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Messages - rondickinson

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31
General Discussion / Re: Newbie, just signed up for the TransAm tour!
« on: October 18, 2013, 02:53:03 pm »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to0YTIj_tyY&list=PL454607BC28D11E51
Packing.

I'm think Go Pro Camera.  Very light.  Pricey :(

When you leaving  We are going toward the end of May.

Winter conditioning starts now :0

32
General Discussion / Re: Newbie, just signed up for the TransAm tour!
« on: October 18, 2013, 01:40:40 pm »
My son (age 23)  and I (age 53) are committed to the TransAm in 2014.  Starting late May, going east to west.  I have been doing a lot of research and these forums are very helpful.  Lots of nice folks.

Last free summer for him and bucket list for me.  I think it will be a great memory for us.

Folks on these boards advised me to go East to West, instead of the reverse.


I have a larger budget than most folks, and I ended up buying a Lynskey Backroads (www. lynskeyperformance.com) which is a Titianium bike.  It is durable, smooth and confident.  Long Haul Surley and Co-Motion also make nice touring bikes.  I spent about $4,000 but am very happy with the bike. Maybe I would be just as happy with the others, don't know.

I bought Ortlieb panniers.  Waterproof and durable.  Reading blogs and then seeing other riders on my test tour this is the most commonly used brand by far.

Think backpacking stuff.  Think of each item, tent, Thermorest, sleeping bag, etc.  Get the absolute lightest you can afford.  I just bought a Big Agnes one man tent which weighs 1.75 lbs vs. my older two man tent at 5 lbs.  You have to think about taking the absolute minimum amount of stuff that is necessary, and get rid of the nice to have things. 
Have some tools (spook wreng, multi-tool, fiber fix it, chain tools and spare links, tubes and levers) but keep this limited to what you know how to use.

Minimize your clothing.  Two sets of bike riding, one set of camp clothes.  No chair.  Jetboil cooker, one pan, one cup, plate and spork.   The goal is to ride not camp. 

Rain gear is where I am heavier than some.  I have shower pass jacket, pants, water socks and hood.  May go with just the jacket, I'm uncertain.

Test ride with 65-75 total weight of bike, bags and gear.  I'm capable but had to get it out of my mind to try and go 16-18 mph.  I'm riding at 11-12 mph and teaching myself to slow down and enjoy.  I don't know how the moutains will go.  I have riden in a Colorado week long ride before and if you slow up it's not that much harder.  I have a moutain tripple on the front.  I have been up 6% grade with full load and stay in the second ring, so I have another to go. 

We will camp 6 of 7 days.  We will eat out 50% and cook 50%. 

All in all I have spent a lot. For both of us around $10,000, but plan to do lots more touring.  Plus I got $10,000 from a bike accident in 2012.  I think we will spend $75-$100 a day for two of us for 75-80 days, so it's costly.
We are both have the same challenge.  Good luck to both of us :)
Just my thoughts so far.

33
General Discussion / Re: Paying for the trip?
« on: October 15, 2013, 09:50:15 am »
My son and I are planning on doing the TranAm next summer.  He is a senior in college and will have one semester to finish.  He says, "Dad it's my last free summer and I have been working all through school, how about we ride our bikes across the US".  For me I'm mid 50's and own a business that is slower in the summer.  Plus I have increased my staff and worked on processes and delegation to where I can leave as long as I have some electronics for communication.  It's a bucket list item for me, and I'm at the stage where I can fund the trip.  The way we are doing it is not cheap.  New TI bikes, bags and lightweight gear.  We will camp and cook some of our own food, but plan a hotel once or twice a week and eat some in restaurants.   Set up cost have been over $10,000 for two of us, and I wil probably spend that or less during the trip.  You can do it cheaper, I'm just fortunate to be able to fund the cost and don't think I will regret the bonding time and accomplishment.  You never know how much life any of us has left.

34
General Discussion / Re: Choosing my first (touring) bike!
« on: October 08, 2013, 09:40:10 am »
You are right, but I guess it depends on the size of your bank and your priorities in life. :)

35
General Discussion / Re: Choosing my first (touring) bike!
« on: October 07, 2013, 07:11:36 pm »
I'm new to touring and did a ton of research.  I would agree with 100% of the advice given by "World Traveler".
In addition, I found a brand that I like called "Lynsky"  (the former owners of Light Speed).  The bike is Titatium.  Higher cost, mine was right at $4,000, but man does it ride smooth and is very solid.

Had to order it blind and it took over 2 months.  I had a LBS help me pick out each part for size, and then I paid them to assemble the bike.  We spend a lot of time getting the breaks and handle bars in the right spot (and test riding for several days) before installing the bar tape.

Go to Lynskyperformance.com

36
Gear Talk / Re: Uncoventional bike conversions?
« on: August 07, 2013, 12:37:16 pm »
I'm planning a trip next summer - Trans Am.

Researched a lot of bikes.  Surley is a great choice.
Multiple bikes are good selections.


In the end I ordered a Lynskey Backroads bike.
Higher Price - $3,500
Titantium
Very sturdy.

Just bought Ortlieb Panniers.

Now on to the next steps

37
Routes / Re: Route Ideas
« on: July 15, 2013, 11:06:16 pm »
Thanks everyone for the great ideas.  Right now we will go with the east to west Trans Am.  I live in Iowa and fully appreciate the winds and heat.  We will ride early as needed since this solves both.  Planing on 75 days plus 2 weeks cushion as needed.  Have the bikes ordered and will use this fall for loaded training.    Btw need week is RAGBRAI, Iowa state ride.  12 year veteran.

38
Routes / Route Ideas
« on: July 12, 2013, 04:35:19 pm »
My Son and I want to ride across the US in 2014.
Bucket list for me (age 54) and his last free summer before his career starts.
We have cycled a lot but nothing this big so we have a lot of planning to do.
60-70 miles a day with rest days seems accomplishable but we will build in some cushion for unknown advirsities.
His time constraints are 3rd week in May until the Middle of August.

So are in the very early stages of planning but have some confusion on which route we would take.
Seems natural to go West to East due to prevailing winds being out of the West.
Northern route seems nice except for the Mountains could be very cold.
Southern route would probably cook us in June and July.
We see a route coming out of San Franciso, but don't hear much discussion about this.  Probably goes through the heart of the Rockies and is tougher.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.


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