Messages

1

Routes / Re: Jasper to Banff Alberta Canada

« on: March 29, 2010, 09:39:03 pm »

I did this ride a few years ago, but went from Banff to Jasper.  The Adventure Cycling maps have all the campgrounds and hostels listed.  The trip is very doable with just staying in hostels and not camping.  The hostel in Jasper is outside of town about 5 miles on a road that is a bit of a climb, so the Whistler campground is closer and easier to get to.   If I remember right, most of the hostels take reservations. The hostels (except Jasper, Lake Louise, and Banff) are rustic. You will have to plan food purchases....there is not much except great scenery between Lake Louise and Jasper.

Riding conditions were great....good roads and shoulders. Traffic is not bad, except lots of tour buses. (Traffic is brutal on the road from the town of Lake Louise to the lake--this is off the route.  I would not suggest biking this--the lake is pretty, but not worth fighting the traffic on a narrow road.)

2

Gear Talk / Re: Bob Trailer and Panniers?

« on: March 29, 2010, 08:22:48 pm »

I have had good experiences with using a Bob and front lower rider racks. It is nice to move a little of the load out of the Bob.  It seems to help in long climbs to keep the front down.  I think the lower rider racks also help keeping things more stable on descents.

The best part, and the main reason I started using the front panniers with the Bob, is to give easy access during the ride to stuff I need, like rain gear, lunch, tools, spare tube, water filter, etc.  Much easier getting this stuff out of a pannier  than digging into the Bob for every little thing.

Just be careful, with the extra room, is not to take more stuff.  The Bob has lots of room already.  I usually keep the front panniers to less than 10 pounds.

3

Gear Talk / Both panniers AND trailer at the same time?

« on: May 01, 2008, 12:14:47 am »

I use both front panniers with low-rider racks and a BOB trailer. I do this, not for being able to carry more stuff, but to put a little more weight on the front wheel--it seems to hold the front down better on steep climbs.  The real advantage is being able to pack the BOB  bag in the morning and not digging into the rest of the day.  Stuff I need during the day, like lunch, tools, water filter, rain gear, etc., goes in the panniers for easy access.

4

General Discussion / What gets confiscated at the airport...?

« on: July 13, 2005, 02:05:15 am »

On a recent trip, I found that the TSA did check my checked luggage,
and removed safety matches from my stove bag as well as the spare
matches in my first aid kit.  They were wooden matches, but safety
matches (not strike anywhere) but apparently the inspector thought
they were not permitted.  Imagine my surprise at my first campsite
looking for my matches.

No problem with the stove or fuel bottle, but I did wash the fuel bottle
with soap and water before packing it.

--------------

Here is what the TSA says on their web site...

Lighters  ALL lighters are banned from your carry-on luggage.
Lighters that do not contain fuel are permitted in checked baggage,
but lighters with fuel are not.

Matches  Matches are not permitted in your checked baggage, but you
may carry up to four books of safety matches in your carry-on baggage
or on your person. Strike anywhere matches are prohibited at all times
from carry-on and checked baggage.

Camp Stoves  You may pack your camp stove as carry-on or in
checked luggage ONLY if it is empty of all fuel and cleaned so that
there is NO smell of fuel. Simply emptying the fuel container is not
sufficient.
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A PDF of prohibited items is at http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/
editorial/editorial_1012.xml