Messages

61

Gear Talk / Re: Looking for a good touring shoe.

« on: October 15, 2014, 12:25:16 am »

For touring on our LHT's...flat pedals and Salomon trail running shoes. The shoes have a stiffer midsole than road running shoes and this is plenty stiff enough for touring and designed for bipedal locomotion. Choose the outsole tread model that fits your needs. Gore-tex layer means no worries about covering shoes until REALLY heavy rains. Pedals can be cheapies or the most expensive out there, your choice. If touring where big bike shops are rare, pedal replacements are easily found.

I use and recommend clipless pedals on my road and mountain bikes but have never found an advantage when touring on the LHT. We tour on the LHT on all but the craziest single-track as well as dirt/gravel and pavement.  If I were touring on a mountain bike, in the backcountry and looking for single-track, yes I'd be using a clipless system as well, but I'd also be carrying less gear and traveling lighter and searching out those single-track routes.

As always, YMMV but that's how we've done it for a long time.

Enjoy the ride,
Jay
Peterberger Adventures

62

General Discussion / Re: Safe to cycle the USA? Things do happen.

« on: September 18, 2014, 01:56:29 pm »

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2014/09/03/man-stabbed-to-death-biking-to-miami-to-propose-to-girlfriend/

A man cycling from the NE USA to Miami, FL went to stop at a McDonalds in Vero Beach, FL. An apparently paranoid schizophrenic homeless man just walked up and stabbed him to death.

This sounds like random violence by an unstable person. What does this have to do with cycling safety in the USA?

Things happen all over the world, every day.

Jay

63

General Discussion / Re: importance of componentry

« on: August 28, 2014, 08:17:33 am »

I'm looking for a decent endurance or touring type drop bar bike.  I want to do a tour.  I also want my bike to be a good commuter and everyday rider.  I have absolutely no intention of racing or much of anything involving speed.  More interested in miles.  I have myself somewhat locked into Tiagra at a minimum and 105 at best.  Is this really necessary?  I know the lower I go, the less crisp the shifting will be.  A local dealer told me I wouldn't notice much difference between Sora and Tiagra, but that I would from Sora to 105.  I thought Tiagra was essentially the same thing as 105, with 105 being a cleaner and prettier look.  Would Sora or Claris suffice for a budget bike?  How much more often will the budget Claris or Sora go out of adjustment as compared to Tiagra/105?      THANKS

Keep in mind that all components are easily replaceable. Over time, you will wear them out or they will break at some point.

Recommendation - buy the middle of the pack parts for best value, upgrade later if the performance doesn't match your expectations/needs. Spend more time riding and figuring out what works for you than worrying about the pieces. For the type of riding you've described, properly setup components of any price range will make little to no difference.

Enjoy the ride,
Jay

64

General Discussion / Re: Sour clothing - after washing!

« on: August 28, 2014, 08:10:50 am »

I'm beginning to think that the recommendation for washing out at the end of the day and air drying is probably the best solution.  No more plastic bags loaded with unwashed clothes for me.

This has always been our solution. We are currently 10+ weeks on tour. Each of us has 2 sets of riding clothes. Shirt, underwear and socks get rinsed or washed with shampoo/body wash (whatever we are carrying) daily and then air dried overnight and on the bike the following day. We may miss a day here or there but it is important enough to be part of our camp arrival routine - set up tent, shower/bathe as possible, eat.

Enjoy the ride,
Jay

65

General Discussion / Re: Tools for adventure

« on: March 25, 2014, 11:40:29 am »

This may be a cliche, but the ultimate tool for adventure is a....Positive Mental Attitude!

Enjoy the ride,
Jay

66

General Discussion / Re: portland oregon to the coast

« on: March 25, 2014, 12:36:55 am »

What is your goal?  As quick as possible? As little traffic as you can find? Any town or sights in particular you are interested in? Pavement or dirt or gravel or a combination? The 'best' route is very subjective.

Lots of options out there...

Enjoy the ride,
Jay

67

Pacific Northwest / Re: Looking for tips on touring the Steens Mtn/Alvord Desert/Malheur Refuge in SE OR

« on: March 03, 2014, 11:40:39 am »

http://jjpeterberger.wordpress.com/2013/11/17/october-in-southeastern-oregon-around-steens-mountain/

68

Routes / Re: Idaho Hot Springs Mountain Bike Route

« on: March 02, 2014, 02:32:00 pm »

Maps arrived yesterday!!!! 

With a 14 month long tour coming up, we'll have to wait a while to ride the trail though. Good luck to those getting out before we do!

Jay

http://jjpeterberger.wordpress.com

69

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Re: Open Street Map?

