Topics

1

Classifieds / Need Low Rider Kickstand For Tubus Tara Front Rack

« on: May 10, 2011, 05:11:03 am »

Wanted: a low rider kickstand for a Tubus Tara front rack. I tried Ortlieb USA and they no longer stock it. If you do not have one, if you could steer me in the right direction either in the USA or elsewhere, where I may puchase one, I would be very grateful. Bob 

2

Gear Talk / 2010 Cannondale Ultra Bad Boy Question

« on: April 20, 2011, 08:13:27 pm »

I purchased the above bike for my son. It has a Lefty Fork and hydralic disk brakes. If I want to take off the front wheel, so I can ship him the bike, any suggestions. I would like to save the $50 a bike store would charge to pack it. (We have tried to reach Cannondale) Thanks

3

Routes / Need a New Route From Wesley Chapel, Fl. to Ft. Myers Beach, Fl.

« on: March 20, 2011, 12:07:06 pm »

Looking for a new route from Wesley Chapel, Fl to Fort Myers Beach, Fl. I have posted the full text under the Southeastern Area, elsewhere in forum. Any suggestions? Thank you.

4

South Atlantic / Route from Wesley Chapel, Fl. to Ft. Myers Beach, Fl.

« on: March 20, 2011, 12:01:11 pm »

I am looking for a new route from Wesley Chapel (Near the northern reconnection of I-275 and I-75) to Fort Myers Beach. I use to take Bruce B Downs to Flatwoods Park to Old Morris Bridge Rd. to Hanley Rd. to Route 301 south. Rt. 301 to Route 41 south through Bradenton and Sarasota south to Port Charlotte and onto Ft. Myers.  It is very direct but, there is so much construction and traffic that it is dangerous in parts. I am too far west to pick up The ACO Connector to Route 17 south to Punta Gorda. (although I would ride the extra 30 miles if I knew of a safe route.) Any suggestions would be very helpful. Thank You.

5

General Discussion / 17th Cyclist Killed In Tampa Bay/Manatee

« on: February 16, 2011, 08:53:34 am »

I know there are those who believe this is not the place to air my views, on this subject but I beg to differ. It is a subject that needs to be discussed. I never thought I would say this but Tampa Florida is a very dangerous place to ride a bicycle. It is sad that we are losing a cyclist a month. We lost our 12th cyclist, with in a year, this past Sunday, on a road with a very wide shoulder. Drivers texting, on telephones, or speeding to get somewhere, have very little regard for people on bicycles. Drivers do not discriminate, they even killed a high decorated soldier. I pray for their families.

Speaking to the local authorities, they are restricted to what they can do, due to budget cuts and indifference. One police officer told, you have no business riding a bicycle, the roads are only for cars and trucks. I wonder what our police chief, who is an avid cyclist, would have thought of his comment.
When I commute to work, I have no bicycle lanes, or sidewalks on 55 mph roads. In my work complex, there is only one bicycle rack, that has a dozen entrances. The closest entrance, that is open, on the weekends, is 3/4 of a mile away. If one parks their bike elsewhere, they will cut the chain and confiscate ones bike. I have gone to my company and to the complex managers, asking for another bicyle rack and been asked not to ask.

I am sad but getting very angry. My girlfriend and I have both been hit more than once. One driver ask me, looking at my legs, do you take falls and do this for a living? The driver who hit my girlfriend,  disregarded a stop sign, on a walking path, asked her, is this going to take long, I am late and have to get my sister in law to the airport. ( as she laid on the ground bleeding and in pain) Another time, when she was hit, they never stopped.

Besides moving, or finding a new job, is there any thing that can be done. I am sure I am not the only one who is experiencing this. Do others live in areas, that have been through this and mobilized to make the public aware, to motivate legislatures to take action and make the changes needed to protect our lives? Although ACO is dedicated to lobbying, on the national level, I wish they could lend their support to helping develop a local infra structure to help organize cyclist who want to affect change. It is on the local and state levels that will make a difference.

I have been told by family, friends, coworkers, and fellow cyclists that if you ride in Tampa, it is only a matter of time, before you will become a statistic. In the past, I have ignored their comments, I am beginning to believe it. I would welcome you comments.

