Topics

1

Routes / Columbus, OH to Monroeville, IN?

« on: July 03, 2010, 04:46:12 pm »

I'm looking for a safe way to connect to the start of the Great Lakes trail in Monroeville, IN from Columbus, OH. I'm not terribly familiar with the area and Google Maps is giving me the run around.

Thank you!

2

Gear Talk / Packing Thermarest

« on: June 13, 2010, 03:21:59 pm »

I inherited a sleep bag and pad from a friend. The bag is in a non-waterproof stuff sack, and the inflatable thermarest rolls and is secured with velcro, and has no stuff sack. Neither of these will fit in my panniers (sleeping bag, maybe, but it's bulky). How do you secure and weatherproof your large items?

3

Gear Talk / bike lock?

« on: May 30, 2010, 08:51:18 pm »

I've read that a cable lock is preferred while touring (due to weight vs. a U-lock), and I've even heard of people touring without a lock at all. I'm too concerned about security to go lock-less, but I'm not sure what to buy. Any recommendations on bike locks while on tour? Brands, etc would also be helpful.

Thank you!

4

Gear Talk / Tool kit?

« on: May 21, 2010, 11:08:09 am »

I'm gearing up for my first big tour. My current road tool kit is just your standard fix-a-flat items: levers, patch kit, tubes, pump. I know that I need more when I'm out on the road and away from a LBS. I've been researching multi-tools and many of them seem overkill, but I'm afraid of going too sparse.

What are your recommendations for multi/single tools? I would like to be as self-sufficient as possible on the road. And I know the "bring what you know" ethos-I'm signed up for some bike maintenance classes and will be doing lots of testing and practicing with whatever tools I plan to bring. Overall, I'd like to wean myself away from dragging my bike into the LBS all the time while at home, as I know that won't always be an option on the road.

Thanks!

5

Connecting ACA Routes / Northern Tier, plus North Lakes, Great Parks, TransAm, PacCoast?

« on: May 17, 2010, 11:13:20 am »

I'm planning a summer-long bike tour from Ohio to Seattle, with the goal being to visit as many of my friends/family I've lost touch with since going to college. Everyone is out West, so I don't much care which route I take across; as far as I'm concerned the more scenic/pleasant weather (read: not too hot), the better. I've singled out the Northern Tier as my best bet for fewer hills and cooler weather (advice I was given by an experienced tourer... I haven't bought my maps yet, so if anyone has further advice, I'll gladly take it!). Looking at the route network, the North Lakes route (esp the uppermost part) looks like a great way to see Michigan and the UP, which I've heard is beautiful. It would skip the parts of Indiana and Illinois that I've mostly already seen. I'll be a bit sad about missing Iowa, which I've heard is a beautiful state. Plus, I would get to go through WI, which I love.

Here's where I first need advice: is North Lakes more difficult/costly/time consuming than the part of the NT I'd be skipping? Should I go for the NL route or just stick with the NT?

For the second leg of my journey, I'll be taking the NT across to Whitefish, catching the Great Parks route south to the TransAm, and visiting some family in Idaho. From there I'd like to continue across to Eugene/maybe Florence and visit some friends. More importantly, I need to get to Portland, and I can't cut out my excursion into Idaho.

My next bit of needed advice: What would be the best way to get from the TransAm in OR to Portland? I've driven Eugene to Portland plenty of times and am familiar with the Willamette Valley, and it seems like there must be a way to get from Eugene to Portland safely via bike.

For the last part of my journey, I'll catch the Pacific Coast route in Oregon and make my way up to Seattle.

So the last bit of advice I'm asking for is: do you see any problems with this route? Anything I should be aware of?

Thank you for any suggestions/advice you may have!

6

Classifieds / WTB: Recumbent racks for RANS

« on: April 26, 2010, 12:49:45 pm »

I'm looking for a Terracycle Underseat Rack and a RANS HT for a RANS Stratus XP.

Thank you!

7

Routes / First time x-country, seeking route advice

« on: April 25, 2010, 11:54:07 am »

Hi! I'm looking to go from the Midwest (either Chicago or Columbus, have family in both I'd like to visit before leaving) to Seattle. I'd be leaving in the middle/end of June and wouldn't have to be done until the middle of September.

The way I see it, in order to go west and get the bulk of the way there I'd need to take either the Transamerica, the Lewis and Clark, or the Northern Tier.

What I'm looking for is less heat (I know it'll be hot anyway, anywhere in August) and more trees. It's looking like the Northern Tier is my best bet, but that's just from looking at the map and a little reading. Any advice from those more experienced?

Thank you!

8

Gear Talk / Pannier racks for LWB recumbents

« on: April 19, 2010, 11:45:56 pm »

I'm looking into touring with a recumbent and am getting pretty excited about it =)

However, I can't seem to find anything online about how/where to put the racks on. Specifically, I'd like to put some Tubus racks--probably just a rear, not a front--on a RANS Stratus XP. I'd assume that the dual 26" wheels would make this easy, but I'm wondering how they would attach.

I've also looked into the Terracycle underseat racks, but I'll need more space than just 2 panniers. I'm also not interested in hauling a trailer.

Any advice?