Messages

1

Routes / Re: RWGPS - no POIs on digital route. What am I doing wrong?

« on: February 05, 2025, 09:42:43 pm »

Thanks Kevin. That explains it. For some reason it's a tcx file that downloads. I hope they have a gpx version because it's the POI's I want. The link i got with the purchase https://ridewithgps.com/experiences/31881?app_code=???? is, as you can see, a RWGPS page which does not appear to have a GPX option even though the graphic on that page shows POIs.

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Routes / RWGPS - no POIs on digital route. What am I doing wrong?

« on: February 05, 2025, 06:02:43 pm »

I've just bought the ACA digital route for Route 66. When I import the tcx file into RWGPS on an imac the route is there but there are no POI's.
Does anybody know what I'm doing wrong?

3

General Discussion / Re: Most dangerous roads

« on: February 05, 2025, 02:24:18 pm »

"caught out in remote places in lightning storms with heavy rain" One of the most exciting parts of the Northern Tier for me was seeing the lightning flash across the whole horizon in Montana in just such weather. I eventually cowered in a gas station market (there was nowhere else to shelter) for about an hour until it eased up. But that lightning was spectacular!

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General Discussion / Best day to start on 66 from Santa Monica

« on: December 10, 2023, 06:24:45 pm »

I'm hoping to leave in early March from Santa Monica. The route appears to go traverse some high traffic areas, so on which day of the week would be best to set off?

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General Discussion / Re: LA Union station to Santa Monica

« on: November 24, 2023, 07:45:55 pm »

The best way is to take LA Metro.  You will have to transfer once but is better and easier than trying to ride to Santa Monica.

Thank you so much. I had no idea there was a Metro. There was I thinking buses, Uber, car rental etc. I hope I can manage with four panniers.

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General Discussion / Re: A few notes on the Sierra Cascades route

« on: November 23, 2023, 01:33:15 pm »

I'm sorry you had such a grim time on the SC I did it in 2011 and had a blast. It seems things have gone very much downhill since then, particularly the camping scene. Mind you I was lucky. I fell in with a couple who had booked a site in Yosemite. We ended up riding 500 miles together. The biggest challenge I came across was the pass to the Columbia that was blocked by snow in June! I had to make a detour and was told later I couldn't have picked a worse route.

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General Discussion / LA Union station to Santa Monica

« on: November 23, 2023, 01:20:57 pm »

I'm planning on doing Route 66 W to E next spring having found out the hard way (twice) why E to W is a bad idea.
I would like to take Amtrak to Los Angeles which would land me in downtown LA. I'd rather not ride to Santa Monica from Union Station. Is there another way to get me and my bike to the start of 66? Or is the ride from Union Station quite tolerable?

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General Discussion / Re: Continental gator skin bicycle tires.

« on: February 22, 2023, 10:02:04 am »

I'm surprised you're able to get any grip on "wet roads with downhill curves that have soil run off."  That's a recipe for any tire to start sliding.  Perhaps the front wheel grip is from extra width on the front Contact?  A better approach would be to slow down coming into the curve and try to ride as straight as possible across the mud streaks.

Perhaps he's Tom Pidcock in disguise. https://youtu.be/fl5Xq3o_1TY?t=290

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General Discussion / Re: Your best single piece of advice

« on: February 20, 2023, 02:11:05 am »

I will be taking a short bicycle tour around the Scottish Highlands, canalligators, a few weeks before my TA trip.

And you won't have to deal with midges.

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General Discussion / Re: Your best single piece of advice

« on: February 20, 2023, 02:05:29 am »

Develop a gear and packing list. Start short and work to longer tours.  Take an overnight or weekend trip with all your gear.  Then take a week-long trip.  Update your list as you learn.  The starter trips are good for equipment shakedown, training and fun.

All good advice. If you use stuff sacks attach a label (next to nothing at Staples) with the sack's contents listed, then you aren't opening sack after sack to find that pair of warm gloves.

11

General Discussion / Re: Lube when long distance touring

« on: February 20, 2023, 01:59:58 am »

What's T-9

A Boesheild product.  It is sold and used for stuff other than bike chains.  The aircraft industry use it as do gunsmiths and enthusiasts to name a few other uses.  It comes in aerosol cans, squeeze bottles, and in larger (gallon etc) cans.  Bike shops tend to have the small squeeze bottles or sometimes the aerosol cans.  I think it is paraffin based.

It says it's paraffin based on the bottle.
A mechanic once advised me "Use the cheapest chain you can find and change them every 800 miles" I may try that in future: not the most convenient for a long tour but I find the chain cleaning quasi ritual a PIA and I'm not sure it makes them last any longer.

12

General Discussion / Re: Continental gator skin bicycle tires.

« on: January 20, 2023, 05:13:08 am »

One reason for using Conti's rather than Marathon Plus is that if you do get a flat in a Marathon+ they are a nightmare to take off at the side of the road.

13

General Discussion / Re: Grizzlies in Yellowstone and Glacier

« on: January 20, 2023, 05:08:07 am »

I was riding the Icefields Parkway from Jasper and staying in hostels. At one I noticed cans of bear spray that people had left and I asked if I should carry bear spray myself. I was assured not.

As I was approaching the highest point on the Parkway at a very slow speed a grizzly bear walked into the road in front of me about 20 yards ahead. I stopped. The bear stopped and looked at me for what seemed like forever but probably no more than a second. He/she decided it wasn't interested in me and carried on across the road. It was a stunning sight and I was too scared to take a picture, not wanting any clicking and whirring of cameras to get its attention.

They are amazing beasts that move like greyhounds despite their size. It's shaggy coat looked like an Irish setter's that had been rolling in gray mud. A lady from Alaska I was telling about this assured me it was a grizzly and I did the right thing keeping quiet. It's a strange experience being looked at by a teddy bear: black button nose, black eyes, ridiculous Fozzie bear ears and a head the size of a cow's. Not one I'll forget. Fortunately I'd no food that could have got its attention.

14

General Discussion / Re: Lube when long distance touring

« on: January 20, 2023, 04:33:29 am »

I’m hesitant to name the product as chain lube debates are almost religious.

Amen

15

Gear Talk / Re: Breaking in Brooks B17 Imperial

« on: February 21, 2022, 01:51:12 pm »

Here's yet another view. I like mine right out of the box without a break-in period. That's for the  B17. Th Pro is a different animal entirely.

My experience too. When a B17 is new I tend to slide around a bit and that's it.