Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: TOURING AFTER COVID

« on: February 04, 2021, 07:09:57 pm »

Thank you Galloper! All bikes you mentioned are quality bikes for bikepacking and well known in the bikepacking world. You have given me much to ponder as i pick my new partner on the road and beyond. My wife is a big backpacker having done the PCT and CT and multiple other long trips. She has helped me shed weight off my panniers. The one thing i did not think about was that some bikes have to have the battery attached to the bike in order to charge. Prior to contracting Covid i had been doing research on different drive systems, frame materials and so forth as i am fascinated by the evolution of the bicycle over the past 30 years. Pretty soon, bicycles will come around full circle and become moto cross bikes:). I have seen some dirt bikes cheaper than bicycles!  Again, thanks for your post.

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General Discussion / Re: TOURING AFTER COVID

« on: February 04, 2021, 12:56:25 pm »

Thank you TCS. Legalities are certainly a consideration and thank you again for bringing that to light. I have served my country when younger and continued to serve in law enforcement all my life. now that i am retired and want to serve myself so to speak for whatever time God blesses me with, i'll be damned if im going to let the limitations that covid has placed on me to deter me from living my life in the way i want. I want to thank you and the other posters for your valuable information. I read every post with appreciation and give it great thought. Does anybody out there have any experience with Bulls electric bikes?   

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General Discussion / Re: TOURING AFTER COVID

« on: February 02, 2021, 11:08:52 am »

Thank you Inge, i will look at that!!

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General Discussion / Re: TOURING AFTER COVID

« on: February 01, 2021, 08:28:24 pm »

Thank you TCS, that's my big dilemma. The recharging, finding a place with electricity AND high cost of the bike:(. If i went with a Honda Rukus 50cc i might as well get a nice Indian, HD or BMW. Then i would be in the wrong forum Damn this Covid. Please everyone, stay healthy and don't get this virus. I focus on my blessings and i will tour again, some way some how!

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General Discussion / Re: TOURING AFTER COVID

« on: February 01, 2021, 12:07:43 pm »

Thank you for your reply staehpj1. I appreciate the time you took to write your response. I actually have ridden an ebike a friend owns and everything you say is true and needs to be considered. On my touring bike i had to make modifications to the drive train. Gearing (lower chainring to help with climbing) chain etc. Thats what got me to thinking about an ebike. What i am wondering about is, is there a set up or a bike that is electric that is specifically designed to accommodate the unique requirements of a touring bike. I realize there are many different set ups of existing bikes as i have seen them from Alaska to Mexico. I'm hoping that someone has tackled this issue and i can learn from their advice. Maybe it doesn't exist yet?

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General Discussion / TOURING AFTER COVID

« on: January 31, 2021, 11:09:04 pm »

Hello everyone, I am recovering from Covid which i got last December. At 67 years of age i was blessed to make it through although it seems a may end up being what the doctors call a "Long Hauler". Issues after Covid. Touring was my sport. I was planning on the Canada to Mexico route this Summer but honestly, i don't think i can handle it with my current rig. Covid left me with Lung and Heart complications. God willing, if i am able to recover capacity in my lungs and heart, i want to get back to it. At this point i feel as if i may have to move to an electric bike for touring. I was doing road and gravel touring pre Covid. Can anyone give me some advice on what would be a good electric bike set up for both gravel and road touring? I have never used an electric bike and hills typically killed me before, so i know they won't be any easier now. Thanks in advance for your knowledge.

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Gear Talk / Re: Recommendations for gearing

« on: February 25, 2018, 07:24:22 pm »

Thanks Pat and Ron,
Thanks for the encouragement! Its nice to know others have had to deal with similar issues. Not to say that misery loves company. Its good to know there's progress. I'm learning that at starting a new sport at 65 years old can sometimes be discouraging because my brain thinks I'm 40 but my body soon brings me to reality. This is a process and I have learned much through this thread. Mostly, I'm learning, Just get it done + deal with the issues as they come up + enjoy the ride = experiences.

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Gear Talk / Re: Recommendations for gearing

« on: February 25, 2018, 03:35:57 pm »

Thank you for the information! I was able to find a 22 tooth front chainring 4 bolt 64mm for $7.19. I am going to go with that as the most economical way to move forward and see what happens. I am not sure what that will do to my chain with regards to shifting. Its amazing to me how you can figure all that out from the numbers I gave you. I have to learn that!! Thank you for taking the time to figure all that out for me. I have learned that if you don't figure out stuff before you leave, it will figure out for you and usually in a place that's not the best or how you were hoping.

