Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Google Maps: Change road colors?

« on: November 19, 2015, 11:15:55 pm »

RWGPS http://ridewithgps.com/has quite a few different map titles and one shoud do the job for you. On my website I have a few OSM tiles available http://twaca.net/wp/?page_id=2336 that you can see how the OpenStreetMaps look.

If you don't find anything satisfactory I could play around with this https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/styling?hl=en and see if I can get a better contrast for you.

You can try this your self http://googlemaps.github.io/js-samples/styledmaps/wizard/index.html

2

Routes / Re: Trans Am Yellowstone bypass

« on: November 19, 2015, 10:01:30 pm »

That was/is Googles Maps overlay. They get right for Utah though.

3

Routes / Re: Trans Am Yellowstone bypass

« on: November 17, 2015, 09:29:47 am »

Well it wasn't the "map" borders its the way this BB handles images. Duh
I made it that large so OP could read the cue sheet if interested. Keep busy.

4

Routes / Re: Trans Am Yellowstone bypass

« on: November 16, 2015, 08:57:13 pm »

I believe the ACA tours cannot go through Yellowstone and I believe their route is similar to this one;

5

General Discussion / Toolsr for a Wordpress journal

« on: November 16, 2015, 08:33:55 pm »

I have developed a set of Wordpress plugins for bicycle tour planning and journal writing. I am hoping they may prove useful to the community.

I am in the process of planning my 2016 Trans American Trail tour from Astoria to Pueblo completing the route for me. TWACA.net (Touring with Adventure Cycling Association) is the website name and demonstrates the use of Wordpress plugins.

On the site there is a "Public Map Editor" where anyone can upload maps (kml,kmz,gpx) and download the editing results. Use is completely anonymous.

The plugins are in the Wordpress Plugin Registry: IBS Mappro, IBS Calendar, IBS Events. See IndianBendSolutions.net where they are documented. They are completely free and open source.

6

Gear Talk / Re: Back To Bar Cons

« on: August 25, 2015, 03:06:08 pm »

If the bike is that cramped, maybe you should put a longer stem on.  Or do you have a short torso?

Thanks. I should have clarified that this issue occurs when I stand to pedal and the bike rocks.  I have cut the bars back about an inch or so and that should help.

7

Gear Talk / Re: Back To Bar Cons

« on: August 23, 2015, 06:43:02 pm »

I have received a set of new MicroShift 10 speed bar end shifters. Quality wise I would put them a grade or two under Shimano's. They work well enough and they have a friction mode that, for me,  is easier to work than the Shimano.

What I like

• V-Brakes without Travel Agents
• the V-Brakes open to pull a wheel using the brake lever release retaining the brake set up
• to me the XT FD is smoother and easier than the Sora FD I was using
• for me replacing a derailleur cable is easier than with the Shimano 10 speed STI.

What I don't like is my knee hitting the left bar end. I will probably cut the handle bar ends back to reduce this problem. ( have done this before)

I rode the Trans Am Virginia-Colorado with this set up (9 speed) without any memories of issues so will probably stick with it for the 10 speed. I am hoping to do the Astoria to Pueblo in 2016 with this set up.

Thanks for all of the suggested alternatives.

8

General Discussion / Re: Getting home from Yorktown in Sept.

« on: August 23, 2015, 05:37:15 pm »

There are a number of bike shops in the area of Yorktown. Personally I would look at having a shop box my bike, shuttle over to Norfolk and catch a Southwest flight back to Phoenix with my bike.

9

Gear Talk / Re: Back To Bar Cons

« on: August 16, 2015, 09:01:21 pm »

Thanks for the tips. The 6700's are different beast for cable replacement. You actually start under the shift lever on the bottom, then out the side and then back into and out the back into the cable housing on the left side. A lot more tedious then sticking the cable straight through and into the cable housing like on the older bifters.

The problem is the spindle mechanism for the drum that winds and unwinds the cable that runs up through the shifter loosens allowing the ratchet trip not to work and allow the drum to unwind drop the chain off the big ring. When on the big ring the spool and spindle are at their its highest load.
The fix is simple. Remove the shifter and tighten the spindle with a hex wrench.

10

Gear Talk / Back To Bar Cons

« on: August 14, 2015, 11:32:40 am »

There is often discussion of drop bar shifting and what flavor is best for touring and in the end mostly it comes down to an individual's taste.

Firstly I do not enjoy (just short of hate) using bar con shifters. I do enjoy (just short of love) using Shimano STI shifting a lot.  I also really like Rapidfire mtb shifters but I am not comfortable on flat bars. So my quest has been to have STI or comparable shifting on drop bars for my touring bike.

