Messages

16

Gear Talk / Panniers = racks= bike

« on: March 29, 2011, 06:31:09 pm »

I own a 60 com Surly LHT.

I believe I want to buy the  front/rear panniers from Seattle Sports...either the Rain or Titan.

What is the best quality rack that is guaranteed to work with both the bike and bags?

Looking for a heavy duty rack that I won't have to give any thought to once it is installed. No more than 40lbs on the rear or 20 on the front.

17

General Discussion / Re: On-line Bike Touring game

« on: February 05, 2011, 12:43:40 pm »

I sent you a PM with a few comments....

18

General Discussion / Re: On-line Bike Touring game

« on: February 04, 2011, 03:59:24 pm »

I'm afraid you may be correct. I only recall giving up the game at the 34 mile point when I was in the "red zone".

I was already heavily yellow at 13 miles but other than noticing "mild uphill" I have forgotten the mileage for that exact segment.

I will try to play the game again and increase my intake even though that is not what I would PERSONALLY do at this point in my riding / physical condition.

Just on a smiley note  I would NEVER pay $80 for a night in a motel while on tour. That's 3 days budget for me! LOL

19

General Discussion / Re: New Mexico The Bicycle Friendly State

« on: February 04, 2011, 12:54:56 pm »

And the slogan isn't "Welcome to New Mexico, The Bicycle Friendly Interstate State"

20

General Discussion / Re: On-line Bike Touring game

« on: February 04, 2011, 12:46:57 pm »

That's all well and good for you folks that are near your optimum weight already. However I am 6'2" and weigh just over 250lbs.

A primary goal of, and motivation for, my tour is weight loss. My intentions are to take in CONSIDERABLY less calories than I burn while riding. My target is to be close to 200-210lbs after 7-8 months of riding.

My note on the game stands regardless. I don't know anyone who would be near exhausted after 13 miles of MILD UPHILL riding after consuming a 1900 calorie breakfast.

The OP asked for folks to play and post critiques.  I did.

21

General Discussion / Re: On-line Bike Touring game

« on: February 03, 2011, 12:08:29 pm »

Excellent game, terrific concept and I applaud your efforts.

Played through the first level. Began the second level and ran into some completely unrealistic situations.

After eating a 1900 calorie breakfast I took off riding.  13 MILES INTO MILD UPHILL RIDING I'M EXTREMELY TIRED? Ate a 250 calorie snack.

34 miles of riding and I'm exhausted and loosing points?

My only option for resting is an expensive hotel? No stealth camping?
NO WATER? only drink option is a can of soda?

The game penalizes you for not taking in MORE calories than you burn. Weight loss in a huge motivation for many bike tourists. OF COURSE YOU WANT TO BURN MORE THAN YOU CONSUME.

Just my two cents.

22

General Discussion / Re: Surly LHT: Need help setting my bike up

« on: February 02, 2011, 04:47:12 pm »

I like that spider-looking light holder, but I have considered it for holding the camera for taking pictures with me in them. Can I use that for both a camera and a light?

The back of the bike is protected by the panniers, but do you really think a mud guard and fender are worth the extra 5 lbs on the bike?

The GorillaTorch light can not be used as a camera tripod but they do make one in the same size specifically for cameras.

Yes. The fenders will help prevent mud and water from coating the backsides of your gear and self. The REAR mudflap is to help those riders in line behind you and even if you are going solo....at times there will be riders behind you.

....and...5lbs?  What kind of fender and mudflap are you looking at?

23

General Discussion / Indoor Training...

« on: January 31, 2011, 08:05:07 am »

Winter seems to be throwing a full court press on New England this year. I stopped riding outdoors just after the late December storm.

What sort of regimen do you average riders use to get ready for a tour when riding is not available?

I'm NOT a gym freak and am not able to dedicate multiple hours every day to going to a gym.
My tour is on a budget so buying one of those expensive floor stand things is out.

So it boils down to this....at home and minimal expense. Any ideas?

24

General Discussion / Re: New Mexico The Bicycle Friendly State

« on: January 30, 2011, 05:07:10 pm »

Here's a bit of good news for you folks that think the economy is going to hurt bike paths/shoulders/access. Here in Massachusetts a law was passed two years ago and put into effect last fall for fiscal year 2011 and years forward that REQUIRES all Department of Transportation projects to include elements for non-motorized travel. I know a bit about this as I sit on the Montachusett Regional Transportation Commission as an alternate from time to time.

