Messages

16

Routes / Cycling Trip On Cape Cod

« on: February 18, 2007, 10:33:02 pm »

 Hi ,I would be interested in taking cycling trip on Cape Cod this summer. I would like to start near the Cross Cape canal . If anyone could suggest where I could safely park a car for a few days it would be a great help . Also any suggestions on routes or things to see would be welcome . For that matter if you know of someone running a club tour or not for profit I would be interested in that also. Funding is a factor.
    Thanks,Razor

17

Routes / Circling nj

« on: February 18, 2007, 12:05:13 am »

 Hi bent4me,
The Adventure Cycling map for the east coast shows a pretty good route from Port Jarvis south, but after the route crosses back to NJ don'tcross back to PA to use our canal path I am sad to say due the recent floods we have had they are in terrible shape at best and sections are closed because you can't even ride them with a mountain bike.
     Have fun on your trip; Razor

18

Routes / Biking PA

« on: February 17, 2007, 11:44:21 pm »

 Say Fleutz,
 you might consider checking out New York states bicycle maps they will send them to you for free. Just go to the state tourist web site. I had good luck useing one two years ago to get from Lake George ,NY to Phila.,Pa. They have several north/south and east/west routes.

19

General Discussion / What is the daftest thing you ever carried?

« on: December 13, 2008, 02:14:36 pm »

Suddenly ,I don't feel as insane as I thought .I like going on 40 to 80 mile rides on the weekends and I stop at any good looking yard sales .So far I have bought 2 teapots , various pieces of camping gear and small furniture . I usually come back for the furniture with the car .It is so funny to see peoples faces when I'm packing up my teasures in my bicycle trunk , particularly the teapots ."All of which have made it home safely " .My friends have taken to pointing out yard sales when cycling with me , I think they want to see if I make it home with some of the stuff .Week or longer rides are problematic .

Razor

20

General Discussion / Your Local Bike Shop

« on: March 24, 2007, 05:58:03 pm »

  I have had some mixed experiences at local shops but ,the one problem I have is even though I have been cycling 38 yrs. when I go in there is some kid that tries to sell me something I tell them I don't want . Hello , see the grey hair I don't need a dam sport bike I've ridden more miles then I want to think about , no a beginner here .

Razor

21

General Discussion / Cycling on the Cheap . How low can you go?

« on: July 04, 2007, 09:38:47 pm »

Nice to see people are getting some use from the discussion . Yes , you can get away with $ 15 a day on food ,but you will have to be careful with both making wise purchases for cheap and balanced food . At times you may spend less and others more , and it will balance out if you are preparing the food yourself . Eating in restaurants would be almost impossible .You can go many ways on buying equipment , buy cheap and plan on replacing it frequently or spend lots and figure on it lasting many trips . If you're on a budget spent as much as you reasonably can on a light weight tent to keep you and everything else dry .
    Thanks for the links I will check them out and I hope they help others . Good luck with your trip .

Razor

22

General Discussion / Cycling on the Cheap . How low can you go?

« on: March 23, 2007, 07:00:31 pm »

  I would like to mention a few organized rides I have been on that are reasonably priced and a lot of fun . The great big FANY ride " five hundred miles across New York " a not for profit ride out of Saratoga Springs NY , run by Karen Empie . Bike Virginia run by Bike Walk Virginia . XOBA " Cross Ohio Bike Adventure " run by Columbus Outdoor Pursuits , they do some other great rides in Ohio also . These are all not for profit , week long tours that I have ridden on that were well organized and inexpensive . The people on the tours were nice and the people running the tours were great . They all have web sites .

Razor

23

General Discussion / Cycling on the Cheap . How low can you go?

« on: March 14, 2007, 08:28:09 pm »

  DaveB I happen to agree with you about using moderately priced up to date equipment . The point I am trying to make is even if you can't afford that much you can still go on a tour , it doesn't have to be a yuppie pass time .
  Personally when I pack for a tour I try to keep my  gear under 35 lbs. As for the Brit's world tour , they kept their mileage low and were having a great time , not just surviving it . If it had been that Bad a trip there would have been a divorce 5 or 6,000 miles earlier . I think the natural fabrics is a European thing and it worked for them .
  If you are a fairly experienced camper why not " grab it and go ".
   Smooth roads and clear minds ;

Razor

24

General Discussion / Cycling on the Cheap . How low can you go?

