Messages

1426

Routes / Re: St. Augustine, FL to Seattle, WA

« on: February 09, 2009, 11:14:47 am »

You are on the right forum for answers to your questions. I am not knowledgeable about all the new bikes on the market. I would not try to tell you which bike to buy, other than to say any well made touring bike that fits you right and is made to carry racks and gear should meet all your requirements. I have cycled the southern tier a number of times, and the PCBR once, and a little more. There should be some pretty good books on bicycle touring in the library, or through the library. Crazyguyonabike.com is a good place to look for information. Google around and you will find more information.

You might want to ask specific questions. There are people here with detailed, intricate knowledge of matters to do with bicycling, and with various kinds of gear. As for myself, I have bicycled about 34,000 miles through nineteen countries. I can tell you about bicycle touring in general, and what you might experience on the road. I have been to Saint Augustine. I was born and raised in Florida.

In a broad general way of giving advice, you could follow ACA's ST route to El Paso or points farther west. Then go north to intercept the Transam route near Pueblo, and follow it to the west coast, or go by way of the western express. Leaving FL you can take the gulf route or highway 90. The gulf road is flat, mostly. 90 is rolling to somewhat hilly, and can be relatively level here and there. It is my understanding that if you get those ACA maps, you have a good deal of your needed information problem beat from the get go.

1427

General Discussion / Re: ‘Camping’: Is it really necessary?

« on: February 08, 2009, 07:30:03 am »

I went to that tour site. The pictures were taking so long to load. It would have taken half the night. I did see his mileage chart and Motel chart and the points between which he traveled. That must have been one very expensive tour. I did not see a price list for his daily expences.

Here are the problems with motels, as I see it. You cannot always find them, and if you constrict your cycling to where you can get one, you may have to cut short your cycling day. They are too expensive for the most part. Is it really worth that much just for a few hours sleep and a shower? It is less adventurous and toughening to stay in motels. Of course, I say all this because I could not afford to stay in motels every night anyway. I might have enough money to do it, but what I can do and what I can really afford to do are different matters.

A good campsite can be just as good as a motel. However, after several days on the open road it is a welcomed comfort to spend two or three days in a motel. When I use motels I make a practice of entering in the morning, and staying the full 24 hours. That way I get the full benefit of the rest. On one tour I stayed in motels one day out of every four days on the road. On another tour I stayed in motels one day of every six days. On one 93-day tour I stayed in motels only five or six days total. The big thing with me is getting a good night's rest, and having a safe secure place to do it.

1428

General Discussion / Re: ‘Camping’: Is it really necessary?

« on: February 07, 2009, 06:17:37 am »

I cycled and train toured all around western Europe. Rarely did I ever have a problem finding a hostel or B&B. Hostels were much less expensive in those days. The most expensive hostel for me was about $10.00 a day in Finland. Others ran about $5.00 to $7.00 or $8.00 a day. So far as I know, such prices do not exist in the USA for similar accomodations, and did not then either.

Absolutely, you can cycle tour the way you want. For me it is a matter of cash outlay. When I begin a tour I have enough money to stay in motels  every night which can be very expensive. The way I see it is this, for every night I can free-camp it is that much more money I can keep in the bank as opposed to spending it out. The way you sleep for the night is up to you. As for myself, I am not about to dish out $35.00 to $60.00 a night just for some shuteye. Besides, I like camping. What I do not like is staying without a shower for days on end. It is a trade-off.

1429

General Discussion / Re: passport/CAN/US

« on: February 07, 2009, 05:54:34 am »

I would contact the Canadian department of immigration about that. They surely have a web site.

1430

Routes / Re: Atlantic coast bycle route

« on: February 05, 2009, 05:56:11 am »

I have crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel with a bike, on that truck. I don't know if it might be of any help, but you could call ahead to that station where the truck is, and let them know when you will be there. A person I was cycling with did that, called ahead. We got on the truck quite soon after our arrival. I am not sure that calling ahead mattered one way or the other. I think it is first-come first-served. If I remember correctly, it was not a free service. I cannot remember what it cost. It wasn't much. It was reasonable. It was quite a few years ago. The guy who was doing the driving tolds us a suitcase or suitcases with human body parts in them had been washing up on the shores in that area. Delmarva is a good ride. At the north end of the peninsula you can get the Cape May-Lewes ferry. The coast road going north from there has a touristy, resort kind of appeal with plenty of motels, at least one fishing pier, and restaurants.

1431

General Discussion / Re: camp food and ideas for eating better

« on: February 04, 2009, 09:48:46 am »

Here is a good one for a camp fire. Chop up celery, garlic, and onion. Mix it together with lean hamburber meat, salt and pepper. Wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. Put it in the red hot coals. It tastes great.

