Messages

1

Connecting ACA Routes / Northern Tier to Boston

« on: April 04, 2007, 03:54:55 pm »

Chuck,
I am just about to do the opposite of what you are talking about. I will leave Boston and join the N. T. in NY near Syracuse. I have been looking around a bunch and it looks like it can be done, but there is no way around a bunch of hills to get you through the Berkshires.

Right now I am torn between rt 119 from Concord, MA all the way to Brattleboro, then VT 9 across to NY or backroads across MA to Northhampton and then up to MA 2 through the Berkshires.

Either way when I get into NY I will follow along the NYS Bicycle Route 5
 
https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/divisions/operating/opdm/community-assistance-delivery-bureau/biking

untill I meet up with the N.T.

-Phil

2

Classifieds / WTB: Tour Easy size Large or XL (or other LWB recu

« on: March 06, 2007, 12:52:00 am »

Found one, thanks.

This message was edited by BostonMc on 3-29-07 @ 7:19 PM

3

Gear Talk / Digital Cameras

« on: March 14, 2007, 10:43:10 pm »

dmscheetz:  I think RussellSeaton makes good points about the weight of DSLR really adding up as you load on lenses and gear. It would be pretty easy to get up to 15-20 pounds of gear if you wanted to take a couple lenses, a flash a DSLR body. I am just getting ready to do the Northern Tier this summer and I have not quite decided between a 20D and two lenses or just a nice point and shoot. I may end up with a Canon S50 or Powershot G5 for a smaller lighter package that still lets me shoot RAW files.

Right now I am leaning towards the simpler, lighter route. As Badger says you can take prize winners with a P&S. And I feel like I am bringing a ton of stuff as it is. I also feel like a lot of big ticket gear would give me loss, theft, and damage worries that I wouldn't have with a cheaper camera.

4

Gear Talk / Digital Cameras

« on: March 13, 2007, 10:37:04 pm »

If you are talking a weather sealed body that is small enough to take on tour I am guessing that you are thinking of the Nikon D200? If so it a super well built camera and will certainly make you happy. Is the weather sealing needed? For most uses no. I have used a Canon 1D II (super well sealed) in pretty hard rain and snow without any trouble, but I have also used my 20D (no weather seal at all) in moderate rain wrapped in a plastic garbage bag and it was fine.

Remember, to get the benefit of a weather sealed body you have to have a weather sealed lens, and in many cases a filter on it to seal the front.

You could also consider one of the weather covers like those by Kata or Storm Jacket? The Storm Jacket cover is $36 to $40 depending on what lens size you want to use it with.

If you are just talking about normal use, humidity, dust, sand type stuff then I think you are fine without weather sealing. I have had  my gear out in a lot of different weather and have never had a failure.

Bottom line, I'd only pop extra for weather sealing if I really wanted to be able to go out in the rain, though even then I have heard a few stories of sealed pro SLRs getting killed by use in heavy rain. If I was going to shoot in a real down pour I'd go for a cover even with a sealed body and lens, no fun to fry a $5,000 camera and lens.

5

Gear Talk / Euro Touring Bars

« on: March 07, 2007, 09:18:02 pm »

Take a look at the Scott AT-4 bars

see ebay item #: 280089383142   

http://tinyurl.com/35yd3v

They are like the bull horn style but come around to meet in the middle with a bridge that doubles as a sort of aero position grip. Makes the bar quite a bit stiffer and gives tons of comfortable places to put your hands. I wrapped them with a cushy foam grip and used 'em all over Europe, OZ, and NZ for many, many miles with grat hand and wrist happieness.

6

Gear Talk / trekking handlebars

« on: March 07, 2007, 09:24:02 pm »

I had the Scott AT-4 bars a bunch of years ago and put a bunch of touring miles on with them, loved them. The brace really works well for a sort of aero position. I found a set on ebay here:

http://tinyurl.com/35yd3v

If I ever tour on a MTB again I would go find a set of these. Love 'em.

As I recall I did figure out a way to hang a bag from the middle front where I kept my camera and passport etc. I think I spread the break/shift levers and had it hang from the middle.

7

Routes / East To West Map Adjustment

« on: April 29, 2007, 07:27:27 pm »

Have a close look at your maps and you will see that there are two sets of instructions for each section. One set gives cues for West to East (EB) and the second version shows cues for East to West (WB) travel. Not a problem to run either direction.

Have a great trip!

This message was edited by BostonMc on 4-29-07 @ 3:29 PM

8

Routes / Northern Tier May 1 Departure

« on: April 08, 2007, 01:28:34 pm »

Stalls,

I am doing a journal at Crazy Guy on a Bike:

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/mcneil2007

When are you heading out?  Have you done and route planning for the trip out from Boston? I am still trying to figure out the best way across from here to Albany area.

9

Routes / Northern Tier May 1 Departure

« on: April 07, 2007, 03:08:19 pm »

Hi Mary,

I also live in Boston and I am doing an early start trip, leaving from Boston on April 18th. For me it seemed like it would be fun to leave the familiar and ride out into the unfamiliar wilds of the West. I thought it might feel a bit of an anti-climactic end to the trip to be riding my way into New England and roads I know well.

I guess the flip side to that would be that you will have a great sense of accomplishment as you are nearing home.

Either way have a great trip and maybe I'll see you out there!

-Phil

10

Routes / Northern tier, washington state

« on: March 12, 2007, 11:51:09 pm »

Craig,

Thanks for the offer! My Northern Tier maps should be here any day now, but I will be starting from the East, so it will be a while until I am out your way. I will be sure to make a note of your contact info, nice to know that there are some people out there willing to loan a tool or host a tent.

Phil

11

General Discussion / Which bike to buy?

« on: March 01, 2007, 12:40:32 am »

Have you looked at the Jamis Nova? It is a cross bike, so you get some strong canti brakes, weighs in at 22.5 lbs, and a super strong steel frame (even a 3 cross rear wheel).

What would be perfect is the model from about two years ago, the one I have, it has dropout eyelets and rack braze-ons for front and rear racks as well as a triple chain ring on the front. Decks out nicely as a touring bike but pretty fast with a skinny set of tires. A really great bike.