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Messages - humunuku

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1
General Discussion / Re: Natchez trace open?
« on: October 04, 2013, 06:05:42 pm »
Just to keep this on topic, the natchez trace is open to traffic.  Just the facilities are closed. 

2
General Discussion / Re: Natchez trace open?
« on: October 02, 2013, 12:33:53 pm »
So it looks like the road is still open, but all facilities are closed

3
General Discussion / Natchez trace open?
« on: October 01, 2013, 02:46:11 pm »
Does anyone know if the Natchez trace is open while the government is shut down?

4
Routes / Re: Asheville NC to Nashville TENN looking for a safe route ASAP
« on: October 15, 2012, 12:28:10 pm »
If you have an email address that you can access, I can send you route maps from hot springs nc to Knoxville tn

5
Routes / Re: Asheville NC to Nashville TENN looking for a safe route ASAP
« on: October 14, 2012, 10:56:20 pm »
I sure hope you don't mean interstate 40!!! As that is very dangerous (tunnels) and illegal. You probabely should try to work your way to Knoxville and then think about the route to Nashville. Either take the blue ridge parkway south to Cherokee, then work your way over to Townsend the to Knoxville. Or if you want a less mountainous route, ride to hot springs->Newport->dandridge->Knoxville.

6
Routes / Here's some Green Mountain Loop tips
« on: September 09, 2012, 11:35:27 am »
I just did the Green Mountain loop last week (and it was incredible), so I though I'd share a few tips from the route:

  • We left our car at the Lake Champlain Visitor Center, just on the NY side of the Champlain Bridge - on route 903 on map#10. They were very friendly, had a lot of info/maps for the area, and had no problem with leaving a car there (even over a holiday weekend)
  • Map 11 - Grab a ferry schedule and adjust your timing/plans for the day with it in mind. The first ferry from Port Kent to Burlington was at 9:30 am and took an hour to cross the lake.
  • Map 3 - The Prouty Beach Campground in Newport was super convenient to stores and restaurants (it was down town), but very expensive ($29). The tent sites were just a patch of grass with a table and water...no trees for privacy or shading.  There was a paved bike trail from downtown to the campground (not shown on the ACA map), nice way to avoid car traffic.
  • Map 4 - In East Burk, the Kingdom Trails are a mountain bike mecca...if you mountain bike, do yourself a favor and rent a bike at the shop there and take a day and ride the trails. With that being said, plan ahead on lodging there and in Lyndonville since mountain bikers book a lot of the rooms in the area on weekends/holidays
  • Map 6 - The Pastures campground had a cyclist rate of $10
  • As the addenda suggests - the Champlain Bridge on map 10 is bike friendly.  A good way to cross the lake from Middlebury is to ride WayBridge Rd (rt 23), then turn left on rt 17( although there is currently1 mile of construction on 17 - e.g. rough gravel road)  to the bridge, then follow 903 to the main route
  • Anything we came across that was listed as a gravel road was actually a hard-packed dirt road...good for riding...rolled pretty fast wet or dry
  • Cell phone coverage was iffy, don't depend on it

7
Routes / Re: Blue Ridge Parkway / Skyline Drive input
« on: September 09, 2012, 10:57:26 am »
As far a restocking/refueling/ camping... skyline is easy....facilities are right off the road and are spaced conveniently.   You need to plan the BRP portion of the route as campgrounds are space further apart and are limited on the parkway itself...sometimes you will have to drop off the ridge (usually a sizable descent) to get to resupply places. Make sure you have a headlight and tail light for the tunnels...some of them are very dark and curve so cars won't see you without a blinky.

There have been new campgrounds opened since the 1990 book, so you may want to do some internet research before leaving home.

mountain weather is unpredictable, so be prepared for a random wet/ cool day

Its an awesome ride.


8
Routes / Re: Google's bicycle directions
« on: July 27, 2012, 03:41:11 pm »
google gladly takes suggestions for correcting their routes...easy to do, just click the link and in a few days they will update it....the more people who submit corrections, the better the routes will be.  Also, there is a new google map maker feature that lets you actually update/draw roads and add poi.  I've routinely improve googles bike routes around where i live.

9
Routes / Burlington, Vt
« on: July 08, 2012, 10:55:00 pm »
Anyone have a suggestion of a secure place to leave a car for a week in Burlington VT?  I'm going to be doing the Green Mtns Loop in early Sept and I am trying to figure out the details.

thanks

10
Gear Talk / free standing?
« on: June 10, 2012, 08:27:37 pm »
do y'all think a free standing tent  important to have, or one that you stake down is fine?

11
Gear Talk / Re: Le Mond bikes - anyone know them?
« on: June 10, 2012, 08:25:00 pm »
if i remember correctly, lemonds were more of stable geometry with longer top tubes and lower BB's (not as twitchy as typical race bikes).  They had a bunch of steel frames and a ti one that i can remember.

12
Gear Talk / Re: First Experience with BOB trailer
« on: May 25, 2012, 09:19:00 pm »
i've done one 500+ mile tour with a BOB trailer (most of which was on the blue ridge parkway, so either up or down, zero flat).  I would have to say that i don't like the trailer for hilly touring.  There seemed to be a lag in steering when descending, like your start to lean into a turn, then the trailer leans a half second later...it just doesn't feel as a solid system as panniers.  Part of the problem may have been the bike i was using (steel IF CX bike), so it may have not been as beefy as a bike designed for touring.  Also I found that if you stick a rain coat under the bungies, and it is not 100% totally secured, you will get a scary shimmy at speed (can easily solve this by putting the coat in the bag).

the big storage space is nice though

13
Gear Talk / Re: I need a new disc wheel
« on: May 22, 2012, 05:54:55 pm »
the minimum i'm expecting to pay is $250 -$300, I'd pay more (maybe up to $500) if it really is going to perform that much better

14
Gear Talk / I need a new disc wheel
« on: May 21, 2012, 07:17:56 pm »
I need to get a new rear wheel for my bike and I need help!

any suggestions on a disc hub?
any suggestions for a disc rim?

it needs to be 700c, disc brake compatible and very durable (for a 170lb rider carrying 50lb).
any suggestions? 

thanks a bunch

Jon

15
Gear Talk / Re: sleeping bag
« on: June 05, 2011, 09:27:01 am »
I've been using down for years for bike touring and backpacking.  Just buy a waterproof stuff sack and you'll be fine.  Down bags are lighter and more compressible (pretty important since you have limited storage room on a bike).

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