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Messages - Rep

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46
Routes / Re: Route from Niagra Falls to Sault Ste. Marie
« on: February 23, 2009, 09:57:20 pm »
Hi
I live in west central Wisconsin, about 60 miles east of St. Paul, MN.  I would be 150 miles south of Duluth.

Yes, we get tornadoes in this area.  I do believe though that the farther north you go there is less chance of tornado activity.

Do check out the weather in the UP of Michigan.  I suspect you will learn it is not as big a deal as you may think.  My area, maybe, up north?  Less so.

47
Routes / Re: Rustic Tour of the Superior National Forest
« on: January 30, 2009, 07:19:18 pm »
Yea I know about the insect population. I`ve done 20+ trips in the BWCA. It`s certainly a consideration. Thanks, I`m still deciding. Any other recommendations for a week or two off road tour? I`ve looked into Maah Daah Hey.  and and I`m interested in Continental Divide. Anything else I should look at? Just wanting to get my feet wet for this touring thing

Why don't you give the MN dept of Tourism a call?  Maybe they have something specific to your trip.  I stopped at one of their roadside stands last fall and asked about bike trails.  I got more maps and info than I could handle.

48
Routes / Re: Rustic Tour of the Superior National Forest
« on: January 28, 2009, 11:14:07 pm »
I don't know about the Superior forest, but I can tell you I was in the UP last summer going through the Hiawatha NF, and I would suggest you take a lot of DEET, and smoke coils if you go before mid July. Some kid of screen house would help so you can avoid getting eaten alive by the skeeters. Campmor carries some lightweight screens for backpacking. I wish we would have taken those with us.

The only time we had peace was when we were moving. Once we got to a campsite, we built a smokey fire, ate around it, then went into our hammocks because those blood suckers were so thick.

I can't imagine Superior NF would be much different than the UP.

Well, when going into the Boundary Water Canoe Area, the skeeters step aside to allow the black flies to do the welcoming.

Point?  Plan for bugs.

49
Gear Talk / Re: Front Racks
« on: January 11, 2009, 09:36:06 pm »
What using a less expensive front rack for lighter equipment?

I will be pulling a BOB for most of my equipment, but may want a front rack for rain gear, packing some food items and other easy to get to type of equipment.  Any thoughts on using less expensive racks for this type of usage?

50
Routes / Beautiful Lake Superior
« on: December 03, 2008, 05:48:46 pm »
I know somebody that finished the circle tour last summer.  I will see if he will pop in and offer advice.

Where will you begin your trip?

Drink beer, gain weight.  Ride bike, lose weight.

51
Routes / Hwy 2 between Towner and Rugby west bound.
« on: August 23, 2008, 12:30:10 pm »
I have been following a couple as they tour east to west.  They happen to be in Rugby according to their last post over at crazy guy.

They may have an alternative or, they may comment on this issue as well.

This is where I am following Jean & Ross:  http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=3Tzut&doc_id=3251&v=mR


52
General Discussion / Newbie
« on: January 04, 2009, 09:40:21 am »
I check this site out daily and always learn something new.  I also go here:  http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/

You may want to check your states, Dept. of Transportation.  I know many states have some sort of bicycle information and is often found at the DOT sites.


53
General Discussion / route 66
« on: December 08, 2008, 07:41:19 pm »
Is Route 66 the, "Lincoln Highway"?

I live on a section of the, "Yellowstone Trail" a cross country route set up in the 1910-1930 period.

Drink beer, gain weight.  Ride bike, lose weight.

54
General Discussion / LA cycle it or take a lft past it?
« on: November 14, 2008, 11:52:43 am »
TY both for the question and the informative answer.  My son lives in El Segundo, a beach community south of LA X.  

I have been considering a ride out to visit him but thought he might need to pick me up out in an outer ring burb.

Can I assume that the same is true if I am heading down the coast from Washington?

Drink beer, gain weight.  Ride bike, lose weight.

