Messages

31

Gear Talk / Re: Touring Bike Selection

« on: June 21, 2015, 08:56:50 pm »

Shimano will give you anything you want. As long as you want what Shimano will give you.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Wayne


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32

Gear Talk / Re: Touring Bike Selection

« on: June 21, 2015, 09:36:33 am »

The day I made my decision I went to Richardson Bike Mart. I asked to see touring bikes. They showed me an ugly green Trek 520. Low gear was 30 front, 34 rear. Useless. I left.
I drove to Plano Cycling, a Co-Motion dealer. Two hours later I had been measured, selected colors and written a check for a custom Americano. Stock low gear on the Americano: 24-34.

For some reason you forgot to mention the Americano frame is $2000.  Complete bike around $4000.  Trek 520 is around $1500 I think for the whole bike.  Richardson Bike Mart is a high end shop in Dallas.  If you had told them up front you wanted to spend $4000 on a touring bike, I suspect they would have found you one.  Depending on what year you looked at the Trek 520, it may have used a Shimano triple crankset that could take a 24 tooth 74mm bolt circle diameter inner chainring.  If so, the Trek 520 would have the exact same gearing as the Americano, for $2500 less cost.  For the green color, can't help you.  But I think there are companies that paint bikes for a few hundred dollars.  You'd still be a couple thousand less than the Americano.

I asked several times, "Is this (Trek 520) the only touring bike you sell?" "Yes."
The Shimano triple had the same 30 tooth inner chainring that they have been putting on bikes for decades. They are still doing it today. Clueless. I also inquired if the 520 could be set up with 24-34 low gears. It took them over an hour to confirm the combination was possible.  It was not a good experience.

Wayne


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33

Gear Talk / Re: Gearing for Touring Bike

« on: June 20, 2015, 07:29:50 pm »

A 30 mph headwind on flat ground is as bad or worse than a difficult hill.

Wayne


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34

Gear Talk / Re: Touring Bike Selection

« on: June 20, 2015, 07:23:21 pm »

The day I made my decision I went to Richardson Bike Mart. I asked to see touring bikes. They showed me an ugly green Trek 520. Low gear was 30 front, 34 rear. Useless. I left.
I drove to Plano Cycling, a Co-Motion dealer. Two hours later I had been measured, selected colors and written a check for a custom Americano.
Somehow, in my year+ search for a new bike, I missed the whole 29er thing. No worries. I have 40 X 700c tires on the Americano now and not afraid of unpaved roads.
Oh, I almost forgot. Stock low gear on the Americano: 24-34.  Don't leave home without it.

Wayne


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35

General Discussion / Re: Has anyone biked the east coast?

« on: June 18, 2015, 01:21:26 pm »

Disregard previous transmission. I was never here. 

Wayne

36

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / GDMBR temporary detours in Colorado, summer 2015

« on: June 18, 2015, 01:01:21 pm »

Given the late snowfall in Colorado, is anyone looking at possible detours around snow clogged mountain passes and, even worse, snowmelt runoff swaollen creeks & rivers? The Tour divide 2015 leaders are approaching Pinedale, WY this morning. They should be entering Colorado this weekend. Any local updates would be helpful.
Northbound hikers on the Continental Divide Trail are already bypassing Colorado and going north to Wyoming or all the way to the Canadian border and hiking south.
Thanks.

Wayne

37

General Discussion / Re: Has anyone biked the east coast?

« on: June 18, 2015, 12:17:14 pm »

The Blue Ridge Parkway. Elevation will keep temperatures reasonable. Campgrounds along the way. Pretty scenery. 35 mph speed limit. Light traffic. What's not to like?

Wayne

Yep, it's a great cycling area alright with one minor disadvantage.  The Blue Ridge Parkway runs east and west.  The OP plans to ride north to south.

OK, the Parkway might trend west from the northern terminus in Virginia. However, the southern terminus in Cherokee, NC, is definitely south of the northern end and not too far from the north Georgia mountains, also much cooler than the coast.
Now, if the OP is dead set on touring closer to the coast, then heat, humidity, heat, more humidity, traffic, etc. will have to be dealt with.
I offered an alternative that includes a national park, virtually no traffic and for sure no truck traffic, what traffic there is is held to 35 mph, numerous small mountain towns and much cooler temperatures than the coast.
You have to ask the right question to get the right answer. In my experience, travelling along the east coast in July & August is about as awful as travelling along the Gulf Coast at the same time. Trust me, that is awful.

Wayne

38

Routes / Re: Southern tier in the summer time

« on: June 18, 2015, 10:27:05 am »

I did East to West a few years  ago between June and August. It was exceptionally hot during August, (49c around Glamis when I rode through), but certainly rideable if you are cautious and well prepared. A lot of places on the ACA maps were closed for the summer in more remote sections of Texas and Arizona. On the plus side, you get the whole route to yourself. I didn't meet a single touring cyclist during the whole time until I got to California.

I'm not normally one for preferring one direction over another, however riding East to west puts the sun at you back more often, which really does make a difference both physically and mentally.

Interestingly, in contrast with staehpj1, the west was one of my favourite bike rides of all time. I guess it holds a lot of romance for me and I really love deserts. The only section I really disliked was around Phoenix.

Having driven east to west (south Louisiana to New Mexico & beyond) and back west to east since forever, I gotta say, "WHAT???" Travelling west into the setting sun from just past noon until 7-8-9 pm is no fun.
YMMV.

