Messages

16

Routes / Bike Europe

« on: June 07, 2006, 12:21:41 am »

Lots of cyclists post their journals at crazyguyonabike.com.  I'd love to read yours there!  Someday I want to do Europe, but I've got a couple of tours to do in North America, first.  I think.

17

Routes / Great Parks North Questions

« on: August 13, 2006, 04:09:27 pm »

I accidentally posted in the General Discussion, then found this thread.  I'm driving Denver, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier the first week of Sept.  In Glacier I PLAN to take off on my bike north to Jasper.  I have the SAME questions as everyone!  North to south? South to north?  Then, how to get home.  Taking south-north, taking Viarail from Jasper leaves me 6 hours from home on this end.  Going north-south, I could end in West Glacier, where the Amtrak station is.  WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE ME, assuming you just are finishing the whole enchilada?
Thanks!
Mira

18

General Discussion / Need info about Glacier-Banff

« on: August 18, 2006, 02:11:07 am »

Thanks, Turk.  Since I posted, I've done some more checking.  Talked to a travel agent and talked with myself.  Decided to save Glacier for another trip and just do Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay.  Time is really short, and it just seems more manageable.  Viarail looks really good, but is twice what airfare is - and that will get me an extra day of cycling.  Plus - I just couldn't find a good way home from Canada, once I got off the train.  Windsor-Detroit was the closest, but it's just easier to fly from Calgary to Indianapolis (where I live).

19

General Discussion / Need info about Glacier-Banff

« on: August 13, 2006, 03:55:08 pm »

Second thoughts - the Adventure Cycling group tour goes north to south; others go south to north.  Anyone have experience enough to say which is better?

And - going home via train - Viarail's Canada?  or Amtrak?

20

General Discussion / Need info about Glacier-Banff

« on: August 11, 2006, 11:55:24 pm »

I'm planning to ride from Glacier to Jasper this September.  When I finish, I'd like to take the shuttle back to Banff, and take Amtrak out of West Glacier.  I can't find any public ground transportation between Banff and Glacier, though.  Does anyone know if there is any, or should I just rent a car for that piece?  Thanks!

21

General Discussion / read about my Pacific Coast tour

« on: August 12, 2006, 12:39:44 am »

Wow!  Both the writing and the photos are wonderful.  I felt like I was right there with the two of you!  I will come back to read this when I plan THAT trip.  Good going!

22

General Discussion / Touring w/Non-Cycling Spouse

« on: June 22, 2006, 06:39:08 pm »

My husband doesn't cycle, either, and although I'm focusing on the Canadian Rockies at the moment, I'd like to do that trip, too.  Would you like a riding partner?

23

General Discussion / Women who've gone x-country alone?

« on: June 22, 2006, 06:44:21 pm »

You might check out Denise Goldberg's journals at www.crazyguyonabike.com.  She's done a lot of solo touring.  

There was a woman in her 50's that did the Southern Tier solo last summer, but I can't remember where to find her blogs, or even what her name was.

I'm excited for you!  I play with that idea but haven't "gotten there" yet with the cross-country.  I'm going to start with smaller steps.

24

General Discussion / Lone Peak panniers

« on: June 14, 2006, 04:53:56 pm »

Thanks for the good info.  Makes me feel better about not ordering the Arkels.  I've been researching all this for so long, now.  I was all ready to order the Arkels, but woke yesterday with a little voice telling me to look at the Beckmans again before I placed my order.  Guess what?  Yup.  Bob Beckman.  I read the whole website and his work is - really over-the-top, in design and quality (and the panniers are beautiful!)

Pricey - but I was on the BikeForums website last night and over and over, there were messages about disasters that people had had when their panniers fell off and often into their bikes causing crashes.  The word, again and again was: "PANNIERS ARE NOT THE PLACE TO SKIMP".  So - I've bitten the bullet.  Now - the wait! :p

25

General Discussion / Lone Peak panniers

« on: June 02, 2006, 01:17:23 am »

Anybody out there using Lone Peak panniers?  They appeal to me in many ways - but Arkel seems to be the name on everyone's lips (for a pannier with pockets).  

26

General Discussion / Airline Legal Travel Case

« on: January 26, 2007, 11:54:25 pm »

In my limited experience, it really, really seems to depend on who happens to be behind the counter.  One woman, when I asked her to mark my bag "fragile" looked at it differently and really seemed to be ticked when my case turned out to be within the regulations for size.  (That was the time it clearly was searched - did she have anything to do with that?)  But on another occasion, when I was 4# over, the gal was so very kind and was intrigued by the whole rig. When she saw that I really didn't have anywhere to juggle things, she slipped me by without charging me the $50 overweight charge.  The last time I flew was September 2006, so things may have changed.  Good luck, and I look forward to hearing how it goes.

27

General Discussion / Airline Legal Travel Case

« on: June 05, 2006, 10:39:06 pm »

Whoops!  I missed this post!  Wow, the North Star!  I have aspirations for that one, but at this point I think that's way beyond me.  I'm trying to decide whether or how to do Great Parks North and / or Glacier-Waterton.

And yes, it was Alan.  I have the Nor'Wester.

Have a blast!  Tell me about it when you get back, if you're willing.  My e-mail is on my profile.
Nancy

28

General Discussion / Airline Legal Travel Case

« on: June 05, 2006, 10:34:18 pm »

Even though I had everything on the small sprockets, front and rear, both in disassembly and reassembly, and even though I checked every possible place to make sure cables were seated, every time I have reassembled it, at least one cable won't stretch long enough to connect.  And each time, there seem to be different adjustments that need to be made.  I'm learning, and getting better, but I'm still ending up in the bike shop.  Good thing I did.  I wouldn't have realized that the derailleur hanger had been bent.  Might have figured it out, but I hadn't yet.  And, by the time I rode my tour with a load, my wheels needed truing.  

It IS a new bike, after all.  And I'm a near-beginner tourist, myself.  

You forgot to tell me where you're headed!

Nancy

29

General Discussion / Airline Legal Travel Case

« on: June 05, 2006, 10:08:28 pm »

Thanks, Russell.  I will take the derailleur off next time.  I already have the quick connectors, so The cable problems surprised me!

30

General Discussion / Airline Legal Travel Case

« on: June 05, 2006, 12:18:52 am »

Oh, my gosh!  Where are you going?  Sounds like an adventure of a lifetime!  

What kind of bike are you riding?  I had the same experience with my bike manufacturer highly recommending the semi-soft sider bag - and had similar reservations about it.  They insisted (counter-intuitively) that bikes were damaged less in soft bags than in the hard shell cases.

Godspeed - and happy cycling!

Nancy