Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: Should have learnt the easy way.. some advice guys

« on: June 02, 2017, 04:08:08 pm »

I would be dead (or drooling on myself) twice without a helmet. Like seat belts always have it on.
No other protective wear required for a road / tour cyclist.

2

Gear Talk / Re: Bottles or Backpack with Water Bladder?

« on: June 02, 2017, 04:04:11 pm »

I did the Trans AM in 2014

My bike held 3 water bottles.  This was plenty.
Normally 2 would do the trick, and the third was a backup.
If we were running short we would go up to the nearest house and ask permission to fill up.
Once in a while when no one was home we would use the outdoor faucet.  Not really recommended, but if you are respectful you could always explain your intentions.   

When we had long stretches of 40-60 miles between towns in the west we would throw and extra Gateraide in the panniers.
We also had a collapsible bottle and used it once or twice. We were really chicken to run short, but always arrived at our location with water to spare.

You could also bring a filter straw, but I think it's tough to go down to the water source from the road.

I would not want to wear a camel-back.  Too sweaty.

Just stay aware of your daily objective and refill when you have opportunities.

3

General Discussion / Re: TransAm summer 2015 - timing and solo female

« on: March 17, 2015, 06:43:25 pm »

I did the Trans Am in 2014 with my son,  and I agree with the comments about the prevailing winds.  I was told it was pretty much random and that was correct.  The map above was spot on, so we didn't have much issues until we were in the Northwest.  Except we had 25 mph cross winds in Kansas, so we just got up at 4am and started at 5am with lights.  Anything to get across Kansas.

We did East to West.  Sun is always at your back in the morning.  I would hate to ride directly into the sun every AM, plus have it in drivers eyes.

We started in Mid May, with a goal of getting into higher altitudes in the west before July.  We made Rawlings Wy by July 4th.  The plains of the Midwest can be hot and brutal in July.

We saw solo female riders and they seems just fine.  There are a few jerks but 99.9% of the people are great and helpful.  Stay focused, ignore the jerks, and don't go in dark alleys after dark (in other words use common sense).

4

General Discussion / Re: Travel Insurance

« on: January 06, 2015, 10:16:49 am »

Agreed.  I always do, but people interpret things differently depending on the perspective you are reading from.
I read some  words in my favor that the insurance company reads in their favor.
So I was asking for some real world experiences.

5

General Discussion / Travel Insurance

« on: January 06, 2015, 09:31:05 am »

Does anyone have experience with purchasing travel insurance as suggested by ACA?
I booked a self contained trip for 2015.
My medical insurance should provide normal health care issues.
The cost of the trip and airfare are at risk if I can't go for some reason.

The reason I ask, is my past experiences with insurance has been poor.
The sales literature shows all the benefits when you are purchasing, but when it comes time to make a claim they are full of weasel fine print.

6

General Discussion / Re: leaving May 20 from Willliamsburg

« on: October 27, 2014, 07:02:29 am »

I remember there was a Comfort Inn 10 or so miles from York Town, the official starting point.  There is a church (Episical) in Yorktown that owns a house that they allow cyclist to stay at for free.  A member lives right across the street and we shipped our bikes to him.  We flew into DC for a quick tour and had a friend meet us, but I would think a cab ride / shuttle from Newport News Airport would be affordable.

7

General Discussion / Re: leaving May 20 from Willliamsburg

« on: October 27, 2014, 06:58:57 am »

In 2014 my son and I left Yorktown on May 18 with a goal of 65 miles a day / 6 days a week.
We ran into a fair number of cyclist going our direction and connected on and off with them throughout our 10 weeks.  On coming cyclist were limited for the first month.  It was also fun to meet both the RAAM race and the TransAmerica Race somewhere in  KS.  The Adventure Cyclist self supported group was 10 days in front of us and we eventually caught them in WY.  We meet and made friends with a dozen or so folks.

I would say you should be comfortable riding alone or with your own group as there are long periods of time when you are not with anyone, or riding styles differ enough that you don't stay in contact long.

One goal I had was to get across KS before it got too hot.  We actually made it into WY by July.

8

General Discussion / Re: Busiest ACA or other trail intersection?

« on: August 25, 2014, 05:55:05 pm »

You might want to drive the route to help answer your question.  Anywhere you see more than 40 miles without many Warm Shower host is a possibility.

There are places that have a need, but I could not imagine living there.

From Rawlins to Landry is a open Wyoming desert.  Fun to challenge ourselves to cross but the wind was big enough to push my son over.

I went through Jeffrey City on July 4. (town of 50 and 10% were drunk in the bar, and the town could be carried off by the Mosquitoes.)

The only place as bad was Muddy Gap 20 miles to the east.  One gas station and a trailer for motel.

These were such pits that we choose to keep riding to the Morman Encampment at Sweetwater (nice folks and a little oasis).

9

General Discussion / Re: suggestions for ball of feet pain from lock in pedals

« on: July 30, 2014, 06:33:45 pm »

One cause of hot foot is the friction caused from your foot moving slightly inside the shoe.  I use two products to help.  Body Glide is a product you rub on the foot before putting your sock on.  Also use my butt butter or similar product on foot.

When I stop for breaks I loosen my straps and give my foot a breather. 

Then if I still get hot foot, I unclip that foot and place a different part of the shoe on the pedal for awhile.

10

Routes / Re: Idaho - Trans Am

« on: July 19, 2014, 07:58:39 pm »

Good news.  The only difficulty in MT was the 20 miles coming into Ennis.  The rest was a piece of cake.  We are now two days into Idaho with now issues.

11

Routes / Re: Idaho - Trans Am

« on: July 16, 2014, 04:48:19 pm »

Good advice.  Thanks

12

Routes / Re: Idaho - Trans Am

« on: July 11, 2014, 01:36:44 pm »

Thanks everyone

We will stay calm and cycle on.

Typically we are on the road by 6AM or even earlier if we anticipate heat.  This will help us nail down some miles before the traffic picks up also.

13

Routes / Idaho - Trans Am

« on: July 10, 2014, 10:23:50 pm »

We are riding the Trans AM east to west, and have just entered Mountana.

I have visited  with several east bound cyclist and they report that Idaho is terrible.

Bad roads, commercial traffic and angry drivers.

What strategies have others used to work through Idaho safely.
I thought Yellowstone was bad enough.

14

Routes / Re: Virginia

« on: June 22, 2014, 02:50:42 pm »

In Kentucky we only had three dog encounters where they came onto the road.  Maybe one in Missouri, none in Il, or Kansas.

15

General Discussion / Re: dogs and security

« on: June 12, 2014, 09:43:10 pm »

We are on the Trans Am and have went from Yorktown VA to the middle of Missouri.  First I would say we have had little problems with dogs.  Only 4 in Va and believe it or not only 3 in KY.  We had a few vicious encounters early and the three of us all had whistles.  Mine is a regular ref. whistle and the others are rescue whistles.  We all three blasted as loud as possible once the dog gets within 20 yards.  Some stop instantaneous and look confused.  Some run along side you but not come within 6 feet.  I think it is something they are not accustomed to hearing and don't know how to deal with it.