Messages

1

International / South Korean 700c?

« on: August 13, 2013, 10:47:49 pm »

Hey all,

I'm entertaining the idea of teaching abroad in S. Korea to store up for a touring epic (and since it's more 'careery' than my current job of pushing boxes I guess). My only question is if 700c tires are easy to find? I'm okay risking touring without replacements, but living somewhere for a bit would be a bit of a pain without the option to buy 700c bits.

Otherwise, I'm taking a vintage Stumpjumper to S. Korea and being a badass.

Anyone know? I figure like their fellow East Asianers, Japan, 700c is a safe bet, but I'm just curious.

Thanks!

2

Gear Talk / Re: My "new-to-me" bike!

« on: July 30, 2013, 10:01:55 pm »

Would you wear your SPDs on days you are not riding the bike at all? How about having to replace those clips?

I wear my SPD cycling sandals as my only shoes when on tour.  In addition to flip flops for the shower.  Cycling sandals work great for walking around town or the campgrounds.  They are super comfortable on and off the bike.  Replacing the clips?  Do you mean replacing the SPD metal cleats on the bottom of the sandals?  SPD cleats never ever need replacing.  They are steel.  They are recessed into the sole of the shoe so see little wear on pavement.  When you are clipped in to the pedal you are not wearing the cleat on the pedal mechanism.  SPD cleats last forever.

Uh you need to check that. I met someone who had to ride from Fort Bragg to San Francisco on a pedal the size of a nickel because his clips were flattened out.

I just switched to full on flats and my bike handling skills/confidence are going through the roof right now. If you've only done SPDs/toe clips since getting into cycling I highly recommend getting MTB flats, they are a total blast and really improve your bike handling skills.

Also if your complaint is that pedals hurt your feet you probably just need bigger pedals like Wellgo MG-1s or VP Gripsters. I just think too many preach the gospel of SPDs, when they really are an unnecessary and pricey component.

3

Gear Talk / Re: My "new-to-me" bike!

« on: July 30, 2013, 08:35:24 am »

What a score! If I'm not mistaken that bike was made in the US of A. (New 520s are made in Asia.) I use pedals that are SPD clipless on one side, flat on the other. If I a want a quick trip to the store, there's no need to change shoes. Many SPD shoes have recessed cleats and are perfectly fine for walking.

Would you wear your SPDs on days you are not riding the bike at all? How about having to replace those clips? Just seems like a huge  headache for little to no gain (a gain that toe clips give you).

Also Bay Area: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bik/3968411974.html
Looks beat up, but steel never dies!

4

Gear Talk / Re: My "new-to-me" bike!

« on: July 29, 2013, 10:35:51 pm »

Thanks FatCloud,  (BTW I'm dying to know the story behind that name)

I've replaced the saddle--the covering was lifting/peeling back.
I've removed/replaced the "clip" pedals, at least temporarily, until I'm used to the bike. A road bike is a big change for me from my old hybrid.
I've replaced the old 700x28 tires and tubes with Panaracer 700x32s that I'd bought intending to put them on my hybrid.

Tomorrow I go to the LBS for a fitting as I really want the handlebars adjusted a little higher. I've done one around the neighborhood ride and it feels great! Can't wait to take a real ride after the fitting!

I have noticed the high prices on used 520s.

"Ride it far!"... same to you!

My name is Pat Dowd, a friend called me Fat Cloud one night when we were drunk, that's all.

Avoid the clipless pedals! It's starting to seem that most cycle tourists are getting away from them for good reason! You don't get much added power, and besides cycle touring is about getting off the bike too! Why bother carrying around extra shoes or ice skating everywhere you go? Flat pedals for the win! (If you're doing road touring I like rat cages too)

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Gear Talk / Re: My "new-to-me" bike!

« on: July 29, 2013, 08:29:53 pm »

That's a steal! People have been jacking up the price on Trek 520's, people have been paying close to a grand on used ones, crazy!
Great deal! Enjoy that! Ride it far!

6

Routes / Re: Riding from Los Angelis to Lake Tahoe/Truckee and then off to Shasta/Crater Lake

« on: July 25, 2013, 04:30:07 pm »

River Road is FANTASTIC! I loved that road!

I went down to Squaw Valley for a yoga festival (so much free vegan goodies!) and that road was a blast. What I'd REALLY love to do though is find a way to tube down the Truckee then ride back up and probably do that six or ten times in a day!

