Messages

1

Gear Talk / semi slicks on the great divide???

« on: June 12, 2005, 02:56:21 pm »

I used 1-1/2in. inverted tread tires on the whole Great Divide route. They worked great for most of the trip. I did not hit a lot of mud or soft dirt/sand, where they were a disadvantage. I am also a skilled mountain biker, and that helped me ride through the tough spots.

Have a good ride, Al.

2

Gear Talk / Off Road - Bob vs. Panniers

« on: May 14, 2005, 06:01:53 pm »

I used panniers on the Great Divide, as did most of the folks I travelled with. A couple of thoughts: pannier attachment must be secure. I hooked a strap across the rack through my pannier carry straps for insurance. Also, the racks take a beating. Carry spare hardware, and have a plan in case something breaks. Check the screws holding the pannier hardware periodically.

If you like the panniers, use them. I am using mine on the Canadian section this summer.

Al

3

Gear Talk / Stoves

« on: November 28, 2004, 02:44:04 am »

I also have used Coleman Peak 1 stoves for many years. I prefer using white gas stoves; the fuel is available virtually anywhere in the US and Canada. Gas canisters are sometimes hard to find, and always hard to dispose of; it's also difficult to know exactly how much fuel you really have left.

I have not had problems with fuel leakage, even on the Great Divide route. I pack the stove and fuel bottles upright.

Think about what kind of cooking you plan to do; I tend go all out; including hauling around an Outback Oven. I need a stove that can really simmer, which the Peak 1 does very well. Some stoves, like the MSR Whisperlite, don't simmer very well.

I have also used a MSR Dragonfly, which cooks and simmers quite nicely. It is however *very* loud; my friends prefer that I bring the Peak 1. A friend uses a MSR Simmerlite, which cooks and bakes very well, without the noise.

This message was edited by alh on 11-27-04 @ 10:45 PM

4

Gear Talk / Tires...

« on: October 17, 2004, 04:58:01 pm »

Years ago I got a great suggestion for finding good touring tires: ask tandem riders what they are using. Tandems use the same size wheels as tour bikes, and load the tires far more.

Currently my tandem friends and I are using Panracer Pasella tires. They are available in many sizes, including 700x32C, and folding/non folding styles.

5

Gear Talk / Good non essential items

« on: May 06, 2004, 03:13:42 am »

A 1 cup coffee maker. Much more civilized than instant coffee.

A couple of airline sized bottles of my favorite alcholic beverage. Nothing like a small celebration after a memorable day.

A small pair of binoculars for wildlife spotting.

I once met a fellow on the TransAm trail with a cot strapped to his bike--he did not like sleepng on the ground!

Al.

6

Routes / routes in Canada

« on: September 14, 2005, 09:33:16 pm »

I've done a total of 5 trips in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick. Atlantic Canada is one of my favorite places to tour. Great scenery, very interesting history, and diverse cultures. The roads are usually good, and even the tourist spots are not (very) crowded. There are many campgrounds, private and provincial, and several Canadian National Parks.

All of the Atlantic provinces have extensive tourism web sites, with camping specific info. They also publish tourism guides, which you can request.

Enjoy, Al.

7

Routes / Camping in Alberta and Montana

« on: September 14, 2005, 09:14:30 pm »

I was on one of ACA's Great Parks North trips this summer, July 23 to August 6. Our group saw 10 or 11 bears, mostly on the road side eating berries. We had no issues in the campgrounds; all the campgrounds had lockers for food. The campgrounds also had very nice cooking shelters.

We stayed in 3 small "primitive" park service campgrounds, which were very nice. In 2 campgrounds the water pumps were posted with signs advising that the water be boiled before drinking. We had a water filter, and I suggest that you bring one along. We had no trouble getting sites in these campgrounds.

We just barely got into the large campground at Lake Louise, as it was nearly filled when we arrived. The Canadian Park system is *working on* an online reservation system, which did not get going smoothly this summer. There are web sites for the Canadian Park system describing this; keep an eye on developments next season.

The trip was great! Al.

