Messages

16

Gear Talk / Re: Wi Fi and charging points on GD

« on: March 12, 2011, 01:28:05 am »

Re SIM card for unlocked phone, I suggest you check here:

http://www.usasims.com/comparison.html

Coming from Germany, I've had the card sent to the motel I stayed at upon arrival and activated it then.  Since I mainly text my family (due to time difference), I picked a provider that had good rates for international texting.  On the Sierra Cascade the coverage (Red Pocket Mobile runs on AT&T net) was a little spotty but overall good enough.  As Staeph says, it's probably even spottier on the GD.  I've also heard that Verizon has best coverage, but at the time they were way too expensive for international texting. 
Happy trails!  Susan

17

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Re: Good multi-sport GPS unit?

« on: February 17, 2011, 02:34:50 am »

Hi Folks!
I'm very happy with my Garmin Oregon 550t, altho the maps that are preloaded on my "t" version are very basic and fairly useless.  I bought the DVDs for City Navigator NT Europe (where I live) and CN USA NT as well as the Topo USA DVD. 
Then I have Europe and US on separate 4GB microSD cards that I exchange when I travel. 
This unit has been fine in heavy rain, the battery life is about 11 to 15 hours, depending on your settings. 
The touchscreen is fine for navigating through the menu, but to enter an address, for ex., I do have to remove my heavy gloves.
Happy trails!  Susan

18

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Re: Is this the thread for choosing I/smartphones

« on: February 17, 2011, 02:10:20 am »

L:
When touring in the US (I live in Germany) I used to buy a prepaid like Tracphone or Virgin Mobile which were just fine if you only need phone service ( used mine mainly for texting).  Later, I wanted a phone I could also use for internet access.  If you travel to foreign countries now and then and want to buy a smartphone, IMHO it makes sense to buy an UNLOCKED 4-band phone you can use anywhere in the world. (I suggest researching this at amazon.uk) Then you buy a prepaid sim card from the country you are going to and you just have to switch the sim cards. 
I ordered my SIM here and had it before I left Germany - just had to activate it upon arrival in the US:
 
 http://www.usasims.com/comparison.html

At the time I chose a Nokia E71, similar to a Blackberry, paid about 170 Euros.  The display is small, but OK for googling - not so great for extensive browsing.  I chose it due to the good battery life as opposed to phones with larger screens.  On my Sierra Cascade tour I also carried an extra phone battery (13€), not knowing how often I would be able to recharge.  I use a 16GB microSD with this and have all my music and contacts on it. 

I prefer having a separate GPS and am going to take a solar charger on my next tour.

Cheers!   Susan

19

General Discussion / Re: TRANSPORTING A BIKE ON A BUS

« on: November 28, 2010, 02:04:42 pm »

My bike and I once travelled from Reno NV to Spokane WA on a Greyhound.  Bikes will only be accepted if packed in a box - took care of that at a bike shop and had to go by taxi ($$) from bike shop to bus station.  Spent 3 miserable days/nights in the full and cramped bus - there were plenty of pit stops at gas stations and fast food places - out of boredom I spent a fortune on snacks and gained 4 lbs., felt really gross by the time I got to Spokane.  After adding up all my expenses, flying with bike would've been cheaper and much more comfortable. 
Good luck!  Cheers!  Susan

20

Gear Talk / Re: Panniers for recumbent touring.

« on: November 18, 2010, 03:31:15 am »

What a coincidence!  I was just researching same topic - I ordered a recumbent trike yesterday (ICE Adventure) and am relishing the task of setting things up for touring!  Packweight is an important issue for me - on my Sierra Cascade Tour this past summer, I carried no more than 15kg/33lbs., including camping, cooking and a netbook.  My gear is fairly light because I do semi-light backpacking too.

On my upright I use Ortlieb Back Roller Plus Panniers (1680g/3lbs,11oz) in combination with 3 Ortlieb Packsack XS (each 240g/8oz),  2 strapped onto fork and one on the back rack (as seen on my CGOAB journal, "Bama's Sierra Cascade"). 
Total weight:  2400g/5lbs,3oz
Total volume:  Back Roller Plus Set 40 Liter + Packsack 3 x 8 Liter = 64 Liter. 
These panniers and sacks are all totally waterproof and there is no need for additional rain covers.  I really dislike rain covers and rain gear in general.

