Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: How much does your sleeping gear weigh?

« on: November 05, 2020, 12:16:37 pm »

When I look to buy I have the following maximum weights in mind:

Tent: (1-man) 3 lb
Sleeping pad: 1 lb
Sleeping bag: 2 lb

I have bicycled the entire Northern Tier.

2

Gear Talk / Re: Anyone Familiar with the Trek 520?

« on: October 18, 2020, 09:47:35 am »

I can only say I had a 2008 Trek 520 which seemed very similar to my 2017 except for disc brakes.

3

Gear Talk / Re: Anyone Familiar with the Trek 520?

« on: October 16, 2020, 10:39:30 am »

I think my fenders are 45mm.

4

Gear Talk / Re: Anyone Familiar with the Trek 520?

« on: October 14, 2020, 11:36:38 am »

I have a Trek 520 2017.

Tires: I use 700x37 Marathan Supremes. Bigger may fit but I don't know if would make much difference in use. (Fenders reduoce tire cleareance.)

Fenders: I use Cascadia plastic.

Racks: Much prefer Evo over Cargo. On front, tried Tara; wouldn't fit.

Pedals: https://www.rivbike.com/collections/pedals/products/mks-rmx-sneaker-pedals

5

Routes / Re: Atlantic Coast Route Section 6 Map 65 update

« on: September 29, 2020, 09:11:42 am »

Have you sent this to the Maps department of this organization? They are very appreciative of corrections and additions.

6

Gear Talk / Re: Tubus Tara Lowrider Front Rack Mounting Question

« on: September 03, 2020, 10:29:14 am »

FWIW, I've been using a not-quite-level Tara rack with Ortlieb panniers for over 10 years.  The Ortlieb system hasn't resulted in an unintentional unmount yet.  YMMV, especially with other, potentially less secure, mounting systems.

My attempt to mount a Tubus Tara resulted in a more than a  slight angle from horizontal. Really unacceptable.

7

Gear Talk / Re: Tubus Tara Lowrider Front Rack Mounting Question

« on: September 02, 2020, 09:17:55 am »

I had to sell a new Tubus Tara rack I planned to use because it would not fit on my late model Trek 520 touring bicycle. The bicycle has disk brakes; the brakes were not the problem. The problem was the limited adjustability of the Tara rack. I could not get it level. I called the USA distributor for help; they had no solution (I suspect others have reported the same problem). This rack was the new version with drilling on top for mounting a headlight. I used an earlier version of the rack on a different bike with V-brakes with no problem. I do not know if the new version of the rack has less adjustability than the old version.

8

Routes / Re: First time, but year long trip. Nervous.

« on: August 30, 2020, 09:58:58 am »

For what you say is one of your needs I suggest you Google free or cheap camping for touring bicyclists.

9

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.

10

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.

11

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.

12

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.

13

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.

14

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.

15

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".