The first really successful attempt was with a 9 speed Ultegra triple using an old RSX FD and a XT RD. Work pretty smoothly, almost flawlessly
The last incarnation was with Shimano 105 10 speed using a Sora FD and a 9 speed XT RD.  This was really sweet, especially the throw for shifting. 10 speed is nice.

Then I had my 6703 Ultegra on another bike break and fail to drop the chain off of the big ring. This incidence brought back memories I had on a Big Bend tour where a rider had a cable break and lock up an Ultegra bifter. These are things I do not want to deal with on tour.

And as I was installing the 10 speed bifters I thought to my self, "would I want to replace a 10 speed derailleur cable on the side of the road?"  With my luck it would be in the rain too. Now mind you I never have had to do this nor have I ever experienced a cable breaking personally.

After a sleepless night or two I remembered KISS and am now in the process of going back to where Bruce Gordon originally spec'ed the bike some fourteen years ago.

I am pretty sure the 105 10 speed set up would be perfectly fine and reliable. After all Co Motion and others have STI standard on their offerings. But one does tends to psych ones self out.

11

Gear Talk / Re: 9 speed or 10 speed for my new bike build up?

« on: August 14, 2015, 10:03:30 am »

At first I thought that it was a shame that they eliminated friction mode for the rear derailleur and then upon thinking about it I realized that I have never used friction mode anyway in recent years, at least on newer bikes.  Even on my older 7 speed bikes indexed shifting has been pretty flawless.  In fact my 7 speed with indexed 105 down tube shifters is one of the most reliable and smooth shifting bikes I have ridden.

I do find indexing kind of pointless for the front derailleur, but it works well enough and is pretty reliable so I won't complain.

While I am waiting for the new 10 speed MicroShift bar cons, which BTW retains a friction mode. I threw my old Shimano 9 speed bar con into friction mode to shift the 10 speed set up and it was as predictable delicate. I would not want to do the ole half step with 10 or 11 speed.

I view friction mode more as "plan B" for wacked derailleurs and slack cables than for broken index shifters.

12

Gear Talk / Re: 9 speed or 10 speed for my new bike build up?

« on: August 13, 2015, 07:15:11 pm »

MicroShift 10 speed bar con Shimano MTB compatibility http://www.microshift.com.tw/BS-M10_Shifters.html

Universal Cycles https://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=74329 I have gotten good service from this store.

BTW I ordered MicroShift 10 speed bar con Shimano Road compatibility as I am using an 9 speed XT rear derailleur.

Good luck on your build.

13

Gear Talk / Re: 9 speed or 10 speed for my new bike build up?

« on: August 13, 2015, 06:18:09 pm »

Just a note. I am reverting back to bar ends from 105 10 speed and have found the newest Shimano 10 speed bar end offering no longer have a friction mode.

14

Gear Talk / Re: 9 speed or 10 speed for my new bike build up?

« on: August 13, 2015, 05:53:17 pm »

That pretty much sums up my take on this as well.

I am a bit puzzled by the references to diving suddenly to the side of the road as well as balance and control problems related to lower gearing (at least any gearing options that I have used) and I too have ridden across Kentucky and southwestern Virginia on little back roads.  I am not doubting that it is a problem for SlowerAndSlower, but I have a hard time relating to it, since for me it seems to be a complete non-issue.

As a result I have no suggestions other than to say that it seems like something one ought to be able to get used to with a bit of attention to traffic, the grade, and where one is on the road.

On a different note:
The biggest annoyance I had on the back roads of Kentucky were drivers who refused to pass even when they could see well ahead and I waved them by.  We ran across a few of them and I found them really annoying.

Yes I have stopped and got off the road because a diver wouldn't pass.

But oh how do I regret using "dive" as a figure of speech which was meant to convey a sense of urgency to get out of the way for what ever. I guess I expected too much from a everyone's visualization and imagination. I simply commented, not as a statement, not a request for bicycle riding lessons, not an analysis, but simply a fact of what I have experienced.

I am sorry that this has cause so much distraction from the OP and I do apologize.

15

Gear Talk / Re: 9 speed or 10 speed for my new bike build up?

« on: August 12, 2015, 11:38:10 am »

@DaveB You have never had dive to the side of the road? Believe it or not there are places where the idea of "shoulder" doesn't exist and a few hills.  Virginia and Kentucky readily come to mind along with some coal truck traffic.