Messages

31

General Discussion / Re: TOURING AFTER COVID

« on: February 01, 2021, 08:02:11 pm »

What i am wondering about is, is there a set up or a bike that is electric that is specifically designed to accommodate the unique requirements of a touring bike.

The professional bike testers that write for Adventure Cycling magazine put the Riese & Müller Superdelite e-assist touring bike in the "Road Test Hall of Fame".  It's $8200.

(A Honda Ruckus 50cc motorscooter is $2750.)

For the unique requirements of cycletouring, consider the recharging protocol.  An e-bike battery takes 4~8 hours to recharge, and long-range touring e-bikes like the Riese & Müller Superdelite or Specialized Turbo Vader SL Range Extender ($5200) have two batteries.  This will dictate nightly stops at motels, AirBNBs or established campsites with electric service (NTTAWWT).

32

General Discussion / Re: Mask mandate - National Parks, Monuments, Forests

« on: January 28, 2021, 04:32:06 pm »

As a practical matter, I'd ride through all the above with a mask in a baggie in my jersey pocket or bag bar.  If I were stopped, I'd turn around and let the cop see me pulling the baggie out of my pocket as they approached.  Only the a-holes are going to give you grief on an open road.

Calm, rational and reasonable.  What are you doing on the Internet?   

33

Gear Talk / Re: Rohloff SpeedHub

« on: January 27, 2021, 10:37:26 am »

...the Gates drive...As you are aware you have to have a connector on your chain stay in order to be able to replace the belt (if it ever needs to be replaced)

There is now the Veer Belt Drive.  With the Veer system, the belt is split, not the frame stay.  I've read a couple of reviews but don't know anything further.

34

General Discussion / Mask mandate - National Parks, Monuments, Forests

« on: January 26, 2021, 02:19:07 pm »

Masks now required while cycling in/through National Parks, Monuments and Forests*?  I think so.  What's your take?

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-protecting-the-federal-workforce-and-requiring-mask-wearing/



*on Forest Service roads, not public highways.

35

General Discussion / Re: Daytime Lights in Montana

« on: January 26, 2021, 02:12:50 pm »

...this past fall I purchased one of the Garmin Varia radar tail-lights and I completely love it.

After a thread on Bike Forums full of enthusiastic, glowing recommendations for the Varia this past fall, I asked Santa for one.  Santa said I hadn't been nearly good enough for a $400 tail light.  Sigh.  Apparently, I wasn't a total reprobate during 2020, though, because I found a fresh 9V battery for my Belt Beacon in my stocking.

On a more serious note, what's our resident cyclinglawyers' take on the Montana bill?  Flashing lights meet the requirements, or must they burn solid?

36

General Discussion / Re: Daytime Lights in Montana

« on: January 26, 2021, 01:45:18 pm »

Adventure Cycling is headquartered in Missoula, Montana.  Raise your hand if you know why this out-of-the way place with long, snowy winters was chosen as a home base for a cycletouring organization.   

Should AC move to a state where the legislature doesn't hate cyclists?

37

General Discussion / Re: Warm tour ideas (US)

« on: January 23, 2021, 09:28:07 am »

Hmm.  Other possibilities...

Tampa, east on Florida's Coast-to-Coast Trail, then Adventure Cycling's Atlantic Coast either north to Savanah or south to Palm Beach/Miami.

https://floridadep.gov/parks/ogt/content/florida-coast-coast-trail#:~:text=The%20Florida%20Coast%2Dto%2DCoast,kind%20in%20the%20United%20States.

New Orleans - Austin on Adventure Cycling's Southern Tier.

Corpus Christi - Dallas:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29360687
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34587746

38

General Discussion / Re: Warm tour ideas (US)

« on: January 22, 2021, 09:47:05 am »

Thinking of a three week tour in March.

I got some ideas, but March...2021?  Are you or will you be vaccinated?

39

General Discussion / Re: Getting to your start with all your stuff

« on: January 21, 2021, 08:18:39 pm »

...Jefferson Bus...Bolt...Megabus...

A bit back, France and Germany did away with their laws that for all intents and purposes had prevented long-distance bus travel.

An outfit called Flixbus got started in Germany.  Yeah, German, so you can bet everything was clean, nobody misbehaved and they ran on time.

They discovered folks wanted to travel with their bikes.  They discovered they could make money making it easy for folks to travel with their bikes.

http://docplayer.net/104534988-Flixbus-a-smart-and-green-cycling-experience-for-everyone-martin-bethge-senior-network-planning-september-2018-eurovelo-and-cycle-tourism.html

Flixbus came to the USA, starting operations in California and Texas - with bike racks on their American buses!

COVID hit.         

Moving into the future I'd be pleased and tickled for Adventure Cycling to partner with Flixbus & co-promote, similar to the deal with Amtrak. 


Anyway, as soon as I can get vaccinated I'm planning on packing the folder and riding Vonlane bus (ne plus ultra bus) down to Austin for a little urban touring.

40

General Discussion / Re: Getting to your start with all your stuff

« on: January 21, 2021, 08:00:55 pm »

9. And more.

Fair enough.

41

General Discussion / Re: Getting to your start with all your stuff

« on: January 21, 2021, 08:00:05 pm »

TCS - From your tag line referring to touring in North Cornwall I assume you are in the UK.

The tag line is a running gag from the classic Monty Python episode-long sketch 'The Cycling Tour'.

PS - I'm not in the UK but Greyhound is.  Greyhound is owned by the UK First Group company.

42

General Discussion / Re: Getting to your start with all your stuff

« on: January 18, 2021, 11:49:43 pm »

93,291. Greyhound. (Also known as "Riding the dog")

Why's that?

43

Routes / Re: Alcohol Stoves on GDMBR

« on: January 11, 2021, 04:17:15 pm »

I will defer to those with better knowledge & experience on the GDMBR, but to my understanding, any local area might temporarily ban various types of stoves due to heightened fire danger in that region at that time.

44

Routes / Re: HWY 9 -- El Paso to Hachita?

« on: January 10, 2021, 03:17:01 pm »

...consider starting in Douglas, AZ and use the Geronimo Trail to get to Animas from the south...  The Geronimo trail is quite nice.

I see the Geronimo Trail is marked 'high clearance vehicle with 4WD recommended'.  What's your assessment for cycles?  Touring bike, all-road bike, gravel bike, mountain bike, dual suspension mountain bike, fat bike...?

45

General Discussion / Re: Question about seat height

« on: January 04, 2021, 09:07:41 am »

I wasn't noticing pain in this instance, it was just a weird feeling where I asked my self why do I feel like I'm sitting higher on the bike.

If a bike has comparatively larger diameter tires and a higher bottom bracket, your seat will be higher above the roadway.

If a bicycle has more stack and/or less reach, your head will be higher above the roadway.

If you add up even subtle changes in all these parameters, you can wind up riding quite a bit taller in the saddle.