Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: Touring tandem: experience with different makes

« on: January 20, 2017, 09:45:54 pm »

My wife and I have done many years of tandem touring. Our old non-coupled tandem finally broke after about a 100K miles and we replaced it with a S&S Rodriguez. We really like the Rod. All Rods are customs (for about the same $ as other manufacturers stock sizes).  Fit is KING.  If it doesn't fit, all is lost. Be careful. Note:  I have no relationship with Rodriguez other than being a satisfied customer.

Our bike has 700 wheels and yes it is a tight fit in the case. Sometimes, depending on the tire, I have to partially dismount the tire.  But I find that no big deal as we carry a frame pump and it takes but a few extra minutes in the assembly process to air up the tires.

You don't buy a tandem bike very often. Please don't get a bad case of buyer's remorse by trying to cut a few financial corners. I'd rather  put off my purchase for awhile and save up to get the right bike instead of maybe forcing a round peg in the square hole. Just sayin'.

2

Gear Talk / Re: Shifters-integrated vs bar-end

« on: January 09, 2017, 07:52:26 pm »

Chill Russ. No more coffee for you. I've got three or four wheel sets among the bikes in my stable. They all have different sizes and brands of tires and they're all interchangeable. Some of the cassettes have tight skips, others run up to 36 teeth. Horses for courses. Sometimes you come across a cassette clearance deal at the LBS. It's nice to have some flexibility.   Not every ride is a tour ride, but when I am on tour it's nice to know that if I somehow manage to destroy the cassette du jour I could probably score a satisfactory replacement in any berg LBS with my friction barcons.

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Gear Talk / Re: Shifters-integrated vs bar-end

« on: January 08, 2017, 08:59:59 pm »

I run my barcons in friction mode and switch seamlessly between 8, 9, and 10 speed cassettes.  The same 9 speed chain works just fine with all.  I've had brifters.  They're fine.  I just feel more in tune with the bike with the barcons.  Plus I get the mentioned adaptability and a less finiky drivetrain.  Just keeping it simple.

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GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Re: High Resolution TransAmerica Trail Digital Data now available

« on: May 02, 2016, 05:06:55 pm »

Being somewhat technology challenged, it would nice if ACA would make available some sort of tiny 'free sample' example that could be downloaded without cost so the consumer could see and better understand what their getting and that it's really what they want.

5

Gear Talk / Re: Fenders and tires for a Surly Disc Trucker with 26" rims

« on: August 09, 2013, 06:11:37 pm »

We did the C & O (for the second time) in early June at the beginning of our cross country ride.  We were on a loaded tandem sporting 35mm tires (the biggest I could get under the fenders).  We caught some hard rain beginning our third day out.  The further you get from D.C., the worse the path becomes.  It got to be a real mess and we finally bailed to pavement the last few miles before we got to Cumberland, MD.  Bigger would definitely be better for the rocks, roots and ruts that you'll encounter.

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GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Re: best way to get use a Garmin 800 for cc trip

« on: January 16, 2013, 09:26:39 pm »

     My wife and I have tandem-toured with the Garmin Edge 605.  For downloading routes, the 605 and 705 and now the 800 models are essentially the same.  We use MapMyRide and RideWithGPS to find out-of- town routes when we're traveling.  Our local bike club posts its weekly rides on the same services and we'll download those as well.  It has worked great for that.
     The problem with Garmin's Edge series is that they cannot 'read' the digital routes that ACA has made available.  You need a dedicated GPS (like the mentioned Etrex 20/30 models) for that.  The Etex (or like unit) can accept the ACA download and give you those turn by turn directions you're looking for (assuming you've loaded the Navigator/etc maps).  Even with a dedicated GPS, it probably can't hold all the waypoints for an entire cross country route, meaning you'd have to download a portion into the unit and somewhere along the trail, find a means of downloading the rest.
     My wife and I used our Edge 605 when we did ACA's Adirondack Loop last spring, but we had to take the ACA paper maps and laboriously plot the route into RideWithGPS and then download the created route into the Edge.   Difficult enough for a 9 day trip, totally impractical for a transcontinenal ride.

7

Classifieds / Re: FS: Arkel Big Bar Handlebar Bags - w/raincover

« on: January 14, 2013, 04:55:20 pm »

I'd be good for one bag/hardware @ $100 if you pay shipping.

8

South / Re: Natchez Trace Northern Terminus Connection to Nashville

« on: January 14, 2013, 04:40:16 pm »

Very good advise from pdlamb.

9

Gear Talk / Re: Bike box / carrier

« on: January 14, 2013, 04:32:29 pm »

BikeProUSA makes several different travel cases, both hard shell and soft cover.  I've used their tandem case with good results.  Noticed several other manufacturers with a quick interweb search.  None are cheap and you do have the mentioned problem of storing your case (if it's not a disposable) until your return. 

