Messages

1

Gear Talk / Road Bike for Touring?

« on: January 30, 2005, 03:54:11 pm »

be sure to get clamps with a plastic coating

I forgot to mention that and it is very important. I actually cut up an old tube and used that as a pad between the P-clamp and the fork. It was the perfect thickness, and the tube rubber actually bonded together to make the absolute snuggest fit. The tube kept the clamps from moving and protected the paint on the fork.

You mention that even your reinforced rack was cracking after a trip.
Sure there were a few cracks...but it was ~3000 after all, and that thing was fully loaded (2 big panniers, tent, sleeping bag...the works) ;p

2

Gear Talk / Road Bike for Touring?

« on: January 30, 2005, 02:03:42 am »

Really any bike will do. I used a regular road bike (Raleigh - not sure the model) that had no eyelets. I solve the problem with about $5 in parts and a little creativity...picked up a couple metal loop "thingys" at the hardware store and attach them to the front/rear forks. Your front/rear panniers can attach to the thingys. I'll take some photos and post them.

The only thing special was that I used a rear rack that clamped onto the seat post and didn't require eyelets. To support the weight of all the gear on the rear rack, I rigged a couple support rods that attached to the rack and frame thingys.

The system worked great on a coast to coast US trip and cross Europe trip...I'm still using it today. (I did replace the rear rack after the US trip as it was getting a few stress fractures).

If you go the thingy route, make sure you have spare parts with you just in case.

Road bike spokes:
I did have to get new wheels with sturdier spokes. On the first 75 miles of my first trip I popped 6 spokes on my rear wheel. Some nice folks actually drove me +100 miles to the nearest bike shop so that I could get new wheels as I ran out of spare spokes and was stranded. A guy at the bike shop acutally traded me his wheels for mine and I've been riding on them ever since...without a single broken spoke. (That adventure turned out to be one of the great highlights of the trip)

Road Bike Gears:
I did replace the gears with 3 in front, 9 in back. In order to make the gears work and not have to replace everything, I bought a little switch at the bike shop that is attached on the handle bars. I can't remember what it is called, but the tiny little switch/lever only cost $20 instead of a hundreds to get a new deraileur and whatever else. (I'll post a photo of that switch too.)

So don't think you have to get a dedicated touring bike. I spent maybe $75 on upgrades and it worked perfect. If you've got a bike you love, you'll figure out a way to make it work. (You'll be astonished at the contraptions some people get by with.)

This message was edited by MikeJuvrud on 1-29-05 @ 10:12 PM

3

Gear Talk / Touring Tire Question

« on: January 30, 2005, 02:39:40 am »

I use 700x28 and get by completly fine (200 lbs + full gear). The smaller the tire width that you can get by with...the less effort it is to move

This message was edited by MikeJuvrud on 1-29-05 @ 10:40 PM

4

Gear Talk / Stoves

« on: January 30, 2005, 02:32:29 am »

If flying is required, I recommend the MSR Whisperlite International 600. It is extremely compact, easy to use and I've used it a lot. You can find suitable fuel easily at almost any location. That way you don't have to worry about how you are either going to bring fuel with on the flight or find fuel when you get off the plane.

5

Gear Talk / Anyone name their bike?

« on: January 30, 2005, 03:24:27 am »

"Bessy" for my touring bike and "Bertha" for my classic one-speed.

6

General Discussion / Loading for touring

« on: January 30, 2005, 02:56:28 am »

I guess my system is all the stuff I use while on the road goes up front...and everything else in the rear.

Obscure Tip: If cycling through Holland, you'll want to tie your clogs to your sleeping bag/tent For me it was a great conversation starter and led to many invites for dinner/sleeping arrangements.

7

General Discussion / Knee injury

« on: January 30, 2005, 03:05:49 am »

You might want to try a neoprene, sports knee brace that you can find at any drug store. My knee used to act up once in a while and that would usually help a lot.

8

General Discussion / Bicycle Security

« on: January 30, 2005, 03:01:39 am »

At night I take off the wheels (quick release) and put them at my feet inside my tent (REI Solo) and lock the bike with a lightweight cable lock. Otherwise, I rarely even use the lock.

9

General Discussion / HELP! Being Harrased by Police!

« on: January 30, 2005, 03:15:35 am »

In small/average sized towns it can be good strategy to just ask someone who lives next to the park. Usually they are so surprised someone is actually biking with all that stuff that they will contact and get approval from the proper authority for you.