« on: March 12, 2007, 08:13:00 pm »

Okay , that's what I'm talking about . Now I imagine a ten speed bike would be an easier ride . The early Tour De Frances were ridden on single speed bicycles , so it can be done .
   On a different tack , high tech. stuff is not really necessary . While on the FANY tour across New York state 2 years ago I met a British couple who were close to finishing a world tour when they met up with us . Even though they could afford different equipment all their clothes were cotton or wool . They were carrying 150 lbs on each bike . My favorite part about their gear was they said that their tent was not water proof and leaked . The bikes weighted a ton , but they made it . So my 20 lb. cotton sleeping bag doesn't sound so bad .

Razor

This message was edited by razor on 3-14-07 @ 4:29 PM

25

General Discussion / Cycling on the Cheap . How low can you go?

« on: March 11, 2007, 02:56:23 pm »

 Thanks for the input DaveB . I think a lot of people forget you don't need the best equipment out there "It is nice to have if you can afford it ". What you need is good quality equipment , it doesn't need to be perfect . Thanks to the Internet there are a lot more discount stores to choose from . Campmore is a good choice of places to look for stuff .
  As for food I have had good success keeping food expenses under $25 a day , and usually well under that and I tend to eat at a lot restaurants " Mom and Pop places mostly " .

Razor

26

General Discussion / Cycling on the Cheap . How low can you go?

« on: March 10, 2007, 11:16:11 pm »

  DaveB it's nice that you have a keen grasp of the obvious , but why not not make a positive suggestion ? Maybe how to get people to sponsor you . A surprising number of people don't even have the money to go on a ACA tour . I think it's great if you have the money yourself or have parents that can front you the money but a lot people don't . This is about not making a tour cost any more then it has to.

Razor

27

General Discussion / Cycling on the Cheap . How low can you go?

« on: March 10, 2007, 11:00:29 pm »

Daryl for camping I was invited to camp on a front porch one rainy night . One night I slept in a baseball dugout " that could be a seasonal thing " another night I slept behind an abandoned factory . Another night I slept in a cemetery " a policeman had me more to a different part of the cemetery so the teenagers who came up to neck wouldn't run over me. Just some examples , I'm sure if you use imagination you can come up with many more.

Razor

28

General Discussion / Cycling on the Cheap . How low can you go?

« on: March 08, 2007, 11:11:44 pm »

  I will post a trip I went on when I was 18 . But I type so slowly that I keep getting timed out when I type it all in at once . So you're going to get episodes .
  For some reason I decided I was going to ride from Warren , Ohio to Ocean City N.J. about a 500 mile trip. I had a Raleigh Gran Prix . I put a rack on the back and bought a army surplus duffel bag and filled it with a large heavy cotton winter sleeping bag " it must have weighted 20 lbs " , a Boy Scout mess kit , a couple of changes of clothes , some underwear , a jar of peanut-butter and a loaf of bread , and a large piece of really heavy plastic sheeting . On the bike there was a water bottle , a road map , and for a tool kit there was a 6" adjustable wrench , a screw driver , and a pair of pliers.

Razor

29

General Discussion / Cycling on the Cheap . How low can you go?

« on: March 08, 2007, 10:40:36 pm »

 I was wondering if anyone would like to share their story / stories about their low cost bike tour either on their own or sponsored by someone . I know a lot of cyclists enjoy the high tech. gadgets for their own sake and I am glad you enjoy them But... The stuff can be expensive and if you read any of the books and magazines you come away believing that you have to spend at least $5,000 just on a bike and equipment . Well I Know it ain't so. I would like the stories to get out there so others know you don't have to chose between paying the rent and going on a bike trip .

Razor

30

General Discussion / Trobules with training

« on: March 06, 2007, 09:49:44 pm »

 Matt ,I don't know where you're going to school in Ohio but, check to see if there is a bike club . Somebody from the club might have a beater bike they would be willing to loan you. Some cyclists never get rid of their old bikes so its worth a shot . If you don't ask the answer is always no ,but if you do ask the answer might be yes .

Razor