Recent Posts

61

Routes / Re: Riding west to east along the northern tier

« Last post by Bursha on June 14, 2013, 05:46:00 pm »

Our hearts are set on riding W->E. Thinking we may start towards the end of May now and hope for the best in regards to weather and road closures,etc.

62

General Discussion / Re: Pronounciation...

« Last post by newfydog on June 14, 2013, 05:33:12 pm »

Interesting that the French don't call them panniers.  i can't remember what they do call them, but while they understand pannier they use something else.  If you buy something from Amazon France the online shopping cart is a pannier.

63

General Discussion / Re: Shipping bike box to final destination

« Last post by newfydog on June 14, 2013, 05:29:41 pm »

Yeah, those cases are very nice.  I've had nasty connections trying to bring two boxes on a luggage cart out to a bus to get to a different terminal.  Fortunately, Ive yet to have a bike damaged and I love abandoning the cardboard box and heading out.

Now the airlines are so intent on extracting money every step of the way we keep a couple of bikes with a friend in France. 

64

Gear Talk / The Shimano M529 rear hub.

« Last post by zerodish on June 14, 2013, 05:12:10 pm »

Shimano makes two styles of hubs those with aluminum splines for the cassette and those with steel splines. http://www.flickr.com/photos/63373992@N07/8036521062/ Generally the steel spline hubs have a 2mm longer cassette and the flange is undercut to make room for it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/65657096@N00/7014908657/ This is a weak point and Shimano knows it that is why they do not do this on the tandem hubs. Of course this adds 2mm of dish. On the M529 the did something different they used a steel spline with out undercutting the flange and combined it with an LX level cassette.  The hub is advertized as a high torque hub I don't know if the ratchet was made stronger. There is really no excuse for this I snapped the heads off four 1 1/4 inch bolts using a 3/8 inch craftsman ratchet. The hub is rather light for a large flange hub at 440grams. I use the large flange hubs with out the brake because I bent fewer solid axles with these. I not going to buy one of these until I can get one with 36 holes. This is the idea hub to be drilled for 40 or 48 spokes. With 48 spokes I would consider buying a pair and using a front disk brake.

65

General Discussion / Re: Pronounciation...

« Last post by ronnie421 on June 14, 2013, 04:59:31 pm »

Oh then... I guess I'll just call them "those-bags-that-go-on-the-racks-that-are-mounted-on-both-sides-of-the-front-and-rear-wheels-that-carry-all-your-stuff-when-you're-a-long-way-from-home".

66

General Discussion / Re: Do I ship stuff to my starting point or buy it there?

« Last post by BobG on June 14, 2013, 04:54:16 pm »

Just my opinion, but...  While the Maine coast is nice, but the rest of the ride, you seem to be leaving some of the best touring (Pacific Coast) for a pretty mediocre place to tour (the East Coast). 

This I disagree with. It's a pretty cool back roadsy route with a lot of intrigue, at least the NE sections I have ridden.  Check out Indyfab's photos of the most "mediocre" stretch through NJ/PA Delaware water gap. I've done a more rural route through CT in the past than the ACA suggestion and could tweak their route off of most of US 44. I've also bypassed Philadelphia and Baltimore with back roads further west on past trips south to Washington and VA. But compared with the car drive down the Jersey Turnpike, the bike route is a different world!

67

New England / Re: Border Crossings - Ontario/NY

« Last post by JayH on June 14, 2013, 03:57:16 pm »

I've only crossed into canada at Rouses Point, NY by lake champlain... but can you look at google satellite to actually see? I would think that there must be some bike friendly way w/o grates or so if that is indeed an issue cause I wonder if pedestrians would have to go through that too...   You could always contact the border station and ask...

Jay

68

General Discussion / Re: Pronounciation...

« Last post by jamawani on June 14, 2013, 03:22:23 pm »

"Saddlebags" is easier to pronounce.
And for non-cyclists - - easier to understand.

69

Routes / Re: Riding west to east along the northern tier

« Last post by rabbitoh on June 14, 2013, 02:06:01 pm »

A mid-May start lends itself to riding East to West. That way, you get plenty of miles into your legs before the big climbs and also, Going-To-The-Sun in Montana and the passes in the North Cascades are less likely to be closed.

I have cycled the NT East to West and started mid-May.

Unless your heart is set on riding W-E, riding in the opposite direction could be a consideration.

Either way, it is a spectacular ride.

Enjoy!

70

General Discussion / Re: Pronounciation...

« Last post by staehpj1 on June 14, 2013, 01:50:23 pm »

I don't think I even say it the same way all the time.  Sometimes I say "pan yurs" and sometimes, "pan ee yurs".  I have heard others say "pan nears" or "pan yeahs" fairly often.