Messages

16

Routes / Re: Southern Tier in March of 2013

« on: November 06, 2012, 11:34:54 am »

Not sure why you would event think about not using full coverage fenders. They are light and cheap and make things much more pleasant when the roads are wet (which they will be at some point). Two things I can almost guarantee is that you will be caught out in the wet and that you will get caught out in the dark....use good lights too!

17

General Discussion / Re: Advice needed!!!

« on: November 06, 2012, 11:29:35 am »

If you have no previous bike touring experience I would highly recommend doing one or more short trips, even if just overnight, to work out the details of how to pack and how to do things. And basically, the same stuff you take on a week long trip will suffice to ride across the country imho.

18

General Discussion / Re: Tire Pressure

« on: November 06, 2012, 11:20:02 am »

Here is one expert's take on tire pressure: http://www.bikequarterly.com/images/BQTireDrop.pdf

hmmmm, I just re-read that article and realized that front tire pressure and rear tire pressure can/should be different. My linear way of thinking made me miss that. I've always been careful to have equal pressure in both tires. Must experiment.

19

Gear Talk / Re: Panniers - dry bag vs. traditional

« on: October 04, 2012, 10:20:46 am »

Racktime panniers are well made, use the Ortlieb attachment system, have integrated rain covers, have more exterior pockets than Ortlieb dry bags and are very reasonably priced. Racktime is a Tubus sister company  but they are made in China.

20

General Discussion / Re: Overcoming butt pain

« on: October 04, 2012, 10:15:46 am »

A leather saddle will give good support with most of the pressure on the sit bones, not on the soft tissues. Leather starts out firm but has some give or spring immediately and the leather softens with use conforming to the anatomy. Finding the right shape and width is the challenge....a wider saddle generally works best with an upright  riding position when more weight is on the saddle. Correct saddle height becomes more important with a leather saddle. I don't think it's reasonable to assume there is any saddle one can ride without getting off once in a while or shifting weight around. I can't sit in my arm chair indefinitely without changing positions once in a while. But there shouldn't be any "pain"

21

Gear Talk / Re: Surly Disc Trucker v. LHT

« on: July 18, 2012, 08:17:19 pm »

After writing my recent post on the Disc Trucker I realized I could not come up with a lot of downsides. As to the fork's ability to withstand the disc brake forces I will say that even though the Surly crew bolsters the image of being a bunch of beer swillin' yahoos, they have top notch engineers.

22

Gear Talk / Re: Bike Shorts

« on: July 09, 2012, 11:17:58 am »

There are three brands I like: Endura, Endura and Endura

23

Routes / Re: Route Advise Needed: Across Idaho

« on: May 11, 2012, 04:10:36 pm »

I would discourage you from riding from Banks to Horseshoe Bend (as suggested in another reply) or any part of 55 between Boise and McCall. You will probably get run over. That is a scary road to drive in a car. Your original idea of taking 20 to 84 at Mountain Home would work- highway 20 would not be too bad on a bike (traffic wise). From Mountain Home look at the Oregon Trail Back Country Byway which is largely dirt but well graded.

24

General Discussion / Re: Is the ST Near Mexico Safe?

« on: May 07, 2012, 02:48:36 pm »

I rode from Midland Texas down to Big Bend and across the Southern Tier to Austin in 2010. I rode from Austin to Baton Rouge last year. Always felt completely safe (except in cajun country). There are 20,000 border patrol employees in the US and I think most of them must work in Texas. There are more of those trucks than any other vehicle. And Nuevo Laredo is a long way from the Southern Tier. If one is looking for trouble they will be able to find it anywhere. No fear mongering! 

25

General Discussion / Re: Must have iPhone apps

« on: February 17, 2012, 02:45:13 pm »

AllStays Camp and Tent

26

General Discussion / Re: Camping Site Identifications for Maps (Continental Divide)

« on: November 01, 2011, 11:13:50 am »

I have been using the Camp and Tent App for iphone, ipad and droid. It works well and is intuitive. Includes links to more info about the listed sites. You can filter results for tent only, rv park, state park, forest service,etc.
http://biketouringnews.com/other-stuff/tent-camping-app/

27

Gear Talk / Re: Your Portable Repair Kit - What's Inside?!

« on: October 06, 2011, 11:39:47 pm »

I always carry the Unior cassette lockring tool.
http://biketouringnews.com/bike-stuff/unior-cassette-lockring-tool/

28

General Discussion / Re: Great Music For My Tour? Suggestions?

« on: October 06, 2011, 11:28:09 pm »

Metal or punk for the climbs
  Red Fang
  Who Rides The Tiger
  The Pogues

Delta blues
  Johnny Shines
  John Hammond Jr.
  John Mooney

I listened to REM's Dead Letter Office on the last tour.
 
 

29

General Discussion / Re: How cold should I expect?

« on: July 08, 2011, 01:24:07 pm »

I like touring with my Hennessy Hammock. With the Supershelter insulation system I have been relatively comfortable sleeping down to 25 degrees F. Now I see they have a bubble pad to go with the system for a little extra insulation. The whole package still weighs less than a tent and sleeping pad, and I think it's more comfy. The downsides are -finding a place to hang the hammock and -the hammock is not that great for just hanging out (no pun intended).

30

General Discussion / Re: Nightly Accomodations & Bicycle Traffic

« on: June 21, 2011, 01:10:52 pm »

Sign up at warmshowers dot org.  Most Rv parks will have tent sites and can be pretty cheap ($7-$10) with laundry and showers. Some even have coin op showers you can use whether or not you stay there. And people will talk to you when you are traveling by bike. So be open and ask where to stay. You might be surprised. A lot of times people will offer a place to stay without even asking.