Messages

1

Routes / Re: Maps for trans-Canada trip?

« on: August 16, 2020, 04:40:14 pm »

The greatest thing about Adventure Cycling maps is their detailed information on gas stations, grocery stores, campgrounds - even in the middle of nowhere - something that is very important when planning your trip. When I planned my trans Canada trip I spent a few weeks on Google Maps tracing all the necessary details onto a paper map.

I once met a guy who rode across USA only with his smartphone and an internet connection to google maps.

2

Food Talk / Recovery time when cycling across USA?

« on: August 15, 2020, 05:36:25 pm »

Hi,

Does anyone have some in-depth knowledge/information on recovery principles when doing sports such as biking across USA?

The theory on recovery time states that the body needs to rest between each physical exercise otherwise strength cannot be built and the opposite happens - the body becomes weaker. Recovery time can have a duration from one nights sleep to several days.

Among touring cyclists an anticipated method is often to increase milage=strength=stamina during the trip day-by-day thus starting out as a weak cyclist and then become stronger and stronger. This is often used as an argument when biking across USA: Bike east-to-west - then you will have the rockies towards the end and you have built sufficient strength to fight them.

Now lets assume 2 cyclists, A and B:

Both plan on biking across USA as fast as possible however always observing their physical capabilities. None of them plan on rest days - they will both bicycle each and every day. It is not a race with a support van - still normal biking with a tent, sleeping bag etc.

A: Has done no long distance touring exercise on a bike previously and starts as a happy cyclist from day 1 and plans on building his strength as he is biking across USA.

B: Has done a lot of training approaching the departure date observing the recovery principle and thus building his strength prior to the departure date. One could say that he has a good head start compared to A.

Assumption:
B will have a higher milage from day 1 and will finish faster than A.

Question:
Will A over the course of the trip slowly build the same strength=stamina=milage as B towards the end and thus be as powerful after lets say 30-60 days of cycling? Or will he keep struggling with his strength=stamina=milage due to the fact that his body simply needs more recovery than just 1 nights sleep? Or even worse: Will his milage drop?

Lucas

3

Gear Talk / Re: Tents Designed for Bike touring

« on: August 15, 2020, 04:08:02 pm »

When touring in the US, particularly in the upper states during summer, a free-standing tent is very important to me. Why? You will find many options a long the way where you can put up your tent on a covered concrete slab. This is gold when you are dealing with serious condensation problems due to dropping dew points on grass.

4

Gear Talk / Re: A must item

« on: August 15, 2020, 04:02:08 pm »

A folding cup for my oat meal in the morning.

5

General Discussion / Which non greasy sunscreen?

« on: August 13, 2020, 05:24:13 pm »

Hi,

In 2012 I asked a similar question but recently I have been struggling again with finding a proper sunscreen. I am looking for a sunscreen that:

1. Leaves a non-greasy (dry) coating on the skin.
2. Does not leave a sticky feeling on the skin.
3. Will not leave residues on clothing (socks and t-shirt). A zinc rich sunscreen will typically leave white residues on socks and t-shirt sleeve ends. It looks horrible/dirty right away.
4. Comes in a rather large bottle (preferable 16 fl oz or in that size range).
5. Price of no importance.
6. Available in Walmart, Walgreens or similar.

Anyone with some good recommendations?

Lucas

6

General Discussion / Re: Water Water Everywhere: My Tour Around Northwest Montana

« on: July 19, 2017, 05:30:01 am »

What camera did you use for taking the pictures - they look great and full of color. Did you process the pictures or just uploaded them?

Lucas

7

General Discussion / Summer nights: Why does it never get cold in the deserts of the Southwest?

« on: July 19, 2017, 02:03:58 am »

Hi,

This is regarding at least the Sonoran desert which is located in the Western Part of Arizona. I biked in that area before during summer time and will likely do it again this year. It is common knowledge that the Sahara desert (Africa) gets ice cold each night, but why does it never cool down in the Sonoran desert? Probably the same in the Mojave desert. It can easily stay at 90 to 95 degF during the night which is really annoying when camping out. Can anyone link to some scientific explanation? :-)

Lucas

8

Routes / Re: Another way to cope with dogs

« on: July 16, 2017, 01:47:43 am »

turn off the headlight,

Do you ride at night?

9

Gear Talk / Re: Tent ground cloth?

« on: July 12, 2017, 07:52:18 am »

Combined, I think I camped more than 300 days with my Hilleberg tent. There is still no hole and nothing to be patched.

10

Gear Talk / Rigidity of S&S Couplers?

« on: July 11, 2017, 04:45:04 pm »

Hi,

Does anyone have practical, hands on experience with a loaded touring bike featuring the S&S Couplers? Is it as rigid, wobblefree and solid as a non-S&S coupler bike?

Lucas

11

General Discussion / Re: What state is your favorite to ride in?

« on: July 11, 2017, 04:38:05 pm »

I am happy to see that at least three states have outlawed "rolling coal."

What does that mean?

12

General Discussion / Re: What state is your favorite to ride in?

« on: July 11, 2017, 10:48:03 am »

Wyoming: Did they throw bottles/cans after you? Did they rev their diesel truck engines while passing you such that their exhaust sidepipe would make everything soot black in front of you? Did they yell at you of their car windows? Did they throw cigarette butts after you while passing you? If not, there are worse states than Wyoming :-).

13

General Discussion / Re: 2017 General weather forecast: North America?

« on: July 03, 2017, 06:25:30 pm »

What I was referring to: If I experience high temperatures this summer - is it a normal summer or an unusually hot summer? Maybe some meteorologists have posted some comments for the summer already. Moreover, sitting 10000 km away I have no idea what the summer is like in North America right now. As a comparable side note: I read somewhere on the internet that the summer of 2016 was very hot in New England - much hotter than normal.

14

General Discussion / Re: Bears in Canada?

« on: July 03, 2017, 06:15:42 pm »

Currently planning the route using google maps and tracing all the information onto commercial paper maps (Mapart). Among many, found a private campground along HWY 11 between Thunderbay and Fort Frances and was unsure whether they offered tent camping. I contacted them and was told that they do not offer tent camping due to bears! Bears would always go for the tents first I was told. But I could rent a cabin for 1 day for 180 dollars!!! Not really promising information.

15

General Discussion / 2017 General weather forecast: North America?

« on: June 29, 2017, 05:55:41 am »

Hi,

In 3 weeks I plan on biking across Canada (East to West) and then down towards Mexico following the Sierra Cascades route. I was wondering if there are some general weather forecasts for the summer of 2017. Extreme heat, El nino, etc etc. Anyone with info?

Lucas