Messages

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General Discussion / Re: texting

« on: December 21, 2011, 01:53:06 pm »

I approach this with the same method as I approach any area with traffic:  HI-VIS

I wear a class III long sleeved lime green jersey with retro-refl stripes.  I can be easily seen from about 1/2 mile away.  At 60mph that is about 30 seconds ahead.  Even the most engrossed texting driver doesn't look down for 20-30 seconds.  Initially, the wife told me that I look "special needs".  I am special needs.  I have a special need to not get run over.

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General Discussion / Re: How would you have handled this dog episode?

« on: April 28, 2011, 01:11:54 pm »

Halt! repellent is like a fire extinguisher.  You hope you never get need it.  I've given a couple of very aggressive dogs the 'hot sauce' while working in remote areas.  It could be a tough product to use while riding a bike.  If there is a wind..?  Angry dogs won't even look at a thrown bisquit either.  Most dogs know "No!", but multiple angry dogs? Dang.
If you do buy a spray, buy two and use one to familiarize yourself with its stream and range -esp. in wind.

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General Discussion / Re: Shakedown Trip, still concerned

« on: April 28, 2011, 12:55:49 pm »

Let about 25% of your liquid intake be a fluids replenishing drink -Gator-power-sport-aid as they do contain sodium and other needed stuff.  Drink lots.

For me (I'm odd) wearing long loose-fitting sleeves works best.  (it works for cowboys and Arabs) My outer layer is a synthetic jersey material that blocks sun and wicks moisture.  I'll wear sunblock on my legs, but my skin just feels 'clogged' and sticky.   Helmets with a visor are a good thing.  Last summer, I tried draping a handkerchief out of the back of my helmet to cover my neck.  That worked really well.

Enjoy the WE.  I'm envious.

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General Discussion / Re: Red or Yellow (not neon yellow). Which is more visible on the road?

« on: April 28, 2011, 12:41:04 pm »

As a surveyor, I'm not a fan of the surveyor's vest -at least not for riding.  They are heavy and don't breath well.  They have lots of pockets, which is good for working but add bulk.

http://www.safetyline.com/discontinuedvests.aspx

The prices here /\ are the best out there for non-ANSI compliant needs.  Legislation passed (in my state) requires roadway-present workers to have, at minimum, Class II or better, dependant on task.  Many states are moving toward this and putting a lot of good quality high-vis gear into the closeout bins.  My employer requires me to wear a Class II, and my self-imposed family demands require me to wear a Class III (i.e. sleeves) when touring.  The mesh jersey material is highly transparent to air movement.

Choosing a color for panniers will depend on the environs you're in.  For most, the yellow will stand out nicely against the black asphalt or greens of nature.  The red seems a bit muted to me.  I went with yellow bags.  My clothing is orange.  When I first started riding again after a long hiatus, I wore what I had and swore at traffic.  Now, with a high-vis upper, traffic seems to give wide berth.  -The wife says it is because I look "special needs".  I guess my 'special need' is to avoid being run over.

-I'd post a pic of my full setup, but will have to whittle a photo down to 250k.

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General Discussion / Re: Need advice from you! (the pros)

« on: April 26, 2011, 09:01:18 am »

Incidentally, "Tetraethyl" is, by definition, lead as the full chemical name is tetraethyl lead.    There is no such thing as lead-free tetraethyl.

-Brain, fingers, keyboard all combining too early in the morning...  The tireder you early the incorrector seem...

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General Discussion / Re: Need advice from you! (the pros)

« on: April 25, 2011, 08:50:14 am »

Propane is not as bad as you can buy it at any hardware/big-box  store and many convenience stores (in heavy camping areas).  The iso/butyl tanks with the threaded tops have become a bit more standardized, but still can present a challenge for how-many-to-carry and where-to-get the next one...
MSR Whisperlight International will burn just about any combustable liquid motor fuel available in any part of the world.  JP's, K's, Tetraethyls with and w/out lead and probably even a few tequillas can be run through it.

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General Discussion / Re: Need advice from you! (the pros)

« on: April 22, 2011, 04:32:57 pm »

As far as camping stoves go, I'm not a fan of the ones that take a purchased fuel tank.  Mine runs on gas-station unleaded and that is pretty easy to come by where ever you travel.  I have a Coleman single burner that has gone to the field with me (I work outdoors) since 1997.  It is a bit heavy, but I 'know' the unit inside and out and have cooked a couple thousand meals on it.  People have spoken highly of the Whisperlight line in many forums. 

