Messages

1

Rocky Mountain / Recomendation on Jackson WY bike shop

« on: May 25, 2010, 06:27:44 pm »

I am going to ship 2 touring bikes to a Jackson WY bike shop to be assembled, and I'll pick them up there to start a month long tour.  Does anyone have a bike shop recommendation?  Fitzgerald's is listed in ACA magazine, any experience with them?

2

General Discussion / Re: How Realistic is 125 miles daily mileage?

« on: May 18, 2010, 09:33:41 am »

You can totally do this, and you will probably have tailwinds.  You will suffer a bit at some point, undoubtedly, but you'll be fine.    I am >50 woman who has done this kind of distance for 4 days in a row (520 miles), obviously your trip is longer.  It will be important to eat well, take some vitamins (particularly adaptogens like shizandra and cordyceps), you'll need some motrin or alieve!, and if you can swing it, take an ice bath at motels.  Maybe bring some Traumeel or Arnica gel for muscles.  This will really help with wear and tear on body.  Don't underestimate the 'eat well' part, vegetables and salads at dinner!

3

Gear Talk / white gas or cannister stove for month long trip in Wyoming/Montana

« on: May 18, 2010, 09:24:37 am »

My husband and I are doing our first tour alone (I did a 10 day ACA tour last year), and I'm baffled on stoves.  I have my brother's MSR Wisperlite International which takes white gas or really any fuel like kerosine/ gas/ etc.  I've read that cannister fuel is lighter and simpler, and am thinking of buying a cannister stove (like a pocket rocket) instead.  We will cook each day (coffee/oatmeal, and dinner).  I know cannisters may be harder to find, but it seems crazy to buy a gallon of white gas to pour into two 22-oz fuel bottles.  Does anyone know how available cannister fuel is on the ACA great parks route?  Or how long a cannister (or a bottle of gas) lasts?

4

Gear Talk / Will a racing saddle work for touring?

« on: May 08, 2010, 10:49:03 am »

I did one ACA self contained tour last year, loved it.  Bought my husband a Surly LHT and we will spend all of July in Wyoming/Montana.  He put his favorite saddle on the bike, an Arione.  He is a good distance cyclist (double centuries, 500 mile races, etc) and so he's comfortable on this saddle, but it looks so streamlined to me compared to the saddles I see on other men's touring bikes.  Is there a reason a guy would need a bigger or different saddle?  We only have time for a few training rides and one overnight shakedown before our 27-day tour, so I'm not sure he'll really have an opportunity to break in a leather saddle.

5

Gear Talk / Re: Kickstands?

« on: May 08, 2010, 10:42:37 am »

I have a pletcher bipod kickstand, and it is sometimes handy.  Having said that, I did not buy one for my husband's bike, and might take mine off.  It does not seem to be able to handle the bike at full load (cooking equiptment, camping equiptment,etc) although it probably could if you were credit card touring.  Also, the bolt seems to come loose easily, and is not so easy to tighten with a multitool, you really need a skinny tool to get up in there where it's mounted to the bottom of frame.  when it's a little loose it rattles, but eventually it swings into the krank arms ...disconcerting.