Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: 29er tubeless tires for Great Divide

« on: October 19, 2014, 02:43:51 pm »

Geax Saguaro, hands down the most reliable, best all round mtb touring tire I've used.

I like slightly worn one on the front because it wears to a nice center ridge.

I have not had a flat with tubeless tires in three years, including the Arizona Trail thornfest.  the goatheads in New Mexico destroyed our tubes.

2

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / Re: Great Divide, Section 3, Maps A&B – 2014

« on: September 12, 2014, 06:08:06 pm »

Well, we just rode it an hour ago.  It is open and passable.  The workers were absolutely wonderful.  In spite of a downpour a few days ago, the mud is dry and it is already dusty.  The day before yesterday the mud was so bad in Slater Park we had to carry our bikes-----so much mud the wheels wouldn't roll.

There must be a 100 pieces of equipment on this project.  We were seriously in the way in a few places, and after riding half the construction, some guys in a truck offered us a ride to the end of the contruction zone.  They gave us water, a gatorade from their lunch, and sent us off to Rawlins. 

We're ending this year's ride here and I'll be home in a week and will see if there is a good public detour which does not miss Aspen Alley.  For now, we're off to the bar.

best to all on the trail

newf

3

Gear Talk / Re: Advice on a Bicycle for Trip to France

« on: May 24, 2014, 09:01:45 am »

Don't haul a trailer to Europe and back.  They are only used in the US, the land of excess baggage.

we just use two rear panniers....way easier to put on planes trains and little rental cars.

4

Gear Talk / Re: Advice on a Bicycle for Trip to France

« on: May 11, 2014, 03:18:39 am »

i'm here in France, and yes, this is a cycling paradise.  The bike I have here has been back and forth to the US five times in cardboard boxes.  I just throw it out at the airport and go.  For the return, I have picked up boxes at any bike shop or  department store.  In the old days bikes were free for international flights.  They still forget to collect half the time.

I like the mtb and ride a lot of canal tow paths and rough little roads.  I wouldn't want a bike Friday.

5

Gear Talk / Re: Bob Yak Trailer? XCountry tour, thoughts?

« on: February 23, 2014, 09:30:24 pm »

When we first had this conversation on the trail she had just caught and dropped a bunch of young guys on Montana's Fleeser Ridge.   Her load full was lighter than their load empty.

 We're on smooth riding titanium hardtails instead of some full suspension beast, so we have about a  4 lb headstart there,

The ubiquitous yellow BOB bag adds another 2.8 lbs

That trailer contraption is 13 lbs, the one with suspension is 17

So, for her load to be lighter than those guys empty, she needs to keep it down to 16-24 lbs. 

If you don't think that can be done, it is time for you to do some research.  We have gear from Tarptent, Mont bell, sea to summit, golite etc   Here's some lists of of far lighter setups:

http://www.driven2divide.com/2012/06/27/ollie-whalleys-tour-divide-gear-list-setup-tour-divide-2012/

http://yogiing.com/hiker/abela/

6

Gear Talk / Re: Bob Yak Trailer? XCountry tour, thoughts?

« on: February 23, 2014, 10:17:10 am »

Some say the additional 13 pounds of the trailer is an issue, but the Arkel GT-54 rear panniers weigh 6.6 lbs (Arkel) and the fronts are 4.2 lbs.  The is 10.8 lbs verses 13 lbs for the BOB.  The difference is 2.2 lbs.  Big deal.

Add the weight of the bag in the BOB
Remove the weight of the front panniers and rack. 
 my wife rides the Great Divide with full camping gear  with less weight than an empty BoB and Bag.

7

Routes / Re: Sierra Cascades-Oregon section: Windigo Pass question

« on: September 16, 2013, 04:05:11 pm »

We went up there one spring to scout it out for a friend.  First, we were nearly chopped up and carried away by the mosquitoes, then we were stopped by snowpack.  There are many good dirt roads for a touring bike in this area, that is not one of them.

8

Gear Talk / Re: Jetboil: Possible to cook real meals?

« on: June 23, 2013, 11:32:09 am »

I steamed/poached some trout in mine.  Not the best trout I ever cooked.

9

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Re: Android App to view GDMBR gpx

« on: June 20, 2013, 08:36:29 am »

sure, you can download as much basemap as there is memory in your phone.  It then becomes a layer upon which the track line is viewed.  If your location is on the line, you are on route.

I recently loaded most of OSM map of France, down to farm road detail.  With that and the track, I knew if I was 20 feet off route.

I have not found an Android app which I like as well as motionx, but I have not looked very hard.

10

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Re: Android App to view GDMBR gpx

« on: June 19, 2013, 08:54:41 am »

The topofusion tracks are by far the best GPS data for the Great Divide.  They have sufficient detail to sort out any recent logging road, something waypoints are useless for.

I load them into a Garmin, but I have found the iphone app motionx to be a very good phone app, which works well offline and and allows for downloading maps.

11

General Discussion / Re: Pronounciation...

« on: June 14, 2013, 08:33:12 pm »

Interesting that the French don't call them panniers.  i can't remember what they do call them, but while they understand pannier they use something else.  If you buy something from Amazon France the online shopping cart is a pannier.

12

General Discussion / Re: Shipping bike box to final destination

« on: June 14, 2013, 08:29:41 pm »

Yeah, those cases are very nice.  I've had nasty connections trying to bring two boxes on a luggage cart out to a bus to get to a different terminal.  Fortunately, Ive yet to have a bike damaged and I love abandoning the cardboard box and heading out.

Now the airlines are so intent on extracting money every step of the way we keep a couple of bikes with a friend in France. 

13

General Discussion / Re: Shipping bike box to final destination

« on: June 14, 2013, 09:12:03 am »

I have brought bikes to Europe over and over in a cardboard box.  To return, I look for a bike shop or department store.  Last trip a Carrefour store in France unpacked two new bikes just so we could have the boxes.

14

General Discussion / Re: Who's driving the increase in Cassette cog numbers?

« on: May 24, 2013, 05:27:19 am »

I hate to say it,but the 10 speed set ups we have really do shift better than the 9.  I just rebuilt the bikes we keep at a friends place in Europe with new xtr or sram xo nine speed ( which is available online cheap), and sort or wish I'd done the ten speed.

15

General Discussion / Re: Touring in Corsica

« on: May 03, 2013, 01:49:19 am »

We spent a few days there and met with a group of Brits who had done a longer tour.

the place has incredible scenery, along with the worst roads and least bike friendly people in France.  Maybe the Tour de France starting there will improve some of that.