Messages

1

Routes / Re: Double fatality on Route 66 today

« on: May 21, 2018, 10:19:55 pm »

My info is about 2-3 years old.  This was from asking a Ranger as I was in the area after I had learned about the rule on CrazyGuyonabike.com. Granted, he sad they seldom enforce it but my previous point is that they legally do prohibit it, at least 2 years ago they did, so having a bunch of paths can create unexpected outcomes.
John

That’s good to know. I love MUPs better than roads but I don’t feel my speeds (15-20mph) are safe for MUPs when they’re filled with other people so I take the road.

2

Routes / Re: Double fatality on Route 66 today

« on: May 21, 2018, 07:31:59 pm »

Goodaches,
While I totally support more maintained USABLE bike paths, unfortunately a lot of cities in the USA, at least, 1) have laws that require cyclists to use the path and they typically do not distinguish as to where it is usable or not (glass littered, cracks, etc.), 2) discount the percentage of fault of the motorist if a path was available and not used (sort of like a biker getting hit while using the interstate in a metro area), and 3) seems to give motorists a "use the !@#$ path" attitude if one is nearby and not being used for whatever reason.  Granted the last is my perception but the first two are definitely and issue.  Also, who defines "usable" or "reasonable".  Typically the courts.

Pat's corollary example actually exists in Teton National Park I believe.  It is my understanding cyclists are not permitted to ride on the road that parallels the path north of Moose, WY to Jenny Lake.  While normally that is OK because the path is currently great, what happens if the path becomes unrideable for whatever reason (glass, stickers, severe cracks, etc.)?  What if you have to ride on the road to access a service?  Is that legal or not?

Again, I am generally for usable paths that are maintained. However, a lot of other issues pop up them, especially in our stupid litigious society.

I wasn’t aware of the rule in Grand Teton NP. I’ve ridden the road the two times I’ve been in the park. The path tends to be cluttered with groups of cyclist going 5mph as they diddy daddle along. Anyway thanks for pointing it out. I’ll have to check in case I’m ever back in the park again.

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Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Lewis & Clark Bicycle Trail #7, maps 104-108 Road Closures - May 2018

« on: May 11, 2018, 04:02:47 pm »

https://bikeportland.org/2018/05/11/state-makes-rare-decision-to-close-cycling-through-columbia-river-gorge-this-year-280963

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Routes / Re: Double fatality on Route 66 today

« on: May 11, 2018, 09:43:24 am »

Even if one rider was in the left lane and the other in the right lane - - -
How does a person hit two cyclists on a perfectly clear day?

?

If they were riding side by side they were in the same lane. I read somewhere they’d just crested a hill and weren’t visible to the driver.

5

Routes / Re: Double fatality on Route 66 today

« on: May 11, 2018, 02:22:04 am »

I’m assuming they were riding side by side so they were hit simultaneously.

The shoulder is great in that area. Not wide enough to ride side by side. Smooth clean pavement though.

6

Routes / Re: Double fatality on Route 66 today

« on: May 09, 2018, 08:44:40 am »

The only update I’ve found was that they were struck from behind by a minivan.

The section from Galena to Baxter Springs was nice. The shoulder is nice and wide enough there’s no reason for them to have been in the road.

It’ll be interesting as more details are released.

7

Routes / Double fatality on Route 66 today

« on: May 08, 2018, 05:57:44 pm »

Tragic news this morning in Kansas

http://www.koamtv.com/story/38141436/double-fatality-cyclists-hit-on-hwy-66-in-cherokee-co-ks

8

Gear Talk / Re: Cooking set up while on tour?

« on: April 08, 2018, 10:28:48 pm »

Sounds like your road test is coming before ours. What route will you be cooking alongside in April?

So far I’ve only been able to use it once. Worked great. It held enough water to make two packs of steel cut oatmeal and a cup of coffee. All in about 2 minutes in 15*F temps.

9

General Discussion / Re: Hotel/motel vs camping

« on: March 25, 2018, 06:47:49 pm »

In my opinion, camping is a HUGE part of what makes the bike touring experience special. I believe that it really connects you with the land that you are riding through, and it FULLY ENGULFS you in the bike touring experience. Plus, camping is makes the bike tour more difficult, which helps you grow through those difficult situations.