6

Gear Talk / Music From Your Jersey

« on: September 24, 2010, 10:16:31 pm »

FYI, I was in my local bike shop, the other day, and they told me about a cycling jersey, with waterproof speakers, built in. Not quite sure how they did it, but you barely know it is there and it actually works well. I think the speakers are removeable, when you wash it. Here is their website, if anyone is interested www.tuckawaytunes.com. I hear they are coming out with new jerseys soon. There are times, it would be nice to have music, when riding and it is a safer alternative to using earphones.

7

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Garmin 605

« on: May 19, 2010, 10:47:44 pm »

FYI, Garmin 605 bundled from REI on sale for $399.99.

8

Gear Talk / A&E Cycles UTB

« on: April 26, 2010, 02:19:12 pm »

Does anyone own the UTB 26" wheeled bike or the 700c ADVENTURE from A&E Cycles of Seattle, Washington. They are the old Rodriguez Bicycles. Please let me know what you think of the bikes, the company, and your buying experience. Was there anything you added or wish you had added, when you purchased the bike? Thanks in advance. Bob

9

Gear Talk / Thorn Audax and Thorne Club Tour

« on: April 09, 2010, 12:17:05 am »

Need a favor from ACO members. I have two friends, (females) who are considering purchasing the above bikes and would like to compare them. Since Thorn does not have a US distributor are there any folks out in California, preferably Northern California, that may have purchased the Thorn MK3 Audax or the Thorn Club Tour? They would come to you. Thank you for your consideration and posts. Bob

10

Gear Talk / Touring Shoes, Cleat Selection and Toe Clip Survey

« on: April 06, 2010, 01:10:13 pm »

I am doing some research on the above topics and with the new developments in shoes and cleats, I would be curious as to what shoes you use and if you use cleats, what type and why. I am particularly interested in people who suffer from hot spots. pain, and numbness in their feet and what you did to alleviate this. Thank you for your help and replies. Bob

11

Gear Talk / Ortlieb Panniers: Classic vs Cordura Material, Roll Top vs Backpacker Style

« on: January 24, 2010, 07:03:47 pm »

"To keep or not to keep, that is the question." I recently received, from my girlfriend, a complete set of Ortlieb Panniers. Ortlieb USA, recommended F/R Roller Classic in grey and they look good with my bike. They will go on Tubus Tara and Cargo racks. My previous panniers were cap top, with a draw string closure, and compression straps. Sadly, they did not hold up. I am not use to the roll up closure. I see ACO , in Ortlieb, only offers, the Backpacker style, in the classic material. Those of you, who have Ortlieb panniers, I would like your input, on style and fabric, before I make a final decision. Thanks in advanced for your help. Bob

12

Bike Clubs / Tandem or Touring Club Tampa, Florida

« on: November 16, 2009, 11:25:09 pm »

Does anyone know of a tandem club or a local touring club, in the Tampa St. Pete area?

13

Gear Talk / Dahon Biologic Reecharge

« on: November 12, 2009, 11:54:03 pm »

For those of us that have a front dyno hub to power our lights, here is an interesting new product, that will be offered, to the public soon. I must say, this is for information only and not to promote any company. I saw something on You Tube and it looked cool. I like that it works off the dyno, laptop or wall outlet. I believe the price will retail around $99.00. Enjoy..Bob..

Dahon Brings Green Power to Every Bike
Bike mounted system charges iPhones, iPods, and GPS units

DUARTE, California — August 27, 2009 — Dahon, the world leader in folding bicycles, today announced the BioLogic* ReeCharge*, a personal power system that mounts to any bike and charges iPhones, iPods, GPS units, or just about any small electronic device, through a USB port. The ReeCharge incorporates a battery that stores power generated by a dynamo hub while cycling.

“There are millions of bicycles on the market with dynamo hubs that generate electricity while you ride,” stated Joshua Hon, Dahon vice president. “We consider it a shame that most of that electricity is wasted because LED lights are so efficient these days and you don’t need lights during the day anyway. So we came up with a way to capture and store that energy for use when you need it. It’s personal power on demand.”