55
General Discussion / What Touring bike would you suggest?
« on: November 08, 2008, 10:31:30 am »
      "REI still makes a decent touring machine in their Novara line. Ooops,
just checked, it seems to have been dropped. That doesn't mean you
can't find one in the back of the REI in your host city...."

REI still has the Novara Safari and is gearing up for their 2009 model as I understand.  This would be a reasonably priced bike that is well respected.  There are usually REI stores on larger cities that have a good reputation of service.

Drink beer, gain weight.  Ride bike, lose weight.

56
General Discussion / Tour Planning - Ten months out
« on: January 02, 2009, 09:09:40 am »
Thanks for the advice.  I do think I will pack the Whisper mainly because of fuel availability.  I can always try this and move to a Primus type stove later if I don't like the liquid fuel option.




57
General Discussion / Tour Planning - Ten months out
« on: January 01, 2009, 10:31:08 am »
Hi
Does anybody have any good sites they visit for menu ideas, food planning and tips?

I will want to cook at least one simple meal a day as well as some type of healthy snack with a restaurant meal thrown in as well.

The only purchase I really need to make yet is a stove.  I am thinking of the MSR Whisperlite International from REI.  Anybody use this one?

Thanks


58
General Discussion / Tour Planning - Ten months out
« on: December 27, 2008, 01:02:56 am »
staehpj1, wrote...

"I hope the bike and trailer work out well for you.  Have a great time touring!

Some shorter tours to learn are not a bad idea, but... They are not an absolute necessity.  You can do a long tour as a first tour if that works for you.  Three of us did a coast to coast with no real touring experience, but a lot of camping experience.  It worked out very well.

Short tours and long tours are an entirely different thing.  You may like one and not the other.  I love to be on the road, but tours of less than a week just aren't that much fun to me.  I'd rather do day rides than do a weekend tour.  My point is that you should keep an open mind if you try a short tour and don't like it much.  You may still like the cross country type experience."

In the months since I began this thread, the above by staehpj1 has become increasingly apparent.

I have spent my time and money learning more about touring as well as developing a plan to upgrade bikes and equipment.

I think this spring I will take three short tours in WI & MN.  Two will accumulate 4-500 miles each with another that will stretch to 150 miles.  That will be my shake down.

I may have an opportunity to be dropped off out west and ride bake to WI later in the summer.

I continue to ride this winter, but the reasons are different from touring but do keep me on the bike each day.


59
General Discussion / Tour Planning - Ten months out
« on: November 06, 2008, 07:52:13 pm »
Well, equipment is coming together.  I found an REI Novara Safari on Craig's list.  It was purchased new last May and I got it for $475.00

Then, on e-bay I found a BOB that was delivered yesterday.

So things are coming together and it is time to decide where to go.

I may do some statewide or regional tours next summer then plan a long 6 week type tour that next year.

Of course, I want to head out tomorrow.  That would be in a snowstorm I guess.  Not the best idea.

Drink beer, gain weight.  Ride bike, lose weight.

60
General Discussion / Tour Planning - Ten months out
« on: September 10, 2008, 10:21:32 pm »
OK

TY for all of the encouragement.

My wife and I were almost killed on Sunday night at the intersection of I94, I694 and the beginning of I494 in St. Paul, MN.

Long story short, our car was stopped in traffic.  Big Pickup, the kind so big it needs four wheels on the back hauling a twenty foot trailer skidded up behind us, swerved, crossed into the medium strip, bounced a great deal and landed in the other two lane highway facing the wrong way.

On Monday I told Lavonne, I am biking to Washington state.  Life is short.

Now, how do I go about considering head winds?

- Do I want to start in western Wisconsin and head west?  (My preference.)

- Do I fly to Washington and ride back?

-  Do I bike to Washington and bike back?  (Total time may be an issue.)

My real question is where do I find real data, not opinion on head winds?

TY  

Drink beer, gain weight.  Ride bike, lose weight.

This message was edited by Rep on 9-10-08 @ 7:22 PM

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