Messages

31

Gear Talk / Re: How to camp lightweight and sleep more comfortably? any advice please?

« on: January 12, 2017, 09:57:39 pm »

Jonsondasw, fair play to you...Can you carry that eggshell pad on your bike?

Yes, I could carry it on the bike (straps and bungees!) but I don't have to.  I can use my trailer.  The pad weights very little--less that the air mattress I used to use.  And, most importantly, it will never deflate, which happened to me twice backpacking in the past two years.  That's what led me to give up on inflatables.  I'm pretty rough on equipment, and sometimes have to camp on rough spots.  My most recent air mattress failure occurred due to sharp rocks.

32

Gear Talk / Re: How to camp lightweight and sleep more comfortably? any advice please?

« on: January 12, 2017, 11:40:02 am »

I use a Big Agnes Seedhouse 2 tent.  It's only about 3 pounds.  The Seedhouse 1 was just too cramped. I also use one of those eggshell looking foam pads.  They are very light but not very thick, and they don't compress for packing.  And I just bought a blowup pillow.  I have not tried it yet.  It's packs to about 3 inches long--tiny little thing.  I'll be interested to see if that helps. At 68, I'm trying to find a way to get a decent night's sleep for backpacking and bike touring.

33

General Discussion / Re: ?How easy are SPD pedals to get use too?

« on: January 03, 2017, 06:08:22 pm »

They can come loose and fall out in the weeds.

Nonsense.  Lies.  Fantasy.  Whatever.  SPD cleats are attached to the shoe soles with two bolts.  Allen bolts.  They are about 1/2 inch long.  If they got loose, the cleat would wiggle and squirm for miles and miles.  Anyone would notice this.  You would immediately stop and see your bolts are maybe coming loose.  You would then get out your 3mm Allen wrench and tighten them.  When you got home you would take the bolts out and reattach them using blue Loctite.  They cannot fall out by themselves without you knowing they are going to fall out for hundreds of miles before they fall out.

Actually, Russ, my partner did not notice they were coming out so in reality I'm not a liar.  This really happened on July 25, 2010 in South Bellingham, WA.  It's rare I've seen someone on this forum call names like that.  This is a friendly, helpful site, usually.  Maybe consider it's possible you are mistaken before you submit such a post. 

34

General Discussion / Re: ?How easy are SPD pedals to get use too?

« on: January 03, 2017, 11:16:04 am »

Another tip--when you change your cleats, keep the old ones and carry one in your bag of tricks.  I've had a partner lose one on a ride and was able to replace it right there.  it would have been a total ride-wrecker had we not had a spare.  They can come loose and fall out in the weeds. 

35

Pacific Northwest / Re: Walla Walla, WA on the Lewis & Clark Trail

« on: December 07, 2016, 07:24:57 pm »

I took a two day bike vacation there and found the ride from town out to Kookooskie to be great for a short day, and then the ride to Bluewood from Dayton to be a very moderate, nice long climb.  On that ride, in late June, there was very little traffic on the last 10 miles, like perhaps maybe one car every 15-20 minutes.

36

General Discussion / Re: Pacific Coast Central (Eugene, OR to San Francisco, CA)

« on: December 07, 2016, 07:18:35 pm »

Expect helpful north winds, lots of good campgrounds, and places to buy food every day, so you don't have to carry much. Also, there will be tourist traffic, some of it wide trailers and oblivious drivers.  Use a mirror and watch your back.  We found the worst drivers were in the 80 miles from SF north.

37

General Discussion / Re: ?How easy are SPD pedals to get use too?

« on: December 07, 2016, 07:14:40 pm »

It's pretty easy. Nevertheless, you will fall because you forgot to unclip ... twice. Once in the first day, and once a month later when you stop suddenly and unexpectedly. After that, you'll never fall again, and you won't even have to think about it.

Interesting.  My experience exactly, and that of two other people I convinced to get clipped in.  However, we all use Crank Bros eggbeater style and really like them.

38

Routes / Re: Pacific Coast Route

« on: December 05, 2016, 05:42:34 pm »

It should be ok, but be prepared for lots of foggy gray days along the Oregon and Calif coast throughout the summer.  Temps are ok for riding, and winds should be consistently from the north!

39

General Discussion / Re: best sleeping bag for bike packing?

« on: November 30, 2016, 01:20:02 am »

Just about every outdoor clothing company make a down puffy jacket that packs into its own pocket,which makes it smaller than a loaf of bread.  They are also super light.  Put that on for the night and it changes the formula for which sleeping bag you need. 

40

General Discussion / Re: One piece earphone while riding

« on: November 15, 2016, 06:18:39 pm »

No earbuds for me.  I'm kinda deaf anyway, so it wouldn't be a good idea. I like to hear the coming traffic and birds, surf crashing, etc.  I use a mirror, too.  Trying to stack the odds in my favor as far a safety goes. 

41

Routes / Re: Pacific Coast Route

« on: November 09, 2016, 04:29:20 pm »

Carry rain gear.  It could be everything from hot and sunny to pouring rain. 

42

Routes / Re: Pacific Coast Route

« on: November 09, 2016, 12:53:45 am »

Late May could be great, especially if the summer north winds have kicked in by then. They can blow you all the way down the coast, and that makes a huge difference.

43

Gear Talk / Re: trailers vs panniers

« on: November 02, 2016, 08:44:21 pm »

I've done both and they both work fine.  Now, because I like to ride a carbon fiber bike, I use a trailer--Burley Nomad. It pulls off the rear axle and works great.  I sometimes use it for the weekly grocery run and can put over 50 pounds in it.  Even with that weight, it has no problem. 

44

Routes / Re: Pacific Coast Route

« on: October 18, 2016, 12:11:43 am »

We had a fantastic time, Olympia WA to Santa Monica CA, June 21 to July 10.  We are used to traffic and had few issues.

45

General Discussion / Re: Cycling from Vancouver south to the Mexican Border in July?....Alone?...Advice?

« on: October 10, 2016, 09:01:15 pm »

July is a great time, albeit there is lots of tourist traffic then.  Some roads have little shoulder, esp in Calif.  I recommend using a mirror and knowing how to use it.  The route is a good one, and you'll meet up with other cyclists.  The camping is very good, and very cheap in Oregon and Calif.  In Washington, there are no cheap biker sites like there are in the other 2 states.  The camping is so good in Ore and Cal, that you might decide that you don't mind it at all.  I would not hesitate in doing it alone.  Again, the main hazard is the roads with poor shoulders.  You must be experienced in highway traffic and in dealing with wide trailers and RV's coming form behind.  Also be aware that the route is very hilly, constantly up and down almost the whole way.  It'snot like in the mountains, where you climb a pass for hours and then you're done for awhile.  Instead, you often climb for 15 minutes, go down for 5 and then climb another one. 

The route has exceptional scenery.  I say go for it and have a great trip!