Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Who's driving the increase in Cassette cog numbers?

« on: Today at 01:53:49 pm »

Yes, the "performance" and racing market is driving the ever increasing cog count and ever lighter component market but, "obsolete" components are available lon after they have become obsolete.  You can still buy 7-speed cassettes (or even 5 and 6-speed freewheels) in a fair range of gearing and 8 and 9-speed will be supported for years and years to come.  Of all the major manufacturers, Shimano has been the best at supporting older groups and providing useful touring components.  Campy is strictly focused on the racing and performance market and SRAM isn't much better.   

2

General Discussion / Re: HELP! Items Checklist. Need advice. (especially from John Nelson)

« on: May 17, 2013, 07:42:07 pm »

The Thermarests are basically a foam pad enclosed in an airtight casing.  They "self inflate" as the compressed foam inside expands and sucks air in through the open valve.  They do about 85% of the inflating for you and you just top them up to your desired firmness by mouth and close the valve.  To pack them you open the valve, roll them tight to expel all of the air and close the valve.  They stay rolled up until you want to let them inflate again.  In the event of a tear in the outer casing, they still provide some padding and insulation.

So, they are both an inflatable pad and a foam pad all in one and the smaller, thinner ones are quite light.  To answer your question, no there are no light foam pads thick enough to make you comfortable.   

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General Discussion / Re: Establishing a budget. Can you review my list? Suggestions??

« on: May 17, 2013, 03:05:04 pm »

The one thing in your list that caught my attention was "Handlebar - Find USED".  NO.  Of all the things on a bike that you NEVER want to compromise, handlebars are on top of the list.  Buy good quality new ones. They aren't that expensive. 

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General Discussion / Re: HELP! Items Checklist. Need advice. (especially from John Nelson)

« on: May 15, 2013, 07:13:36 am »

Unless you are a very serious photographer and photos are the main purpose of the trip, lose the EOS.  In the days of film cameras, weight and size were essential to get quality pictures.  That is no longer true and very small, light digital cameras do a wonderful job.   The camera's Indyfabz describes have been long replaced by digitals with less than 10% of their size and weight. The EOS is not only excessively large and heavy but it is also vulnerable to damage.  Get something small, light and rugged. 

As to air mattresses, I have a Thermorest pad that is self inflating so you just open the valve and let it do most of the work for you.  A few puffs by mouth to firm it up and you are done. They can be very light and are also good insulation.  Is the air mattress you described one of those Wal-Mart slumber party types?   

5

Gear Talk / Re: Bike Sizing

« on: May 06, 2013, 07:16:15 am »

I made the mistake years ago, when faced with the same dilemma, of going to the larger frame when I really should have gone down to the smaller size.

I did just the opposite when I bought my Litespeed in 1996.  The frame came in 55 and 57 cm sizes and, since my previous bike was a 56, I went with the 55.  The problem was that my legs are long for my overall height (5' 9") and that required a lot of seatpost extension to get my saddle positioned correctly.  So, to get the bars positioned comfortable (~3.5 cm below the saddle) required a long quill stem at first and, later, a lot of spacers when I converted it to a threadless fork and stem.  I rode that bike for over 70,000 miles and still have it but always felt it was a bit too small.

When I bought my newer bike in 2006, I went with the 57 cm frame and find it a much better fit as both the seatpost extension and spacer stack are much more "conventional".

Upshot: the size you will like better is also dependent on your proportions.   

6

Gear Talk / Re: Bike Sizing

« on: May 05, 2013, 07:01:27 am »

Assuming the standover height allows you to comfortably straddle the 60 cm frame (if not, don't consider it) then the deciding factor can be the top tube length.  If you have long arms and/or prefer a more stretched out riding position, get the 60.  If you want a more upright position, the shorter top tube of the 58 will make this easier.  In either case, stem length and angle can be chosen to get a comfortable riding position but the proper frame choice makes it a bit easier.

7

General Discussion / Re: The importance of always wearing a helmet

« on: May 05, 2013, 06:52:52 am »

The current (June) issue of Bicycling Magazine has an article "Why Your Helmet Should Be Safer" that discusses the limits of current helmet designs and why it's so difficult to incorporate newer and better technology. 

In brief, the author states that modern helmets do a great job of  keeping your head intact in major crashes but do a poor job of preventing concussions.  He describes why that's the case, a couple of better technologies and why it's so difficult to get the CPSC regulations changed to require them.  Worth reading.

