Messages

1

Classifieds / BOB Ibex 28 FS

« on: April 27, 2011, 04:32:35 pm »

I have a BOB Ibex trailer that is in excellent condition, never ridden off road. It has signs of wear along the rails where it has been parked, but other than that it is in great shape. I have a set of Schwalbe Big Apples on the trailer with thorn resistant tubes (plus spare). I also have an extra set of skewers which I can mail to you, plus additional clips, a must for going anywhere with the trailer. The BOB bag is included but shows much more signs of wear. I am a long distance cyclist and will be in town within the next 2 weeks. I love the trailer but am making some gear changes and thus will let it go. $300 OBO, plus shipping.

2

General Discussion / Re: DIY Tips

« on: December 30, 2010, 05:59:41 pm »

This is a great tip, I always struggle with innovative ways to deal with my throw bags and food hanging.  I have an extra stake bag and will bring it on my upcoming trip and try that out.  Thanks!

As for the plastic cloth, I like the fact that it is cheap and nearly indestructible, depending on the thickness you get.  If it does break or get worn out, well, it is only another couple of cents to replace it.  However, like I said, in general I don't like ground cloths because I find they are just magnets for collecting moisture.  I have been in huge storms and had the sides of my tent blow up in the middle of the night exposing the ground cloth to the moisture.  Choosing a site with good drainage is in my opinion a really good way to go.

Happy Holidays,

Glenn

3

Gear Talk / Re: Touring Tent Talk

« on: December 29, 2010, 08:41:55 am »

I second the the opinion on a hammock, simply a great piece of gear and the best sleep I have ever had. 

However, there are just some trips and weather elements where I don't think a hammock works, at least for me.  For my upcoming trip I have been introduced to the Wechsel Pathfinder tent, http://www.wabisabiyourlife.com/gear-journal/2010/12/26/wechsel-pathfinder-tent.html.  This is a very spacious single person tent made in Germany.  One of the great things about anything made in Germany is it is generally bomber and it will definitely be DRY.  Germans seem to hate being wet and their gear never leaks.  This is a simple tent to set up and has a good deal of room within.  When stuffed in a compression sack I am really impressed with how small everything gets.  Definitely worth looking at. 

As one of the other posters mentioned, I always carry my hammock and tarp even when my primary shelter will be a tent.  It just opens up a whole range of sleeping options and makes those days off even more pleasurable by being able to simply hang around.  The ENO hammocks are very cheap and work well.

4

Gear Talk / Re: Another Fargo Build - Trekking Bar style

« on: December 29, 2010, 08:27:31 am »

Great looking bike.  I love my Fargo, enjoy yours!

5

Gear Talk / Re: solar battery chargers

« on: December 29, 2010, 08:22:35 am »

I use panels and batteries from Goal Zero.  They have some of the most awesome products, very innovative and rugged.  One thing I especially like is that all of their battery packs can be daisy chained so you are making an investment in a system instead of just a single piece of gear.  With that said, the problem with Solar is that you really do need good sun and you need a lot of it for things to effectively charge.  For my upcoming Bike Around America tour I am going to use my panels on top of my B.O.B. trailer as a way of maximizing exposure to the sun. I will be documenting how this works as well as providing an in depth review of the Goal Zero panels on my site, http://www.wabisabiyourlife.com.

Happy Holidays,

Glenn

6

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Re: Anyone using SPoT Tracker for Trips?

« on: December 29, 2010, 08:12:26 am »

I have been using a SPOT device for over 2 years now and it is a great device, one of the few electronics that I can honestly say just works.  It is so good that I am still using the first generation of the unit, even though the performance of the new gps chip set is said to be even better.  I have traveled all over North America with it and have had relatively few problems with the device, most of which have now been fixed by the addition of new Satellites, thus increasing coverage areas.  I too have paid the additional money for the rescues service, which I had the unfortunate pleasure of using this past summer on my Atlantic Odyssey trip.

I have a detailed summary of the rescue and some of the issues associated with it on my site, located http://www.wabisabiyourlife.com/2010-altantic-odyssey-journal/2010/9/15/anatomy-of-a-spot-messenger-rescue.html.  Now I was in a Kayak and not on a bike, but I was in a reasonably remote area and the lessons I learned are relative to anyone considering using a SPOT device not only for tracking but also for the 911 feature.

