Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: 2 or 4 panniers

« on: September 12, 2013, 01:23:47 pm »

Everything fits in the frontpanniers and it feels good to have them on the front wheel and the tent on the rear. If not I could put the frontpanniers wherever later on. Thanks you all!

2

General Discussion / Re: 2 or 4 panniers

« on: September 12, 2013, 01:29:43 am »

How much are you carrying?  That will have a major effect on what packing scheme works best.  I find that when going moderately light (15-20 pound base) I like to go with front panniers only.  With a little more (20-25 pound base) I go with front panniers and the tent on the rear rack.  If I were to go heavy again I'd use 4 panniers

Oh, I never had the thought to use only the front panniers. It seemed natural to keep the rear panniers...
I dont have access to a scale but I would guess I will be carrying about 20 pounds.
I still have one day left to try it out.

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General Discussion / Re: 2 or 4 panniers

« on: September 10, 2013, 01:30:46 pm »

I am out riding with almost all the load and it acctually does feel different without the front panniers but not bad, i think. regarding the wind it might be better with just the rear? I will check and see if my host has a scale. Oh, and there are absolutely no steep winding hills out here in the middle of kansas. The biggest i have seen so far might be the driveway to mcdonalds.
Anyways - it is just a great joy being out on a bicycle!!

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General Discussion / 2 or 4 panniers

« on: September 10, 2013, 11:43:49 am »

Hi!
I am cycling cross the us and about to let go of most of my load for a fast ride from wichita to savannah. Everything fit in the rear panniers and it feels ok to ride like that. But i wonder if it still would be better to keep the front panniers so the load will be more spread out on the bicycle? Will it be to much weight on the rear wheel just having the load above the rear wheel. I have a salsa vaya 2 frame if that matters. Are there any thoughts about this?

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General Discussion / Re: Which telephone company?

« on: June 25, 2013, 01:04:21 pm »

I think it is difficult to see what kind of prepaid cards there is. These things changes very fast.
If the AT&T has a fairly good coverage, I might make a deal through a swedish company.

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General Discussion / Re: To Go Home or Not...That is the Question?

« on: June 25, 2013, 07:18:25 am »

Hi Jasmine!

I think it depends on your family and their thoughts about you doing this trip.
If you think the visit will give you a boost, I don´t see why you shouldn´t visit your family, eat something really nice, have a good looong shower and sleep comfortable for a night and then keep on going the next day.
If your family think you are doing a crazy thing and will try to talk you out of it or try to get you staying longer than a day - I would keep on going!!

Best wishes!
Cat
(We might meet somewhere on the way! I am going west-east starting in the end of July)

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General Discussion / Which telephone company?

« on: June 25, 2013, 07:01:26 am »

Hello!

I am soon on my way to start cycling the TransAm and have made the decision to bring my brand new smartphone only, which has a good camera and a big display.
I would like to be able to make many phonecalls and surf a lot as I will plan along the way. I guess I would need some kind of prepaid card (with a micro SIM card) Does anyone here know which telephone company has det best covering along the TA? Which telephone company has good offers? Is there a good website where you can compare the offers available?
This issue seems to be a djungle to me...

Thankful for any ideas where I should start to dig!
Cat

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General Discussion / Re: touring without "eating out"

« on: April 21, 2013, 09:12:29 am »

Several of you mention "local mom and pop diner" - What is that?

9

Gear Talk / Re: Touring bikes...

« on: March 26, 2013, 03:44:17 am »

[/quote]
No criticism intended for time it took you to choose a bike. I questioned side-track to ultra lightweight bicycle travel niche. I thought as a novice you had enough to think about in choosing a bike to buy. I stated even type of bike, because earlier you had not settled on a touring bike, considering also a cross bike. Best wishes on your choice, and may you have a very enjoyable and memorable tour.
[/quote]

Oh, I know    Thank you, I am very much looking forward to it!

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Gear Talk / Re: Touring bikes...

« on: March 23, 2013, 05:27:27 pm »

It is nearly a month since this woman posted her initial question, and she has yet to decide even the type of bike she should  buy. I suggested she concentrate on that....

I can´t resist cutting a quote from dkoloko.  I almost became a farmer this month too, so I have struggeld with quite a few decisions during these past months... 
Anyways - you have been very helpful - I thought I let you know what bike it is going to be.

Ta da!  http://salsacycles.com/bikes/2012_vaya

The brakes will be upgraded, the gearing might be a triple and the tires won´t be that fat.

Thanks!

11

Gear Talk / Re: Touring bikes...

« on: March 19, 2013, 03:48:16 pm »

Well we will see. I have fallen for the 2013 Salsa Vaya 3. After being in contact with bike stores - it looks like this bike was all sold out from Salsa in November 2012 Who could have believed that?? In a consuming society like the US? Not me.

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General Discussion / Re: Touring Question

« on: March 17, 2013, 10:05:14 am »

In Scandinavian countries you are typically allowed to have 5-6 weeks of vacation (25-30 working days). I mean paid vacation. And you get it from day 1 and everybody is entitled - even people without any sort of education.

That sounds great - and most Americans would love that.

But personal income taxes are at 50-60%. So yes, at least half of your pay check goes straight to the state. And gasoline costs 7,60 dollars a gallon at the pump. And 1 kWh costs the equivalent of 40 cents. I guess that all systems have advantages and disadvantages.

Lucas

That would mean that the americans have a great opportunity to prioritise a long touring trip because of more controle over the income, but I guess it´s not that easy... As to the medical question - Here (in Sweden) most people have a home insurance and adding another 30 dollars a travel insurance usually for 90 days comes with it. It covers all medical care, delayed flights, loss of luggage etc etc. Maybe there is something similar in the US?

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Gear Talk / Re: Touring bikes...

« on: March 16, 2013, 01:02:31 pm »

Uh-oh, did I just feed the obsession?

Haha You sure did!
But... I think I will deal with the pannier color once in Portland... so don´t worry - I won´t start a pannier-color-thread here

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Gear Talk / Re: Touring bikes...

« on: March 15, 2013, 06:45:53 am »

I agree that if you are buying a new bike for touring, your best bet is to buy a touring bike. But if you look for a bike that will do everything well, you'll never buy a bike at all, or you'll have a bike that will do nothing well.

Yea, I guess that is what I am trying to do...

Today I have been reading a lot about Salsa Vaya 3. That would be a good touring bike, right? As I would need a 54, I would get 700 tires. The disc brakes don´t seem to bad. I´ve been reading about them both here and elswhere. It seems that it is possible to take care of that squeeking.

If no new ideas will pop up in my head, I will probably end up with that one or a Surley.

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Gear Talk / Re: Touring bikes...

« on: March 13, 2013, 04:05:47 pm »

No pdlamb, I´m not doing a motel trip. I do need a good bike. I´m just so afraid of getting to much a bike that it will feel too heavy. I tried a Surley Cross Check. I guess it felt pretty good, but like someone here said – riding around the block doesn´t give that much. The Cross Check has the 700 tires and with a triple crankset it is slightly lighter then the LTH.

The girl that bought the Specialized mentioned above, reasoned that she is very light herself (50 kg) so that she could easily bring another 20 kg on the bike without any problems. It is possible to put on fenders and racks both front and rear. I have to admit though that it doesn´t look that much ”stronger” than my own Spec Roubaix.

Ok – I should hurry up and decide and order...