8

General Discussion / Re: The importance of always wearing a helmet

« on: May 02, 2013, 06:56:39 am »

That said, I once had a very rare accident in which I would have been better off without a helmet. It was at a spot on a sidewalk/trail where a telephone pole guy wire infringed on the right side. I was used to dodging it but once got distracted dodging glass on the sidewalk. The guy wire snagged my right shoulder and helmet, jerking me backwards and slamming me to the ground. I remember briefly looking up at my bicycle. It shattered the helmet and cut my shoulder. Very embarrassing.

Was the helmet at fault or would the wire have snagged your shoulder anyway and caused the accident?  Maybe the helmet saved you from being more seriously hurt. 

I grew up riding when no one rode with a helmet.....

Well, I grew up when no one wore (or even had) seatbelts in a car, steering columns were effective spears, all interior surfaces were hard metal and airbags were the stuff of science fiction.   These days we know better.

9

Gear Talk / Re: OCD bike tech and extra spare parts?

« on: April 29, 2013, 04:36:31 pm »

The glueless patches (Park brand) are not permanent.  They work for a week or two and then leak air.  So do not count on glueless patches fixing a hole in your tube permanently.  They are temporary patches.

The first generation Park GP-1 patches certainly were temporary, sometimes lasting only a few miles.  I had terrible luck with them and gave up on the idea.  The new generation GP-2 parches have gotten mixed but far more favorable reviews.  Applied properly many users say they outlast the tube. YMMV.

10

General Discussion / Re: Tents

« on: April 29, 2013, 04:31:55 pm »

2 people really need two doors and two vestibules, especially if one door/zipper goes bad and you have to sew it up.

Even without considering possible structural failures, two people in a two or three-person tent need separate entrances.  Otherwise the person farther from the single door has to crawl over their tent-mate every time they want to go outside or get something from their bike or packs. That will get old fast. 

11

Gear Talk / Re: OCD bike tech and extra spare parts?

« on: April 29, 2013, 04:56:44 am »

A couple of possible considerations for a long trip:

Add a small squeeze bottle of chain lube that can also be used for pivot points like derailleur and brake pivots.
Check to be sure your patch kit cement tubes are still good as they tend to dry out over time.  Perhaps substitute Park's GP-2 glueless patches.

How many spare tires are you willing to take if your party has bikes with significantly different wheels, say both 700c and 26"?
 

12

Gear Talk / Re: finding bikes to test drive

« on: April 27, 2013, 05:59:09 am »

I understand your wanting a test ride but realize that all of the bikes you mention are so similar in geometry and weight that I doubt you would notice any difference if they were fitted with the same saddles and handlebars.  So choosing based on availability, price, stock components and dealer assistance is just as good.  Any good dealer will let you "customize" your bike by swapping stems, etc. to make it fit you better no matter what name is on the downtube.

13

General Discussion / Re: Tents

« on: April 27, 2013, 05:53:12 am »

You can divvy up the tent parts between the two of you to equalize the weight, so it's not one person carrying the tent.

Or the rider who carries the tent takes less of the other items.

I certainly agree with the N-1 capacity approach to tent sizing or even offer that N/2 is better where N= the advertised number of persons. 

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General Discussion / Re: The importance of always wearing a helmet

« on: April 24, 2013, 06:48:39 am »

So, in hot weather going up steep hills I remove my helmet and climb 3-8 mph depending on the incline. I always put the helmet back on at the top before the ride back down.

That brings up an interesting point.  As I posted above, my crash was at a walking speed so going slow isn't protection.  Basically you can get a head injury falling from the height your head is above the ground even at zero speed. 

A beanie-type or Pirate headcover helmet liner can make a helmet tolerable in hot weather and even at slow climbing speeds since it keeps the sweat out of your eyes. 

15

General Discussion / Re: The importance of always wearing a helmet

« on: April 23, 2013, 05:03:30 pm »

I'm a member of the "Saved By The Bell" club.   Bell Helmets sends membership certificates to those who crashed and hit their head hard enough to damage or destroy one of their helmets.  I fell on a slick road at a slow walking speed when the bike went sideways out from under me and I hit my shoulder hard enough to break a bone and hit my head hard enough to crack the helmet in three places.  I had a mild concussion but it would have been far, far worse without the helmet.  You don't have to be going fast to get hurt.  I never rode without a helmet prior to the accident and certainly not after.

All the above being said, I'm against helmet laws.  People have the right to take chances and, if they refuse to use reasonable safety equipment, it's their choice. What I don't like is those who get hurt blaming (and suing) others for what they did to themselves.