Messages

1

Gear Talk / Thermarest pad slipping

« on: November 03, 2006, 02:47:48 pm »

You can make a cover for the pad out of cotton or flannel. It works just like a pillow case. The nice thing is on warm nights you can lay right on the pad and use your bag as a blanket if needed. The fabric should create enough friction between itself and the bag to keep you in place.

Travel Safe.  Peter Campbell

2

Gear Talk / Mirrors

« on: October 28, 2006, 12:59:52 pm »

Great onformation! Thanks, this helps a lot. With the glasses mount I have had trouble getting mine to fit all of my glasses. Sometimes the stems are too thick and I can't attach the mirror.

Travel Safe.  Peter Campbell

3

Gear Talk / Mirrors

« on: October 27, 2006, 03:52:19 pm »

I am thinking of adding a mirror onto the handlebar of my bike.Does anyone have experience with mirrors attached to the handlebars? Do handlebar mirrors work well? Is a helmet or glasses mirror better? I appreciate any advice that you can give. Thanks.

Travel Safe.  Peter Campbell

4

Gear Talk / pedals?

« on: October 11, 2006, 02:04:27 pm »

I use the Candy C pedals from Crank Brothers and have found them to be excellent. They are easy to enter and exit and the wider platform is comfortable to use.

Travel Safe.  Peter Campbell

5

Gear Talk / Tents

« on: September 23, 2006, 09:03:59 pm »

I have used the REI Half Dome for both backpacking and touring and I have found it to be an excellent tent. I like the double vestibules! I can stow gear out of the rain in one and use the other as an entrance. It's a tad heavy but I like to have the room. When I backpack one of the vestibules makes a good dog tent...  

Hilleberg is a world-class tentmaker with very strong and light tents. They are double walled but the inner tent is attached to the outer tent, with the poles in exterior sleeves, so that when you pitch the tent the inner tent is never exposed to the elements. I have seen these tents all over the world. I have used them from time to time and they are bombproof. They are pricey but then they last forever.

Here is the link if you want to check it out.
http://www.hilleberg.com/Home.htm

Travel Safe.  Peter Campbell

6

Gear Talk / Ortlieb Regular vs. Plus Fabric

« on: September 24, 2006, 05:23:35 am »

I have the regular bags and I have nothing but good to say about them. On a tour through the Yellowstone and Teton area we had a full day of rain, slush and snow. My buddy had to fuss with rain covers which did not keep the contents completely dry. Everything in my bags stayed dry! The bags which were a mess cleaned up with a quick rinse after the day of pain was over.
I like the heavy duty fabric, they have taken a lot of abuse and still look new. The bags go on and off the racks so easily I don't see how they could improve things.


Travel Safe.  Peter Campbell

7

Routes / Michigan Bike Paths

« on: January 14, 2008, 04:06:29 pm »

Has anyone been on the Alpena to Mackinac Trail or the Midland to Mackinac Trail? We will be riding from Saginaw North to Cheboygan. We are riding Bike Fridays and pulling double wheeled trailers but we could use panniers. Is the trail suitable for this type of travel or would it be better to use Highway 23? What are the conditions on Highway 23, shoulders, traffic? We will appreciate any information that you can share with us. Thanks.

Travel Safe.  Peter Campbell

8

Routes / Rocky Mountain critters, red in tooth and claw?

« on: October 19, 2006, 01:03:40 pm »

I think that we may have crossed paths on your tour this summer. Didn't we meet in Madison Campground in Yellowstone? My wife and I were touring with two friends (the odd couple). We had plans to ride down to Old Faithful with you but the odd couple were moving too slow. I found a business card that I think is yours and wanted to say hello, so I sent an email to that address as well. How was your trip?

Travel Safe.  Peter Campbell

9

Routes / Rocky Mountain critters, red in tooth and claw?

