Messages

1

Gear Talk / compact double or triple for low gears?

« on: July 23, 2005, 11:39:33 am »

50-34 = 26,
23-11 = 12
yields  = 38 teeth of wrap.
DA short cage will wrap up to 29 teeth (won't work with this), the DA
medium cage supposedly will wrap 38 teeth.

You could maybe get away with an 11-25 or a 12-27, but..
Also, a quick google indicates the DA triple will accept up to a 27 tooth
cog on the cassette, so anything much beyond a 12-28 is probably out
of the question unless you swap out the rear derailleur for something
more touring oriented.

2

Gear Talk / The Trouble With Trailers

« on: April 19, 2005, 01:58:22 am »

The amount of surging you detect is inversely proportional to the
smoothness of your pedal stroke.  If I'm smooth and have less than 60
lbs in the trailer I don't notice it at all.  If I'm ungraceful and have the
trailer loaded up to something over 80lbs of stuff, I do notice it.

So fret not, it's just a gentle reminder to pedal smoothly.

3

Gear Talk / What's your favorite part of a bike?

« on: May 14, 2005, 03:03:16 am »

You deserve a better answer than what you got.

Back when bikes were lugged, I used to really enjoy looking at the
lugwork.  In high school & college, I had the Trek catalog and used to
spend hours drooling over the 720 (the original, lugged Reynolds 531
version - not the more recent welded hybrid) with its astonishing gap
between the rear wheel and the seat tube, the double eyelet braze-ons,
the cantilever brakes...  dead giveaways that this is a serious tool
designed for heavy use, not a toy for an afternoon's ride.

 It made me feel like it really was possible to ride for days on end,
maybe just to get away from our town (and what kid doesn't feel that
way sometimes), maybe more.  The bikes in the catalog were clean, but
in my mind I always saw them with scratched paint leaned up against a
tree, the mud of last week's state starting to crust on the fenders, dirty
panniers casually open, a tent in the background, frozen in time
between here and there.

4

Gear Talk / Newbie gear questions - which bike?

« on: April 11, 2005, 05:21:23 pm »

Hmmm... Auld School.  Fuji's been making a touring series since at least 1980 or '81. (Back when Trek's big model was the 728 or some such number).  I've always thought the brazed on spoke holder was a nice touch.

I've no personal experience with it, but the geometry looks promising (wheelbase, angles), and at 840 msrp you've some room left for good racks, maybe a different chainring and whatever else.  You might actually be able to find one in a store somewhere.

'05 Fuji Touring

5

Gear Talk / 26in or 27in bike choice

« on: March 29, 2005, 10:09:15 pm »

Kenda, Continental, Scwalbe all make pretty good touring type tires in
559 size.  I put 4k miles, mostly commuting, on a Kenda Kwest (559,
100psi) before it succumbed to a staple.  I was surprised not to have
any pinch flats given the abuse it took.

I do not think they are slower than 700c in practice, but might be in
theory.  

6

Gear Talk / Place to buy new softer seats?

« on: March 16, 2005, 12:44:51 am »

Not to presume too much, but you might be surprised at how little
pressure a recumbent puts on your back.  There are loooong
wheelbase versions (Tour Easy, Slipstream, Stratus) and suspended
types (Streetmachine, some of the Burleys), all of which further smooth
out bumps.

If you're positive about remaining on a DF bike, Sheldon Brown is the
place to start, I think.

7

Gear Talk / Good Rainjacket?

« on: March 12, 2005, 05:57:43 pm »

No, just the regular ol' Rainrider.  They didn't have the recumbent
jacket when I got it.  In fact hadn't heard of it until you mentioned it.
Just checked their site.  Looks like it'd be a good choice.  I'd go for
yellow.  :-)

8

Gear Talk / Good Rainjacket?

« on: March 12, 2005, 02:42:54 am »

I have a Burley jacket via e-bay.  On a recumbent the only real downer
is that water tends to leak in at the bottom of the underarm zippers.
I use it as a windbreaker in the winter.  Am quite satisfied with it.  
Would get another.

I'm of the opinion that wool tights would be of as much or more use
than rain pants.  Also, a wool jersey next to the skin (and under the
jacket) and wool socks would be good for those cool, wet days.

9

Gear Talk / Just Tents

« on: April 25, 2005, 11:19:11 am »

No experience with the Apex, although IIRC a friend has one that he's
happy with (he's 6'2").  Have used a Timberline lots.  Not light, but
roomy enough, can be freestanding, simple to pitch in the dark, and
there's a way to pitch it in the rain where the fly goes on first.

However, when time came to replace it last year, I found a Mountain
Hardwear Light Wedge 2 on sale.  Time will tell if it's a match for the
Timberline.
 Google up the usenet archives for rec.backcountry and search on
tents.  