8

Routes / Albany to Boston

« on: July 05, 2005, 10:53:04 pm »

This is the Rubel Web site. There are instructions for ordering maps.

http://www.bikemaps.com/

For those that have not seen one, the Rubel maps are the Gold Standard for cycling maps. Rubel publishes 4 maps that cover Massachusetts.

Enjoy your ride, Al.

9

Routes / Transportation to Banff

« on: June 12, 2005, 02:40:24 pm »

I was considering a similiar trip earlier, and did a bit of research.

By air: fly into Calgary; there are airport shuttles that travel to Banff. You could also ride to Banff.
By bus: Greyhound has service in Great Falls MT to Greyhound Canada and Calgary, with connections to Banff.

I also thought about starting in Jasper, and adding the Ice Fields Parkway to the trip. There are bus shuttles from Banff to Jasper. Jasper is also served by VIA Rail, the Canadian National railway.

The Moon Travel guides for Western Canada and the Canadian Rockies are excellent resources.

Have a good trip, Al.

10

Routes / Trans Am: west to east or east to west?

« on: May 03, 2005, 03:49:22 am »

I did the TransAm route westbound. I thought the hardest hills were in the east; short, but very steep. The Ozarks of Missouri were hard, also; 2 days of steep rollers that never ended.

The wind was not really bad. We had one day of very strong headwinds, and 4-5 days bad enough to remember. One day we had the best tailwind I can remember..

Early in the season passes in the west can be closed by snow. It is also good to get off  the east coast before the hot, humid summer sets in.

Have a good trip, Al.

11

Routes / Where would you send me?

« on: March 01, 2005, 03:00:10 am »

I'd send you to Atlantic Canada; New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. I have not been to Newfoundland yet, but have made 5 two week trips to the others. The roads are generally good for cycling, uncongested with good surface. Tourism is a major industry, and there is lots of good information on what to see and do. All the provinces have excellent web sites for tourism. Campgrounds are numerous; New Brunswick (where I went this summer) alone has over 150. The Canadians are very friendly. The area has a rich tapestry of scenery, culture, and history to enjoy.

4 weeks is not enough..Al.

12

General Discussion / How fast do you ride?

« on: August 09, 2005, 11:27:54 pm »

A good rule of thumb for planning a day is that you will average 8 miles per hour over the day. This includes lunch, snacks, sightseeing and bun breaks. If you start by 8, ride till 5, you can go about 70 miles.

I just finished a two week trip in the Canadian Rockies; the highest daily average speed I saw was 10 mph. The idea is to learn to pace yourself, and arrive at the end of the day with the energy needed to set up camp, make the meal, and enjoy yourself.

Al.

13

General Discussion / What gets confiscated at the airport...?

« on: June 09, 2005, 03:38:40 am »

Posters that you see at airports specifically state "no stoves". In the past I have burned out the fuel and packed the stove deep in my pack; I haven't had the nerve to try that with current airport security.

I generally ship my stove ahead. My experience is that if you have a reservation to stay the first night at a hotel, campground, hostel, or bike shop, they will accept and store your package until you arrive. Confirm this by phone, and mark the package clearly.

I usually send ahead most of my camping gear. It does not cost much more, and I trust UPS/FedEX/Post Office more than the airlines.

14

General Discussion / What gets confiscated at the airport...?

« on: June 09, 2005, 03:37:34 am »

Posters that you see at airports specifically state "no stoves". In the past I have burned out the fuel and packed the stove deep in my pack; I haven't had the nerve to try that with current airport security.

I generally ship my stove ahead. My experience is that if you have a reservation to stay the first night at a hotel, campground, hostel, or bike shop, they will accept and store your package until you arrive. Confirm this by phone, and mark the package clearly.

I usually send ahead most of my camping gear. It does not cost much more, and I trust UPS/FedEX/Post Office more than the airlines.

15

General Discussion / airports, transportation to the great divide trail

« on: April 18, 2005, 02:56:40 am »

The group I was with flew into Glacier Intl Airport in Whitefish, and rode the next day up Rt 93 to Eureka, about a 60 mile ride. It was a very pleasant ride. We stayed in Eureka overnight, and rode to Rooseville & back the following day.