Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Getting to your start with all your stuff

« on: February 12, 2021, 08:34:46 pm »

I don't have the option to drive or take a train to my start so air travel is my only option.

Forgive me my forwardness in asking but why are you not able to drive since you just bought  a bike 2 hours away.  I assume you drove but maybe you had a friend help you.  Just curious.

The start of my tour is in Astoria, Oregon.  I wouldn't have the time to drive from Kentucky to Oregon for my start. 

I live in Kentucky but had to travel to Ohio to buy my bike.

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General Discussion / Re: The current landscape of purchasing a touring bike . . .

« on: February 11, 2021, 02:31:41 pm »

I just bought a Trek 520 and I had to travel two hours away to get it.  The bike business is hurting right now in terms of supply chain issues.  When I picked up my bike I was told by the owner at the shop that the next time he could get a 520 would likely be early 2022.

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General Discussion / Re: Getting to your start with all your stuff

« on: February 11, 2021, 02:29:09 pm »

Thanks to all who have responded.  I've been busy at work and haven't had time to check on replies.

I knew about shipping the bike to a shop at my start.  That part seemed straight forward.  The harder issue was how to get panniers and gear to the start.   Panniers are a bit of a pain (sometimes literally) to carry around in an airport.  The idea of getting a used duffle bag to bring on the plane was great.  Your idea of putting a sleeping bag in with the bike is interesting too.

I don't have the option to drive or take a train to my start so air travel is my only option.  All of your suggestions have given me great insights into how to get there with my stuff.

Peace

Saburo,
This is not a stupid question.  As you can see from the responses, cyclists have many different ways to get to the start of their trip.  I usually try to balance cost, possible damage to the bicycle, and convenience.  I have done at least 20 trips where I needed to get my bike to the start.  Here are my assessment of the options.

Having your bike packed by your LBS and shipped to an LBS at the start of the trip is probably the safest for your bicycle.  I usually don't do this, especially if I am flying because I don't want to take the extra time at the beginning of the trip to shlep to the LBS with my gear to pick up my bike.  This usually costs me an extra day since I arrive late in the day. 

A hardshell bike case is a great option, but you need to make some arrangements as to what to do with it while you're cycling, which can be a little problematical if you are not ending your trip where you began.

If  the start of my tour is "near" to home, a long one-day drive, I prefer to drive.  If my tour does not return me to my staring point, I will rent a car.  I have found that I can fit my bicycle in the back seat of an intermediate size car by removing the rear wheel.   f the tour ends where I began, I ask the motel owner or the camp ground if I can leave my car with them for a few weeks if 'm driving my own car.

If I am flying, I take my bike in an "airline" bicycle box.  This is a box that you can buy from most airlines at the airport (although always check ahead of time) and it usually costs about $25.  It is a one time use box.  It is much bigger than a typical bicycle box, but packing is simpler.  You take off your pedals and turn the handle bars.  Since the boxes are big when packed, I usually do this at the airport because i can't fit them in my car or even a van. To save me the time of standing in an airport line simply to purchase the box on the day of the trip, I will purchase ahead of time, and bring it with me to the airport.  Make sure you have tried to loosen the pedals before you go.  When you turn the handlebars you may need to release break or derailleur cables to turn the handle bars.  I put a pannier bag lightly stuffed with soft things like clothes n the derailleur side of the rear rack to help cushion it. I also try to put a sleeping bag in the box to reduce luggage on the plane.  Remember to take scissors and tape with you to cut the tape and secure the box.  Also, note that you can't take the scissors on the plane with you.  At the other end I re-assemble by bicycle at the airport.  I have put together bicycles at many major airports of the world:  Gatwick, DeGaulle, Hamburg, Amsterdam, SFO, Missoula, Portland, Green Bay.  Portland's airport actually has a special room with a bike rack and tools to reassemble your bike.  Make sure you know how you are leaving the airport.  Some are easy:  Portland and Washington Reagan both have a bike path right out of the airport.  Others you will need to find surface routes.  Others, like O'hare, you will need to get on the local train/subway or hire a service.

