Messages

16

General Discussion / Re: Cycle greeting etiquette mystery?

« on: July 26, 2011, 07:23:25 pm »

Lol. Thank you for lovely responses. Note to self:
Rude cyclist is:
wannabe racer with delusions of grandeur, or
smitten by my womanly shapes, or
mistook bike path for a velodrome, or
never seen a woman on bike, or
should be forgiven if looks hot in lycra 

I agree with everyone - I never felt that courtesy is a wrong thing to do!

17

General Discussion / Cycle greeting etiquette mystery?

« on: July 26, 2011, 01:41:31 am »

Do you acknowledge other cyclists? Passing a fellow cyclist on a path, I used to do OK. Tip my helmet, smile, wave a hand to an especially gorgeous fellow…that is until yesterday when a spandex-clad roadie blew past me screaming “keep-both-your-hands-on-bar(handle?stool?)”.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a man in spandex …but his reaction got me wondering…is there a special cycle greeting etiquette that I am missing on? Any thoughts? Suggestions?

As always, thanks for sharing, and Happy Riding to All!

Lexie

18

General Discussion / Best seat for your butt

« on: July 25, 2011, 11:14:22 pm »

Hey Everyone:

Gearing up for a cycling tour, and in need of a uber comfortable bicycle seat. Something that would make my derriere feel like riding on a cloud...
Any recommendations? (Nappy cream and glute lube have been considered and discarded )

Thanks and Happy Riding!
Lexie

19

General Discussion / Re: Your top 5 things to take on tour

« on: July 19, 2011, 09:43:32 pm »

For most people, thinking too hard about what they might leave out is a sure way to overpack.

Study existing packing lists. There are hundreds of them on the web, including a pretty comprehensive one right here on the ACA site.

Don't take everything on anybody's list. Also, tailor your list to the location and weather you expect there at the time you are going.

Thank you for the link and the words of wisdom. This is really good advice.

20

General Discussion / Re: Leaving tomorrow!

« on: July 19, 2011, 09:42:02 pm »

I love it when a man talks dirty about his bike . I'll definitely check out your blog, Mike
Have fun, keep warm!

21

General Discussion / Re: Your top 5 things to take on tour

« on: July 19, 2011, 09:36:59 pm »

Just make sure the funnel is in the bottle or it gets  messy

Shane:
You are being very naughty indeed!

22

General Discussion / Re: Your top 5 things to take on tour

« on: July 19, 2011, 09:35:42 pm »

About the charger, something that I use is Spinpower S1 device

Hi Lexiecali.  The charger sounds a great idea - I didn't know such things existed. 

My next trip will probably be in September - to Germany, starting in or near Koblenz to cycle the Moselle valley and returning alongside the Rhine.

I think there's a string running at the moment about spirit stoves - might be worth a look.

Incidentally, I did not know about a charger either but I thought something like this must exist! That was when my iPhone died - I was running an app, and forgot to turn off the screen - and I was lost, wanted to use GPS, call someone to ask. So I got a little scared...and I started looking. Found Nokia's first but I do not have a Nokia. Then I looked into ewerk, reecharge, and pedal power (you may want to check them out too) but they were battery packs that also needed to be charged. And where would I find a power source in the middle of the tour?

You know what? - I am going to find my Garmin, I think I still have it, and see if it fits into Spinpower holder. I will upload a pic for you later.

Your next tour sounds like so much fun! I want to go to Europe on a tour but my budget is a little thin right now. Have fun!

I will check out the string on stoves, thank you for that too.

23

General Discussion / Re: What I Learned - My First Long Distance Tour

« on: July 18, 2011, 01:26:40 am »

3075 miles? This is impressive. Thanks for the tips. I am actually gearing up for my first 2-week tour, and been collecting tips. In fact, good maps are my foremost concern. Looking for some interactive maps I can upload into my iphone at the moment.

24

General Discussion / Re: Your top 5 things to take on tour

« on: July 18, 2011, 01:18:34 am »

The bottle

The bottle? LOL. In my case, that would be the bottle with the funnel

25

General Discussion / Re: How do you train for a long tour?

