Topics

1

Gear Talk / Chain Maintenance vs Replacement

« on: June 22, 2013, 10:08:44 am »

Unless you really enjoy working on your bike, chain maintenance can be a hassle. Although I enjoy tinkering and routine maintenance, I dread cleaning chains. I know that everyone seems to have a formula that works for them, but they are all time consuming and messy. "I would rather be riding my bike".  No matter what I do I seem to get about 3000 miles out of a chain which involves two cleanings. With my next chain I'm thinking about just running it until it reaches the stretch limit and replacing it. At $25 for a decent SRAM chain that seems to make sense to me. I know there are those of you who are more meticulous that may get two to three times the life out of a chain than I do, But... Is my rational that far off. I'm really curious to see if there are others out there with the same thought.

2

General Discussion / Shipping bike box to final destination

« on: June 01, 2013, 02:50:49 am »

I started my tour in Zurich, Switzerland and have drifted north along the Rhine and crossed into UK, I am now in Scotland. I have deciced to fly out of Glasgow to my home in the USA. Having left my bike luggage cases in Zurich I have requested a friend to ship them to another friend in Glasgow. Does anyone know of any potential problems with this shipping scenario. Anyone have firsthand knowledge on best and cost effective shipping.

3

Routes / Outter Banks direction of travel

« on: September 12, 2012, 10:03:17 pm »

Will be doing the section of the Outter Banks between Wilmington and Newport News during the second week of October. As I have family in the area it wil be possible to start from either the north or south. Based on previous experience does anyone have any experience with prevailing wind direction?

4

Gear Talk / MKS EZY Peddles

« on: August 19, 2012, 03:46:56 pm »

Looking for comments/recommendations from anyone who has used MKS EZY Peddles. I am interested in using them on my touring bike to ease the process of removing/reinstalling peddles when shipping my bike.

5

Routes / Card Sound approach Fla. keys

« on: August 10, 2012, 09:41:28 pm »

Will be cycling to the to Florida keys end of this month. I recently heard from a south florida resident that US 1 from Homstead to Key Largo now has a rideable shoulder and he recommended this route over the Adventure Cycling Card Sound road route. I am skeptical of this recommendation. Has anybody cycled the US 1 route recently and can you recommend it over Card Sound?

6

Routes / Barcelona to Amsterdam

« on: August 07, 2012, 05:22:36 pm »

I will be in Barcelona in late April and would like to cycle north to Amsterdam following the Rhine through Germany. I have been told due to prevailing northerly winds this is a north to south route, is this correct? I am hesitant about taking a train north and starting from Amsterdam at the end of April due to cold weather. I am therefore hoping to go south to north thus moving north as it warms up.

7

Gear Talk / Tire wear

« on: July 06, 2012, 10:51:52 pm »

Just returned from a tour and was giving my bike a thorough tune up and noticed my rear tire wear looked to be about twice what the front was. The same was true for my wife's bike. We are running Continental Touring Plus tires. I understand the reason for faster wear to the rear, however I am wondering if anyone rotates tires to even it out. Is it worth the trouble? I'm thinking it would be. Comments suggestions...

8

General Discussion / Bicycle shop Seattle

« on: June 11, 2012, 11:14:38 am »

Need to have two bicycles shipped from Seattle to Florida. Anyone have recommendations on a reputable shop?

9

Routes / Recommendations Route from Napa to Martinez Ca.

« on: May 25, 2012, 12:38:19 am »

Need a Recomendation on the best Route from Napa to Martinez Ca. Would like to avoid high traffic roads and narrow shoulders.

10

General Discussion / Bike shipping / Lesson learned?

« on: May 14, 2012, 02:16:42 pm »

 After much research and effort it appeared the best and cheapest way to get my two bikes from Florida to San Francisco for my west coast tour was FedEx. LBS gave me two boxes curiously one much smaller than the other. My wife's bike fit in the larger of the two boxes with only removing ft. Wheel, handlebars and peddles. What a dream. My bike in the smaller if the two boxes required both wheels removed, Rear rack, derailluer, handlebars and of course peddles. It was a difficult and tight fit. Took the boxes to FedEx and send them standarrd 5 day ground delivery. Now came the Shock. Small box total weight 35.8 lbs. shipping cost $85.17 larger box total weight 33.8 lbs. shipping cost 157.43. ALMOST DOUBLE!!! Total cost to get tha bikes toCalifornia. 242.60. Info has it that the  some of the so called rip-off airlines are too pricey. While I'm not complaining about FedEx their pricing seems a bit high, or is it that everybody ships in small boxes and my mistake was the larger box?

If anyone will send me a free set of southern tier maps (I spent my last dime on shipping) I may consider riding home!

11

General Discussion / Bike Shipping Info.

« on: May 01, 2012, 08:19:32 pm »

I Will be Fed Xing two bicycles to San Francisco Fishermans Warf area. Can anyone recommend a bike shop That will receive and hold my bikes for a few days (for a fee) of course. The closer to the Fort Mason Hostel the better.

12

General Discussion / Vancouver BC to Seattle Route

« on: April 24, 2012, 08:08:04 pm »

Will be biking from Vancouver BC to Seattle around first of June and I have extra time to sightsee. Is it preferable to travel to Vancouver Is. down to Victoria and work my way down thru the islands via the San Juans and into Anacortes. I will take the extra time if the islands route is more scenic than the Adventure Cycling route which follows the coast.

13

General Discussion / Gear Noise

« on: April 20, 2012, 08:12:37 pm »

Just put a SRAM PG970 11-32 cassette PC971 chain and a Shimano STX derailleur on my bike. All three are new from the box. Shifters are STI and a year old. All shifts up and down are smooth an there is no unusual noise in any gear except the middle (5th) gear which happens to be my favorite gear. There is a tick which is in time with my cadence and and the level of noise increases with peddle effort. When my peddling decreases the ticking stops. Even the best tuning of the rear dérailleur won't remove the noise. My LBS mechanic (who I have complete confidence) tells me the ticking will disappear with use. I guess I can live with the noise or work around it by using my large chain ring but I'm wondering if I just have a finicky component.

14

General Discussion / Bridge travel San Francisco area

« on: April 12, 2012, 12:14:08 am »

Are bicycles permitted on the George Miller Jr. Memorial bridge between Benicia and Martinez? If so is it safe for bike travel?

15

Gear Talk / Suitability of Shimano Tourney Derailluer

« on: April 10, 2012, 09:29:52 pm »

Needed a long cage derailluer for a larger cassette swap and was given a new Shimano Tourney TZ 50. As it is a "cheap" derailluer I'm wondering if it is a waste of time installing/using it. Also all on-line info says this is for 6 or 7 speed bikes. Will it even work on my 9 speed?