Messages

1

Youth Bicyle Travel / Boy Scouts on Katy Trail

« on: October 10, 2006, 10:42:09 am »

...and as luck would have it TulsaJohn my brothers and I actually rode the KATY. BTW...haven't forgotten about you...TXDOT Highway Dept. is across the street from where I work, so still working on your other route. Facilities for getting food/water can be slim along the KATY do a Search for "KATY Trail" and click on the menu item that has the words "...mileage and more" and therein you will find a wealth of information. Camping areas are not exactly proliferate, the KATY Roundhouse near Boonville is exceptional for you and your Boy Scouts. Sedalia at the MO. State Fairgrounds, but after Boonville camping takes a little more to arrange, but can be done. Avoid Cooper's landing, (more adult oriented with alcohol and late night carousing and no the Dalton Boys didn't camp there), instead try the "Trading Post" just down the trail no more than maybe 3-5 miles...Robert & Maggie are the proprietors and they might be able to accomodate you. The MO. Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) KATY web site will be helpful as well. At the Sedalia KATY Station there is a MO. Park Ranger who's job is to patrol some of the KATY and he does it primarilly on a bicycle, (I want his job). He is a wealth of information and can facilitate maybe you all staying at a small town's city park. It is a pug, or crushed limestone surfaced Rail/Trail and as you well know part of the L&C Trail. Doesn't require mountain bikes as the surface is pretty manageable the whole way. If other questions pop up let me know...and enjoy the KATY, its a hoot!! Enjoy the Voyage....Mark of the Dalton Boys

2

Classifieds / Small touring bike wanted

« on: July 06, 2005, 12:58:25 pm »

Annie - As it is said in Australia/New Zealand.....Good on ya! Regards.......Mark of the Dalton Boys

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Classifieds / Small touring bike wanted

« on: June 28, 2005, 02:57:59 pm »

Congratulations on the BoB aquisition!!! I talk to mine too.....when climbing, and descending, on flats I tend to take it for granted - and I'm working on that. Two pieces of advice...use the flag, and really read the owners manual. Enjoy the voyage.....Mark of the Dalton Boys

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Classifieds / Small touring bike wanted

« on: June 16, 2005, 10:02:37 pm »

If my 55 year old cranium were to be opened there would be found a 21 year old asking "what the heck happened." If I'm blessed I'LL be riding when I'm 79!!!  What an awesome little story!!!  Enjoy the voyage......Mark of the Dalton Boys

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Gear Talk / Recumbent Riders Only

« on: November 08, 2006, 12:49:02 pm »

Replying from the lunatic fringe of the recumbent world...I ride a tadpole trike recumbent which unless practiced, and experienced isn't the best choice of a recumbent for touring, but, they are so MUCH FUN!!! Enjoy the voyage...Mark of the Dalton Boys

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Gear Talk / Is this an appropriate crankset?

« on: October 11, 2006, 06:09:06 pm »

My apologies up front but I'll probably be "muddying" the waters. I only have plans to go to a Bicycle Mechanics course after I retire, and I know only enough to get me in trouble regarding bike mechanics, but no where in the two replies did I read anything that stuck out as personal. The two authors have always struck me to be expert level mechanics but, again, I don't know all that much....sorry if I misread something but all I could derive from the responses were honest, technical and even helpful data.  Enjoy the voyage...Mark of the Dalton Boys

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Gear Talk / A recumbant for centuries and possible touring

« on: October 03, 2006, 11:22:11 am »

SailAriel - after you've got your "bent" muscles built up, certain parts of your anatomy will be so hard you could use it as a cutting board. Glad your spending some time researching...I forgot another trike...HP Velotechnik who make a Tadpole Trike as well as two wheeled bents...German made and "spensive". As you now know riding a recumbent is like pedaling along on a lawn chair and zipadee-doodah on the downhills!! Enjoy the Voyage....Mark of the Dalton Boys

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Gear Talk / A recumbant for centuries and possible touring

« on: September 27, 2006, 11:39:40 am »

...AND Heidi did it all on a Tadpole Recumbent Trike to include the Great Divide which is not exactly "trike territory". Trikes generally are: Greenspeed's (Australian, very well made, and pricey), Tri-muters (California, well made and less pricey), CaTrike's (which the famous couple in the back of the pack use, made in Florida, well made and about same cost as Trimuter's), WizWheelz (made in Michigan, reputedly a great entry level trike well built, and a little less pricey think "Ford" of Tadpole Trikes, and ICE (English made, well made and pricey). If touring is in your head on a Trike you will have to look at those "extras" that cost, well extra like fenders, racks, the same stuff our DF family members contend with to set up bikes for touring. Enjoy the Voyage and let us know what ya ended up getting!!  Mark of the Dalton Boys PS - Strongly encourage you to look at the website quoted by Judy...great source of education about ALL recumbents, or "bents".

