Messages

1381

Gear Talk / touring seat

« on: September 26, 2008, 12:56:28 pm »

Out of all my touring and different seats there is definitely one I have found to be light years ahead of all the others in general, all around comfort. It is not the expensive, ergometric type, or any of those advertised as touring saddles, and you might not find it in a bike shop. As a matter of fact, you might not find it at all these days. I can't. They called it the mattress saddle, and it sold for about $12.00 in Wal Mart.It had two rear springs, a vinyl exterior, padding, and long springs that radiated from front to rear in a fan-like pattern. It was kind of overheavy for touring but the comfort made up for it. I used this saddle to complete the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route
in 1993. I never had the first bit of any kind of discomfort. I wore the saddle out and went to buy another one, but I have not been able to find one anywhere. I have made extensive searches of the internet to find one but they seem to have disappeared from the American market.

1382

Gear Talk / Trailer or panniers

« on: October 28, 2008, 02:27:03 pm »

With regards to headwinds cycling east to west across the United States, or west to east, there seem to be some conflicting opinions. However, when it comes to the Pacific coast bicycling route,you will find anyone who has cycled it in the north to south camp. Not that you cannot cycle it south to north over many many hills against a wall of very stiff resistance over substantial and determining distances, because you can, but the question would be---why? Not me anyway. If I ever do the Pacific coast again, it will most definitely be north to south.

1383

Gear Talk / Water bottles and bisephenol-A

« on: November 03, 2008, 01:08:52 pm »

To tell you the truth, I have never given the make up of my water bottles any thought. When I am crossing long sretches of desert I keep my water bottles topped off as much as possible, and I drink. Other than that I am not concerned.

1384

Routes / UGRR

« on: December 26, 2008, 10:46:28 am »

I have never been on that route, though I am aware of the stories of Harriet Tubman and the UGRR.

1385

Routes / Pacific Coast Route Camping

« on: December 25, 2008, 08:14:44 am »

I was always able to get into a hiker-biker campsites on the PCBR. I believe there was a three day limit for use which should be enough time to see the local attractions. I only stayed overnights, and kept going the next morning because it was such a great ride. You might want to try hostels or motels in or near large cities.

I have read there are some homeless persons who bike from campsite to campsite, stay their limit, and leave. I met one such person in a H-B site in southern California. He was very clearly not a cycling tourist, just a hobo or bum. One look at his bike and general demeanor said all that needed to be said on that matter. That's the way it goes sometimes. He did not bother anyone. However, I did see some more respectable, upright people  filthing the H-B camping area by having their pet dogs deposit their waste there.

The PCBR is a tough, but also a very great ride. It is Americana writ large. I believe American society in general is somehow diminished by not having done it by bicycle. It would cause a general, overall improvement in American society if everyone could do it who were able. But of course I know it will never be, so it is left to us, the small minority, to pass the word along to others. Some will do it and others will stay home.

If you can cycle the PCBR at least once in your life---By ALL MEANS DO IT!

1386

Routes / East Coast, Maine-Fl or Fl-Maine

« on: December 25, 2008, 08:29:36 am »

I used standard roadmaps. I made a huge mistake getting onto US Highway 1 going up toward Washington, D.C. The Delmarva peninsula is a good ride.You might want to consider the barrier islands route. It is quite nice. Definitely check out Donna Ikenberry's route around the Big Apple. I cycled through the city three times, and it was not too bad, but on approach it was none too good either. There are plenty of campgrounds, but they are a bit pricey. Down in the Keys in FL expect to shell out enough cash for a small, hard, patch of terra firma to pay for a night in a nice motel in Georgia. But maybe you can get a deal somewhere in summer. In winter? Perhaps not.

1387

Routes / East Coast, Maine-Fl or Fl-Maine

« on: December 18, 2008, 05:26:03 am »

In 1990 I started from southeast, coastal Florida and cycled to Bangor, Maine in 22 days with two of those days completely off the road because of torrential downpours. I remember that I did have following winds much of the time. Summer should give you plenty of tailwinds too. Of course, it can come and go from any direction, but the wind should favor you going south to north in summer.