10

Gear Talk / Front Quick Release Skewers Too Short with Rack Fitting

« on: January 13, 2013, 07:10:01 pm »

In anticipation of an extended summer tour, I was fiddling around with the bike and decided to try the fit of the front rack that I've owned for several years, but have never used.  To my surprise, I found that the quick release skewer was too short to accommodate the extra width created by the rack legs through which the qr threads.  Is this a common rack fit issue?  Am I looking for a half inch longer qr? Do they make those things in small length increments?

11

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Re: Mapsource Files, MPS & GPX

« on: November 23, 2012, 02:59:47 pm »

Fred - I'm so confused.  My wife and I are planning a transcontinental ride on ACA routes for Spring '13.  We've used a Garmin Edge for tours of up to 2 weeks by creating our daily routes using one of the mapping sites like RideWithGPS or MapMyRide.  Reading forum posts and what I know first hand about the Edge, it appears that it is not a suitable GPSR for our transcon.
So, we're looking for that dedicated GPSR that, as I understand it, with the ACA waypoints download, will give us turn by turn directions all the way across the country - just follow the highlighted line like on the Edge (of course we'll also have ACA maps for backup, a smartphone and an ipad)? 
Is my expectation correct?  Is it as simple as a download to your home computer and then a further download from your computer into the GPSR?  As you can tell, I'm not very tech savy (white male, 60years).  I can fix my bike in the middle of nowhere with some duct tape and bailing wire, but electrons are like herding cats to me.
I've read the ACA GPS explanation page over and over.  I'm sure it's well done, but it's not getting through to me.  Is there a video tutorial somewhere that explains how the process works?  I'm pretty visual, seeing it hands on is always a help.
I've been to a couple of outdoor stores that sell the dedicated GPSRs.  The salespeople, so far, have been useless.  They've never heard of ACA and the waypoints thing. 
I'm trying to get a handle on this.  Maybe I'm not alone.  Perhaps you could dumb down a video tutorial that us Luddites could understand.  Thanks for all your help.

12

Gear Talk / Re: Brooks Saddle help

« on: November 23, 2012, 08:04:28 am »

All my bikes (5) sport B-17s.  On long, long rides everything else may hurt, but never my backside.  The leather on the B-17s is not quite as thick as on the Professional models.  The 17s break in much faster.  It was the most comfortable saddle I ever sat right out of the box and just got better from there. 
You have to be careful not to overdo saddle maintenance.  The Brooks website does not recommend saddle soap.  They say use their proprietary product - Proofide - to maintain the saddle.  I bought a tin with my first Brooks years ago and I've still got some left.  A good application of the stuff - its a little like shoe polish - top and bottom when saddle is new and then maybe annually thereafter is all you need, unless your saddle has been abused by neglect (left outside for weeks in the rain and sun, etc). 
A Brooks saddle is a hammock.  A piece of leather suspended at each end. It will stretch over time and use.  That's why it has the adjusting nose cap, so you can take up the stretch if the saddle gets too saggy.  If you oversoften the leather you accelerate the stretching process and reduce the life of the saddle.  Also, don't get too aggressive with the nose cap stretching as you can literally tear the front rivet out and ruin the saddle. 
B-17s.  They're the Bomb.

13

Routes / Re: GAP/C&O Canal - Alternative Roadway Routes

« on: October 16, 2012, 06:52:09 pm »

My wife and I did the GAP/C&O on our tandem a couple of years ago.  Had 37mm slicks for tires and did just fine, although a tire with a little tread and some side knobs would have been appreciated in sections of the C&O.  The C&O's conditions certainly did improve my bike handling skills (even after 50K+ miles of tandeming!!).  You'll have a great trip.  Just keep it relaxed when you hit those mud puddles.

14

Gear Talk / Re: Chain Maintenance on Tour

« on: October 10, 2012, 05:38:17 pm »

     We did the GAP/C&O a couple of years ago on our tandem.  Had a wonderful time.  Two very different surfaces - crushed limestone for the GAP and hardpack dirt for the C&O.  We had a couple of days of rain, which made parts of the C&O very sloppy.
     I wouldn't recommend a hot wax chain treatment, as that just doesn't last in wet conditions and would be difficult to reapply on tour.  We used ProLink and did just fine.  Any 'wet' type lube would be the way to go.  As someone else said, just a daily wipe down would be highly advisable (and carry a small bottle of whatever lube you select for reapplication as necessary).
     Though not part of your question, I'd also recommend a tire with tread and some side cleats (a'la cyclocross style) for the C&O to combat the likely sloppy conditions you will encounter.

15

Routes / Utah Parks Tour

« on: May 10, 2005, 11:39:58 pm »

Need to contact someone doing the AdVenCy Utah Parks tour coming up late this month.  Email me:  tolbertL@excite.com  Thanks!