Curious:
Why the aversion to a fanny pack? 

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General Discussion / Re: Mistakes and Attitude while on the road.

« on: April 04, 2011, 08:34:36 am »

I get limited time off and don't want to spend my trip trying to recover from screw-ups that could've been avoided by a bit of research.  I'm not in a hurry to get to my destination.  If I was, I'd ride the MC instead.  BUT, I don't want to buy tires that are easily punctured, or carry a cookstove that has known reliability issues.  I do research to maximize my good times, the same as I would for investments.

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General Discussion / Re: safety on a tour bike ride

« on: March 29, 2011, 03:08:10 pm »

I made an emergency contact card that I carried on my high-vis jersey like a luggage tag.  I also programmed ICE (In Case of Emergency) on my cell phone.
Have a clear plan so somebody knows where you are or expect to be each evening.
Make photocopies of the cards in your wallet/pack in case they are lost/stolen.  It's easier to call somebody to cancel, if you know what you had.

-The American Red Cross sells DANDY first aid kits for WAY cheaper than a sports store of even WalMart.  For a group of riders, someone will get a boo-boo, sunburn, sliver, or have a headache or sore joint.

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Gear Talk / Re: Bike Shorts

« on: March 29, 2011, 02:58:22 pm »

I did my first tour last year and had two different manufacturer's shorts along.  I'm glad I had two pair and that they were different lining material.  One provided relief from the other.  Both worked great, but one pair was 75$ and the other was 25$.  For a short ride, I'll take the more expensive pair.  For a multiday ride, both.

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General Discussion / Most interesting stretch and why?

« on: February 22, 2011, 04:16:52 pm »

Hey all, we're in the doldrums of winter here (with occasional outdoors trips to go skiing) and I was just thinking about my trip that I took across my home state last year.  Somebody had asked me what my favorite stretch was and why.
I had to think a bit, but I said that I enjoyed travelling through a med/larger city.  I started early in the morning in a very rural area and biked for a few hours on town/county roads until I had reached the outskirts of a sizeable city.  Within an hour or so, I'd made my way into the heart of the city and was surrounded by the concrete jungle, dodging traffic.  I spent the late morning and early afternoon surrounded by concrete as I worked my way through and emerged from the other side.  Within another few hours, I was again in a very quiet rural area, the hustle and bustle of cars in the city giving way to the quiet hum of my tires rolling along.
For me, seeing the contrast of a rural/metro/rural was the neatest 'stretch' of my ride.  The city was not important, nor was it a destination.  The contrast was what I enjoyed.

Do any of you have any travel memories from a day's stretch that stand out? 
(I'd like to see this become a long thread.)

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General Discussion / Coming soon to a theater near you...?

« on: February 18, 2011, 01:54:42 pm »

I just purchased a ticket to a movie that is having a special one-night showing in my hometown. "Ride the Divide" is a documentary about the world toughest mountain bike race, the course following the continental divide from Banff, Alberta to the US border with Mexico. The course covers 2700 miles and has about 200,000 vertical feet of climbing.
I'm happy enough to be twins.

Here is a link to the website:

www.ridethedividemovie.com/

Maybe you have a theater near you that is hosting..?
(I think you can buy the DVD, but my local theater is putting a % of ticket money towards a group promoting local trail building efforts.)

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General Discussion / Re: 12th Cyclist Killed In Tampa

« on: February 17, 2011, 08:40:11 am »

When I started riding again after a hiatus, I had become about 15 years older and had a wife and two kids.  For them I wear a class III retro-reflective work jersey.  I bought one in hi-vis green and one in hi-vis orange.  Initially, I noticed traffic going WAY around me to avoid crowding me.  I commented to the wife about how I'd never seen drivers be this courteous.  She told me the hi-vis made me look "special needs". 

I guess I have a special need to not be run over.

Drivers today have WAY too much going on in their cars.  If I can be seen 500 yards sooner...

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General Discussion / Re: Recommend a bicycle for travelling round the world

« on: February 15, 2011, 11:09:21 am »

Visit downtheroad.org for some good round-the-world biking tips.  There's a lot of commercial crap there, but plenty of substance too.

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General Discussion / Re: Motorbike riders out there?

« on: February 14, 2011, 12:51:35 pm »

I'm fairly odd as well.  I'm a member of FSSNOC (four stroke singles national owners club) and have had a couple of KLR 650's an Ascot 500 and now a Buell P3.  I love my singles.  They keep me out of the trouble associated with going too fast.

Firing order:
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