Messages

16

Gear Talk / self sealing innertubes

« on: June 05, 2007, 01:07:19 pm »

Say what you will about slime tubes, they are the best if you live in thorn country like I do. I ride by those macho 'no slime' guys while they are fixing flats. I have used slime for 15 years and will continue to do so. No one likes to fix flats.

17

Gear Talk / Which type of mini stove?

« on: March 04, 2006, 09:46:29 pm »

I am a firm believer in propane. Easy to get, easy to light, and not that heavy. Problems with fuel stoves are the bottles can leak, they are heavy also and if you resort to unleaded fuel you have to clean your stove very often. They are supposed to have an advantage at altitude, but I have cooked meals at 8000 ft. with propane.

18

Gear Talk / Recumbent advice?

« on: March 04, 2006, 09:51:52 pm »

No doubt, go bent. I switched 4 years ago and will never go back. I ride an Easy Racer Tour Easy, but I suggest to you to find a dealer that has many different models to choose from and ride them all. I chose the Tour Easy because of it's comfort. You wont' speed up the hills as quickly right away, but in time you will learn to use different muscle groups and hills will become less daunting. Before going to a recumbent I had knee problems due to the downward pressure on them. Riding the bent has eliminated all of that by strengthening the muscles around the knee. Besides, it is nice to see where you are going.

19

Routes / Norther Tier-Libby to Whitefish MT

« on: January 14, 2007, 12:46:48 pm »

I posted the question last summer, 2005, prior to our tour. We decided to take Hiway 2 from Libby to Whitefish. We heard horror stories about log trucks and heavy traffic. Well we didn't see a single log truck and traffic was moderate. The scenery however was spectacular. The lake country along #2 was amazing. The road was flat to moderate hills with a couple of "passes" over some smaller mountain ranges. The shoulder was 18" to non-exixtant. So what else is new in Montana? The communities of Happy Inn and Moose Crossing were great places to stay and the people were very friendly and outgoing. In hindsight I would do it again. I think AC has safety in mind when they choose these routes but I found Hiway 2 to be no more dangerous than my daily commute to work.  

20

Routes / Norther Tier-Libby to Whitefish MT

« on: June 17, 2006, 12:01:07 pm »

Has anyone taken US 2 from Libby MT to Whitefish MT? AC maps go up to Eureka and then down to Whitefish, but parts of it are very hilly. Since I will be pulling a trailer, hills are not my friend. The MT state map of bicycling shows less hills on US 2, but less than 4 ft. shoulders for about half the way. Wondering if the tradeoff is worth it.

21

Routes / Cycle the Columbia Gorge

« on: May 10, 2006, 05:25:56 pm »

Although I have never biked the Gorge, (it is on my to do list) I have driven it numerous times. The old highway is absolutely stunning and hilly. Most of the hills you encounter will be near Vista Point.If you have a choice, go west to east. Occasionally the wind reverses but as a rule, east is the way to go. Ask any windsurfer. My biggest concern has got to be the traffic. It is a very narrow road and very busy especially on the weekends. Large motorhomes and pickups pulling trailers are the biggest hazards. Happy Cycling

22

General Discussion / I'm new here...

« on: January 14, 2007, 02:22:19 pm »

I bought a Trek 520 last year after considering many models in that price range. I chose the Trek over Cannondale mostly because of the steel frame over the aluminum. More flex, softer ride. Another thing I liked was the bar end shifters instead of the combo brake handle shifter. If those fail on the road, you may be out of luck  wheras the friction on the Trek are easy to work on and repair.

23

General Discussion / Bicycle Friendly States

« on: January 14, 2007, 02:36:24 pm »

Criteria- share the road and drivers that are aware of the fact that their vehicles weigh tons, and you weigh just pounds.
For any of you that have ridden across North Dakota, I think you will agree that they folks there are top runners up for the most friendly and courteous. If the shoulder is narrow and a cars are approaching you from front and rear, the rear car slows and waits. I had a state trooper do this. People stopped on the road and offered us water and never once showed any road rage. Great people.

24

General Discussion / Where this year?

« on: January 14, 2007, 02:27:18 pm »

OH BOY, I can't wait for summer. We are jumping on an Amtrak and stopping in Grand Forks ND. After we assemble our bikes my wife and I are headed for Ely MN and the longest paved bike trail in the US. After that we are cruising the entire state of MN to see the lakes and all of the other paved trails it has to offer. Minnesota has more paved trails than any other state in the US. How can you pass up that? Then back to Grand Forks and a train home.

25

General Discussion / newbie questions

« on: February 10, 2007, 03:49:16 pm »

In my opinion, I would go unsupported. I have done a number of tours and find the experience wonderful. Not that there is anything wrong with a fully supported tour, the feeling of doing it on your own is well worth it. Try a couple of weekend outings to test your weight and equipment, and just go for it. You won't regret it.

26

General Discussion / Solar Panels

« on: February 28, 2006, 11:29:25 am »

Yeah, that has been my experience as well. I have two I-Sun daisy chained together and will not charge the battery pack or my cell phone. Money wasted in my opinion.

27

General Discussion / Solar Panels

« on: February 25, 2006, 11:53:28 am »

Has anyone out there had good luck with solar panels to recharge cell phones and digital cameras? I tried one without success. Good information is hard to get.

28

General Discussion / Where are you touring to 2006

« on: February 25, 2006, 11:44:40 am »

Doing a peice of the Northern Tier. Leaving from Sandpoint ID on July 5th and ending up in Mayville ND, near Fargo, on July 27th or earlier. We have been dehydrating our own food and will be mailing packages ahead since we cannot carry all that food initially. We will only buy water and fresh fruit. We are even making our own energy bars for a lot less money than the commercial brands. Hope to take in museums and local culture of the great plains on the way.