Here is an example.

There are 23 bridges in Middlesex County which require some degree of repair/replacement. In the process of sending the six currently allocated projects out for bid it was made clear to us that if the plans DID NOT include a bicycle/pedestrian travel lane/sidewalk that not a single penny of state money would be approved. Now...the county could certainly go ahead and do it on their own but what entity would give up large amounts of cash to fight bike lanes?

On a state level it's mandatory with the exception of Interstate Highways.

It is called the GreenDOT Initiative and is part of Deval Patrick's misguided Global Warming/Greenhouse Gas reduction program. I don't like much about this plan but this is one aspect I can get behind.

Higher taxes, higher gas and oil prices but we get bike paths/space.

My understanding is that a similar initiative is part of Obama's Global Warming plan but I am not familiar enough with it to comment.

25

Gear Talk / Penny Stove...

« on: January 29, 2011, 09:22:35 pm »

After six efforts that worked, but were far from perfect, I finally got a penny stove design all put together and I love it. I can boil a liter of water in just under 12 minutes although that is FAR more water than I should need. Reheating a can of beans or fixing Raman takes less than 5 minutes.

The stove burns Isopropyl Alcohol and I have tested it with both 70% and 90%. The lower percentage works and is a bit cheaper but does not burn as hot and so takes a bit longer. Not an issue for me but I will carry the 90% HEAT as a fuel source. Six meals worth of fuels costs less than $2.

The stove itself is the diameter of a pop can and about 2 inches tall and sits inside of another can that acts as windscreen, cooking rack and storage. I painted the screen/rack with Krylon black stove paint. The whole set-up is six inches tall and weighs less than 5 ounces. Perfect.

And yes....it is sitting on a Rubbermaid box. I can cook a meal...blow out the flame and handle the stove with my bare hands. The heat funnels straight up and is not wasted on the stove itself.

26

Routes / Re: Need route from Chicago to Deerfield, MA

« on: January 28, 2011, 09:30:18 am »

This seems to be a pretty common route.

I don't have the specifics but you would ride from Chicago to Erie then up to Buffalo and across New York to Deerfield. A good portion of the ride from Erie and across NY is actually dedicated bike paths.

Research the Canalway Trail and the Mohawk/Hudson Trail.

27

Classifieds / SOLD: ACA Atlantic Coastal Route Maps

« on: January 22, 2011, 08:07:57 pm »

MAPS HAVE BEEN SOLD.

Thank You.

28

General Discussion / Re: Surly LHT: Need help setting my bike up

« on: January 22, 2011, 11:53:35 am »

I haven't used it on a full blown tour but I have used it on 3 weekend training trips. Worked perfectly with no issues.

It is what I will be carrying when I take off around the country in May.

29

Routes / Re: Getting Across The Desert

« on: January 22, 2011, 08:47:38 am »

Valygrl and someone else sent me examples of what they considered to be "failures" on the part of Google maps.

All of the examples presented seemed to be where a road became a track or trail on Google maps and in reality had fallen into disuse and was impassable, was no longer there or had become private property. Sure...these are problems... but they are problems that you get with static maps as well. That's why maps have addendum and occasionally new additions. Changes happen.

This is not a reason to dismiss online maps as a planning tool.

Updates and changes happen quicker online.
You can zoom and scroll while planning which is much more useful than having only one scale to work from.

So.... I stick by my initial statement with one caveat. Due diligence!

30

General Discussion / Re: Around the US

« on: January 22, 2011, 08:24:39 am »

I apologize if this starts a war of some kind but I just have to say it.

Supported? Yes..this is a way to do it and it does seem beneficial for group rides.

Just my opinion here but I believe a supported trip severely inhibits your ability to do things on the spur of the moment and this ability can make or break the "adventure" aspect of a trip. You also will be traveling with your people and therefor have much less reason to interact with folks along the way.

Unless your goal is to bike from point to point as fast as possible then I would at least consider doing the trip solo.

Also I think you had some gear questions in another thread. Those answers are all moot. If you are going supported you don't need to carry anything except water. That's what the vehicle is for.

Let the war begin...