Ortlieb Recumbent Panniers: (waterproof!)
Total weight:  3100g/6lbs,8oz
Total volume:  54 Liter

Arkel  RT Series Bags:  (water resistant!)
Total weight:  2800g/6lbs,1oz
Total volume:  60 Liter

For now, I have decided to stick with my Back Roller Plus set in combination with an Ortlieb Rack-Pack Size M (760g/1 lb,7oz, 31 Liter) on top. 
Total weight:  2440g/5lbs,4oz.
Total volume:  71 Liter

I hope this solution works for me since it's also the least expensive.
Have fun planning and keep us posted as to what you decide.
Happy trails,  Susan

21

General Discussion / Re: Can I do it?

« on: October 25, 2010, 01:17:04 pm »

I've done the ST twice in Febr. and March east to west and experienced very strong headwinds both tours on most days starting in central Texas.  Riders going the other direction were flying and I was really fighting it.  I chose to ride that direction because I wanted to end up with my sister's family in Phoenix.  Next time I will visit first and then ride eastbound.
Cheers!  Susan

22

General Discussion / Re: Shrink wrapping your bike for flights

« on: October 24, 2010, 02:39:28 am »

Past summer my bike and I flew from Hamburg to Vancouver with BA. 
I had always used a box but wanted to try something different this time.  I put extra padding on senstive areas and shifted into the smallest gear so that the derailleur would be positioned toward the inside of the bike.   Then I wrapped the entire bike in a couple layers of bubble foil using lots of tape. 

I had all of my other gear packed in a cardboard box (my one piece of luggage) and paid 49 Euros for the bike.
It didn't take me long to just unpack the bike and ride away from the airport to my motel.   I suppose it was easier to dispose of the plastic wrapping at the airport than it would have been to get rid of the box.
Upon arrival the derailleur was bent a little - I had to seek out a bike shop. 

I also found it much easier to handle the bike in a box.
Happy trails!  Susan

23

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Re: GPS - which maps for Sierra Cascade Route?

« on: May 25, 2010, 01:19:36 am »

Thank you, Fred!  You confirm what I suspected - that the 24K scale is too detailed for cycling.  I will get the 100K topo map - I am interested in locating small streams and water sources because I plan to carry water purification tablets, maybe also my Steripen.  Now and then I like to camp in the wilds.
Susan

24

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / GPS - which maps for Sierra Cascade Route?

« on: May 24, 2010, 06:41:01 am »

Hi Folks! 
Last winter I did a modified Southern Tier - my first tour using GPS. I'd never go again without! I also carried the ACA maps and state maps and would never depend solely on an electronic device.  My unit is a Garmin Oregon 550t and I used the City Navigator NT for USA and Canada.  On this tour I did alot of meandering and didn't use the waypoints - I mainly just turned the unit on when getting near town for locating services and as an aid for calculating distances.   
Now I have the fantastic ACA Sierra Cascade Maps, hoping to do the tour this summer.  I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile getting some topo maps.  I live in Germany and can purchase from Garmin either the Topo US 100K as DVD or micro SD  or the Topo US West 24K for WA, OR, CA, NV as DVD. 
I can't determine what benefit I would have from more detail than on the City Navigator. The elevation profiles on the paper maps looks sufficient for planning the daily stretch I will ride.   Does anyone know if the 100K or 24K Topo Maps also contain all the POI info - camgrounds, motels, etc.??   I understand that the Oregon 550 is compatible with non-Garmin map sources.
Thanks in advance for advice on this!   Susan

25

General Discussion / Bear Canister on Sierra Cascade Tour?

« on: May 16, 2010, 02:11:50 am »

Hi Folks!
Yesterday the maps finally arrived - thank you ACA for doing such a fantastic job!!  What a tour this will be!  Don't know if I will be able to go this summer or next, but right now, looking out the window where I live in Germany, the rain is blowing horizontally and for May it is really cold! - well, checking out the maps will sure help me get through the day!!
In addition to my passion for cycle touring I am a JMT-Junkie and into semi-light backpacking - getting lighter every year!  These two sports really complement each other and my gear is just about the same for both.  I have a Bearikade Weekender carbon fiber bear canister that weighs about 2lbs. and also makes a nice camp stool. I have a good set-up to secure it on my back rack and it would replace a waterproof Ortlieb stuff sack that weighs 220g, about 1/2lb.  I'm aware that the campgrounds in areas where bears are an issue have bear boxes, and (for the company) I mainly stay at campgrounds and motels, but I am not opposed to stealth camping if I discover a really good spot and I am for some reason not inclined to ride on to the next campground.   
Hiking the JMT, the only time I have ever seen a bear was at the backpackers campground at Tuolumne Meadows where one stole my neighbor's sandwich off her table.   
Would it be an overkill to pack the bear canister?  I would really appreciate any thoughts on this! 
Cheers!  Susan