I really am in love with that area. Considering working in one of the ski resorts, not this winter, but the next.

7

Routes / Re: Riding from Los Angelis to Lake Tahoe/Truckee and then off to Shasta/Crater Lake

« on: July 25, 2013, 03:53:29 pm »

So my bike tour only looped me around the lake, I didn't end up going north to Lassen.

But yeah 89 was scary, I wish I would have gone down into Minden and up Kingsbury Grade. 50 was hellish as well. The worst part was Tahoe City to DL Bliss State Park which makes NO SENSE AT ALL. There weren't even share the road signs at that point, going from the popular tourist trap to the only hiker biker on the Lake and after a bike path ended, so lame! Going from Spooner Lake to Incline Village was awful too! Luckily I was going mostly downhill, but it was scary.

If I did it again I'd be on a mountain bike and only drop into these cities for resupply/tourist reasons then climb out on to the rim and ride trails around the whole lake. I got away with this on the Fiberboard Freeway with a great campspot from Incline Village to Tahoe City (highly recommend Watson Lake for anyone planning on going!), little bit of fire road, but nothing wild.

The scariest part for sure though was riding back through the Central Valley, god that place sucks.

8

Gear Talk / Re: Uncoventional bike conversions?

« on: July 25, 2013, 03:49:19 pm »

ANY bike is a good touring bike. Just go out, do it, learn what works and what doesn't.

Sure there are things that make it better. Breaking a carbon frame is way easier than breaking a steel one, but hell you can definitely tour on any bike, just recognize your limitations on certain bikes (like carbon frame would be great for inn to inn touring with tools/day food/Iphone/water/credit car).

I for one am not a fan of traditional touring bikes so I prefer cyclocross geometries for touring. The classic is old steel mountain bikes, which is something I want to build for funsy (like an old Stumpjumper or Hardrock).

Just go out and do it!

9

Gear Talk / Mountain Touring Bike? (Troll v. Ogre v. 1x1 v. On-One?)

« on: July 25, 2013, 03:41:59 pm »

So recently I took my X-Check up to Lake Tahoe and was really utterly destroyed by the mountain bike trails there and it makes me just want a mountain bike, but I'm on the fence about what I want. Pros and Cons from bikes I've considered.

Troll
Pros - Built for touring, comes with all the touring bells and whistles, 26" wheels (meaning sourcing parts in Latin America would be easier, and where I am half heading next).
Cons - Pricey, plus it might be overkill for what I'm looking at.

Ogre
Pros - Same pretty much as Troll, but it's also a 29er which seems like a more enjoyable mountain bike ride.
Cons - Again price, and sourcing 29er parts in most places is not so easy (but at the same time there are options, like having a wheel mailed while I sit by the pool sucking on cheap drinks, this has become less of a thought to me lately).

1x1
Pros - SO VERSATILE. I really am falling in love with this bike, it can be a cheapo fat bike, for if I ever end up back in the snowy parts of the country. It seems to be less of a plush touring bike and more of a zippy mountain bike (this is not based on any facts, but it just seems that way, I hate the Long Haul Trucker because it feels like riding my grandmom's bike and I fear the Troll and Ogre are the same). Oh and it's cheap, used ones can go built up for around 500.
Cons - The obvious; it's not made for gearing, but there are ways around that and I've seen plenty of 1x9 or 2x9, 1x1s. The tough part now too is that the 2014 is not going to have disc brakes, so I'll have to keep my eyes open for the 2012 or 2013 (2011 and early only have short travel forks, I want that 100mm option).

On-One Inbred
Pros - Price, this is really what sells me on the On-Ones.
Cons - One trick pony? Possibly? It seems like if I'm going the cheaper route the 1x1 would be the go to, but the Inbred is actually made to be run with gears.

Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions?
Any other bikes out there worth mentioning?
I also love the idea of the Salsa El Mariachi, but that too is pricey.

Or should I just suck it up and buy a Troll/Ogre (but hell which one?). I hate making these decisions!

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Routes / Re: Riding from Los Angelis to Lake Tahoe/Truckee and then off to Shasta/Crater Lake

« on: July 10, 2013, 10:33:20 pm »

I am leaving for this ride on Friday from Oakland up Highway 4 to Ebbets Pass then North. I think I'll try that workaround. I'll take a dirt road over highway ANYday.