Messages

166

Gear Talk / Keen sandals for 2 month crosscountry trip

« on: March 06, 2017, 12:26:28 pm »

I found a discussion about sandals from two years ago.  I was going to send a private message to one of the responders, dkoloko, but thought it might be better to get more input.

 I am planning to do a mostly-Northern-Tier ride in June and July this year.  In all my previous multi-day trips, I've been using Pearl Izumi SPD shoes.  They work fine as long as they stay dry.  I've got shoe covers to use if necessary, but I use them more for warmth on winter rides.  The longest I've used my Keen sandals is for 30 miles and not for multi-day trips.  I have Crocs to use at the end of the day in the campground.  I don't want to bring both the sandals and shoes.  I know the obvious answer for me is to try the Keen on long, mulit-day trips.  I just wanted to get others opinions on sandals only for a 2-month trip.

dkoloko, are you still there?

167

General Discussion / Re: Application for keeping a journal

« on: March 02, 2017, 08:35:54 am »

And I just got an e-mail from the folks at RideWithGPS.   It appears they have a new Report feature. At first glance, it looks to be available only on the desktop version, not on the Android phone version.

168

General Discussion / Re: Application for keeping a journal

« on: February 22, 2017, 04:18:32 pm »

I agree with John Nelson.  The journal is more for me for years later.  When I'm on extending hikes, I make a habit of writing things down at the end of the day.  Otherwise I forget too soon.

169

General Discussion / Re: Application for keeping a journal

« on: February 21, 2017, 09:32:10 am »

Staehpj1,

Thanks for your summary.  I think I just need to try each app on my phone to see which one works best for me.  I still have 3 months to play around with them.

Crazy Guy
Google Sites
WordPress
Blogger
Track My Tour

170

General Discussion / Re: Application for keeping a journal

« on: February 20, 2017, 06:25:59 pm »

The journal is more for myself.  When I've been on other "adventures", I've found it very worthwhile when I look at it, a year later, 5 years later, 10 years later...

Most other people, I assume, will just read it once and look at the pictures.

I haven't used Crazy Guy myself, but I like the format and I've learned a lot from what others have posted there.

So far, my list of things to check out are:

Crazy Guy
Google Sites
WordPress
Blogger

171

General Discussion / Application for keeping a journal

« on: February 20, 2017, 03:50:47 pm »

I'm planning a ride from NJ to Anacortes this summer.  I have most of my questions answered, much thanks to this forum!  Now I have more trivial issues.  My question is "What application do you recommend for keeping a journal when on a longish bike ride?".   CrazyGuyOnABike?  I'm only bringing an Android phone. 

I've been section-hiking the AT and just use a NotePad on my phone to keep a journal.  Since I'll be gone for 2 months, I wanted to use something my friends could access.  I've never used FaceBook - it seems to be too much of a "time sucker" - but do others use it for creating a trip journal?

172

Routes / Re: How to get home. Anacortes to NJ

« on: February 14, 2017, 09:32:34 am »

Thanks for the replies.  It gives me several options to check out.

173

Routes / How to get home. Anacortes to NJ

« on: February 13, 2017, 03:25:06 pm »

I hope to be doing a "mostly Northern Tier" ride from NJ to Anacortes this summer.  I should be finishing in the first week in August.  From Anacortes, I was planning to ride south to Deception Pass - it seem like a good place to "end".  My question is, from there, what's a good way to get back to NJ?  Bicycling is not an option!  Do I ride down to Bremerton, take the ferry to Seattle, and fly back from there?  I should I backtrack and pedal up to Bellingham and fly from there?  I plan to ship my bicycle back by BikeFlights.  I'm thinking that cycling around Seattle may be congested.  But going out of Bellingham adds an extra leg to my flight.

174

Routes / Re: Any New Jerseyeans there? Or, "How to get from Sandy Hook to Bear Mountain"

« on: January 24, 2017, 09:43:50 pm »

But for me, going into Manhattan is not in the plan.  Since I live in north-central Jersey, Florham Park, that's where I'll be headed.  The only question I have is how to get there safely.  I'll be polling my local bike club for ideas too.

175

Gear Talk / Re: Tablets/IPad or laptops

« on: January 24, 2017, 09:17:28 am »

This is a similar query...

I use RideWithGPS on my desktop at home for route planning.  I'd kind of like to have the same capability when on my upcoming cross-country trip.   I've tried RideWithGPS route planning on my Android Smarthphone and my wife's iPad mini and it doesn't work.  I'm contemplating getting a small laptop just for this functionality.  Has anyone else found a way to do route planning on an Android phone?  I may just decide to go the public library route rather than carry a laptop. 

When hiking the Appalachian Trail a few years ago (just a section hiker), I found that my smart phone was perfectly acceptable for taking photos, keeping a journal and internet use (where accessible).

176

Routes / Re: Any New Jerseyeans there? Or, "How to get from Sandy Hook to Bear Mountain"

« on: January 23, 2017, 08:39:27 pm »

I'm concerned about all the traffic going through Woodbridge Township, Winfield, Garwood, Springfield.  No easy riding the whole way. 

177

General Discussion / Re: Montana Highway bicycling access threatened in Montana Legislature

« on: January 23, 2017, 12:19:35 pm »

Thanks for the update.

178

Routes / Any New Jerseyeans there? Or, "How to get from Sandy Hook to Bear Mountain"

« on: January 23, 2017, 11:47:31 am »

I'm planning a east-to-west trip for June to July (maybe into August) of this year.  I'll mostly be following the Northern Tier Route. I'll connect to it via the Erie Canal bike route and the NY State bike route paralleling the Hudson River. 

My question is, how to get from Sandy Hook NJ to Bear Mountain NY without getting killed.  I live in Florham Park.  Day 1, I plan to ride from Sandy Hook to Florham Park.  Day 2, the trip starts "for real" and I'd like to make it to Bear Mountain. 

Anyone familiar with the area knows how congested it is.  Any direct route from Sandy Hook to Morris County and Bear Mountain would be insane.  I'm thinking of heading west from Sandy Hook, maybe out to Manville, before heading north. From Florham Park, I'll use local roads north to Montville before picking up 202.  Thoughts?

179

General Discussion / Re: Montana Highway bicycling access threatened in Montana Legislature

« on: January 23, 2017, 11:26:18 am »

Two thoughts:

1) It probably won't happen, but I would be interested in hearing from the person who proposed the legislation.  The proposal sounds very bicyclist-unfriendly.  What was the intention of the proposal?

2) I'm hoping people on this site, perhaps those in Montana, keep us up-to-date on where this proposal stands.  I'm planning a cross-country trip for this year and may need to re-route it to avoid Montana.

180

Routes / Re: Deception Pass State Park, Washington

« on: January 11, 2017, 10:04:38 pm »

Thanks, everyone, for the input.  I guess I'll just have to check out the traffic conditions when I get to the bridge.  Maybe I'll just stay on the north side.  It looks like there are nice views from Rosario Beach too.