Topics

1

Gear Talk / Which camera???

« on: June 22, 2005, 01:39:15 am »

Anyone have input as to a digital camera of choice for bike touring in the US?  I have a Canon PowerShotA95 that seems to weigh a lot & uses 4 AA batteries, I'd like something lighter that uses 2 AA's for my impending cross-country venture.  I don't need more than 3 megapixels if that, the images will be going to my website; if anything gets printed, it won't be more than 5x7 or maybe 8x10 or so.

I also don't want to spend a whole lot of money on another camera.  I'm looking at the Bushnell outdoor 3.2MP, anyone had any experience with that?  Other suggestions?

The clock is running down, I need to get this together withing the next couple of weeks.

Thanks, Nick Evans

www.nickevans.crazyguyonabike.com

2

Gear Talk / BOB skewers--do they break?

« on: April 13, 2005, 12:02:51 pm »

Folks, Do I need to carry an extra BOB skewer on my transam trip?  Seems like this is about the only thing that could go wrong with BOB (other than tire issues), anyone every had one of these break?  I'll be keeping the load under 40#, mostly on paved roads.

Nick

3

Gear Talk / more panniers vs BOB, rider weight an issue???

« on: May 10, 2004, 10:53:25 pm »

I'm new to this forum, long-time serious road rider looking at doing a solo trans-America ride, camping mainly plus plastic.  I've not carried gear on a bicycle since the late '60's when I used to ride home from boarding school to the tune of about 300 miles on a Schwinn Varsity.

I'm sorting out what bike to ride, and that leads to the panniers vs BOB (or other? single-wheel trailer) question....  Anybody have any input on handling characteristics of either setup for a rider who weighs in at 150 lbs after a couple of beers?  

Seems like the affects of, say 50 pounds of added weight on the bike, or on a trailer behind, would be different for a 150 pound rider versus a 200 pound rider.  I just don't know what those affects are.  Seems like added weight on the bike itself would be more noticeable from a handling standpoint for a lightweight rider than for a heavyweight.  And that a trailer with a given amount of stuff on it would tend to do its thing more noticably to a lighter-weight rider than someone with more mass.  

Anyone have any thoughts as to which is better for a rider my size?

Nick in Virginia



This message was edited by vanick on 5-11-04 @ 7:56 AM

4

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / MapSource roads & rec versus topo for touring?

« on: June 13, 2005, 02:18:42 pm »

Does the MapSource topo product have the same level of detail on roads as the MapSource roads & recreation?  I'm embarking on a transam tour shortly, and will be riding mostly on paved roads, wondering which product to buy.  Topography would be nice, but I don't want to lose detail on where the paved roads go!  My GPS unit is a Garmin GPSMAP 76C.  I'd like to be able to use it for navigation in populated areas as well as in the boonies.

Thanks, Nick

5

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / which GPS for trans Am touring?

« on: December 17, 2004, 03:43:45 pm »

I've done a lot of cross-country adventure touring on my BMW R80G/S motorcycle, I have a Garmin GPSIII+ mounted on the bike and wired into the 12v electrical system.  I'm addicted, and I'd like to have GPS on my bicycle for next years trans am tour, but I'm wondering about batteries, battery life, and weight.  The GPSIII+ (admittedly old technology) feels like a pig in terms of weight when I stuff it full of batteries, and it will burn through a set in no time if I'm running it continuously on self-contained battery power.  

What are folks using on bicycles these days?  Is there anything out there that will run on solar power?

Nick

6

Routes / bicycles on the Coleman Bridge (Yorktown VA)

« on: May 19, 2005, 05:10:11 pm »

Does anyone know whether it's possible/permissable to ride a bike plus BOB across the Coleman Bridge from Yorktown (Virginia) north to Gloucester Point?  My in-laws live over there, and I'd like to ride to their place once I reach Yorktown on a little tour I'm doing next week (shake-down cruise before the big tour in July).

Nick

7

Routes / route from Lewis & Clark end to transam east in Il

« on: April 29, 2005, 04:11:12 pm »

I'm planning on riding (for the most part) the Lewis & Clark east from Oregon starting mid July, to its endpoint in Illinois, then hooking into the TransAm route across Kentucky to my home near the cookie lady in Virginia.  

Unless I'm missing something (which is entirely possible), there seems to be a gap in the ACA mapped routes between the end of the L&C at Hartford Ill, and the TA at Murphysboro Ill.  I'm sure I can pick up an Illinois road map and figure something out, but any suggestions from those who have been there, as to a bicycle-friendly route, would be welcome.

Thanks, Nick

8

Routes / TransAm west to east in May....weather?

« on: January 03, 2005, 12:16:09 pm »

Folks, I'm planning on flying to Oregon and riding self-supported (chez BOB) back home to Virginia (right near the cookie lady) starting May 1 or thereabouts.  I'm wondering what weather conditions I should anticipate in the west in early May.  Am I going to be dealing with snow in the high country? I have a pretty good idea what the midwest and east will be like in June....

How early in the season to the west-to-east TransAm folds start pulling out of Astoria (and are they packing ski parkas)?

Thanks, Nick

9

General Discussion / Dogs & "Halt"

« on: May 13, 2005, 06:51:08 pm »

Has anyone actually used "Halt", or some other spray device, to successfully ward off a nasty-looking dog chasing your bike?  

Here in Virginia, ill-mannered & unrestrained dogs are a fact of life.  In a lot of cases, those terms apply to the dog's owners too.  My immediate, impulsive, response when faced with a threatening dog is to stand on the pedals & sprint.  I've still been bitten once on the foot, put some holes in my Sidi but not in the important stuff stuff inside.  I've also learned that at least sometimes, the action of the feet twirling around on the pedals is what gets the dog all excited in the first place, and if I simply stop pedalling, the situation diffuses.  But if it doesn't diffuse, that strategy makes it that much easier to get bitten....

I'm getting ready for a trans America tour pulling BOB, and I don't think I'll be sprinting away quite as easily as i can on my lightweight, unloaded road bike.

I have some concerns with using a pepper spray or whatever:  (1) possible loss of control of the bike while fooling with a spray can with one hand, & trying to ride/escape at the same time; (2) what happens if the prevailing winds, bad aim, or whatever cause the spray (or some of it) to end up in your own eyes or in the eyes of another rider who happens to be nearby?; (3) what about Bubba the dog owner, who comes out with his belly & pickup truck to chase down whoever's messin' with his dog?

I know a lot of people carry this stuff, but haven't heard a lot of success stories about people actually using it.  Any out there?

Vacyclist Nick

10

General Discussion / safe place to ship bike to in Oregon?

« on: April 12, 2005, 07:11:14 pm »

Folks, I'm riding transam solo self-supported from Oregon to Virginia starting in July......I'm thinking about boxing up the bike and shipping it to Oregon beforehand then flying my butt out there (with loaded BOB as luggage).  I need to find someone I can ship the bike to who will store it safely for a week or so until I get there.

I'd like to start the ride in Florence, has anyone had experience shipping a bike to that town?  If there's a bike shop there, it doesn't seem to have a presence on the web.  Alternatively, I could ship the bike to Astoria & ride from there.  Anyone know of a good shipping destination in that town?

Thanks, Nick