Messages

1

Bikecentennial / Re: Wish I was there

« on: August 27, 2010, 01:36:15 pm »

I was there in 1976.  I rode from Astoria to Denver before I ran out of time (had to get to graduate school).  I did it as an independent and alternated between camping and Bike Inns.  I did the whole route from VA to OR in 1996 with my wife.  We also did the entire GDMBR in its inaugural year (1998).  I intend to do both routes again when I retire in a couple of years.

2

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / which GPS for trans Am touring?

« on: November 01, 2005, 10:37:02 am »

I am still using the solar panel, although with newer GPSs you don't need the external NiCads.  This is because the external power input (from the solar panel) both powers the GPS and charges the GPS's internal lithium battery. Without the NiCads, it is necessary to regulate the output from the solar panel, however.  Older GPSs like the GPS III could not charge their internal batteries from the external power source, hence the need for the external NiCads.  NiCads, while being old technology, are better than lithium batteries for this purpose because of their tolerance for the widely varying charging conditions caused by the solar panel.

What am I using now?  I still use the GPS III in areas covered by the base map.  I use a Foretrex 201 for other areas.  I am thinking about splurging and buying a Quest so I can have detailed maps just about anywhere I go.

3

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / which GPS for trans Am touring?

« on: October 28, 2005, 12:10:54 pm »

In 1998 my wife and I did the the Great Divide mountain bike route.  I used a GPS III and had stored all of the major waypoints for the route in it.  I used a solar panel from Solar World, and connected it to a NiCad battery pack and to the GPS.  When the sun was out, the solar panel charged the battery pack and powered the GPS.  When the sun was not out, the battery pack powered the GPS until that ran down, and after that the alkaline batteries internal to the GPS took over.  In 2500 miles of riding, I never lost GPS once due to loss of power. I never had to change the alkaline batteries either. People laughed at me for being such a geek but I never got lost and they did.

4

Routes / Sydney to Melbourne Australia

« on: October 28, 2005, 01:33:32 pm »

The Lonely Planet cycling Australia covers this route.