Messages

1

Gear Talk / STI and handlebar bags

« on: January 07, 2004, 07:54:22 pm »

Re: STI
I've toured with STI, barcons and down-tube shifters. The STI's are clearly more convenient unless you want to carry a handlebar bag but I've gone to down-tube shifters for my "real" touring bike. I was the designated mechanic for a cross-Canada tour in 2001 and we had lots of rain and also lots of trouble with STI shifters. They are made to function very smoothly in dry, clean conditions but are much more sensitive to less than ideal conditions. The Campy integrated shifters seem to be more robust, possibly due to stronger springs, which also make it a bit more difficult to pop a shift. For my money, a good pair of down-tube or barcon shifters are best for touring if you're not really good at cleaning and fine-tuning the STI shifters on the road.
Ken

2

Gear Talk / Tandem Tour Equipment

« on: January 07, 2004, 07:45:31 pm »

Hi, I just saw your posting from last year on the forum. We have done some touring with our tandem and I think you are on the right track for lower gears. I swapped out the stock stoker's crank for a touring crank with 48-36-24 rings. That was a must. I have since bought a Race Face MTB crank with 42-32-22 rings that I plan on using next time. It provides about 10% lower gear and, with the 34 tooth cog in back it should make grinding out the long climbs more bearable. We use the Ortlieb dry-bag panniers. I thought that the accessability of stuff  would be a problem but it is outweighed by the comfort of knowing the stuff stays dry. Things you need to get to can be carried in a handlebar bag or a rear rack pack. I like your plan of carrying only front panniers and I would consider going with nice large ones. The rear wheel on the tandem is already carrying a lot (no insult to your stoker intended). I haven't toured on the tandem with a trailer, only on a single, but for a cross country trip, self-contained, it seems to be the only way to go. Don't forget spare tubes and tire for the trailer.
Ken