« on: September 22, 2006, 10:55:38 am »

I do a lot of travel in bear and critter country and I have found that a separate waterproof bag for food that I secure on my rear bike rack works the best. I keep everything food related in this bag, stove/fuel, pots, utensils, snacks and trash. I have a bear bag which is a small bag with a cord attached that I use to throw over a branch and haul my food bag up in a tree. Waterproof bags are less expensive than panniers so if your setup fails your not out too much money. Be sure to keep your food bag five feet out from the trunk and under the branch if possible. Critters are very adept at the long reach method.  Another possibility is one of the bear proof containers. These you don't need to hang in a tree which is nice. Just toss it in a bush a couple hundred feet from camp.

Be careful not to keep food in your other bags or in your tent. The little buggers will chew their way through to get at the food, even if there is no food currently in there. If you have previously stored food in the bag just give it a good washing out with a non perfumed soap. If your soap is lemony fresh, that could be a problem right? If you dump dinner all over yourself, I wouldn't keep the clothes in the camp either. Most animals won't bother to snoop around unless they smell something tempting...

Most campgrounds have bear boxes to store your food. If they don't, you can usually talk the campground host, ranger or friendly neighbor into letting you put your bag in their vehicle.

My wife and I are going to do the Lewis and Clark form Oregon to Missoula next summer.  How was the ride? I would appreciate beta on the route.

10

General Discussion / Where this year?

« on: January 02, 2007, 01:38:41 pm »

My wife and I are going to ride part of the Lewis and Clark trail, starting in Oregon and stopping in Montana. We will also ride from Eugene Oregon to the coast and back for an early season warm up.

Travel Safe.  Peter Campbell

11

General Discussion / around the world trip/ride

« on: October 24, 2006, 03:41:37 pm »

If you like the idea of a folding bike you may want to check out Bike Friday bikes. These bikes fold up into a suitcase. The suitcase can be used as a trailer eliminating the need for racks and panniers. I have ridden one and it rode like a normal bike for the most part and I have heard a lot of good things about the bikes. You can check out www.bikefriday.com

Travel Safe.  Peter Campbell

12

General Discussion / Bike Friday Touring Bikes????

« on: December 19, 2006, 01:43:27 pm »

miles2go - I did not get an email yet.
peter.campbell@granite.k12.ut.us
adventurpete@hotmail.com

Travel Safe.  Peter Campbell

13

General Discussion / Bike Friday Touring Bikes????

« on: December 18, 2006, 03:28:36 pm »

Miles2go - I was looking at the setup you used on your NWT and I was wondering if you found the gearing adequate for the mountainous touring you did. I am buying a Llama and I am having 58, 48, 36 up front and 11 to 34 on the rear. After looking at your setup I am questioning mine. We will be doing some off road travel but mostly road. I like lower gears for the steep hills. What is your opinion on my setup?

Travel Safe.  Peter Campbell

This message was edited by adventurepete on 12-18-06 @ 11:29 AM

14

General Discussion / Bike Friday Touring Bikes????

« on: December 13, 2006, 04:22:59 pm »

Great pictures! I enjoyed looking over your site very much. I appreciate the information that you gave about the bikes. We live in SLC and I would enjoy speaking with you about bikes and trips.

peter.campbell@granite.k12.ut.us

Travel Safe.  Peter Campbell

15

General Discussion / Bike Friday Touring Bikes????

« on: November 29, 2006, 03:51:54 pm »

Last spring my wife and I did a half day test ride on a NWT with the trailer attached. The trailer had around forty pounds of stuff in it. After awhile I became accustomed enough to the trailer that I forgot that it was even there. It is very stable and tracked right behind the bike. Since the trailer has two wheels it does not affect your balance as I am told a single wheel trailer can. The suitcase will hold the bike, trailer and some extra gear when traveling. It seems to have plenty of room for gear when used as a trailer. The one disadvantage to a double wheel trailer is that it does stick out to your left a bit but not too much. It seemed to be maneuverable enough but I am not a good judge due to my lack of trailer experience. They make folding racks that will fit in the case with the bike if you prefer to use panniers instead.

Travel Safe.  Peter Campbell