Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Trying to get started

« on: May 09, 2016, 10:48:39 am »

When I was starting out as you are now I had vast numbers of questions, as well. 
The one source that provided the most accurate (as proved to be the case over miles of touring :- ) / well organized answers more than any other source + that answered more questions 'all from one source,' was the following text available for purchase via Adventure Cycling:
https://www.adventurecycling.org/cyclosource-store/everything-else/sp/essential-touring-cyclist/
- Wishing you a great time learning & touring.

2

Routes / Re: Texas to DC

« on: April 25, 2016, 11:52:37 am »

Hello TX2DC - If you go John's suggested route via The Skyline Drive expect to find the beauty breathtaking.  I hope you do conclude to include that in your itinerary.
Here is a text offered by Adventure Cycling that is wonderfully complete and clearly written on multi-day bike touring .... it was very, very helpful to me .... I even re-read it every few years to see how much I have forgotten :- ): 
https://www.adventurecycling.org/cyclosource-store/everything-else/sp/essential-touring-cyclist/
~ Wishing you a great tour.

3

Gear Talk / Re: Gear Inches for the Northern Tier

« on: April 09, 2016, 01:15:04 pm »

a symptom of overthinking while planning, but that's part of the fun, right?

Correct, at least for me anyway .... I have found 'overthinking' to be both fun and operationally beneficial (btw - just sent you a off-line email, belatedly, to one of your earlier Qs.).

4

General Discussion / Re: Paniers vs. Trailer

« on: April 09, 2016, 12:41:51 pm »

Have used both (i.e., single wheel trailer) for paved riding.
All factors, for me, considered, prefer panniers.
 

5

Gear Talk / Re: Gear Inches for the Northern Tier

« on: April 03, 2016, 03:00:15 pm »

Did the N. Cascades Northern Tier w/ 17 chain inches.  I love extra low cause I prefer to carry more gear than most. 
Anyway going west to east w/ 17 worked out fine ... I would not have wanted less cause then I would have fallen over from going too slowly :- ).
- Wishing you a great tour.

6

General Discussion / Re: Transamerica (and tiny bit Northern Tier) video

« on: April 03, 2016, 02:50:56 pm »

Thank you. 
Happily watched your entire collection of shots/vids. 
On every level and in 1 word: "A++."
June the Cookie Lady would have loved your 'balance diet' pix.
I loved your church & related images, as well.
You did it ... thanks again ....cause you really did capture it all.  It has been a half dozen years since I have toured and this prompts me to realize I need to get back on out there.

7

General Discussion / Re: How many bags do you carry on your bike?

« on: March 24, 2016, 10:08:52 am »

I tend to like things tidy.....

I don't understand why people don't mind having more than 5 bags on their bike; the handlebar bags, piles and piles of extra stuff on top of the wrack, triangle frame bags, etc. seem somehow like overkill to me (and I'm far from a minimalist).

If you're someone who puts on more than those 5 basic bags - why do you do it?

- Tim

Have thought thru your Q(s) 4 or 5 times .....
.... your Q(s) are of value to me because I always have to ask myself the same in preparation of every tour.
How much I find myself packing (& on some tours I do have more than 5 bags) for each tour is a balancing out of mainly 3 dimensions:
risk factors, creature comforts and weight/bulk ....
while I, also, have an interest in "appearance/tidy-ness," it gets pushed lower on my list of priorities by the above .... I am just endeavoring to enjoy and survive the tour conditions, whatever may be thrown at me; thus, sometimes 5+ bags have happened! 

8

Routes / Re: Atlanta to St. Louis route ideas?

« on: March 21, 2016, 02:39:38 pm »

US Bicycle Route 21 ( www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zquuA07Y3AtQ.kBRZPtBg3iro&hl=en_US ) will get your from downtown Atlanta to Chattanooga.
GA DOT announced their approval of this as a bicycle route per their October 2015 press release:  www.dot.ga.gov/PartnerSmart/Public/PressReleases/USBR21-10-14-15.pdf

9

General Discussion / Re: So I bought a bike now which panniers?

« on: March 19, 2016, 10:59:10 am »

Have only had experience w/ Ortlieb..... bought them 15 years ago cause I was told by an knowledgeable tourist they would never leak ... have been thru countless rain downpours w/ said Orliebs ... I am happy to report to you that he was right 

10

General Discussion / Re: Newbie

« on: March 15, 2016, 11:26:52 am »

Yo Tim - Regarding 'local demographics' and/or absence of shoulders (I try to be alert for both), what has helped me immeasurably is to, if there is anyway possible, car drive the route I wish to take before I bicycle ride it. 
Some related things I have learned:
(1) Because most of my touring has had to be done in segments/legs rather than end to ends I have shorter sections to analyse before launching a tour than the longer distance tourist.  Thus, it has been easier for me to car drive a route in advance; 
(2) The detail found in the ACA maps have been valuable to me in staying on itineraries that are demographically friendlier and shoulder friendlier.  Times I have gotten off the ACA routes (which has been frequent) is when I have most often found myself in riskier circumstances.   

11

General Discussion / Re: Found on the road

« on: March 12, 2016, 10:00:20 am »

I noticed enough pennies (& occasional nickles, dimes & quarters) in parking lots that I started a collection of them.  The best "finds" were the the 1981 & earlier pennies cause they have a higher melt value than their face value.

12

Routes / Re: What 300-500 mile section of the southern tier would you skip?

« on: March 07, 2016, 11:21:16 am »

which portion to definitely not skip?

My view is that you will be happy with FL & AL.

13

Gear Talk / Re: Mirrors

« on: March 05, 2016, 11:10:14 am »

Use bar mounted mirrors ..... a convex/fisheye on one side and a flat mirror on the other.  Thus, probably have more rear vision coverage than forward :- ).
Helmet mirrors confuse me.

14

General Discussion / Re: Found on the road

« on: March 01, 2016, 12:51:53 pm »

By far the most common item I have seen is 1 (not both :- ) work glove.

15

Gear Talk / Re: Touring with hammocks: any other Pros & cons?

« on: February 21, 2016, 05:39:13 pm »

I absolutely love hammocks (for all the many 'pro' reasons you have cited) and, yet, have never been able to find enough places to tie one up at the end of the tour day .... I just gave up on the idea .... cause for me it, thereby, proved too limiting, sadly.