Messages

1

Routes / Re: Ride the Divide new Jasper addition?

« on: September 15, 2018, 11:08:44 pm »

Darren

Thanks for the info.  I have seen the Parkway from the front seat of a car a few years ago and remember it very spectacular.  I would love to see it from my bike.  I like your suggestion, thanks.

2

Routes / Ride the Divide new Jasper addition?

« on: September 14, 2018, 11:59:41 am »

Hi all

i apologize in advance if I missed  any comments.  I was just wondering if there was feedback on the new Jasper section of the Divide Trail yet.  Is the scenery as spectacular as the Icefields Parkway? 

3

Gear Talk / Re: Should have learnt the easy way.. some advice guys

« on: August 25, 2017, 09:56:28 pm »

I agree that if you are willing to move your head enough that a glasses or helmet mirror would have no blind spots.  However,  we are all creatures of habit, and a glance in my mirror tells me a lot, but I seldom take the time to do a complete survey of my surroundings, so effectively I have a blind spot.  I am just saying that with my riding experience of 40 plus years (one bad one while relying on my mirror only) I think riders need to be cautious relying only on mirrors.

That said I LOVE my mirror.

4

Routes / Re: TA vs Northern tier

« on: August 24, 2017, 11:45:59 pm »

Thanks for all the ideas.  It got me thinking about Going to the Sun, I think that needs to be part of the trip.  I also like the Canadian Rockies, Icefields Parkway, Jasper etc. although last time I was up there it seemed kind of expensive, not sure if that is still the case.   Maybe a loop that includes some of Western U.S. and Canada.

5

Routes / TA vs Northern tier

« on: August 21, 2017, 11:00:56 pm »

 Sorry to  beat a dead horse, but I am trying to convince a friend or two to ride a C to C summer of 2018.  I know the question has been  posted before, and I know the answer is it depends.  But I have not had much luck finding recent info on the TA vs NT.  In the past it seems like I read a several responses that indicated the NT had more expensive camping, fewer cyclists and maybe was not as cyclist friendly.  Just wondering if anyone with recent experiences has on opinion?

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Gear Talk / Re: Should have learnt the easy way.. some advice guys

« on: August 21, 2017, 12:16:00 pm »

Caution on mirrors.  I use one on my glasses and like it a lot, especially if the wind is blowing and you can't hear traffic behind you.  But be careful, don't depend on it as your only source of information for moving out of your lane.  I just about learned the hard way that they, like your car mirrors have a small blind spot.  So a glance behind before you change your position is still called for.  All in all, I feel naked without mine now.

7

Gear Talk / Trek 520 wobble

« on: May 30, 2012, 01:32:03 pm »

I have a 2008 Trek 520 with a unicrown fork.  When I tour I use front and rear panniers and handlebar bag.  The front rack is a lowrider.  I love the bike with one exception, when it is loaded it seems to have a slight wobble that feels like it is located in the front.  It only occurs when I pedal,  no wobble on fast down hills, or unloaded.  The problem is minor, but still irritating.  Am I justified in thinking another fork would help, if so any recommendations?

8

Routes / Re: I-84 Portland-Boise

« on: June 02, 2011, 12:47:05 pm »

Hi James.  James here again.  The hills I refer to are not particularly high passes, but they would get your attention.  South of Farewell Bend State Park (by the way a fairly nice place to stay with biker hiker facilities if you happen to be camping) the Freeway leaves the Snake river and climbs over several hills that are fairly steep before dropping to Ontario.  The terrain is also uninteresting, just dry grass and sagebrush.  I prefer turning east at exit 356 and following 201 the Olds Ferry Ontario road.  It rolls along the river before turning south through farm country to Ontario.  This route is lightly traveled and more scenic, although it would add a few more miles to your distance from Farewell Bend to Ontario. 