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Gear Talk / Re: Recommendations for gearing

« on: February 24, 2018, 12:14:45 pm »

All, Thank you for your thoughtful responses. It is becoming obvious to me that this will be a process for me. Accelerate my riding schedule and distance while training. Drop some pounds off of ME and my gear. My wife backpacked from Mexico to Canada and she is all about ultra light. I could learn something from her. The changes you all suggested are wonderful for a start and cost is certainly a huge factor as I'm not made of money. There is so much hands on knowledge in this forum, i feel as if i found a gold mine of information. Thanks again.

10

Gear Talk / Recommendations for gearing

« on: February 24, 2018, 12:51:17 am »

Hello everyone,
I have a Novara Safari 2016 model from REI. Love the bike except for me, the gearing isn't the easiest for. The bike rides fine and pedals well on the flats and down hill. The issue comes in on the hills. It just feels like i could use some lower gears. I have a mountain bike with mountain bike gearing that is great on the hills. I am relatively new to this sport and i know there are tons of riders here with plenty of experience that might be able to steer me in the right direction. I am a heavy rider at 240 pounds so when the bike is loaded up for bear, with my weight and gear it's pretty heavy. Hence the hills give me trouble. I understand this bike was probably designed by REI for a 170 pound rider but that's not my world. I wish it was and am working on that. Here is the specs on the Novara Safari. Crankset is Shimano 48/36/26, - Bottom bracket Shimano Octalink, - Front derailleur - Shimano Deore, Rear Derailleur - Shimano Deore Shadow, Rear Cogs - Shimano HG4009, 11-34, 9 speed. 27 gears, Chain is Shimano Deore. Can anybody give me some tips on how to get lower gearing without changing out the entire drive train and breaking the bank?

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General Discussion / Re: Weight Distribution

« on: March 08, 2017, 11:58:01 pm »

Thank you everyone for the great information. I appreciate it

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General Discussion / Re: Weight Distribution

« on: March 04, 2017, 07:50:39 pm »

Thanks John The bike is being outfitted for dirt although I will us it for road as well. Right now I have two panniers on the back. I hung those on the back rack, strapped my tent onto the rack and took off for a test ride and all that weight made my front end feel like it was squirmy. That got me to thinking so what you touched on was right in line with what I'm thinking about. I did order another set of panniers for the front and spent the day sorting and weighing my stuff to see where I am at and wouldn't you know it, I think it's going to be hard to get the 60/40 split front to back. I'll keep trying, THANKS!

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General Discussion / Weight Distribution

« on: March 04, 2017, 06:58:18 pm »

Hello Everyone,

I am building up my first touring bike and signed up for a week long bike ride in Montana with AC. This is a back woods carry all your stuff gig. This has probably been answered a million times before but since I'm new, it's all new to me. I have heard than on a unloaded bike with rider on it, the natural weight distribution is 60/40. 60% rear and 40% front. Seems logical to me. I have also heard that you don't want to weigh down the back end of the bike too much or you risk squirrely feeling front end. Makes sense also. My question is, what is the optimal weight ratio an average rider should be looking for? The assumption is that there will be 4 panniers on the bike. Two in front and two in the rear. Thanks in advance!!

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Gear Talk / Re: Newbie Needs Advice

« on: February 17, 2017, 02:42:14 pm »

UPDATE ON YOUR ADVICE! Once again thank you. Turns out I have a better bike than I originally thought. My bike is the same, I just learned more. I took my wheels to a local wheel builder, that's all he does. He spent an hour with me educating me on what each component on the wheel does and why its important. He checked everything and basically found it to be fine for touring and my weight. He did however find a great variance on the spoke tension and he explained the possible ramifications. Great call on your advice to check that. I am having him rebuild the wheels. The price was awesome for the work being done. I feel much better not and feel I will get more mileage out of this wheel set. Plus I struck up a working relationship with a custom wheel builder. On the 22T inner chainring, I am looking into that and will switch that out if feasible cost wise. Thanks for all your experience/advice. So glad I joined.

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Gear Talk / Re: Newbie Needs Advice

« on: February 16, 2017, 07:29:03 pm »

Thank you all for your input. There was some very interesting stuff for me to think about. I believe you are right, get on it and ride and deal with things as they come. The wheels were my concern because of the weight limitation. In the question and answer portion of the web site on this bike, the question was asked if the 250 pound rating was rider and gear and the answer came back from REI as rider and gear. Inside I kind of knew what you all are saying is true about the weight limit? I have put untold thousands of miles on my old Giant TCX Limited Carbon Fiber road bike and it didn't come apart under the weight. The difference is I plan on doing off road riding as well as on pavement riding. Its the off road riding that I was concerned about as far as stresses on the bike are concerned. Again, thank you all for your input, I really appreciate it. It is nice to have folks to reach out to with questions. Time to talk with a wheel builder.