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Messages - Ed_in_Maine

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1
Routes / Re: Northern Tier: Change of route May 2012
« on: April 30, 2012, 06:14:04 am »
Whoo, got the new maps Saturday!!!! Starting today from Maine but the summer weather has gone, it was 29degF this morning :'(

2
New England / Re: Coast of Maine? Anybody do it?
« on: April 25, 2012, 07:34:44 pm »
I've rode the ACA NTR  from Belfast to Durham a couple weeks ago. Hilly, about 6K climb total according to RidewithGPS. It's naturally off season and the car drivers were great. Waiting to pass, passing wide. Even several horn toots and thumbs up, that might be because I was on a trike ;D

"Aggressive Motorist" I'll bet that's mostly summer time visitors. It does get crazy and the NY,NJ,MA tags are all over the place and driving like their at home >:(  Heck when we go south I have to adjust to the crazy drivers tailgating like they were in a NASCAR race, that virtually never happens in my area.

The bad is that some roads can be pretty rough, making it impossible to stay right and anything over walking pace. But then cars never gave me grief when this happened. Same with no shoulders no problem. Also this is rural so there are some loose dogs, be prepared. I have one neighbor I'd like to take a stick too:)

If you come through Knox your welcome to camp by our pond.
 

3
Routes / Re: Northern Tier is intact again
« on: April 25, 2012, 09:45:20 am »
Thanks so much for that link. I'm starting my NTR in a few days and it's nice to take that worry off the table :)

4
General Discussion / Re: Recumbent trike travel
« on: March 12, 2012, 03:14:10 pm »
Well...I'm starting cross country in about 5-6 weeks. The only issue I see with trikes is loading. Pretty much load it high on a rear rack or use a trailer. Both impact handling adversely. But on the plus side, hell of a lot more comfortable than any DF I've ridden.
+1 crazyguyonabike.com some good stories.

5
Routes / Re: Status of detour around Williston ND aera?
« on: March 08, 2012, 07:53:08 pm »
Thanks,
Ed

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Routes / Status of detour around Williston ND aera?
« on: March 08, 2012, 03:57:57 pm »
Hello All,
I'm riding the NTR east to west this spring and was wondering if any decent routes have been developed around the Williston oil boom area. I've recently seen some news stories and a CNBC show on the oil boom and frankly I'm terrified to go near that area. I know those hard working oil field workers need to blow off steam after weeks of 12 hour days but I don't want to be sharing the road with them.
Any thoughts to detouring due west out of the St Paul MN area and in to South Dakota? Then what?
Thanks
Ed

7
Routes / Re: Pittsburgh to Washington, DC
« on: March 01, 2012, 07:45:10 pm »
We did the GAP/C&O summer 2010 and to add to Fred's description. The Gap seems to be a constantly gradual uphill ride then a great descent at the Eastern Continental Divide into Cumberland MD. The C&O had nice areas but was also very beat up, for large sections a full suspension bike would have been best. We used hybrids. I would get current info on C&O before committing if you have a road bike.
Good Luck
Ed

8
Routes / Re: Route Mileages
« on: February 25, 2012, 09:14:51 am »
We're doing the NTR using the lakes route this spring. Cross into Canada(Ft Erie) then back in to Michigan, through the UP and on to Washington. We have used the maps(except no map for ND only estimate) to set estimated daily stops. So IF we did it right our total mileage is 3999.7

I'm taking the shortest route and starting in Belfast ME not Bar Harbor ME. I don't have the maps in front of me right now but I suspect your seeing the route that stays in the US plus Lakes.
Ed

9
General Discussion / Re: Pacing on a long distance ride
« on: February 05, 2012, 09:17:36 am »
I've found monitoring my heart rate does the trick for me.

10
Gear Talk / Re: Bike saddle issues
« on: December 24, 2011, 08:17:53 am »
I ride a recumbent trike ;D, and that's the recumbent grin! I absolutely love it and wish I had ponied up the money earlier to get the trike. When thinking of a trike vs a two wheeler, I compare it to driving a Miata sports car vs an MC.

No real issues being lower, head is about at table height, 32-36 inches. But that can vary greatly dependent on trike design. Lower is generally faster and corners better, i.e. less wind resistance and lower CG. I do always us a bike flag.

Maneuverability, depends. I can corner at speed leaning into the turn, lifting the inside tire MUCH harder than a two wheeler. At very slow speed the two wheeler can turn tighter.  I think emergency swerve is MUCH easier on the trike.
When riding on tight streets my effective width is about the same or less than a two wheeler because I can position my right tire right at what ever nasty edge there happens to be. And on steep climbs the same thing, due to that power wobble most two wheelers seem to get into.
Cars seem to give me more clearance, but that is may be due to the "what the heck is that" reaction.
The biggest limitation are two track trails for obvious reasons! Just don't do it, unless you have suspension,maybe.

I ride a Trident Stowaway 2, paid about $1300. My wife rides a Catrike Trail, paid about $1900. They ride very different, wife hates mine, I love mine and tolerate hers :).

Don't get me wrong, I think two wheelers have their place but I've never ride one across country, but I am taking the Trident on the NTR next spring ;D.

11
GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Re: Garmin Edge 800, will it work...
« on: December 24, 2011, 07:35:28 am »
Hi Fred, Thanks for that info and the Garmin FAQ says 4-5 hours using their External Power Pack.
Yes I have read many of the Edge related posts, like I said my main issues are this charging time and cost compared to a couple AA batteries.  I'm trying to envision getting to that unimproved evening camp site and how I get my "entertainment system" :), as someone called, recharged. I'm probably going the route of a eTrex or something else that has AA or AAA batteries.

12
GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Garmin Edge 800, will it work...
« on: December 23, 2011, 05:11:43 pm »
Hi all,
I really like the Edge 800. The HR, Cadence, and that cool riding partner are what puts this over something like the eTrex 20. I'm riding the NTR starting in May. The issue that I see may be a deal killer is the internal battery and combined speed/cadence sensor. First can anyone tell me how fast it will recharge after a full day discharge? And how is it charged? Next is that sensor, I'll be riding a Trident recumbent trike so the crank does not overlap the rear tire to allow a combined sensor. Anyone know if the functions can use separate sensors?
Any other big issues?
The main reason I do like this unit is it can double for training for an Triathlon later(not on the trike naturally:).
Thanks
Ed

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