In the end, I continue to use the SPOT messenger because I believe it offers a great combination of features that benefit not only the user but also our family and friends who spend way to much time worrying about us while we are out doing long distance treks.  For that purpose alone it is worth the money.

Happy Holidays,

Glenn

7

General Discussion / Ground Cloths

« on: December 29, 2010, 07:59:58 am »

I really have an overall aversion to the use of ground cloths, especially in rain areas.  My preference is to find camp sites with good drainage and an good overall surface.  However, that is not always doable, so ground cloths do have a place in my kit.  Instead of buying the expensive ones made by the manufacturer, I simply go to Lowes or Home Depot and buy a box of the painter plastic.  The plastic rolls come in varying thickness, so you can choose the level of protection that is right for your needs.  I take the plastic roll out of the box, cut out 4 or 5 of them based on the footprint of my tent and there you go.  Not only do you save a ton of money, but these things last forever.  I carried one of them with me for over 6 months as I went up through Alaska and other than dirt and grime, it was in great shape.  Long distance travelers can cut out 3 or 4 of them and leave the spares with their resupply person and then have them mailed to a resupply point when needed.

8

General Discussion / Re: photography and cycling

« on: December 28, 2010, 11:02:08 pm »

A great post and I agree with much of the insight.  During the last two years I carried larger camera gear that in the end did not get used as much as I wanted to because of its size.  Now, I have switched to a smaller setup, realizing that I am sacrificing some quality, but will now have pictures.  After all, the best gear in the world does no good if you don't use it.

Happy New Year

9

General Discussion / Re: DIY Tips

« on: December 28, 2010, 02:37:19 pm »

Awesome list, thanks for all the replies.  I hope this list helps out everyone getting ready to head out on the trail.  Happy New Years to all!!

Glenn

10

General Discussion / DIY Tips

« on: December 20, 2010, 05:15:07 pm »

As the end of the year approaches and lots of folks are planning their first long distance trip for 2011, I thought it would be nice to share DIY tips with everyone.  I have been tweeting about this topic and thought I would bring it here as well.  An example:

I use lots of Olive Oil on my long distance treks, but hate carrying glass bottles.  So I discovered the the .5 and 1 liter Platypus hydration bladders work great.  They are BPA free, compress down to nothing as you use up the oil, and are virtually indestructible.  Plus, a little warm water and soap washes them out after you are worried that they might be getting  little grimy.  So, how about you, any tips?

I will compile a list and put it up on my wabisabiyourlife.com site as an example of how you can save money by doing it yourself.

Happy Holidays,

Glenn

11

Routes / Re: West to East, Early Spring

« on: November 13, 2010, 08:43:33 am »

Thanks all for the advice.  Unfortunately, the schedule is set and I leave Florida in about 3 weeks.  No worries, it will be whatever it will be.  After all, that is the fun part of the journey for me -- not knowing how it will go or where it will end.

Any other advice is greatly appreciated

Regards,

Glenn

12

Routes / West to East, Early Spring

« on: November 12, 2010, 09:55:21 am »

I will be heading out for an around the country (Southern Route, Pacific Route, Northern Route) tour this December, starting in Fl.  I am concerned that the route from Washington State heading east will be an issue in early April, and in fact may not be passable at all.  Are there any options for avoiding the snow passes that people are aware of?  Alternatively, are there ways to go through some of those areas with the appropriate gear? My guess is that I will arrive in Seattle around mid march, depending on how much time I spend in the South West.

Thanks in advance,

Glenn

http://www.wabisabiyourlife.com -- Adventure Travel the Simple Way

13

Gear Talk / Re: Thoughts on 2011 Salsa Fargo Complete bike build?

« on: October 31, 2010, 10:09:57 am »

I agree, I am anxiously awaiting their shipping dates.  My LBS called Salsa and they said December, but no idea of when in December.

14

Routes / Re: Southern Tier Nov 2010 Info appreciated

« on: October 19, 2010, 12:32:36 pm »

John,

I will be doing the southern tier starting in late December and then heading up the Pacific route.  Since you will be in front of me by a month or so, I would love to keep up with your route and any great finds and/or issues that you have.  If you don't mind, I would love to exhange email addresses so I can follow along on your trip.  If there is anyone else out there that can provide additional advice I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

Glenn

http://www.wabisabiyourlife.com

15

New England / Re: Facilities in Maine

« on: September 03, 2010, 03:16:09 pm »

I am located up in Lubec Maine, and am more than happy to offer camping space to any cyclist coming through the area.