Messages

1

Gear Talk / clip-in pedals

« on: July 25, 2007, 03:08:40 pm »

Hondo,
Good for you for being open minded about clipless, once you get used to it, you will wonder how you ever did without! Power and control baby!

Personal experience, have used Look, Shimano-type SPD's and eggbeaters.  

Loved the Look, but lousy for touring if you want to get off the bike and walk around.  (Does, however, give you a great hamstring stretch!)

Eggbeaters seem to be easiest to get into, SPD's easiest to get out of.

If I may make a suggestion, you can get the SPD's and Eggbeaters for around $50 at several discount bike shops.  And a little more for Mountain Bike shoes (Best for tourers because they have a real sole the clip is recessed into) if your present shoes aren't clipless compatible.

So for $100 and change, you are started.  Put 'em on and dink around the parking lot clipping in and out of them.  Take a allen wrench to tighten or loosen (if 2 sided, make sure you adjust both sides!)

Then, try a ride.  Click in and out more than usual just to get used to it. Then as you are riding, concentrate on pulling UP! to get full power.

Don't worry about falling. ('Cause you're gonna!)  Usually doesn't happen until you get cocky about them.  I fell over last year when I tried to PULL out instead of twisting.  And I haven't used toeclips in 20+ years! But, remember, falls are almost always at low speed, and it really isn't that far to the ground.

Anyway, good luck and keep us apprised how it's going!
Cameron

2

Gear Talk / Just starting, bike purchase info

« on: July 24, 2007, 05:48:46 pm »

SandiA,
What a fun place to be!  I know it's a bit overwhelming, but a couple pieces of advice.

1) Think about how you will be using it. Are you planning on riding day rides (long/short), lightly loaded, self-contained touring, credit card touring, etc.  Though you can use one bike to do many things, there is something to be said for the right tool for the right job.

2) Hook up with your local bike club.  Everyone has an opinion, and love to share it!

3) If you have several Local Bike Shops (better known as LBS), go kick a few tires and see where you are most comfortable.  For the most part you will get what you pay for.  Bike shops actually make very little markup on bikes.  They hope that by giving you great service you will return for shop services and accesories.

4) Most important, don't agonize too much about it, get out and ride!  A prime example is my girlfriend, who agonized over spending $350 on a nice Trek hybrid.  A year and a half later, she loves cycling and decided that a lighter, higher quality road bike was worth shelling out $1500.
Point is she got EXACTLY the right bike for that time in her biking evolution.

Good luck!
Cameron

3

Gear Talk / Camping Tent

« on: July 24, 2007, 04:39:22 pm »

Miguel,
Hey, lot's of good advice, can't go wrong with any of these tents so far.  

One thought.  If you are going to be riding with someone else along the way, I have found that having 2 doors and 2 vestibules are a god-send.  That way you can: 1)crawl out for that midnight pee without awaking your partner and 2) Have room to keep your gear out of the elements without taking up sleeping space!

The Eureka Apex 2XT fits the bill at a sub $100 price.  I have the 3 man version (Hey, my girlfriend is a princess, and, well, let's just say she's worth the extra weight of the tent!)  

Another great tent in this category is the Kelty Gunnison 2.  It's a bit lighter, looks to be a bit sleeker, and is a bit more expensive.  And, even though you may be able to find it $10 or so cheaper elsewhere, if you buy it from Adventure Cycling the profits go to promote the sport/lifestyle we all enjoy!

Cameron

This message was edited by CNC2006 on 7-24-07 @ 12:42 PM