Here is a good breakfast. It requires boiling water. Mix together oatmeal and raisins. Pour in the boiling water to form a paste, not a flowing liquid. Slice a banana or two into the mix. Pour a liberal dose of yogurt over the whole. Squeeze a couple or three or four lemons, and mix it with a juice for your vitamin C.

Here is an energy food. Bagel with peanut butter, banana, and whipped honey. I ate these sandwiches on the PCBR.

1432

Gear Talk / Re: Which type of mini stove?

« on: February 03, 2009, 07:19:27 am »

Right now it looks like the alcohol stoves have it. All I know is mine works just fine for my on-the-road needs.

1433

Routes / Re: Southern Tier & Fuel for cooking advice please

« on: February 03, 2009, 06:50:18 am »

There is also a Sierra stove. It has a small fan underneath. You can put in just about any combustible material. Light it. The fan super heats the flames.
In my opinion, they charge far far too much for it. I most certainly would not buy one. It is price gouging. Anyone could make one just as good for a few dollars or less. But, they are out there to be had.

1434

General Discussion / Re: Bicycling Australia

« on: February 03, 2009, 06:37:32 am »

I have considered doing a perimeter tour of Austraila, but I doubt I ever will. I did do some research on it though. It has been a long time since I looked into it. I think going north along the east coast highway would be alright. there is a book out about a guy who had gotten a divorce and did the perimeter by bicycle. I don't remember the name of the book. I read a good part of it.

1435

Routes / Re: Pacific Coast Route Camping

« on: February 02, 2009, 12:26:58 pm »

Yes, I must admit. The west coast is really quite good for cycling. I thoroughly enjoyed it. At tour's end I was genuinely saddened because it was over.
I got a big write-up, a major feature article in a newspaper in south Florida after that tour. It had photos from near Coose Bay, Oregon, Orick, CA, Big Sur, DEl Norte Coast Redwood State Park, and a national forest area.

1436

Routes / Re: Transamerica advice please....

« on: February 02, 2009, 12:18:14 pm »

I could not answer that question because too much depends on the person(s) doing the trip. I have never cycled the Transam route, but I have read quite a few journals written by those who have. Judging from what they said and from the photographs I have seen, I would say the TA route would be your best choice. Then again, the pacific coast route is really great. The atlantic coast is ok, but the pacific coast has it beat by a long shot, in my opinion. The southern tier I have done a number of times in its entirety, and also half way a few times or so. The ST is good if you want to see western states. I say that because I am from the east, which to me is old hat. It also gives you a major change in terrain, but so also does the northern tier. As for meeting people, I guess that kind of depends on you and who you meet. Just about any long cycling tour anywhere can be pretty good. It does not necessarily have to be along a specially mapped route. You could also try just wandering, meandering with no particular point to reach at any time. Just go wherever you feel like going day after day. That was how I started bicycle touring. No point A or point B. Just start when you want and stop when you want. However, some places are better for cycling than others.

1437

Routes / Re: Southern Tier & Fuel for cooking advice please

« on: February 02, 2009, 12:05:07 pm »

That's me. Oatmeal with raisins, bananas, yogurt, and a 50-50 mix of applejuice and squeezed lemon juice. Gotta have that hot water. Then add an energy drink for good measure.

1438

General Discussion / Re: Lodging in Bar Harbor

« on: February 02, 2009, 11:54:01 am »

I don't really know much about Bar Harbor. I have been there only once. I did not even spend the night. I was cycling the New England states. I decided to go out to Bar harbor simply because I knew it to be the eastern terminus of the  Bikecentennial route/northern tier. It looked to me to be touristy. They have a ferry that goes to Nova Scotia. There appeared to be quite a few restaurants. Google around. I am sure you will not have a problem finding a place. I cannot make any recommendations though.

1439

Gear Talk / Re: Where should the weight go?

« on: February 01, 2009, 07:51:51 am »

Somebody asked a question similar to this. If the most weight should go over the front wheel, then why are  rear panniers larger than front panniers?

Certainly there are answers to that question. For one thing, some gear is small and weight-dense, and some gear is large and not weight-dense. For example, a 442 Featherlite stove filled, and a bottle or two of gas take only a little space, but weight about as much as or less than a given sleeping bag; the bag may take up more space than the stove and fuel. You can put lighter, bulkier items in the rear panniers, and heavier, more compact items in the front panniers. Larger capacity and more bulk do not necessarily mean more weight than more compact things.

Actually, you may load your bike/panniers any way you want to. Try to distribute the weight as evenly as you can, meaning if you have eight pounds in the left front pannier, try to have eight in the right front pannier. The same in the rear panniers. Six pounds on the left, and six pounds on the right, or as nearly as you can manage. Aside from the near evenness left and right, it is up to you to decide about weight fore and aft. It just seems to me the rear wheel and tires will last longer with less weight over them.

1440

General Discussion / Re: Partial RSS feed

« on: January 31, 2009, 09:19:50 am »

RSS???  I don't know what that means.