1388

Routes / Orlando FL to Houston TX

« on: December 13, 2008, 07:49:02 am »

Stay off highways 27/19/98, unless you can get to 19 from Perry to Tallahassee without using 27/98. Get on hwy. 90 as soon as you can. There is a nice bike path running north and south from at or near Wakulla Station on 19 that will take you to 90 in Tallahassee. 90 is good for cycling all the way across northern FL, but it begins to take on a more deteriorated aspect near the border with Alabama. However, it is useful most of the way to your destination. After 90 in FL you might want to check out ACA's mapped out route for the southern tier. Highway maps are good for 90 depending on what kind of cycling you will be doing. Traffic around Orlando can be thick, fast, and furious in Feb. It was the fastest growing city in the USA for a long time. It grew from orange groves and cow town to thriving metropolis in a short span of years.

This message was edited by Westinghouse on 12-18-08 @ 2:32 AM

1389

Routes / Southernn Tier December - January

« on: December 11, 2008, 09:50:40 am »

Some say the optimal times are spring and fall. When I say S-tier I do not necessarily mean ACA's mapped route. I mean the southern tier of states. The routes I have taken were partly on ACA's route. 2008, 9, 10---the weather is the weather in the south or anywhere. One year in winter in Van Horn might be quite nice. The same month and days another year and the place is covered in snow and blizzard. As for the rest of the route, it is similar; the weather varies at any given time and place. Christmas in northern Florida might be 25 F; it might be in the fifties or sixties. It is a matter of probabilities until it is.

1390

Routes / Southernn Tier December - January

« on: December 10, 2008, 04:13:30 pm »

I have cycled the S-tier more than once in the dead of winter. Here is what I brought for the cold. A 15 degree F Slumberjack sleeping bag. A closed cell foam pad for insulation from the ground. A 10 by 12 foot polyethylene tarp for rain, and to break wind chill while sleeping. Down jacket and appropriate clothing. A light windbreaker for not so cold days. Sweat pants.

I had no trouble with the cold, but it can get very cold. You might consider Interstate 10 for possibly warmer days and nights. Blizzards and snow storms happen.

When I did it I did not do any research at all. I just took what I thought I might need, and it worked.

1391

Routes / Atlantic Coast

« on: December 02, 2008, 02:58:48 pm »

Here I am again. Yes, I have done the barrier islands. You cannot go wrong with that route, and yes, there are plenty of ferries for transportation from island to island. Time is running out. I am on a library computer.

1392

Routes / Riding in all 48 states?

« on: November 29, 2008, 03:34:19 pm »

If you google ---bicycling the perimeter of the United States, you might find the information you are looking for along those lines. I have not googled that in years, but the last time I did I got all kinds of related details and information, including cycling all 48 states

1393

Routes / UTAH! and CA Sierra Nevada's

« on: December 28, 2008, 07:18:10 am »

I have no cycling experience in that area. These people seem to know what they are talking about.

1394

Routes / Nature Coast Trail

« on: November 17, 2008, 04:22:46 pm »

I was just looking at trails in Florida the other day on the internet. If you google bicycle and nature trails in Florida, you will come up with information, including maps and descriptions. They show where in the state they are located, and they give close-up details and maps of the trails themselves.

1395

Routes / southern tier weather

« on: November 24, 2008, 06:54:17 pm »

I am going to the middle east. I have worked there before.

Thanks for the positive comments about my advice and knowledge. I have done a considerable amount of bicycle touring at home and internationally, and while bicycle touring is not rocket science, I do have bits of knowledge which can be useful to the new long distance bicycle traveler. I have also read several books on the subject. My knowledge on the subject is limited, but also cogent and useful in its own category.

I would like to continue contributing to this forum if my advice and knowkedge can be of use to someone out there.

This message was edited by Westinghouse on 11-26-08 @ 10:39 AM