9

Routes / Re: I-84 Portland-Boise

« on: May 26, 2011, 01:22:30 am »

Hi james. I am James from Boise. I have ridden some of the route you talk about.  Here is my 2 cents worth,  I am mostly familiar with the western end, (Pendleton to Boise)  There is a fairly substantial climb east just out of Pendleton (Deadman Pass appropriately named) but if you can find the old highway up the hill, it has very little traffic.  Also the old highway kind of meanders back and forth around the freeway and is actually a very pleasant ride in the forests of the Blue Mountains.  You can follow this scenic byway nearly all the way to LaGrand.  LaGrand to Baker City has several pleasant backroad options.  From Baker you can once again follow the old highway for much of the route.  I would also recommend that you ride to Weiser along the Snake river then down the Oregon side (less traffic) to Ontario.  this avoids a couple of BIG dry hills on the freeway.  From there, lots of country roads to Boise.

P.S.  if you need more info, let me know.

10

Routes / Good alternate to cross Oregon?

« on: May 25, 2011, 01:44:13 am »

I am planning on doing Seattle to Portland ride this year, and would like to take an extra week or so and also ride home (Boise ID).  Just was hoping to get some feedback on alternate routes.  I have rode the ACA route through John Day so would like to do something different.  Is highway 58 from Eugene to Oakridge a good ride?  Also has anyone rode highway 380 from Prineville to Paulina and points west? if so how was it?

The rest I think I have figured out.  Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks
James

11

Gear Talk / Re: Long Two-Person Trip Tent

« on: February 23, 2011, 01:17:58 am »

Looks like some great advice from others.  Just wanted to add my 2 cents worth.  I can tell you this for sure, if you find yourself ( and you will if you are out for long) on a day when you are tired, and its raining, and getting dark, you will appreciate a tent that is 1 easy to set up, and 2 has enough room for you and some of your stuff. 

Look for a roomy tent, that has a simple easy to set up design.  You won't care about a few extra ounces when you are cold and tired.

12

Gear Talk / Re: moving bar end shifters?

« on: February 23, 2011, 01:07:16 am »

Hey everyone, just wanted to say thanks for the input.  Dave, you were right, the square bar end washer portion of the bar end shifter fits the down tube shifter boss just fine.  I am a happy camper so far.  the shifters are more crisp than before, probably due to shorter cable travel and less cable housing. 

Down tube shifters suit me fine, they are about the same reach as bar ends, and the shifting works very well for touring.  But I am old school, having ridden many years with down tube shifters.  If my experience was different, perhaps  my opinion would be different.

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Gear Talk / moving bar end shifters?

« on: February 10, 2011, 07:45:50 pm »

Does anyone know if the internal washers on a bar end shifter will fit on a down tube shifter boss?  I have a Trek 520 which has 9 speed bar end shifters, and I would like to move them to the down tube shifter bosses if possible.  I want to install treking bars, or flat bars with bar ends on this bike and I like the way those shifters work so would like to save them.  I haven't been able to find other indexed down tube shifters (other than dura ace) and don't want to sped that much at this point. Any info or ideas would be much appreciated.

14

Routes / Re: North Washington state vs BC Canada

« on: July 28, 2010, 01:25:00 am »

Unfortunately I don't have that much time this go round.  I agree however about the Icefields Parkway, I have driven that road and I would like to include it in a future ride.  Maybe a Vancouver Island, Ferry ride, Prince Rupert, Jasper, Banf loop of some kind.

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Routes / North Washington state vs BC Canada

« on: July 27, 2010, 10:05:16 am »

Help please.  I can't believe I haven't made up my mind.  My tour starts very soon (next Monday) and most of the route is decided.  I have been on the North Cascades highway in Washington before and enjoyed the route very much, but I can"t help but wonder if a trip through Canada is calling my name.  My trip will start in Idaho and includes Glacier Waterton Park, the Selkirk Loop, the San Juans, Washington and Oregon Coast. I am not familiar with routes in south BC, but am curious if there is a decent, maybe spectacular stretch of road from say Nelson in the Selkirks to the San Juan islands.  Anyone have suggestions?  Thanks for any help.

James