« on: December 09, 2013, 12:26:09 pm »

Steve, I like this option very much. I've used a variety of Garmin handhelds over the years and I'm getting ready for a multi-month tour through Europe, Central Asia and SE Asia.

Do you have a recommendation for a newer Garmin unit that will accept a >4GB microSD card? I'll be selling the 2 units I have just to finance this purchase.

Enjoy the ride,
Jay

70

Gear Talk / Re: See the gear on Velo Orange

« on: October 08, 2013, 01:37:09 pm »

As with many gear choices, i.e. panniers vs trailer, helmet vs none, rim vs disk brakes, etc, this is just another bike touring option, depending on ones preferences.

None of these choices are inherently right or wrong, good or bad. They're just different ways available to us to enjoy the activity of our choosing. Unfortunately, it seems that having options just lead to internet pundits pointing out "apparent flaws" in options they often haven't tried.

Personally, I like having so many options being developed for bike touring. Not that long ago, adapting backpacking and car camping gear was the norm.

Enjoy the ride,
Jay

Edit: Here's a video link showing an incredible trip with this style of gear, not necessarily everyone's cup of tea!

71

General Discussion / Re: bicycles on the roadways

« on: September 03, 2013, 08:21:31 am »

Westy...that attitude is entirely too practical!   

Enjoy the ride,
Jay

72

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Washington Parks Section 2 - Rainy Pass closed - Aug 2013

« on: August 13, 2013, 07:58:49 am »

Looks like some quiet riding up there for a while...

Jay

73

General Discussion / Re: Low Carb and Long Distance Touring

« on: July 30, 2013, 09:48:11 pm »

Um, I think you must have been absent that day...

You may be suffering under this common misconception about carbs due to confusing carbs and glucose. You do need glucose to survive. your body can manufacture glucose from protein, so you don't need to eat carbs to get what you need. That's not to say the best diet has no carbs, it's just that our amazing bodies can get what we need to survive without them.

This is great news for people (like me) who no longer tolerate many carbs, I can eat ignore much of the common wisdom on fueling bike rides (and other sports) and do quite well without harming my body with the sugars and starches.

So many half-truths to sell products on the internet...after all, if it's on the internet, it MUST be true.

Glucose, sucrose, fructose, sugar, starch, etc are ALL carbohydrates, no matter the source. They are all digested into the simplest form and absorbed into the bloodstream. The only thing that really changes is the timing from ingestion to absorption. This may have a differential effect on the blood sugar levels of those with type 2 diabetes mellitus, depending on whose research you subscribe to. The body of evidence is currently equivocal on that topic.

Yes, our bodies, under extreme conditions, do catabolize protein in a way that ultimately can generate glucose. This DOES NOT, however, happen directly from the protein in your meal. Those proteins are digested into their building blocks, just like complex carbohydrates, amino acids. At that point, the amino acids are delivered to where the body deems them most needed. The proteins catabolized and ultimately converted to glucose primarily come from the stored form of amino acids (proteins)...skeletal MUSCLE. As an active cyclist, this sounds like a rather poor choice.

We are all free to choose what ever diet we want, based on food availability and our willingness to carry other options. The nutritional guidelines published and supported by science are constantly being reevaluated based on current knowledge. These guidelines do change over time as our understanding of biochemistry, nutrition, exercise physiology (my background) and other specialties evolves.

I applaud everyone for finding what works for them but worry when basic science gets twisted beyond its intended purpose and develops into something else. Unfortunately, this too often occurs when some book, product or next best diet solution is being marketed.

Enjoy the ride,
Jay

74

General Discussion / Re: Low Carb and Long Distance Touring

« on: July 29, 2013, 10:52:40 pm »

I couldn't agree with hyegeek more. Carbohydrates are unnecessary, unlike fats and protein. My experience is similar as well... 50 years old, lost 100lbs by eliminating sugar, grains (most starches) and seed and vegetable oils and lots of biking of course. My protocol is to eat real food... sounds strange but I always eat at home.  Meaning I never eat at restaurants or fast food joints. A long distance tour would present some special challenges for me.

Um, I think you must have been absent that day...

75

General Discussion / Re: Cycling Pants...

« on: May 15, 2013, 01:38:04 am »

Shorts or pants while cycling is a very personal choice. Ride what YOU feel comfortable in, no matter what the designed purpose is.

For long training rides and mountain biking, I prefer good quality lycra shorts. I don't care what others think about them.

For commuting and touring, I prefer merino wool boxer briefs and quick drying, loose fitting nylon shorts since I spend lots of time off the bike through the day and walking and sitting anywhere but a bike saddle for extended periods with a sweaty, padded chamios isn't the most luxurious feeling.

Don't let the preoccupations of others decide your clothing choices, especially on a tour. You need to be comfortable above all else.

My 2c, YMMV of course.

Enjoy the ride,
Jay