Wayne

39

General Discussion / Re: Has anyone biked the east coast?

« on: June 18, 2015, 10:14:00 am »

The Blue Ridge Parkway. Elevation will keep temperatures reasonable. Campgrounds along the way. Pretty scenery. 35 mph speed limit. Light traffic. What's not to like?

Wayne

40

General Discussion / Re: Opinions about this bike: Shogun 1500 touring bike - $200

« on: June 18, 2015, 10:07:36 am »

Speaking from experience with 1980s touring bikes.
Yes, if the wheels are 27", you'll never find awesome tires for it. Bigger is always better for touring. Either 27" or 700c, look at tire clearance. 40 x 700c tires are great. 27 x 1 3/8" would be nice.
To this day, off the shelf "touring" bikes are horribly geared. My first touring bike came with a 32 tooth inner ring. I had to replace the crank to get down to 26 teeth and replaced the rear cogs with 14-34. Close, but not as nice as 24-34 gearing. A few years later I was in the market for a real touring bike. I drove to Dallas to visit a HUGE bike store that had a Trek 520 on the floor. The 520 is loved by many. I, on the other hand, hated the silly Shimano chain ring selection. 30 tooth inner chain ring. USELESS. I drove around the corner and ordered a proper touring bike that came equipped with 24-34 gearing and room for 40 x 700c tires. I am very pleased with my current bike.
So, make sure that any bike you plan to tour on has a 24 tooth inner chain ring and 34 tooth large rear cog and the shifting hardware to use that gear range. On the other hand, small rear cogs below 14 teeth are pretty useless too. I my opinion.
Don't fret lack of fork braze-ons for rack mounting. Old man Mountain can fit any bike with rack front and rear including full suspensions or no mounting eyelets anywhere on the bike. Made in the USA too.
http://www.oldmanmountain.com/

Of course the bike must fit you and be comfortable for you. Good luck!

Wayne

41

Gear Talk / Re: Tire Width for GDMBR

« on: June 17, 2015, 11:10:08 am »

More information would be helpful. Make & model of bike? Frame material? Rigid, front suspension, full suspension? Type of luggage: bikepacking sodt bags or racks & panniers? Tubes or tubeless?
That said, the best advice I have received online, from folks you have ridden the GDMBR, is to put rolling resistance (or lack of resistance) at the top of your selection criteria. The other bit of knowledge I have learned the hard way, do NOT judge a tire by the width printed on the sidewall. Trust the width as measured on your rims. There are a few places online to find out actual tire width. Honest reviews by individuals will often include actual tire width. Art's Cyclery lists weight and width for the tires that they sell. There are a few mountain bike tires that actually measure 2 1/8" to 2 1/4" wide. If I choose to ride my 26" wheel rigid steel mountain bike on the GDMBR, and the tires fit, I will probably pick tires that are a little wider than 2". Some of the Continental black chili tires fall into this group.
On the other hand, the Specialized Renegade Control and Fast Trak Control tires meet the #1 Criteria mentioned above: they roll fast and are relatively light weight. I have followed two riders online using this set up (Renegade 2.3 front / Fast Trak 2.1 rear) and both were pleased with the tires. The rear tires were replaced in Salida, Colorado on both bikes. The Renegades in front lasted the whole way.

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=tS&page_id=337499&v=9a

http://faroutwanderings.blogspot.com/2015/01/vals-tour-divide-bike-and-kit-what.html

Bottom line, based on what I know,: 1. Low rolling resistance. 2. Low weight. 3. Largest casing that fits my bike. 4. Durability.

Ps: If I pick my 700c steel frame bike for the trip, I will use the Clement X'plor MSO 40 X 700c tires that I have on the bike now. They are the largest tire I can fit on the rear. I could go with a slightly larger tire in front. If something better than the MSO comes along, I'll give it a try. At the moment, the MSO, set up tubeless, is the favorite tire of the Gravel Grinder folks. That's good enough for me.
Good luck! Keep us posted on your tire search and trip.

Wayne

42

General Discussion / Re: shuttle or transport from Missoula to Banff

« on: June 15, 2015, 10:21:16 pm »

Thanks Jennifer. This is the hostel I mentioned in my post:

Whitefish Bike Retreat / Whitefish, MT www.whitefishbikeretreat.com 406-260-0274email: info@whitefishbikeretreat.com Shuttles available for guests.

Hope this helps.

Wayne


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43

General Discussion / Re: Shuttle transport from Missoula to Banff

« on: June 14, 2015, 04:36:34 pm »

One way car rental may be the only way in the least amount of time and the fewest stops and overnight stays between modes of transportation.
I Googled Missoula-Banff. Bus, train, automobile rental. It was comical.
The cyclist friendly Hostel in Whitefish, MT offers shuttle service. I have no idea what the cost is or if they go as far as Banff.
You might be better off flying to Calgary and riding your bike to Banff on secondary roads.

Wayne


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44

General Discussion / Re: GDMRB 2015 Casual Ride!

« on: June 14, 2015, 09:52:05 am »

  A good plan. I'm envious. Wish I were there. This is a very good year to be in Glacier early.
Have fun!

Wayne

45

General Discussion / Re: GDMRB 2015 Casual Ride!

« on: June 13, 2015, 06:08:20 pm »

Seems a shame to be so close and not at least ride into Many Glacier. See some sights and then continue north to Banff. You are east of Glacier and southeast of Banff. Glacier is more or less on the way. There is a border crossing on the east side of Glacier Park.

Wayne



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