Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: Recommendations for Long Sleeved Jerseys & Tights for Sun Protection

« on: October 03, 2015, 08:14:54 pm »

Okay,

I have to give it up to pptouring! Merino wool is a winner!

My wife bought an Icebreaker 100% Merino wool long-sleeved top for me. I have been wearing it on every ride and just hanging it up afterwards.

I have been cooler than in any synthetic top ever.

The shirt doesn't smell (although it did go into the wash last week after a particularly hot ride).

I am riding tomorrow, starting in cooler, mid-60F (18C)  temps, so I will see how warm I am.

Cheers!

2

Gear Talk / Re: Recommended Temperature Rating for Sleeping Bag on TransAm

« on: September 12, 2015, 08:28:09 am »

Good points, thanks for the feedback. I really appreciate your thoughts because I am such a newbie.

FWIW, I got a great deal on the long version of this bag and it can be returned if I don't like it (not up to a year, though).

As for the steps, I will definitely see how well this bag works out with

1 - sleeping on top
2 - draping a silk liner over portions of my body
3 - draping a portion of the quilt
4 - getting in the bag with the quilt down and one or more feet out
5 - feet in (and probably into the silk liner)
6 - quilt up (with, then without arms exposed)
7 - head tucked into the bag

I also found that sleeping in an older, mummy style bag that we have was uncomfortable, so I am hoping this bag offers a bit more room to move around in. I will report back after I get the bag and have some experience with it.

3

Gear Talk / Re: Recommended Temperature Rating for Sleeping Bag on TransAm

« on: September 11, 2015, 09:39:15 pm »

So my wife found a deal for a Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed 800F on e-bay. It has an EN Comfort Rating of 31 degrees F. We will give it a go and see how it works out over the next several months. Who knows, maybe we will get some cold weather in Florida to give us a feel, LOL!

It is an interesting design with no zippers using what looks like a quilt to cover an opening on the front of the bag.

Here's the link if you want to take a look - http://www.sierradesigns.com/product/backcountry-bed-800-3-season

4

Gear Talk / Re: Recommended Temperature Rating for Sleeping Bag on TransAm

« on: August 25, 2015, 10:53:45 am »

Thanks for the sock suggestion. My feet suffer from the cold so much that even living here in sunny, hot, humid Florida, I wear Crocs with a fuzzy lining.

On the bags, would it be overkill to have a 32 degree bag for the high elevations in the West and then ship it home once into ... Kansas? We will have friends sending us re-supply items via General Delivery as we go along, so I am thinking a swap to a "lighter" bag could be accomplished.

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Gear Talk / Re: Recommended Temperature Rating for Sleeping Bag on TransAm

« on: August 24, 2015, 11:01:22 pm »

For a TransAm/Western Express ride starting May 1 from Yorktown to San Francisco, I would greatly appreciate what you think is a practical lower temperature rating for a sleeping bag.  I plan to mostly camp along the way.
Many thanks/Ceud taing,
Lachlan, Scotland

Great question Lachlan!

We are wondering the same but for a July 1(ish), 2016 start from Portland to Astoria, then to Yorktown. Based on some other threads here, I am thinking a 32 degree bag. I sleep just a bit warmer than my wife, but I also have very cold feet.

Cheers,
Mike

6

Gear Talk / Re: Recommendations for Long Sleeved Jerseys & Tights for Sun Protection

« on: August 24, 2015, 10:53:35 pm »

Thanks Ron!

Are you recommending the 200gm Icebreaker products? I live in Central Florida (aka - hot, humid), and I am finding it hard to believe this could work, but I may have to try it out.

Cheers,
Mike

7

General Discussion / Re: New forum poster; TransAm W2E on recumbent trikes, plus Type 1 Diabetes

« on: August 18, 2015, 04:58:15 pm »

Thanks for the thoughtful suggestions, Russ. Really greatly appreciated.

I plan on carrying 30 days of supplies at a time; having additional supplies sent USPS General Delivery along the way by friends and/or our house-sitter. The insulin I carry with me will be in a Frio pouch http://www.frioinsulincoolingcase.com/ which is an evaporative cooling case.

For me, I can't imagine giving up the pump. The ability to set temporary basal rates along with using only one type of insulin (Humalog) is critical for me. I am pretty insulin-sensitive, so when I am riding, I frequently set my basal rate to 0%. Similarly, the CGM gives me a lot of flexibility to fine tune along the way.

Now I will be doing some multi-day trips over the next 8-10 months to see how well my infusion sets/CGM sensors hold up, because if I have to replace them every day, then I will have to consider an MDI (levemir, humalog/novalog) and syringe approach as you suggest.

I have only done single day rides of up to 70 miles so far, or 2 consecutive days totaling 80 miles. Even in the hot, humid Florida heat my pump and CGM have worked well. Yes, I have lost an infusion set, but it's pretty rare.

The lesson I am taking so far is I will have to carry more diabetic kit and fewer clothes.

8

General Discussion / New forum poster; TransAm W2E on recumbent trikes, plus Type 1 Diabetes

« on: August 17, 2015, 09:39:45 pm »

Hi everyone!

I have been lurking and reading for several weeks now trying to absorb the great wealth of experience here (plus, smiling at some of the endless debates).

My wife and I are planning on doing the TransAm next year; Astoria to Yorktown during July, August and September. We are going to ride self-contained on ICE Sprint trikes with rear suspension, panniers, tent, etc. In keeping with the idea of riding towards home, we are contemplating adding on to the end of the trip by riding down the East Coast to our home in Central Florida

While we are going to camp out, we also hope to check into a motel/hotel/B&B each week.

One of the biggest challenges for me on this trip is that I am a Type 1 Diabetic (T1D). I use an insulin pump, a matching blood glucose meter, and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that gives me a reading every 5 minutes. I will have to carry spare insulin with me that can't get too hot, plus a good bit of kit of things that eventually will stick into me, but need to be clean and dry until needed. The CGM needs to be charged every 5-7 days.

So, I hope to pick your brains a bit to help organize my thoughts and sort the logistics out (logically, if at all possible).

Let's start with where to start? Do we skip Astoria and go to Florence? Either way, do we bike from PDX grab a bus, train, rent-a-car, etc?

Also, if you know of any T1Ds that have done the TransAm, please point them in my direction.