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Gear Talk / A recumbant for centuries and possible touring

« on: September 26, 2006, 02:19:15 pm »

I have a WizWheel 3.6 (Tour) trike and haven't had it but ten months and this much I think I know: whether 2 or 3 wheeled, recumbents are incredibly comfortable, way too much fun, at least MY trike is a pig going up hill but I can always stop on the hill and take a break and not worry about balance, already have a great camping seat, I do OK on flats, downhills can be "twitchy" unless terribly familiar with a trike (2-wheelers are VERY good down hill). Some 2 wheelers actually climb like homesick angels. Now my other bike is a Novara Randonee which is my commuter/touring bike because at the end of the day my hugely fun recumbent is a bit "beamy" to take most places (apologies to Heidi). Doesn't mean I won't tour with the trike....just haven't yet. Try to at least take a test ride on a recumbent before buying one though even if it means traveling some distance to do so. Bottom line....its all human powered....enjoy the Voyage....Mark of the Dalton Boys

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Gear Talk / Any Long term use with a BOB trailer

« on: September 19, 2006, 12:08:33 pm »

skico - have owned a YaK since '93 and an IBex (shock absorber), since '00. The weight difference when both types are "naked" is 5 lbs/10 kgs. I use my BoB's as a nearly indispensable part of my car-less existence. That said, a YaK will do you jus fine, borrow an IbeX if you do the Great Mountain Divide trail, or if lowering even more the "no foam" factor when hauling beer is the goal. These trailers are hardy souls that are great single track trailers. There is a wealth of information in the owners handbook that should be read prior to use. It's not quite so simple as "loading her up" and pedaling pell-mell down the trail. You are in for some new and exciting handling characteristics!!  enjoy the voyage...Mark of the Dalton Boys

11

Gear Talk / List of equipment carried

« on: August 23, 2006, 08:59:25 am »

In short what pmspirito said and in tandem (pardon) with AC's recommendation of 25-30 lbs/12.5-15 kgs for either panniers or BoBs. I use a BoB and have found that it is quite easy to overload with stuff that stays in the sack all trip. The actual item list varies little between panniers, and BoB's for a long trip...its the conveyance that differs what with that extra wheel. Panniers have more than less a finite amount of space so unless loaded with much canned SPAM... I do subscribe to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers notion on most anything....better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it a.k.a. being in a too small tent for 2 days of a monsoon rain. Enjoy the voyage...Mark of the Dalton Boys

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Gear Talk / Co-Motioin, IF, Atlantis

« on: August 06, 2006, 04:13:15 pm »

If you put the brand names you have quoted on a dartboard, put on a blindfold and let the throw of a dart be the deciding factor....you would still win. I.F. has a web site and you may get enough information but as the old adage goes "...10,000 natives can't be wrong", for as long as I've been reading of and about bicycles I have never found anyone besmirch IF frames, nevermind the other two models you've mentioned. I wish it was my choice!!! My hearty congratulations and enjoy the voyage....Mark of the Dalton Boys

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Gear Talk / interesting experience bike shopping

« on: September 19, 2006, 12:24:59 pm »

Meaculpa - you might try an REI Novara Randonee. All steel, comes with rear rack, three H20 brazeons, decent drive train, Fizik seat, and stock tires are 700 X 32c but can accomodate larger tires if desired. I purchased a Jandd front rack which went on without much difficulty as the fork is rack-ready. I put a BoB trailer skewer in the rear hub and it pulls the trailer just fine. Depending on what publication you read, the notion is that the Randonee is a very good entry level touring bike at about $900 (but currently on sale for $745). It is a "portly" tourer at 27 lbs/54 kgs "naked", but I prefer my cross-country bike to be a "truck", and it is. I use mine for both commuting (I own no car), as well as touring, but, if drivers had better memories of traffic laws and rules, and if cycling avenues were a little wider.....I'd ride my Tadpole Trike Recumbent all the time. Enjoy the Voyage..Mark of the Dalton Boys

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Gear Talk / Russian Panniers

« on: July 18, 2006, 11:26:02 am »

TrailPatrol - Haven't heard of them before your post, but looking at them I have to say I like the design. I would really like to get my hands on one to field test. Do you remember what material they were using for the construction of the "body" like cordura, para-pac, or herculite???

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Gear Talk / Lower Gearing on Road Bike

« on: June 20, 2006, 11:37:15 am »

RussellSeaton - Reading your response reinforces my desire to go work at a LBS for a year AFTER attending UBI/BBI school. I kinda kept up, that knowledge is where I want to go. Best part about anyone who hires me is I'll be retired and with an income, with my own health insurance, too old to stay up partying (so I'll be at work on time and in my right mind) and "travelling light". I can hardly wait c'mon Jan '07!! Enjoy the voyage..Mark of the Dalton
Boys