Messages

1

Classifieds / SOLD': New Tubus Tara Stainless Steel Rack

« on: July 02, 2020, 12:57:20 pm »

Tubus' most popular front rack in stainless with headlight mount. Includes mounting hardware and instructions.
$98 plus shipping. (USPS retail ground should be $14 or less.) Life Member.

2

Gear Talk / Re: Touring capable road bike

« on: June 24, 2020, 11:22:53 am »

I don't think an aluminum bike is that much an advantage for touring. I've had several Cannondale aluminum tourers, as well as a number of steel touring bikes. I wouldn't choose one touring bike over the other because one was aluminum and the other steel.  Cannondale gave up manufacturing touring bikes for a while. They weren't selling that many in an admittedly niche market. For your budget I'd choose one of the standard touring bikes, not paying much attention to whether one was aluminum or steel. For weight reduction consider tires, tent, sleeping bag, etc. As another mentioned don't think you're going to get a tourer that is also a fast bike. The Rivendell Atlantis was designed as an all-around bike, sport riding and touring. The frame alone will take your budget, but it will give you some idea of what to expect in a combination of sportbike and tourer. With an Atlantis construction and design, expect compromises in both, sport riding and touring.

3

Gear Talk / Re: Tires for Touring

« on: June 04, 2020, 10:50:54 am »

I use Marathon Supremes, tubeless. If you are concerned about getting flats, that is the way to go. The number of flats can vary widely, even among cyclists using the same tire. Longer wear typically means thicker thread and a heavier tire.

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Gear Talk / Re: Rene Herse Cycles tires

« on: May 09, 2020, 11:39:35 am »

I'll just reply to your question of how many flat tires on tour. It's highly variable, and luck is involved. Riders using the same tires report widely different experiences with numbers of flats. On one extended tour, going a distance than back over virtually the same roads, I had no flats going and a number coming back.

5

Gear Talk / Re: Rene Herse Cycles tires

« on: May 08, 2020, 11:06:58 am »

Although I put little value on your arguments, I accept you are against tubeless. If touring tubeless is not for you, fine.

"Numbers of tubes?  What?  that's not true at all". In my own experience, and questioning others on the road, for extended touring it is carrying 2-5 tubes, (no trip was to " the Outback in Australia"). So"numbers of tubes", touring with tubed tires, as I said, is true.

Not touring, riding locally, for me, it is not "one to two tubes", but just one.

"People that use tubes may only get one flat in 3,000 miles if they're unlucky!" I have had 6-10 flats in an hour touring with tubed tires. Call me "unlucky".

On more of your long rant, I will withhold comment.

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Gear Talk / Re: Rene Herse Cycles tires

« on: May 07, 2020, 11:01:58 am »

I switched to tubeless tires on my touring bike with no regrets. The main advantage is not less weight, it is the ability to ride at lower pressures with no decrease in performance. The second advantage is the ability to use sealant. The advantages of using sealant are greater than the disadvantages. Tubeless tires are much safer from exploding sealant than sealant in tubes. Carrying one tube while using tubeless tires for a worst-case scenario is better than carrying a number of tubes and having to repeatedly patch them.

7

Gear Talk / Re: Opinions on first budget touring bike

« on: April 23, 2020, 11:05:09 am »

Not to argue, but I have seen the opposite recommendation, larger frame for touring, smaller for performance riding. My bike shop says easier to make a slightly smaller frame fit than a bit larger one.

As to touring with an older bike, I crossed the country with a 30-year-old bike. I stopped in a bike shop for spare chain links. The young man asked, "Eight-speed or nine?". I said, "Five".

8

Classifieds / Re: Stradalli

« on: February 29, 2020, 11:35:58 am »

https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/a19712049/stradalli-san-remo-road-bike/

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Gear Talk / Re: Gear in two panniers?

« on: February 19, 2020, 11:15:53 am »

I went from four panniers to two. No handlebar bag either setup. Nothing on rear rack. Small seat pack for tools with two panniers. Tools in a pouch inside pannier with four panniers. Both setups cook and camp.

10

Gear Talk / Re: Motobecane Fantom CX

« on: January 16, 2020, 11:51:38 am »

Motobecane was a respectable French company; the name was sold years ago. The current manufacturer has nothing to do with the original Motobecane. CX means cyclo-cross, which probably means a shorter wheelbase and less clearances to mount wide tires than a gravel bike. Current price new old stock is $469.95 at Bikes Direct. Bikes Direct has mixed reviews. 2 cm is approx 3/4 in., not much difference, easily compensated by other parts (stem, etc) and adjustments, unless you are very finicky. 

11

Gear Talk / Re: I Blame Adventure Cycling :)

« on: October 11, 2019, 11:17:29 am »

Address one issue, 3 chainrings are not just "complication" and closer gear ratios. Weight and range, particularly the low are factors. Weight: cogs, gears on the back, are steel; heavy. 2x and 1x  cogs are bigger and bigger.  Range: very difficult to get adequate low for loaded touring with 1x systems, easiest with 3x systems. Your projected 40x42 low is very high for fully loaded touring

12

Gear Talk / Re: How many patches?

« on: October 01, 2019, 11:03:19 am »

Six. Very arbitrary number. Less important for me now for my touring bike, as that current bike runs tubeless.

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Gear Talk / Re: Solo bikepacking, securing your bike

« on: September 24, 2019, 12:27:05 pm »

When traveling, I carry a lightweight lock, actually a gun cabinet lock. Haven't had any incidents.

14

Gear Talk / Re: What lube to use for touring.

« on: September 07, 2019, 05:20:24 pm »

Wax I take on trips is in a can with lid. I put the can in a pot that has a bit of water. I carry a stove, so this is no trouble. I do not play chemist and add ingredients to "improve" the wax, although I start with a new chain and throw it with the lube it comes with into the pot. I cannot see all the bother waxing a chain is supposed to be. I do not clean the chain when rewaxing, beyond giving it a wipe. For mitigating chaindrive wear, numerous studies over the years have wax coming out on top. I tried liquid bicycle wax and found it very unsatisfactory; messy and not long lasting. I get about 500 miles between waxing. This means for a 1000 mile trip, I wax once on road.

For a 1000 mile trip wouldn't it be easier to just carry a second prewaxed chain and swap at 500 miles?  When I waxed chains I usually rotated between two chains any way.

Easier, maybe, but better, no. With the wax can I am prepared to rewax more often if needed.

15

Gear Talk / Re: What lube to use for touring.

« on: September 07, 2019, 10:33:02 am »

Hey, dkoloko,
What are the nut and bolts of rewaxing a chain on the road?  I'm a paraffin fan and at home I just keep my paraffin/moly/teflon concoction in a junk-store mini crockpot.  But I haven't figured out exactly what I would do on a long tour.     

Regarding variations in chain life,  I think one factor could be the type of aggregate used regionally in the pavement, as worn-away aggregate is likely a good part of our chain gunk.  I expect the granite aggregate here is more abrasive than, say, the limestone aggregate used in Florida.

Wax I take on trips is in a can with lid. I put the can in a pot that has a bit of water. I carry a stove, so this is no trouble. I do not play chemist and add ingredients to "improve" the wax, although I start with a new chain and throw it with the lube it comes with into the pot. I cannot see all the bother waxing a chain is supposed to be. I do not clean the chain when rewaxing, beyond giving it a wipe. For mitigating chaindrive wear, numerous studies over the years have wax coming out on top. I tried liquid bicycle wax and found it very unsatisfactory; messy and not long lasting. I get about 500 miles between waxing. This means for a 1000 mile trip, I wax once on road.