+1 - Couldn't have said it any better myself.

10

Gear Talk / Re: Cooking set up while on tour?

« on: March 20, 2018, 06:30:16 am »

Sounds like your road test is coming before ours. What route will you be cooking alongside in April?

Route 66

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Gear Talk / Re: Cooking set up while on tour?

« on: March 19, 2018, 04:40:44 pm »

Upgrading equipment for doing GDMBR this year included acquiring JetBoil MiniMo. Haven't tested on trail yet but here's the criteria that led us to that stove. First, stove or no - we'll be tenting most nights and having a warm meal and beverage at night and in the morning can substantially affect my wife's comfort level. So yes, happy wife happy life applies on the road too. Second, which stove - the piezo-electric ignition and heat transfer fins reduce fuel waste and that narrowed the choices to a few models from a couple of brands.  Third, pot size - the MiniMo was the only one we found that had a low and wide proportion to the pot. Eating, cleaning, all much easier with a pot than a tall cup.
I'll comment again some day after we have experience with the reliability.

Good to hear you also chose the MiniMo. The Flash was a pain to clean and even worse to eat out of. It was too deep for your average spoon and you essentially have to stick your hand into the pot to reach the bottom. Not fun when it’s still hot.

The JetBoil spoon and fork fold and nest into the MiniMo. The cup nest the spoon, fork, fuel, fuel stand, burner, cleaning cloth and rod to the French press. The bottom nest the bottom to the French press. Super convenient.

Looking forward to your review.

12

Gear Talk / Re: Cooking set up while on tour?

« on: March 12, 2018, 09:47:21 pm »

Of course, it is also possible to tour outside of the continental USA, in which case Ty's remarks become very relevant (e.g., Alaska, northern Canada, most of the rest of the world that isn't developed).

+1

I looked into a ride from Seattle to the interior of Alaska. Couldn’t do it unsupported though. Sometimes the mileage between stores was 300+ miles. Another route I looked into saw stretches of 500+ miles with nothing.

13

Gear Talk / Re: Cooking set up while on tour?

« on: March 11, 2018, 09:47:54 pm »

Not cooking is what works for me...  Buy food in a grocery that doesn't need to be cooked.

That’s possible when stores are frequent. Not so much when you’re going days between stores.

On paved roads in the USA, you will never ever ride anywhere without a town every single day.  99.9+% of the time you will at least have a town at the beginning and end of the day.  Its possible to have routes with no intermediate towns.  But always a town at the beginning and end.  Yes on very rare occasions you may have to ride 100 miles between towns.

If you are talking about off road touring, then yes it is very easy to ride routes with no towns.  And you would need to carry all of your food and cooking supplies for the entire trip.  Off road touring.

I never said anything about towns. I said stores.... There’s a lot of sections through rural America with no stores. Stores have started dying off as the economy dropped. I’ve ridden two and three day stretches without a store in Wyoming, Idaho, Nebraska and South Dakota. On paved roads. “Highways” in areas.

A lot of the towns I passed through had a single restaurant that doubled as the gas station. If they sold any to go food it was candy bars and muffins for the most part.

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Gear Talk / Re: Cooking set up while on tour?

« on: March 11, 2018, 08:45:32 pm »

Not cooking is what works for me...  Buy food in a grocery that doesn't need to be cooked.

That’s possible when stores are frequent. Not so much when you’re going days between stores. Oatmeal and Top Ramen are a lot lighter (and cheaper) than sandwiches, fruit etc.

I did spend the last 2 months of my 2016 tour without a stove. Spent a lot more money than when I had it.

15

General Discussion / Re: Routes by google maps?

« on: March 10, 2018, 06:51:03 pm »

They’re terrible for the most part. They’ve put me on dirt roads, controlled access highways, and roads with bridges out causing me to turn around and lose a day.

The new ACA app (BicycleRouteNetwork) launched last month and is basically Google maps with all the information cyclist need. They’re not free. Route 66 was $30 for the set. Well worth it though IMO.

Take a look at the photos below.