Messages

766

General Discussion / Re: Looking for others biking West to East NOW

« on: September 14, 2010, 08:12:48 am »

The area between Prairie City and Baker City is pretty wooded and unpopulated. You can of course camp at the store at Austin Junction, but I don't imagine it would be difficult to find any number of dispersed camping spots. There's a nice campground in Prairie City and you should be able to easily make it to Baker City in a day if you want.

If you're asking about the weather, however, I can't help you there.

767

Routes / Re: Help required for current trans america-rockies or not?

« on: September 14, 2010, 08:06:57 am »

If you pay attention to the weather forecast, be conservative about it, have the extra time available to wait for a good day and have lots of cold-weather clothing, you'll be okay. Just be prepared to wait out a storm, or even an iffy day, in a motel room for a day or a week. Even then be prepared to turn back or hitch a ride if the weather forecast turns out to be wrong.

We all take risks. There are definite risks here, but I'm not advising that you sit on the couch until the risks are gone. That's no way to live.

768

Routes / Re: Route Advice

« on: September 13, 2010, 11:26:33 am »

Agreed. Unless you have other constraints, go east-to-west. That direction has everything in its favor and nothing against (not even wind).

769

General Discussion / Re: Buying the right size touring bike.

« on: August 26, 2010, 02:01:46 pm »

Most people, including most ACA literature, contend that you should have a more upright posture for touring than road riding, but some of us find that isn't right for us. I use the same posture for both.

Touring bikes typically have somewhat different geometry than ordinary road bikes. I run a size larger in a touring bike, but the top tube on my touring bike is shorter than the top tube on my road bike even though the overall wheelbase is longer.

770

General Discussion / Re: The Off Season

« on: August 26, 2010, 01:58:16 pm »

It's a pretty simple algorithm. Figure out what the expected weather will be, and take the appropriate gear and clothing for that weather. Since everybody reacts to weather differently, you'll need to do some experimentation to determine what you need to ride and sleep at each temperature level. Most of us who ride all year have already figured out what we need to ride at 20 degrees, 30 degrees, 40 degrees, 50 degrees, etc. It also depends on other factors such as wind and sun.

771

General Discussion / Re: newbie

« on: August 26, 2010, 01:54:13 pm »

1. Think about how you want to use it.  Different bikes for different purposes. 
2. Go to a bike shop (not a department store).  You'll wind up paying more, but you won't need to start off by fixing everything that was wrong with it as delivered, and you'll be more likely to ride it.

+1

The better you can characterize your intended use, the better the bike shop will do at steering you to the right bike. Don't tell them you want a bike that will do everything. Tell them what you will be doing most often. How far? Type of surface? How hilly? How much gear?

But be aware that the bike shop will attempt to steer you not necessarily to the best bike for your needs, but rather to the closest thing they have to it on the floor. Since you entered this post in an ACA forum, one might guess that you might be interested in touring. Be aware that most bike shops do not stock touring bikes, so they may not steer you that way. Assuming you can wait for them to special order something, ask them to consider not only what they have in stock, but what you can order. Go to several bike shops if you have more than one in the area. If you are primarily interested in touring, ask if the bike they are showing you is designed specifically as a touring bike.

772

Routes / Re: TransAm -- are the city parks in Kansas REALLY closed in mid-August?

« on: August 23, 2010, 12:03:07 pm »

Hi Stacia. I met you and Andrew on the road on July 9 just after you descended Ochoco Pass, and as I was beginning to climb it, as you approached Mitchell, OR. You wrote your web address in my journal and I gave you my card (with my real name on it rather than this web pseudonym).

I just found that note you mentioned on the back of map 7. It would surprise me very much if that were really true, at least in general. I stayed in city parks all the way across Kansas (Chanute, Eureka, Newton, Rush Center, Ness City, Scott City), and it seems quite unlikely to me that there would be any reason for them to close (unless the city park also served as a playground for the school, which did not seem to be the case in any of the parks I stayed at).

I hope someone who really knows can say where this note came from.

John

773

Gear Talk / Re: Odd Ortlieb Handlebar Mounting

« on: August 22, 2010, 05:00:58 pm »

It's also odd that it wraps around only the bars and not the stem. I'd be a bit concerned that it might sag. But it does have the distinct advantage that you can remove the bars from the stem without removing the mount.

774

General Discussion / Re: Town Camping and Police

« on: August 17, 2010, 08:22:12 pm »

When available and allowed, I really like camping in town parks. The ground is usually level. There are often picnic tables and a pavilion. There is usually access to restrooms and water. Restaurants and grocery stores are nearby. There is often access to showers in a swimming pool. And there is often access to an electrical outlet to recharge my stuff. The police patrol the park all night to keep you safe. Furthermore, you get to meet the town folk. Except for one time I accidentally camped in a closed park, the police have never been anything but helpful. I guess I've been fortunate to never visit towns such as described above.

775

Gear Talk / Re: Heavy Duty Handle Bar Bag

« on: August 16, 2010, 07:33:54 pm »

I use stick-on velcro to hold keep the Ortileb map case from flapping around. Works like a charm.

776

General Discussion / Re: Town Camping and Police

« on: August 16, 2010, 08:08:13 am »

It's never a problem on established ACA routes, but I can see how it might be elsewhere.

On the ACA routes, the maps usually tell you to check in with the police before camping in the town park, but every time I did so, the police response seemed to suggest that the checking in was unnecessary. So I just stopped doing it.

Do you always make it clear before asking the question that you are a bicycle tourist and will only be staying one night? I might make it a point to ask for restaurant/grocery recommendations at the same time to make it clear that you are an economic benefit to the town.

777

General Discussion / Re: Question about airplane travel!!?

« on: August 13, 2010, 06:39:14 am »

There are many, e.g., expedia, travelocity, kayak, orbitz, hotwire. I also have good luck just going to the airlines' web sites directly.

778

Canada / Re: Looking for riding partners Banff to NewMexico

« on: August 12, 2010, 08:33:25 pm »

I hope you'll go anyway even if you don't find a partner. You don't really need a partner. It'll be fun without one too.

779

Routes / Re: Riding from Grand Junction, CO to Omaha, NE; Western Express, TransAm, and more.

« on: August 12, 2010, 08:17:52 pm »

Someone taking the Western Express to the TransAm would not be crossing Hoosier Pass nor passing through Breckenridge.

780

General Discussion / Re: Airplane Travel

« on: August 10, 2010, 08:21:50 am »

A helmet is pretty fragile when not on your head. Wearing it is the best way to keep it from being cracked. If you do pack it, put it in a sturdy box.

For one-way travel, I put the panniers in some disposable container that fits in the 62-inch rule. It can be a cardboard box, some old suitcase you no longer need or bought at a thrift store, or a cheap duffle bag.

If you pack your own bike, you can usually fit other stuff in the box with the bike. But if a bike shop packs it, it may be somewhat reluctant to put all this other stuff in as it complicates their job.