26

General Discussion / Re: Fly a bicycle Sweden-US-Sweden

« on: February 22, 2010, 01:55:53 pm »

Hi Monica,
I live in Germany and have taken my bike on planes a number of times - this Saturday I fly Air Berlin from Hamburg to Fort Myers, Florida - going to connect with the Southern Tier and ride westbound -YIPPEE!!
I would never ever tour without my own bike that fits well and has been set up by me to meet my personal demands.  Spare parts should not be a concern in the USA. 
The only time I had a little damage (to a shifter lever) in transport was when I did a lousy, hasty job of packing it up coming home. 
Before I leave, I take my bike for an inspection and ask them to save as large a box as possible for me for when I come back to pick it up.   They usually give me a box that is so big that I just have to take off the front wheel, wrap it in bubble foil, put the seat down, turn the handlebars longwise, remove the pedals and let some air out of the tires.  They give me a plastic spacer to fit into the fork for protection.  I then put all of my gear including the panniers, helmet, clothing, tent, sleeping bag, etc. in the empty spaces in the carton. I take a roll of tape along in case they ask me to open the box for inspection.
Upon returning I have always gotten a box from a local bike shop - called before going there or asked ahead of time - and only once I had to pay for the box (in Spain).
Most airlines have charged me around US$100 one way to ship the bike to or from the USA, except the german companies, Air Berlin and Condor.
They charge 25 Euros one way and don't specify the size of the box, just a 30 KG weight limit.  That is no problem for me, since my entire rig fully loaded (including the box)weighs less than that - I always try to go light.  Of course, you have luggage allowance and can check in a piece of luggage (some old bag or garbage sack) that you can throw away upon arrival).
Air Berlin flies (at least in the summer) to San Francisco twice weekly for around 350€ from several german cities - their website is also in English if you want to check.   
Good luck and have a great time!!  Susan

27

General Discussion / Re: Biking San Diego to Pheniox Tire Question

« on: January 24, 2010, 02:33:29 am »

Schwalbe Marathon Plus!

28

General Discussion / Re: On the Southern Tier

« on: January 21, 2010, 01:21:40 am »

Hey Westinghouse!  sorry you've run into such cold weather in Arizona!  Re all your flats, I know you have participated in an exchange about tires already, but I just have to say:  Schwalbe Marathon PLUS - I did the entire Southern Tier through all the wires and thorns and debris without a single flat.  Re your Route via Tucson - did you go on the I-10 up to Tucson? and if so, would you please tell me where you entered it - thanks!  On my previous tour I rode the I-10 shoulders for a quite a stretch in Texas and loved it, except for the rough surface.  And I had the feeling that the truckers were even happy to see me.
Keep on truckin' and keep us posted!  Susan

29

General Discussion / Re: travel insurance for a cross country trip - uk cyclists

« on: December 22, 2009, 02:22:35 pm »

Ouch!  300 pounds sounds really expensive to me - I live in Germany - when I travel outside the country for more than 45 days then I insure myself thru the major automobile club here, ADAC - I am not even a member.  If you are under 27 years old, it costs 36 Euros/32 pounds/US$ 51 for 2 months, a little more if you are older.  Of course the price depends upon what is exactly covered but you should be able to find something better.  Here many banks also offer reasonable travel insurance deals.    Good luck!  Susan

30

General Discussion / Re: NEED ADVICE FROM SEASONED/CRAFTY VETERANS

« on: December 13, 2009, 02:24:57 am »

Re the tent, I LOVE my MSR Hubba!! - it is lightweight, roomy and freestanding (can be quickly set up in a spot as big as your sleeping pad and has no long lines to trip over) - great for backpacking as well.  Before hiking the JMT this summer I bought a Thermarest Neo Air - it's GREAT!  Weighs a pound, can be folded or rolled up any way you need it to fit - it is not self-inflating, but after only takes about 45 puffs which you should still have in you after a day on the roadl  Inflated it is about 2,5 in.thick - insulates well and makes it possible to sleep on surfaces that would just be too uncomfortable with other pads.  Expensive yes, but the comfort really helps enjoying camping without a weight and volume penalty - saves money on motels!   Good luck!