10

Routes / With child Northern Tier and North Lakes

« on: May 14, 2005, 03:11:39 am »

It's been quite a while, but I recall Middlebury Gap as being kind of a
climb.  Kancamagus (sp) wasn't as bad, but Maine. Ow.  Steep.   Also, I
remember the road from Damarascotta area up to Bar Harbor as being
kind of busy, but not too bad north of there.
The Adirondacks were much easier, and with the exception of the
stretch from Boonville to Old Forge a little easier traffic wise, but like I
said, it's been a while.
 

11

Routes / Trans Am: west to east or east to west?

« on: May 21, 2005, 12:23:26 am »

My opinion:
Leave from the area closest to home.
+ The sense of adventure is heightened with each new thing you see
+ Should you hit an emotional low point  9/10 through, if you are a
long way from home it's very hard to rationalize that "I can ride these
last 400 miles anytime."  ... And odds are it'll look better within 24
hours.
+ the probability of the bike suffering a debilitating failure, or of losing
baggage in transit is essentially zero if you leave from home.  It's
nonzero if you leave from the other coast.

12

Routes / TransAm or Northern Tier?

« on: April 17, 2005, 01:32:53 am »

This comes up periodically. I hope some one at AC is listening and
planning to add a route that will use the C&O canal and Allegheny
passage, connect it to Ohio's route F and provide a branch up to
Monroeville IN (Northern Tier), or somewhere west of Falls of Rough
(KY) to connect to Transam/western express.

Sorry, I guess that doesn't help much.

13

Routes / 2nd attempt

« on: December 31, 2003, 01:52:21 pm »

I attempted to post something a few minutes ago, but was told to log in again.  I did so. Thanks to cut& paste, here goes again...

I was surfing the Crazyguyonabike site and noted a number of people starting from Philly/DC/NY and heading west on the C&O towpath. Wouldn't it be interesting, I thought, if there was a straightforward way to put some things together...

First, the current conditions:

1.There already exist the C&O canal/Allegheny Passage, connecting DC to points west of Pittsburgh.  

2.Ohio has Bike routes CT and F that cover E-W, and have in the works a route running from Cleveland to Cincy - although it's possible to run from South Charleston to near Germantown today.

3.Mo has the Katy Trail.

4.The Northern Tier through Ill, IN, and OH is (no offence intended) bland.

Now the idea...

Supposing that connectors were developed to connect the East Coast route to the C&O/Alleg Psg, the Alleg Psg to "Ohio Route F" (which already passes within a dozen country miles of the Little Miami bikeway), the Little Miami through southern IN and South-Central IL to the Katy, from whence one could jump to L&C or Transam/Western Express.

The total of new route miles would be something like 600 (60 in PA/WV/OH, 450-550 from western OH to St Louis).

Why...
The C&0/Allegheny Passage already exists, and is being promoted as a touring venue.
IL, IN, and OH are often perceived as unscenic, flat, and unchallenging.  "Route F" and a route from, say Germantown OH, through Oxford OH, and Indiana towns such as Batesville, Columbus, Bedford, and crossing into IL at, say, Hutsonville (thence through Effingham, Hillsboro, Newbern, and crossing the big river just upstream from St Louis) would provide a more challenging/rewarding/scenic transit while still allowing a selection of lightly travelled roads without sacrificing available services.

Any comments ?

Howard

14

General Discussion / German doesnt know where to go... Recommendations?

« on: July 31, 2007, 11:14:56 pm »

Story: 2 guys were staying with their uncle who'd recently undergone a painful divorce.  The subject of beauty vs. nice came up.  "Marry nice," said the uncle, "I married beauty, and it wasn't worth it."

A one month loop from Chicago ought to get you to near Nashville TN and back, and you aren't likely to find friendlier people, IMO, than in IN, KY, and Ohio, especially if you get off the beaten path a little bit. Would be fun... not to overplan, just to go, see what's to be seen... talk with people... you'd remember it forever as a really nice time. Maybe not beautiful, but really nice.

15

General Discussion / TransAm with no training?

« on: April 17, 2005, 01:20:07 am »

If you're willing to consider it, a recumbent ought to be easier on your
body as you become accustomed to riding several hours each day.
 
Besides the bottom, the back, neck, arms, and wrists often need some
time to acclimate to the new duty cycle.  On a 'bent, none of that's an
issue, although there are other compromises involved with the genre.  
Typically mentioned are climbing, varying differences in handling, and
portability.  

I've heard (but not experienced first-hand) that some people have had
good success with loading up a Rans Rocket (modestly priced for a
recumbent).  A google on that plus Tour might turn up some more
informative links.