« on: July 17, 2011, 12:17:58 am »

I have been getting in shape for a longish tour. My regiment:
Interval running 45 minutes  for stamina - 2 times a week
Weights 1 hour to 1.5 hours for strength - 3 times a week
Power Yoga to get the kinks out the joints and prevent injury  - 1 time a week
Interval cycling - 2-3 times per week

I also went through and finished the P90X program a month ago. Kicks anybody's butt, and real deal too.

Good job on those TV training sessions! Keep working on that aim. 

26

General Discussion / Re: Your top 5 things to take on tour

« on: July 17, 2011, 12:05:03 am »

Didn't use most of the spare clothing I took - but then it was only four days and three nights. Could have done with a collapsible water carrier for the campsites.Took two stoves to test  - most impressed with the trangia.  Took a "FreeLoader" solar energy unit to recharge phone and Garmin.

Hi Tuneupgilly:
Interestingly, I also find that I end up wearing a lot less clothes that I pack. Thanks for sharing your observation. Collapsible water carrier is something that did not occur to me. Also, trangia stove is something to consider. I have not found a stove so far that I actually like.

About the charger, something that I use is Spinpower S1 device (sold at bike2power.com and I think at amazon.com as well?), and I love it so far. It is a bicycle-mounted USB charger that charges anything that you can charge via USB. What I like about it the most is its dependability as well as my independence from an available electrical source. It captures your pedaling power, and charges your devices as you ride. I use it for my iphone, (used it for my small garmin GPS also, but now I have enough power to run GPS on my iphone), and previously used for my HTC smart phone. Solar energy chargers are not very efficient, even for me living in Southern California, and the battery packs depend on electricity, which is like dealing with another battery.

I am definitely going to update - leaving in a few weeks once the semester is over, and going to travel over the beautiful PCH along the coast. I am so excited!

27

General Discussion / Re: Your top 5 things to take on tour

« on: July 16, 2011, 11:48:11 pm »

Shower brush.

Really?  I don't remember seeing that one on anyone's list before.

What is a shower brush may I ask?

28

General Discussion / Re: Your top 5 things to take on tour

« on: July 16, 2011, 11:45:55 pm »

I just bought a Kindle to take. I guess you could debate whether that is essential or not.

Debatable or not, Kindle comes to my tour!

29

General Discussion / Re: Your top 5 things to take on tour

« on: July 14, 2011, 03:41:12 pm »

When are you off Lexiecali?

I am leaving in a couple of weeks once the semester is over. I have also been on a few small tours, but have never ventured out more than 3 days in a row.

30

General Discussion / Your top 5 things to take on tour

« on: July 08, 2011, 09:52:09 pm »

Hey everyone:

I am going on a leisure tour along the West Coast (USA), and wondering what are the most important things/gear to take on a cycling tour. It seems every time I pack, I miss something important, and then..."what didn't I think of this?!!!" moment repeat over and over.
So I am wondering what is your top 5 things (or 10) that are your must-haves on bicycling tours? Please share. Maybe I will learn something about prioritizing  

Thanks and Happy Pedaling!
Lexie

UPDATE!!!
Thank you all about for being so generous about sharing your experience. And thank you for all the brilliant suggestions – I truly appreciate them. Going through all the posts again, I picked out the suggestions I thought were the most useful and also the ones that were simply charmingly odd. What do you think? Anything else to add?

Useful
Comprehensive packing list http://www.adventurecycling.org/features/packing.cfm
Keeping checklists based on previous trips
Collapsible water carrier for the campsites (still looking for a good one)
SpinPower bicycle phone charger www.bike2power.com
Trangia Spirit Stove http://amzn.to/nyxUkH
Leatherman-type tool – found a great one Topeak Alien II 26-function http://amzn.to/n4PByT
Cyclist’s wallet www.bicyclegifts.com
Kindle http://amzn.to/romvXf
Primus cooker (not sure about how to transport the gas)

Charmingly Odd (but still useful)
Gorilla Tape http://bit.ly/rtFBGS
Spork
Telescopic Shower brush - link anyone?
The Bottle http://bit.ly/nN5WnI
The Bottle with Funnel – finally, a link from Shane http://www.go-girl.com
(All hail) the chamois towel!
Remote-controlled handle bar mirror – is there such a thing?
Spare soles (for feet, not shoes?)
Patience and attitude
Not losing your partner (or your temper)