Messages

406

General Discussion / Doctor Sez NO!

« on: October 13, 2005, 11:56:30 pm »

I urge you to take a serious look at recumbents.  They come in a vast array of designs suitable for almost all types of riding except technical single-track off road.  For anything else, you can find a recumbent to do the job.  Want to go fast?  Carbent makes an 18 lb. speed machine.  Want to ride the dirt back roads?  Check out a Lightfoot Ranger.  Seriously, the variety is mind blowing.  All of them will be much easier on your prostate than any upright.

Cheers,

Scotty

407

General Discussion / Great Divide

« on: January 14, 2005, 01:07:22 pm »

Hi!  I am also hoping to do the GD but not for a couple of years, unfortunately.  The route is about 85% dirt road, 10% paved, 5% "single track".  To get started on research, you can read some trip journals.  Go to the following group and check out the "links" section.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gdmbr/

  You'll find some great first-hand accounts of the route.  Also, of course, Adventure Cycling produces the book/maps for the route.  I've got the book--a great overview and discussion--but you'll also need the maps for the actual riding.

Happy riding!

Scott

408

General Discussion / Dogs on the Great Divide?

« on: July 13, 2005, 03:33:33 am »

The trick with two-wheeled trailers would be to avoid the single track--a bummer for mtn. bikers, but there isn't much on the GDMBR anyway.  The other issue would be some of the rough roads--especially washboard.  Get a good Burley (we tour on pavement with a "Solo" that carries our border collie/blue heeler) and see how it goes: careful practice runs on dirt roads.  PLAN on being slower than someone without a dog--especially on the down hills.  I think it can be done (and I'd love to try it) but practice and patience will be key.  Keep in mind, too, the extra weight of food, water, etc.  There used to be a photo on the Burley site of a woman who took TWO dogs (looked like border collies) on the Great Divide for about 800 miles!  So it can be done.  Practice, boldness, and a clear, calm head for the extra work and care required would be requirements.

Give 'er a go! Report back.

Cheers,

Scott

409

General Discussion / What really is Adventure?

« on: August 28, 2004, 12:38:00 am »

The uncertainty of the outcome is a part of adventure.  The degree of the uncertainty dictates the magnitude of the adventure: more uncertainty equals more adventure.  Uncertainty exists on a broad spectrum, ranging from "What's around that corner?" to "Christ! I'm gonna die!"  I'm an adrenaline junkie from way back--mountaineering, rock climbing, ice climbing--and I've had plenty of pretty deep adventures.  I'd have to agree with Willie on this one: the most meaningful adventures come when we are outside our comfort zones.  When I crossed the Mojave desert on a solo tour and saw a sign, "Next Services 72 Miles," THAT was outside my comfort zone.  But as we all do, I checked my water supplies and put one pedal in front of another and let the wild landscape unfurl under my wheels.

Ride on...

Scott--a different one!

410

General Discussion / Climbing and Cycling

« on: March 27, 2004, 01:04:52 pm »

Hi, Brad: No, you are not alone. When I first heard about Kropp and then read his book, I thought (and still believe) that his adventure across Europe and Asia to the summit of Everest was the single greatest adventure I could think of.  He raised the bar so high, I'm not sure it can be raised any higher!  I've been a climber for over 25 years, though the last few have been more involved with cycling, a new passion.  My climbing has been only in the US and Canada.  I currently live in the mountains of the far southern Sierras.  We've got a number of mountains within reasonable striking distance from our home that we could combine with a cycling approach.  I would really like to "Kropp" a peak sometime, though it would probably be "peak bagging" and not technical mountaineering, though I've thought about that, too.

Cheers,

Scott

411

General Discussion / Recumbent Bike Touring

« on: March 19, 2004, 12:55:41 pm »

Hi, Geary:  Sorry for waiting so long to reply.  I just saw your new post.  As far as stability in hill climbing, after a short learning period, you should not wobble or wonder in any significant way.  Remember, most upright riders wobble a bit too in slow speed climbing.  I have ascended many, many thousands of feet (I ride in the Sierras of southern California) and no dangerous wobblies yet.  And, of course, the more experience you get, the straighter the line you can hold.

You should know, however, that all other things being equal (ha!), short wheel base bikes have better slow speed handling.  On my previous SWB, I could easily creep up hills at about 3--3.5 mph, sometimes a bit slower.  In my defense   I usually don't go this slow!  But I wanted to see just how slow I could move and still remain in control.  The SWB was amazing in this regard.  A long wheel base is more difficult to manage at such low speeds.

If you are seriously considering a SWB, think about one that is suspended.  This would be very nice to have for long tours.  LWB bikes naturally absorb lots of road shock, so suspension isn't really needed.

BTW, if I were to buy a LWB again, I'd probably go with the Longbikes, "Slipstream"--a beautiful, solid bike with dual disk brakes and underseat steering.  I hope to own one some day.

http://www.longbikes.com/

Best of Luck!

Scott

412

General Discussion / Recumbent Bike Touring

« on: February 20, 2004, 02:31:39 am »

I really became I cycle tourist because of recumbents, and I wouldn't do a paved road tour with anything else.  The challenge is to find a style of recumbent that works well for you.  Most people tend to think that a long wheel base design is the most stable and best suited to touring though many have used short wheel base designs, too.  I currently ride a Tour Easy by Easy Racers, a bike long considered a bench mark for touring.  With panniers that fit under the seat, handling is superb, almost as if the bike is not weighed down at all.  I love it.  Do your best to find a shop where you can try as many as possible.
Cheers,

Scott

413

General Discussion / Touring w/doggie?

« on: January 31, 2004, 08:40:31 pm »

Thanks for all your replies, everyone.  My wife and I just recently got a Burley "Solo" trailer for hauling children.  We removed just about everything for holding a child and added some tie-downs for the Django, the hound in question.  Today we did our first little zip around the 'hood.  We went slowly, and he seemed to get used to it.  Mostly, I think, we just need to ease him into it, make it fun, provide lots of treats, etc.  BTW, the Burley "Solo" is beautifully made and has a 100lb load limit.  Burley makes great stuff.

If you folks see a looooong recumbent tandem trike hauling a trailer in N. Cal. this summer, odds are it's us!  

Thanks,

Scott

414

General Discussion / Touring w/doggie?

« on: January 16, 2004, 09:38:21 pm »

Does anyone out there have experience touring with a good-sized dog?  We've got a wonderful 50lb. border collie/cattle dog mix that we're going to try touring with.  We'll be getting a Burley "Solo" trailer.  The idea is to have my wife as stoker on our recumbent tandem trike control the dog while he walks/trots uphill and then have Django the Wonder Dog ride down hill and on the flats.  We think we can get him to jump in and out of the trailer for rolling terrain.  That's the theory, anyway!  Any imput, advice, wisdom appreciated.

Thanks,

Scott