Messages

46

General Discussion / Re: Surly LHT: Need help setting my bike up

« on: January 20, 2011, 06:23:45 am »

I don't know what availability is like in the USA but I've found the Panarace Pasela Tourguard a very good tyre, smoother rolling than Schwalbe but better suited to pure pavement use.

+1 for Brooks and Roadmorph pumps.

I use Shimano M530 pedals which have a clip on one side and a platform on the other.   Having said that I'm now starting to wonder about flat pedals.   I use them on my mountain bikes and find them comfortable and grippy.   Given the larger surface area and the ability to be used with virtually any shoe, they have some benefits which I want to explore in a touring setting.   I've used them with dedicated MTB shoes, Merrell walking shoes, Brasher lightweight walking boots and cross trainers and they've worked very well with all of these.

I have a suspension seat post on one of my bikes and have no criticism of it.   It certainly helps with overall ride comfort on some of the rougher cycle trails and with 2k of use seems to last well.   A note of caution however, I found that the suspension seat post on a cheap and cheerful Trek 7200 has become a bit wobbly after about 1k.

47

General Discussion / Re: Must upgrades for LHT

« on: January 18, 2011, 07:30:35 am »

Mine has a Brooks saddle, V brakes and trekking bars with Shimano thumb shifters and SRAM brake levers.

I prefer a more upright riding style hence the bars.   I find the thumb shifters and brake setup suits me better.

One of the added advantages of the Brooks saddle is the fact that it has loops for a saddle bag so I can use my Carradice bag for short trips.

48

Routes / Re: Getting Across The Desert

« on: January 17, 2011, 12:55:11 pm »

As a must see, can I recommend southern Utah, it has some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere in the world and lots of marvellous parks.

Plus you can take a side trip to Moab and hook up with some great mountain biking

49

General Discussion / Re: Bike boxes

« on: January 05, 2011, 04:49:27 am »

Just head into the local bike shop as Knolltop recommends.   They will nearly always have a supply of boxes and will crate your bike up for you for about $50.   

50

General Discussion / Re: Wear eye glasses/sun glasses while riding

« on: January 05, 2011, 04:45:25 am »

Pair of ray bans from Vision Express    As Fred mentions, they give very good coverage and are almost as good as goggles.

51

General Discussion / Re: Eating ... not IF, but HOW

« on: December 17, 2010, 04:21:39 am »

You can approach this from another direction.   Cycling 8 hours a day will (roughly) require about 4000 calories, although, as mentioned above, headwinds, hills etc. can increase this.   Then add in the average daily maintenance requirement of about 2000 calories and that leaves you needing 6000 a day.

Hobbits know what this means.   A good breakfast, something mid morning, lunch, afternoon tea (hey! I'm a Brit and a good evening meal.

As a young soldier I was given a good tip about salt.   Take a pinch of salt and taste it.   If it doesn't taste salty, you need salt, otherwise you don't.

52

General Discussion / Re: Are insects a problem in Alberta?

« on: December 17, 2010, 04:13:20 am »

And ticks!   Quite common on the prairies!

53

Gear Talk / Re: Uncomfortable seats

« on: December 13, 2010, 07:09:22 am »

What about a recumbent?

54

International / Re: Request Info on Touring in Japan

« on: December 09, 2010, 05:03:33 am »

Josie Dew has written a couple of books about touring in Japan, Land of the Neon Sun is one , can't remember the name of the second.   Great books and well worth reading.

55

Routes / Re: Nevada and Utah 2011 ? Advice & tips please

« on: November 25, 2010, 04:27:25 am »

I'd recommend a Golden Eagle Pass.   Costs $80 but gets you into most National Parks without paying the local charge.   There are a few exceptions, Carlsbad Caverns comes to mind, but good for all the main parks in Utah and California.

56

Routes / Re: Routes through france to denmark

« on: November 17, 2010, 04:38:26 am »

Wow!   I've just tried out that fietsrouteplanner link.   It's absolutely brilliant.   Many thanks!

57

Routes / Re: Routes through france to denmark

« on: November 17, 2010, 04:28:22 am »

Oh yeah!   18 euros for a camp site made me grit my teeth.

Did you ride the section over the massive sea dyke with all the flow gates?   Did that with a following wind    They used quite a lot of that for the Giro this year.

58

Gear Talk / Re: Brooks B17 - Standard or Aged?

« on: November 16, 2010, 07:18:31 am »

Hmm!   Must have changed the style, the preaged I bought several years ago was not textured.   It broke in more quickly than a standard and after that has exactly the same wear pattern so you don't need to worry about longevity.   

The pre aged took about 500 miles to break in, I find a standard takes about twice that.

59

Gear Talk / Re: Gear for traveling across the US? Need advice from those more experienced...

« on: November 16, 2010, 07:13:56 am »

First a comment on the Garmin, I use a 605 and the accommodation finder section of the system is very useful.

If camping, on of the things top of my list is the Thermrest chair thingy.   Don't know the proper name but it's used to make your thermarest a chair and very comfy it is too

Books.   Gotta have something to relax with in the evening after a day in the saddle.   I buy mine in thrift stores or from public libraries.

A bottle of malt whisky for a sundowner

60

Routes / Re: Routes through france to denmark

« on: November 16, 2010, 07:02:25 am »

There is a European Cycle Route, the North Sea Coastal Route which is very enjoyable.

http://www.northsea-cycle.com/default.asp?id=1&ACT=5&content=1&mnu=1&lang=1

This will take you on mainly cycle tracks and quiet roads.   It will also take you right by Den Haag, the capitol of the Netherlands (not Amsterdam).   Signposting is generally good but can get a bit iffy in places so I'd recommend a good map.

You didn't mention accommodation but camp sites can be few and far between in some parts so I'd recce that carefully before you start.