The BioLogic ReeCharge connects to all dynamo hubs on the market. Proprietary circuitry converts and regulates the intermittent power generated by the dynamo hub, for input into the ReeCharge’s high capacity lithium polymer battery. The battery then outputs a stable current to safely charge electronic devices. Devices that are not designed to output a stable current to electronic devices can damage the batteries of those devices. The BioLogic ReeCharge attaches to a bicycle by means of a wrap-around silicon case. The weatherproof silicon case even features sealed cable ports.

“A lot of us here at Dahon use iPhones and there are some pretty neat GPS and cycling computer applications available,” stated Hon. “But the problem is battery life – 90 minutes into the ride and your phone is out of batteries. But now we’re never out of power. So there were definitely selfish intentions when we began to develop this product. And the best part is that we’re keeping our phones charged with power that we’re generating.”

Besides keeping electronic gadgets charged while cycling, the ReeCharge is also the perfect companion for vacations and business trips. A single ReeCharge can replace the entire tangle of phone, iPod, camera, voice recorder, and Nintendo chargers that are usually necessary. The ReeCharge can be charged by wall adapter or by USB from any computer. The ReeCharge includes a retractable USB cable with five interchangeable tips for Sony-Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, LG and Mini USB devices. The ReeCharge will fully charge an Apple iPhone in under three hours.

The BioLogic ReeCharge will come pre-installed on two Dahon bikes, the Ios* XL and Speed TR. The BioLogic ReeCharge will also be available as an aftermarket accessory. The ReeCharge will be available worldwide in March 2010 at a suggested retail price of €79 and US$99.

In a related Eurobike announcement, Dahon is launching a bicycle mount for the Apple iPhone.

Demonstration Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8RFlznzmTE

* BioLogic is a Dahon brand of cycling accessories and components designed for urban mobility. BioLogic, Dahon, ReeCharge, and Ios are trademarks of Dahon. iPod and iPhone are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.

14

Gear Talk / Bike Friday Travel Case and Traler Used

« on: November 05, 2009, 10:21:48 am »

Does anyone have or know of a source where I can purchase a Bike Friday Travel Case and Trailer attachment used? I have not seen anything on Ebay and certainly not Craig's List. Thanks

15

Gear Talk / 2009 Bike Friday New World Tourist vs Dahon Speed TR

« on: November 01, 2009, 12:57:09 am »

Please forgive me if this subject has been discussed recently, but I need the Forums advise. A few weeks ago, I would not have considered the above folding bikes. However, I would like to share a recent story with y'all. I went from Tampa to Cincinnati, by Delta Airlines, to visit my dad. I wanted to do some morning riding and explore Hyde Park and surrounding areas. Renting a bike, away from the beach, is difficult. The bicycle shop wanted $90 and I would have had to take a cab to and from the bike shop. I decided to take an old Kalkhoff folding bike, circa 1970's. It has a three speed Sturmey Archer with 20" wheels. I contacted Delta, and told them I had a small folding bike, with a soft case, less than 50 pounds.(that was my first mistake) Their customer service agent, checked with her supervisor and said $15 each way. I said ok and took the bike. I even asked the baggage handler, at the curb, if this would work. He said yes. As I was heading to the gate, I was stopped by a Delta supervisor and told, I owed an additional $160. I said I am not going to pay it. She said the only option I had was to take the bike home and fly another day. Doing that would have cost me more money than the $175 fee and the logistics did not work. I asked if I could store it at the airport? She said TSA rules would not allow it. I paid the additional $160. After the flight, I was very fortunate to contact someone, in their customer service department and received a check for $175. I enjoyed riding the bike, borrowed a regular suitcase and stripped the bike, and got it home for $15.00. Now that you have the background, I am interested in the above bikes. I would use it for commuting and some touring. I refuse to pay a fee of $350.00 to take my good bike. I suppose I could retro fit S&S couplers, but the bikes are expensive and to just ride around I might want to consider the above folding bikes. I like both designs and each has pluses and minuses.  After all, life is a series of compromises. I am leaning towards the Dahon because I like some of the features and accessories that come standard, however, I really like the travel case and the ability to convert it into a bike trailer from Bike Friday. I do not want to go with less than 20" wheels. If you have any thoughts or other suggestions, I would be very grateful. When I was deciding to purchase a Comotion Americano vs Norwest Tourer, the forum was extremely helpful. Thanks in advance. I think it is disgraceful, that the airlines, are allowed to discriminate against us cyclist and charge such outrageous rates!!!