyclists say that in the thread you started?

55

General Discussion / Re: Touring Question

« on: March 13, 2013, 08:05:18 am »

I see three main categories of people riding across the country: (1) young people between school and employment, (2) empty nesters who don't have kid responsibilities any more, some retired, some not, and (3) unemployed people between jobs.

Tha describes the people on my ACA group Northern Tier tour almost to a tee. Three of the four "kids," as some of us affectionately referred to them, were between school and work. The fourth was ready to start her senior year of college. Myself and another guy, who were both in our mid-30s, were between jobs. One woman was a 50-something empty nest teacher. The remaining five were retired.

I was able to afford to take the time off because I had no kids, no mortgage and a month-month apartment lease. I knew I would likely lose my job almost two years before I did, so I could save up money, and I knew I would get a decent severance package when I got axed. I also had the luxury of flopping at my mom's house during the two years I dropped out of the working world, rode my bike and pursued other hobbies.

As noted, look into a leave of absence and try to create a fund. Or is there any chance that you can accelerate your mortgage payoff?

56

Routes / Re: Great Parks

« on: March 08, 2013, 12:18:36 pm »

There are legal ways to take guns into Canada, and to carry guns in Canada, but it involves a lot of paperwork.

Found this:

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/rightsandfreedoms/a/gunstocanada.htm

"Leave the gun. Take the cannolis."--Peter Clemenza

57

Routes / Re: Great Parks

« on: March 08, 2013, 08:01:27 am »

I wouldn't try crossing the border with one.

+1. We got the thrice-over crossing at Roosvile for a 4-day stay back in '09. The border guard asked. among other things, if we had any weapons and studied all of our responses closely. You get asked that and hesitate or show physical signs of lying and you very well might get searched.

Out of curiosity, why would you carry a gun with you?

58

Gear Talk / Re: Helmet of Justice

« on: March 04, 2013, 08:02:24 am »

It might help identify a hit-and-run driver but that's about all.  The cameras would have to function continuously throughout a ride to provide any better information.

+1. Also, seems like some of the views would be blocked out when one is laying on the ground/in a ditch. And it looks God awful hot.

59

General Discussion / Re: Question: Highway Troubles?

« on: March 04, 2013, 07:53:23 am »

1. IIRC, the section of I-80 east of Rawlins is about 16 miles. I rode it early in the morning heading east on a July 5th and ecountered little traffic.

2. 47 miles of Interstate riding on the NT? Where? I don't remember any interstate mileage. Could it be the re-route around the Wlliston area has added intersate mileage or that I am simply getting old?

3. Unless I am mistaken, every inch of interstate in MT is open to bicycles. A few years ago we rode a couple of 3 mile stretches of I-90 when no thru frontage roads were available.

4. As for crossing ramps, as noted, stop and wait for a break in traffic. Another thing you can do if there are on and off ramps for your direction is exit and then get back on using the on ramp. I did this while riding an extremely busy stretch of limitred access highway that rings Sevilla.

60

General Discussion / Re: Beginner out and back camping in NW?

« on: February 25, 2013, 12:29:13 pm »

If you don't mind some dirt, drive to Philipsburg. At the Sinclair gas station, turn right off MT 1 onto MT 348, climb the hill and descend to the memorial bridge across Rock Creek. Leave your vehicle there are ride down stream to this place:

http://ekstromstagestation.com/

Ask for (or reserve ahead) site 21, which is close to the creek. There is also a cabin available for rent. The food is darn good so you don't need to bring cooking gear. (There is nowhere to buy groceries anyway.)

IIRC, it's about 30 miles of unpaved surface and 9 or so more of paved road. (Either that or 20 miles of dirt and 9 of pavement.) Beautiful back there. Several places you ride right next to the creek. Lost of forest, too. Virtually traffic-free when we rode it in '11. Except for a few spots it's like riding on a rail trail grade-wise. Any noticeable up hill sections will be short. Our Surly LHTs with 32c tires easily handled the surface. Keep your eyes peeled for moose. Near the end of the dirt portion there is a neat cable and wood suspension bridge across the creek. Not long after you pick up pavement there is an outfitter on the right called Trout Bum. The owner makes good coffee and has a neat collection of flies. Other than that there is nothing commercial until the campground, so bring enough food a water.