Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: Advice Please -- topic is what liner set to use with this sleep set up

« on: May 05, 2017, 12:48:36 am »

I also used the neo air xlite with a quilt, plus the sea to summit reactor compact plus liner. I made sure to have a set of long underwear and warm socks.
It worked fabulously!

Thank you Janetanorth; I will definitely check it out!

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2

Gear Talk / Re: Advice Please -- topic is what liner set to use with this sleep set up

« on: May 03, 2017, 07:11:22 pm »

I'm happy with the pad I have. I am looking for a liner that will stay in place. I'm about to give up and sew my own.

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3

Gear Talk / Re: Surly, Trek, Soma....???? I'm overwhelmed; please help!

« on: May 02, 2017, 01:21:40 am »

Since you believe you need a unique bike geometry that cannot be found on any bike made, why don't you buy a custom frame using the measurements you got from your two bike fittings?  That seems pretty obvious to me.  Gunnar makes steel frames.  Subdivision of Waterford.  You seem to want only steel.  They offer a custom loaded touring frame for around $1400 or so.  Plus a fork.  For $1600-1800 you could easily have a custom made loaded touring frame that matches your exact measurements you have.  That does not seem too complicated to me.  If you want to spend a few hundred more, Co-Motion and/or Independent Fabrications also offer custom loaded touring bikes in steel.

I didn't say that the geometry couldn't be found on any bike made! I said I was told MANY of the bike frames I'll have trouble with, but not all of them. So far Trek and Specialized frames don't line up well--stack and reach are off for the touring geometry that suits my body well. Soma works, but there was significant road vibration and my close friend crashed badly on one and it was determined it was an equipment malfunction so I've kind of sworn off Somas. I ran the Salsa frames by my fitter and they could work. But I was looking for various inputs to make an informed decision in the end.

I'm interested in a custom frame down the line but not now. For that I'm torn between Waterford, Sweetpea and CoMotion. But that's for another thread

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4

Gear Talk / Re: Surly, Trek, Soma....???? I'm overwhelmed; please help!

« on: May 02, 2017, 01:03:25 am »

The cost for custom isn't the overall issue. What is the issue is knowing that if I get a custom bike NOW and successfully lose the 70lbs then I'd be at my goal weight and my hip flexion would be quite different, which would require quite a different bike according to the bike fitter. I don't want to pay for two custom bikes and I am not willing to wait 8-12 weeks for it to built right now either. I have short trips planned in late May/early June so was just looking for input from this community and I do so appreciate all the feedback so far--thank you all!

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5

Gear Talk / Re: Advice Please -- topic is what liner set to use with this sleep set up

« on: May 01, 2017, 10:50:30 pm »

Thank you for the input

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6

Gear Talk / Re: Surly, Trek, Soma....???? I'm overwhelmed; please help!

« on: May 01, 2017, 12:23:29 pm »

Pat, I am riding a 54cm Trek for road bike rides

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7

Gear Talk / Re: Surly, Trek, Soma....???? I'm overwhelmed; please help!

« on: May 01, 2017, 12:20:03 pm »

Thank you for the feedback so far. There isn't an easy way to explain the geometry issue other than to say that the majority of road bikes are designed for European body types which tend to be shorter 5'8". In America we are taller and many of the bicycles in the actual frame dimensions are not set up so well for the taller American body. I've been to two very reputable bike Fitters and both have told me the same thing so it isn't just some guy trying to sell me on a certain type of bike. Anyways with that information I have a bike geometry sheet and I'm not really great with mathematics and numbers and all of that so what I have been doing is trying out bikes and sending my bike fitter the ones that seem to be of interest and then he's checking the body geometry of that bike frame against the bike fit that he did for me and making recommendations from there. The goal is not to have to replace half of the stuff that comes on the bike outside of the bike frame because I'm already paying quite a bit just for the new bike. So yes we're looking at stack and reach which can be adjusted with a taller stem or a different seat post etc but why not try to get the closest frame geometry fit first?

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8

Gear Talk / Advice Please -- topic is what liner set to use with this sleep set up

« on: May 01, 2017, 02:52:55 am »

I have a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad and I've decided to go with a highly compressible, lightweight down quilt instead of a sleeping bag because I don't do any winter camping. In the mountains in the spring/fall, though, it can still get down to about 15 degree some nights. I need a liner that will "play well" with my sleep pad and quilt/comforter. Since no zipper, I am thinking maybe there is something lightweight and compressable out there that the pad can slip into or something? Anyone know of a freestanding product like that that isn't part of a whole system? Thanks.

9

Gear Talk / Surly, Trek, Soma....???? I'm overwhelmed; please help!

« on: May 01, 2017, 02:39:15 am »

Hi, I am new to touring, though not new to road biking. I've been riding for about 10 years now on a Trek Madone 5.2 and train to ride a week long ride every year where we cover approximately 500 miles over the span of a week. But our gear is hauled from campsite to campsite, so hauling gear is new to me. So, that said, I've been researching touring bikes for a few months now. I've been to a really reputable bike fitter and know that the bike geometry of the Trek bikes doesn't play well with my body geometry (trust me on this: I've put waaaay too much money into customizing my Madone for comfort and to avoid further injuries because I love how it handles on the road!). Because I am in the process of taking off 70lbs body weight, I want to buy a good, servicable entry-level touring bike (or slightly above entry level; money isn't the biggest factor but it is part of the deal) that I can use for a year or two while I drop the weight and do shorter tours of 3-10 days. Eventually I plan on having a custom CoMotion made for month-long+ tours once I'm better at touring and once I know I genuinely would enjoy longer tours. I've ridden a Salsa Vaya and a Salsa Marrakesh. I've also tried Treks and Cannondales but the bike geometry on those was no good for me. I was disappointed because I really liked the Trek 520. What are your thoughts on the Salsa bikes? What other bikes would you suggest I try? I'm only interested in steel with disc brakes. I am still unsure of the shifter situation because the end shifters are new to me, but I liked the overall feel of the Marrakesh better than the Vaya, but the Vaya had the shifters I'm used to. I just didn't like the way the Vaya handled as well and it didn't seem to absorb road vibrations as well as the Marrakesh either. I am a poor climber, so gearing is also important to me. Hey, I'm a curvy gal; climbing is never going to be my forte! If it is a consideration, I am 5/8" tall and I'm in my 50s. Looking forward to seeing what advice you all have for me; thank you!