Messages

1

Gear Talk / Kick stands

« on: March 07, 2006, 01:00:58 am »

My big tour many years ago (86) down the West Coast I used a gimmick called a "Flickstand" It was made by Blackburn. It would attach to your down tube and when you stopped you would flick it out and it would hold your front wheel straight so that your bike wouldn't "fold". Then I would lean my bike against a pole or whatever and it wouldn't fall over which happens alot when you have front panniers. I e-mailed Blackburn recently to see if they had any kicking around but they don't. Too bad ..it worked well

2

Gear Talk / Retractable Rear View Mirror

« on: November 15, 2004, 07:18:39 am »

I am thinking about purchasing the retractable rear view mirror through Cyclosource/Adventure cycling. What's the feedback?

3

Gear Talk / Hammocks

« on: November 14, 2004, 02:20:47 pm »

 I picked up one of these at a silent auction and they are awesome. Hammock/tents ..I've field tested them and they are of good quality and kinda fun. And very lightweight Check them out at www.siamhammocks.com. I"m 6'1 and 240.

4

Routes / San Francisco to San Diego ride

« on: February 12, 2007, 07:52:12 pm »

There are lots of campgrounds. I did my trip in '86 but if I remember correctly, Half Moon Bay, Monterrey Municipal campground, St' Lucia S. of Big Sur, Morro Bay State pk, near santa Barbara I stayed in Santa Ynez at John Seigel Boettner's school. I met him on his from "Sea to Shining Sea" trip. Read his account of the trip in his book " Hey Mom, Can I Ride my Bike across America" available thru Adventure Cycling. Carpenteria, LA is tough as I stayed with a friend in Hermosa Beach, Youth Hostel in Huntingdon Beach and then S.D where I again stayed with friends. Kirkendall and Spring's book mentionned above gives invaluable info on the whole route. Have a blast!!

5

Routes / N. Washington coast; peninsula or inland?

« on: February 12, 2007, 07:59:17 pm »

I chose the inland route as the book showed less hills than the coast. It also says there is less rain!!! I would have hated to see the rain on the coast as it pelted down rain until I got to the Columbia River. I have since driven the Olympic Penninsula and it isn't as hilly as portrayed. (Easy to say in a car!!) There are a lot of logged out areas and trucks and not as scenic as one would hope. I took the ferry from Sidney BC to Anacortes (Awesome) and then to Port Townsend and through to Astoria. I agree that the faster you get to Oregon the better! Have a blast!!

6

Routes / Partners needed for Great Divide (S>N)

« on: February 12, 2007, 08:00:50 pm »

Stop and see me at the Rose& Crown Pub in Calgary. I bartend there!!

7

Routes / Great Parks North: Jasper to Kalispell

« on: January 23, 2006, 09:17:29 pm »

I do a lot of camping in SW Alberta and SE British Columbia. The days are quite hot at that time but it cools off a lot at night. I use a sleeping bag rated -10 C and a fleece liner. Obviously in the Banff/ Jasper area it will be colder as well as the higher elevations in Waterton and Glacier Parks

8

Routes / Camping in Alberta and Montana

« on: September 10, 2005, 06:12:58 pm »

I worked at Tunnel Mtn Campground in Banff and as a bike tourist I was disappointed with the set up for cyclists. Bikecentennial ( Adventure cycling now) would bring in tours and the rules we had for our campsites would limit the tents and most had there own tent so it got to be a bit$$$$. I suggested to Bikecentennial to call a few days ahead and request the group camping area which is actually nicer and cheaper and closer to town. So if you are a large group I suggest the same

9

Routes / cost of campgrounds on west coast?

« on: July 13, 2005, 08:17:40 pm »

The campgrounds cater more to cyclists as you head South from WA to CA. This was my experience when I did my West Coast tour in 1986. In California the biker/hiker rate was $1.00 a night!!!! No reservations are required as the purpose of the campsite is to always have a spot available for self powered travellers.
  The sites would vary from a piece of grass to picnic areas after 8PM. Every state campground on the coastof OR and CA had these available  I have since travelled back to the coast and car camped in many of the same campgrounds. The B/H sites are still there but I forgot to ask the rate. I discovered if you are close to a town as you move South, homeless people sneak in and that can be worrisome as a flashy tent might look pretty appealing..but the only place I was concerned was in Carpenteria CA.Of course this was 20 yrs ago and the homeless numbers have grown Make sure you always pay as I'm sure the rate is nominal still and I would hate to see the privelege taken away.Have Fun

10

Routes / Washington -- Inland or Coastal?

« on: June 01, 2005, 10:13:48 pm »

I took the inland route from Anacortes to Astoria. I chose the route after looking at the contours included in the book and seeing lots of hills I didn't want to get discouraged with all the climbing at the beginning of my solo tour to San Diego. The book also mentions that it is drier on the inland route. I left in mid September and it poured until I got to the CA border. Years later I drove from Port Angeles to Astoria along the coast and it didn't seem as hilly as I would have guessed from the book. I think it is a coin toss. If youare touring the whole Pacific Coast you will see lots of coast from Astoria down except in Northern Ca. The hill back to the coast at Leggett to Ft Bragg is a treat!! Have fun. I did!!

11

General Discussion / Ned a bike shop in San Francisco

« on: May 13, 2008, 04:13:17 am »

If you are travelling with your bike most airlines provide a bike box. I was returning to Calgary from SF a few months ago on United and they gave me a box. I think they cost $10 usually. Just loosen the handlebars and turn them parallel with the cross bar, remove the pedals and it rolls right in. It's a real pain to take your bike all apart to fit in a box that they originally come in. I have done the same trip from Anacortes to Tijuana. Have an awesome time

12

General Discussion / Shipping the bike when trip is over!

« on: May 13, 2008, 04:20:32 am »

See my reply athttp://www.adventurecycling.org/forums/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=6&Topic=2415

13

General Discussion / Doctor Sez NO!

« on: October 11, 2005, 11:49:03 pm »

I met a fellow in the spring in Calgary and he was doing a cross Canada trip with his family. His boys were in there 20's and he was 50ish. He was riding a recumbent and said that although it wasn't great on hills..at the end of the day he didn't have a sore butt!

14

General Discussion / Chafing

« on: July 13, 2005, 07:59:21 pm »

Gold Bond Medicated powder is great for "swass"

15

General Discussion / Camping w/o a tent

« on: April 30, 2005, 11:25:33 am »

Try the Thai made Siam Hammock. It works as a hammock with a bug net and as a tent and as a sleeping cover for hostels. It is awesome. Check it out at http://www.siamhammock.com