Messages

31

General Discussion / Re: Finding Home Stays

« on: May 09, 2012, 09:16:31 am »

Check out Warrmshowers.org it is like minded bicycle tourists and those who support the touring concept who open their home, yards, kitchens etc. to cycling tourists. They have thousand's of members worldwide who are dedicated to helping cyclists. I've never heard any complaints about the organization and it gets rave reviews from fellow cyclists.

32

General Discussion / Re: How many cloths for a tour?

« on: May 05, 2012, 02:05:46 am »

I just finished a trial packing of my clothes, shoes and toilet items for a pacific northwest trip in June. I use light to mid-weight hiking/outdoor gear for in town wear and to supplement as some base layer riding gear. With the exception of bike shorts of which I packed two pairs (for reasons stated by Carol) and one riding jersey.

Off bike shoes are Crocs which are surprisingly light and comfortable, light weight but high quality rain jacket serves dual purpose on/off bike. Synthetic base layer long sleeve tee shirt and short sleeve tee, light weight fleece jacket and zip-off leg shorts. One pair undershorts, two pair socks.

My entire kit including toiletries easily fits in a single small Ortlieb Sport Packer front pannier and including the pannier weighs in at approx. 8 lbs. Note:(this weight and packing space does not count one set of the above clothes as you will always be wearing something.

33

General Discussion / Re: Bike Shipping Info.

« on: May 05, 2012, 01:30:49 am »

Unfortunately I picked a bad airline (United) who has too expensive baggage rates for bicycles. BTW I did recently locate a warmshowers host who will take FedEx delivery of our bikes. In any event thanks to all for the info.

34

General Discussion / Re: New Reality Show About Racing

« on: May 03, 2012, 09:25:41 am »

My guess is the bicycles will be of more interest than the participants but who knows?

35

General Discussion / Bike Shipping Info.

« on: May 01, 2012, 08:19:32 pm »

I Will be Fed Xing two bicycles to San Francisco Fishermans Warf area. Can anyone recommend a bike shop That will receive and hold my bikes for a few days (for a fee) of course. The closer to the Fort Mason Hostel the better.

36

General Discussion / Vancouver BC to Seattle Route

« on: April 24, 2012, 08:08:04 pm »

Will be biking from Vancouver BC to Seattle around first of June and I have extra time to sightsee. Is it preferable to travel to Vancouver Is. down to Victoria and work my way down thru the islands via the San Juans and into Anacortes. I will take the extra time if the islands route is more scenic than the Adventure Cycling route which follows the coast.

37

General Discussion / Re: Gear Noise

« on: April 23, 2012, 07:46:11 pm »

Thanks for the feedback but I happened to be looking at my derailluer and noticed it had an obvious twist to the outside of the chain line. (opposite of when it gets bent inward from a fall on the right side). I don't know how or when this happened. I replaced my derailluer hanger and my noise problem was gone.

38

General Discussion / Gear Noise

« on: April 20, 2012, 08:12:37 pm »

Just put a SRAM PG970 11-32 cassette PC971 chain and a Shimano STX derailleur on my bike. All three are new from the box. Shifters are STI and a year old. All shifts up and down are smooth an there is no unusual noise in any gear except the middle (5th) gear which happens to be my favorite gear. There is a tick which is in time with my cadence and and the level of noise increases with peddle effort. When my peddling decreases the ticking stops. Even the best tuning of the rear dérailleur won't remove the noise. My LBS mechanic (who I have complete confidence) tells me the ticking will disappear with use. I guess I can live with the noise or work around it by using my large chain ring but I'm wondering if I just have a finicky component.

39

General Discussion / Re: Bridge travel San Francisco area

« on: April 12, 2012, 01:23:48 pm »

Thanks Fred, I didn't think to check CDOT. Lesson learned.

40

General Discussion / Bridge travel San Francisco area

« on: April 12, 2012, 12:14:08 am »

Are bicycles permitted on the George Miller Jr. Memorial bridge between Benicia and Martinez? If so is it safe for bike travel?

41

Gear Talk / Suitability of Shimano Tourney Derailluer

« on: April 10, 2012, 09:29:52 pm »

Needed a long cage derailluer for a larger cassette swap and was given a new Shimano Tourney TZ 50. As it is a "cheap" derailluer I'm wondering if it is a waste of time installing/using it. Also all on-line info says this is for 6 or 7 speed bikes. Will it even work on my 9 speed?

42

Gear Talk / Re: Derailleur compatibility lower gears

« on: March 12, 2012, 11:00:53 pm »

Thanks for the info. I will try the 11/32. As I am just beginning to learn my way around the mechanics of bikes, I would like to try the swap myself. Any helpful hints would be appreciated.

43

Gear Talk / Derailleur compatibility lower gears

« on: March 11, 2012, 10:16:54 pm »

My wife's bike seems to be perfect with one exception. It needs lower gearing. She only carries about 25 lbs of gear and generally speaking we are flat landers with the exception of some hills. Her current set-up is Tiagra front and rear dérailleurs and a Tiagra crank with 50/34 rings. Rear cassette is a 25/12. Although our style of riding does not require super low gearing, she has problems with hills and bridges and needs to go lower than where she is now. I believe the primary limiting factor is her Tiagra dérailleurs. What is the lowest front and rear rings/sprockets her current derailluers will handle.

44

Gear Talk / Chain Length

« on: March 10, 2012, 08:17:53 pm »

I just put on a new SRAM 971 chain and expected to need to remove at couple of links. To my surprise the new chain was the exact length of my existing chain. I have 440 mm chain stays and did not think that was overly long. I have a triple ring in the front (50 tooth is largest) and my largest rear sprocket is 32 teeth. I would think there are alot of bikes out there that would requie a longer chain. Just curious, is my situation unusual? Also the new chain has a grease type lube, can I ride it as is. What if I change to my dry lube can I just add it now and go. I would not think the two are compatable.

45

General Discussion / Re: Pacing on a long distance ride

« on: March 09, 2012, 08:51:47 pm »

As can be seen from the variety of responses this is a popular topic. I have found the primary consideration is your level of fitness. It always amazes me how as a trip wears on you become noticeably stronger and how quickly your body adapts. I think the best rule of thumb is to allow your body to tell you what it can endure and put out. Mind over matter will work in the short run but then reality kicks in. One rule that seems to work for me as far as distance or time in the saddle is, whatever distance you normally ride day to day you can add 1/3 to it without pushing your limits. It is interesting how dead on this seems for my wife and I.