Messages

1

Classifieds / budget buyer

« on: June 24, 2007, 12:56:18 am »

Like the others have said, check out the local bike shops.
If you are in a University town, you can usually find a decent shop close by that has used bikes.

Consider how loaded or unloaded you plan to tour then look for the bike that will fit your needs.  

Take a look at Ken Kifer's Bike Pages. Many older road bikes can be reborn into a touring bike.  

Sadly, Ken was killed by a drunk driver but his pages live on and contain lots of good information.

Also do a search for Sheldon Brown.  He is a wealth of information on bikes and is very helpful through      e-mail.

2

Classifieds / FOR SALE JAMIS NOVA CROSS/TOURING BIKE

« on: June 14, 2006, 01:55:18 am »

What size is it.

3

Gear Talk / trailer pulling and old guys

« on: December 23, 2007, 02:19:44 am »

Haven't been on any long tours yet, but I use a trailer that I modified to do my grocery shopping.
Age 52.  I commute to work with a set of panniers case I can get everything inside. With the panniers loaded I had some handling issues, perhaps from the load not being balanced. With the trailer I have only noticed that is takes more effort to get going, but them I am carrying more weight, but once moving I have to look to make sure it is still there.

Have a Burley flat bead that I modified with a wood box and insulated compartment. The Burley is rated for 100lbs and I have had it to the max on several occasions. Pulls great once I get going. Not sure I could do a hill with it loaded. I have done an overpass with about 60lbs on her with no trouble just used a lower gear.

4

Gear Talk / Child Carrier for Cargo

« on: November 26, 2006, 02:01:12 am »

Have not used a child trailer, but don't see why it wouldn't work.  You can always remove the canopy part and build onto the frame your own custom cargo box.

I have a Burley cargo trailer that I use for store runs and hauling ice chest to picnics. Recently made a box for it to load up and keep things waterproof. I get honked at more but they also give me more room when passing than riding the bike alone.

5

Gear Talk / interesting experience bike shopping

« on: September 02, 2006, 10:49:23 pm »

I have an older Jamis Aurora and have used it as an all around bike.  Only able to fit 700x30c tires with fenders, but I travel light so it works for me.  When I need to go heavy I have a Burley trailer.
Have racks and used to have a generator light set-up but the lights didn't work as I hoped so I am back to the clip on blinky and a clamp on front light. I don't ride in the dark as much as I used to so it works.

The Jamis has a nice ride and handles well loaded or pulling the trailer.

6

Gear Talk / Straight handlebars

« on: June 14, 2006, 02:19:34 am »

Hey, from someone who has done both.
Give the drop bars an honest try.  I find that when the miles got long, the flat bar did not offer enough options for hand positions.  I find a change in position now and then helps me feel less fatigued.
 
If you are more comfortable with the flat bar,as I suspect you are, another option is to add bar ends. They will allow you to be comfortable with what you are used to but allow you some other hand positions as well.

7

Gear Talk / Best Functional Helmet

« on: July 03, 2006, 12:56:28 pm »

No need for overkill.  I ride bikes and motorcycles and if you get hit by a car on either one, depending on rate of impact, the helmet will not help much.  If you hit a patch of gravel in a turn or any slick spot or wreck avoiding a car or truck then the helmet may very well save your life.  There have been cases of cyclist(both bike and MC) that have died as a result of head injuries from falling at speeds of 5mph. Little or no damage to the bike.

Ask my stepson.  Always advised him to wear a helmet. He said he had fallen many times and never hit his head so he didn't see the point.  Leaving work one day he had just started to pedal and hit a wet spot on a metal plate in the lot and went down. Got a concussion.  He now wears a helmet.  Took a fall dodging a car one day cracked the helmet but left no bumps on the head and no injury.  
They may look flimsey but they do the job of absorbing the impact. Yes they crack and break but you head dosen't.
Actually using an MC helmet on a bike may be more dangerous.  They are designed to take much greater inpacts than incured from falling off a bike.  They may bounce instead of absorbing the impact therefore giving you a good whiplash.

8

Gear Talk / Jamis Aurora

« on: March 16, 2004, 02:28:36 am »

I own a 2003 Jamis Aurora with about 1,500 miles on it at this time.  Mostly day tours but planning a cross country trip in the future. So far everything has been working smoothly.  Added SKS fenders, rear rack, and a Brooks B17 saddle.

According to the Jamis rep. I spoke to, you can put up to 32c tire without fenders or perhaps a low profile 32 with fenders. I recently put on some 30c IRC kevlar tadnem tires and they seemed to fit with my fenders with plenty of room to spare.  Why tandem tires?  I weigh in at 220lbs so I figured they would hold up with me and some extra gear, and they inflate to 100psi so they also roll nicely unloaded.

Bike handles nicely with rear paniers and a handlebar bag for my day trips.  haven't fully loaded it yet so I can't give any details in that area.  I also own a Burley flatbed trailer and it pulls that along nicely to and from the grocery store.

Hope this has been of some use to you.
Bill

9

Gear Talk / Touring Bikes ($1000 Range)

« on: March 16, 2004, 03:04:31 am »

The Trek 520 is not what I would call over priced. Checked it out while I was in the market for a bike to tour with.  I bought the 2003 Jamis Aurora ($650)to fit my budget and I wasn't sure how loaded I wanted to get.  So when you compare the two, Trek's 105 front and Deor LX rear to the Jamis sora front and Deor rear and Trek's heavier duty frame. Value wise there is not a significant difference. You get your moneys worth out of both.  The bigger question is how do you intend to use it. Really loaded self contained touring the Trek would likely hold up better in the long run.  In 2004 Jamis upgraded the components on the Aurora and now the price tag is around $840.  The Trek lists for $1099 but my shop quots $999 so this year the difference is even less.
So go out and ride both.  Consider handling, feel, comfort, and how you intend to use it. Pick the one that answers the questions in your favor.

1,500 miles on My Jamis and I love it.  Nothing fully loaded, about half loaded you might say, but I trust it to handle a full load in the near future.
Bill

10

Routes / Louisana cycling

« on: April 30, 2005, 06:17:54 am »

used to have a link to a site that listed several regions of the state with history and loop rides of various lengths. The old pc died and I lost the link. Trying to find it again. It was part of the Louisiana tourism site I think.  I found the site but things have changed and there is no mention of bike touring. I sent a message to the site director and am awaiting a reply. I may have a couple of maps and trip tics I printed out. Will check the file cab. Most I think are around the New Orleans area and Northshore area but I think I printed a couple from the area you are looking for. Will let you know what I come up with.

11

General Discussion / Touring w/Non-Cycling Spouse

« on: June 23, 2006, 10:47:45 am »

My wife doesn't cycle so I am in the same fix.  She would like to go along with me but not on a bike and no tents for her.
She already has a plan worked out.  We will get a small RV like a customized van and she will check out all the shopping in the area and things of interest to see while I ride.  We can meet for lunch and take a stroll through some place of interest she has found and then we meet up again in the evening for dinner and a place to spend the night.
I get to see all the things she misses at 50mph+ and she does the scouting for things to see and do that I may have missed or didn't focus on since I would be concerned with food,water, and places to camp if I were all on my own. So we kind of get the best of both worlds.