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Messages - popeyespal

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61
Routes / A Monkey Wrench...
« on: December 15, 2010, 11:45:52 am »
So. On and off, I've been thinking about this kind of a trip for a few years now. It's only been within the last few months that I've really started planning and training. I want to do a perimeter trip around the USA.

Here's the basic idea. I would leave Boston at some date between April 15th and 30th, 2011 and follow the Atlantic Coastal Route as laid out by ACA. (Already have the maps.) Get to Key West. Southern Tier to arrive in Pheonix. Get to Las Vegas. Arrive in San Diego and go up PCH to Vancouver. At this point make a decision and either return to Boston via Northern Tier/Great Lakes OR ride to my family home of Anchorage, AK. and then across Canada to Boston.

I have 14 months give or take and I planned on covering 80 miles a day with riding about 6-8 hours a day 6 days a week. If I round way down and say that I ride 350 days out of the 14 months that gives me a total of 28k miles. Plenty I think.

I planned on stealth camping 90% percent of the time and then utilizing Warmshowers.org, Couchsurfing.org and hostels for the nights indoors. I think I can do this trip on an average of $15-20 per day. I have a brand new Surly Long Haul Trucker and I want to carry panniers...no trailer for me.

Recently I have been getting a lot of feedback from friends and others that say I may want to rethink my route and timing. I've been told that I would be doing the two crossings at exactly the opposite times that I should. I've also been told that going north on the PCH is insane.

I HAVE TO... Start and end in Boston...arrive in Key West, Pheonix, Las Vegas and Seattle. Everything thing else, including departure date, is open to debate.

What would you do?


62
General Discussion / Getting Blog Readership....
« on: December 13, 2010, 12:20:12 am »
What is the best, no cost, way to advertise my trip blog?

I'm really just trying to get folks to  read it and offer some feedback so that I can learn from others....

63
Gear Talk / Re: Another Fargo Build - Trekking Bar style
« on: December 12, 2010, 11:24:46 pm »
Beautiful bike. If I hadn't just bought my LHT? Nah......I'm happy ;)

64
Gear Talk / Panniers
« on: December 12, 2010, 11:10:38 pm »
Are Arkels really the best? That seems like an awful lot of money for a bit of fabric and plastic. Are they really worth it?

My first big trip starts in April 2011 and will, hopefully ;), be a perimeter of the USA trip...

65
Routes / Re: Is Vancouver Island this bad?
« on: December 12, 2010, 10:59:49 pm »
Although the guy is obviously angry and quite rude, (his comments about immigrants were horrid), he seems to have a very valid point. I haven't ridden in that area yet but from the photos I wouldn't be planning a trip on those roads anytime soon. Especially with those weird barriers on the shoulder. In an emergency a cyclist would have nowhere to go.

I am surprised that some injured cyclist hasn't sued and put an end to this.

66
Gear Talk / Re: Biking Shorts/Pants
« on: December 12, 2010, 02:00:19 pm »
http://www.adventurecycling.org/store/index.cfm?currentpage=1&fuseaction=category.display&category_id=37

The Adventure Cycling store sells two pair of non lycra form fitting shorts.  Baggy shorts.  Canari and J&G brands.

It's not Lycra I have an issue with. It's the "form-fitting" aspect.

67
Gear Talk / Re: Biking Shorts/Pants
« on: December 12, 2010, 01:57:21 pm »
I wear the baggy mountain bike shorts for the same reasons and for their pockets. Good smooth, form-fitting Lycra inner shorts keeps the chafing down.

Fred

Brand Name????

68
Gear Talk / Re: Touring Tent Talk
« on: December 12, 2010, 01:54:54 pm »
I am an ENOS Doublenest Hammock guy myself. With the bugnet and a custom tarp it is the most complete lightweight system I have ever used for hiking.

My upcoming tour will be my first time using it while biking but I can't imagine it being much different. I have even seen a photo of someone using the bike as one of the hanging points when trees were scarce.

A hammock also opens up far more sites for camping as you don't need to even consider level/wet ground.

69
Gear Talk / Biking Shorts/Pants
« on: December 12, 2010, 01:45:48 pm »
I have seen many posts concerning cycling shorts but everything seems to pertain to the lycra "here's all my junk" style. I have even seen posts from someone called the Underwear Nazi? (Message received...no skivvies here.)

I don't mind the traditional bike shorts while I'm training on the bike trails near here but when I take off on my trip I would like to wear shorts/pants/convertibles that don't offend people at the grocery store/cafe/wherever. Besides I would just feel more comfortable looking normal.

I get the "if they don't like it they don't have to look" attitude, but find that to be a rather self-centered point of view.

In cruising the internet I have seen different styles but the offerings seem to be few and far between. I thought about wearing bike shorts under regular shorts but have been told that the seems are different and will cause discomfort on long rides.

Suggestions???

70
General Discussion / The Bike Song
« on: December 09, 2010, 10:38:26 am »
The Bike Song....

Sweet bikes and retro babes....does it get any better?

Can anyone identify the bike with the double top tube?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVELTxKRoHA&feature=branded

71
Classifieds / Re: FS: Jandd rear & front panniers
« on: December 08, 2010, 12:59:14 am »
I'll take both sets if still available. I have sent a PM. Thanks

72
General Discussion / Re: Funny......but not so much fun.
« on: December 04, 2010, 09:08:21 pm »
I appreciate all of the input. For me, one of the purposes of riding a bike is to maintain health so putting any of the suggested chemicals in my body is a non starter.

I tried wrap around glasses today and noticed some improvement.

Thank you everyone.

73
Gear Talk / Is there a difference?
« on: December 03, 2010, 10:56:39 pm »
What is the difference between warmers and compression gear? It all seems to be made of the same material and design.

74
General Discussion / Funny......but not so much fun.
« on: December 03, 2010, 05:33:52 pm »
Okay....For three days now I have been trying to think of a tactful way of asking this....didn't come up with one so here goes.

I have been training for just over a week now on the Nashua River Rail Trail http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/nash.htm. Purchasing a decent pair of biking shorts solved my most immediate and painful problem. ;D

Temperatures are in the 30's-40's with a light wind. When I ride I am very comfortable as far as warmth goes but I just can't seem to stop my nose from running!!! I don't want to be wiping my nose on my fleece or gloves.

What do most of you do to prevent/combat this problem? Is this something I can expect to stop once my body has "cleaned up" a bit and I get healthier?

Sorry for the topic but I have to find a hygienic way to solve this issue. Right now I am carrying kleen-ex and having to stop every mile or so to quickly clear up and continue on my way.

Thanks for any advice.

75
General Discussion / Trip Blog...
« on: November 29, 2010, 04:40:30 pm »
I just picked up my new Surly LHT a week ago and have begun training for my trip around the U.S. The blog is located here http://tourusa2011.blogspot.com and I would appreciate any comments and suggestions.

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