Depending, Amtrak is an option.  Always check with Amtrak ahead of time.  In some cases, you can walk your bike in the luggage car.  The Pacific Surfliner allows you bring the bike on the train, but you have to make a reservation for your bike, which is free.

As a side note, I have had lubricants and degreasers confiscated from my luggage and you can't take them on board, so I now plan to purchase at the beginning of the bike trip.  Good luck on your trip.

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General Discussion / Getting to your start with all your stuff

« on: January 18, 2021, 11:22:14 am »

Trusting that there is no such thing as a stupid question:

I'm planning a Trans America tour in the late Spring.  My question is this...

I know that many people box their bike and ship it to their starting point.  But how have you gotten your gear there?  Did you ship your panniers, sleeping bag, etc. with your bike?  Separately?  Or did you carry your bags with you on the plane?  Or ?  It seems like it would be hard to get four panniers, and all your gear there on the plane but maybe there is a great way to do this....  Thanks.

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Gear Talk / Off the Bike Shoes

« on: November 11, 2020, 11:20:46 am »

Anyone out there have recommendations for off the bike shoes for touring?

I use SPD shoes to ride but like to change into different shoes for walking around camp or off days.  I don't really like the non-SPD shoes for riding so just wearing regular shoes for both riding and off the bike won't work.  Any thoughts on packable, comfortable off the bike shoes?

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General Discussion / Re: Trans Am Bike.

« on: June 30, 2020, 12:06:30 pm »

I'm planning to ride TA West to East next June and July.  I live in KY so I'm not planning to do the route only to Berea, KY.  That's roughly 3500 miles.  Do you all think that is doable in 60 days or less?  What is a good average mileage per day to plan for?  Also, I would be using a Trek 920 "Adventure Bike" with road tires.  My concern is low enough gearing and whether or the 28 spoke wheels would be durable enough.  (I've done shorter week long bike tours on it with 20 to 30 lbs and the wheels were fine but not sure what to expect on TA surface wise.)  Thanks for any help you can offer.

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Gear Talk / One Bike to Do It All

« on: February 04, 2016, 09:12:05 pm »

I have two bikes now: an old specialized allez road bike i use for faster rides and a Rivendell Bleriot that I have used for road tours and even GAP and C&O tours.  I love my Bleriot but its limited clearance  made the muddy C&O and off road rides difficult.  I really need to have one bike now as I've had to downsize the house for a new job.

So the question is: What would you consider to be a great do-it-all bike?  Surly LHT? Surly Troll? Trek 920? Specialized AWOL? Or some other bike?  Funds are limited to what I can sell the current bikes for let's say $1000 to 1500.

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Gear Talk / Re: Tips for avoiding back pain at night

« on: May 19, 2013, 08:49:50 pm »

Thanks to all.  To answer the questions posed... I don't have any problem with my back during riding and usually my back feels better once I'm on the bike or up and moving.  Stretching couldn't hurt though.  (Most likely anyway.)  I haven't had any problems with cramping.  Usually the first night on the ground starts the cycle of poor sleep and waking up with soreness, feeling better on the bike and then the second and third nights the back is shouting "no mas" everytime I lay down on the ground.  Hotels wouldn't be a bad thought but I'm usually trying to travel cheap.

What kind of air mattress have you used?  Any particular brands that are lightweight and holdup well?

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Gear Talk / Tips for avoiding back pain at night

« on: May 18, 2013, 10:51:49 pm »

On my few tours so far, I haven't had a problem with my back while riding but I have had extensive pain at night.  No matter what I can't sleep through the night due to lower back pain and stiffness.  I use a Therma-rest pad but it doesn't seem to help with comfort.  I have trouble sleeping on my side or stomach though I tried that.  Any tips would be great because that's really the only thing I don't like about touring...